So you’ve been gazing soulfully at the celebrities with the heavy bangs lately, and wondered if it would look as bold and edgy on you.  Because lets face it, nothing screams “high fashion” , “rich bi*ch” and utter “Class” like those bangs, but in real life, they look absolutely horrendous on the people that you personally know AND make them look… fat! *gasp*

This guide will give you some insight and inspiration into how you can costume design the perfect heavy fringe to fit YOU.  These are my own personal rules as a Pro Hair Stylist in New York City, and not set in stone by any means. We all have our own ideas of what Beauty is, therefor, it is logical that not everyone will agree. :)

But for the rest of us:

1. Know your face shape. 
2. Is your hair on the crown thick enough to create a heavy fringe?
3. Is your hair too curly? Because heavy fringe should lay flat and not look like a brillo pad.  Also, do you have a cowlick in that general are?
4. Finally, what do you wish to cover up with your hair. This is so important. Always keep this in mind, it is what’s left behind that impacts your face, and NOT what’s been cut off! :-)

Now that we got that out of the way, let me show you what *I* consider beautiful and see if you can find a pattern in these photos.  I’m of course including the photo of Carly Rae Jepsen’s bangs at the very top of this list.  :)

It is my firm belief that any type of heavy bangs will automatically make your face appear slightly fuller and the farther you cut away from the center of your face will then make your face wider.   It sounds dreadful but there is a fix!

  Sometimes heavy bangs, when done correctly, will actually make you not only look slimmer but sexier and edgier and younger!  I’m going to use Katie Holm’s photo as an example here, because it speaks louder than words.

THE rules to rock’in heavy bangs: ( I’m using my mannequin head for photo’s, please understand that their hair lines and density differs quite a lot from humans).

1. Always consider what’s being left behind and not whats being cut off.  Take small cuts, you can always cut more.  Try using a razor instead of shears.

2. Section off , and clip back the hair that you want to keep.  How much to clip back?  Usually all the hair in front of your ears on the crown of your head is drawn forward for bangs, but  this depends on how thick your hair is. If your hair isn’t thick enough then you will need to draw more hair from the back.

3. NEVER cut your bangs past the outer corners of your eyes. The farther you cut away from the center of your face, the wider your face will appear.  If you look above, all the photos that I’ve posted follow this rule.

HOWEVER : You CAN cut farther back if  you’re creating a graduating effect -  from short to long,  like the KATE MOSS photo from above.  This is a far more advance way of cutting but it will create a more softer look.

  4. Very blunt bangs only look great on models, on everyone else - it looks like a wig.  Razor cutting the edges will soften, modernize AND make you look thinner.  This is especially important for anyone over 30+…

I’m holding a camera with 1 hand, but this is about where you want to start point-cutting, or razoring your hair - ON DRY HAIR.  ALWAYS cut tiny bits at a time. =)

5.  Long shaggy, piecey, heavy bangs that hits “just” on the top of the nose is the most flattering on normal human beings. The KEY here is to create soft and shaggy for wearable blunt bangs.

6. Attitude.  Stand tall.  Your personality should reflect this bold style.  Just sayin’. =)

Now, here are the “bang tragedy photos”. These, IMHO, do not enhance the beauty of the person’s face but exaggerate’s the negative for the sake of fashion - that is, if small, oval face is your ideal.

You apply make up to enhance what you have, your hair should do the same, since it’s your greatest and best the accessory.

To show this more clearly, let’s take the beauteous Olivia Wilde here, look at the photo above and then below. The one at the top you can clearly see how far the bangs have been cut ( and far past the outer eyes) and then the one below.  The bangs were cut correctly here for her square face (the shortest bangs ending at the outer eye ), this style suits her to perfection.

 Finally, how to style it once you’ve achieved your perfect fringe.  

• 1. Use a oil serum or a heat protectant on damp hair.
• 2. Dry your bangs flat against your forehead, and please, I beg you,  do not use a big round brush or it will give you that mushroom look, unless that’s your thing.  A flat paddle brush, the  fingers God gave you or a vent brush works beautifully.
• 3.  This is optional because not everyone owns a flat iron.  But if you do, I suggest you use it here.
• 4. Apply some soft wax when your hair is completely dry to give you that shaggy, sexy, piecey look.  Not too heavily, otherwise you’ll end up looking like a oily heroine addict - unless that’s your thing. :)