Part of the cuts and styling guides. Start with The haircut guide: layers, fringes, length and how often to trim, or see cuts and styling in the salon.
What they are
A curtain fringe is cut with a centre or slightly off-centre part, shortest at the middle and longer towards the sides, so the 2 halves sweep away from the face and blend into the length. Unlike a full fringe, there's no straight line across the forehead, and unlike a side fringe, it's balanced on both sides. The result frames the face, softens the forehead and cheekbones, and grows out gracefully, which is why it's the most-requested fringe at Jenna Ellen Hair.
Who they suit
Almost everyone, with the length adjusted to the face.
- Round faces suit curtain bangs cut longer, to the cheekbone or below, so the fringe lengthens the face rather than widening it.
- Long or oval faces suit them shorter, at the brow or the bridge of the nose, which breaks the length of the forehead.
- Square faces suit a soft, wispy curtain that blurs the jawline rather than a heavy one that echoes it.
- Heart-shaped faces suit the shortest point at the cheekbone, which balances a wider forehead.
Curtain bangs on wavy or curly hair
They work, cut a little longer than they'll sit, because wave and curl shorten the fringe as it dries. Your stylist cuts them dry or after a blow-dry so the finished length is the one you see. On curly hair they're styled by smoothing the fringe around a round brush or a large roller and letting the rest of the curl do as it likes.
How to ask for them
Use 3 words your stylist can act on:
- The length, by landmark. Brow-skimming, bridge of the nose, cheekbone, or jaw. Bring a photo and point to where the shortest piece sits.
- The density. Wispy (see-through, soft) or full (more hair, more presence).
- The part. Centre, or slightly off-centre if that's where your hair naturally falls.
Then say how you'll style them: round brush every morning, or air-dried and left. The cut changes to suit.
How to style them in 2 minutes
- Dampen the fringe only (a spray bottle is enough) and add a little heat protectant.
- With a medium round brush, blow-dry the fringe away from the face on each side, rolling the brush under.
- Then blow it back towards the centre for a second, which sets the bend.
- Let it cool on the brush, part it with your fingers, and finish with a touch of dry shampoo at the root if it's fine.
On day 2, a spray bottle and 30 seconds with the brush resets them.
Growing them out
Curtain bangs grow into face-framing layers, which is the second reason they're so popular: there's no awkward stage. As they lengthen, ask your stylist to blend them into the layers at each trim, and by the time they reach the chin they've become part of the cut. A fringe trim every 4 to 6 weeks keeps them at the length you chose while you're keeping them.
Curtain bangs and colour
A money piece, the brighter face-framing section of a lived-in blonde, sits exactly where a curtain fringe frames the face, and the 2 together are the most-photographed combination in the salon. Ask for both at a colour appointment with a cut and blow-dry package.
Booking
Book a ladies cut and blow-dry ($68 short, from $90 longer) and say "curtain bangs" in the notes, or a fringe trim if you already have them. The haircut guide covers the rest of the cut, and the full price list has everything.