The Best Bangs for Every Face Shape, According to a Hairstylist

Blunt, softly rounded bangs, like Taylor Swift‘s, really enhance her cheekbones without hiding her eyes. Which is what makes them perfect for a heart-shaped face. These skim just past your brows (but feel free to cut them a little bit shorter to elongate your face slightly) and add some volume to your crown without too much styling. Keep in mind, though: These can require quite a bit of styling. Tovar recommends creaseless clips to set and air-dry bangs when you don’t want to use heat. Or try these USB-C hot rollers that you can plug in for a quick jolt of heat to style your bangs on the go.

If side bangs immediately make you think of 2012 Tumblr, let me reintroduce you. Consider a style that fuses your natural hair texture seamlessly, like a side part with short layers. Miley Cyrus‘s natural waves, shown here, add volume to her bangs for a proportional look.

A set of long, curtain bangs that frame your face shows off your angularity while still looking soft and natural (á la Rihanna here). And best of all: This is just about the easiest bang to style, with or without heat.

Micro bangs, or occasionally called “Hepburn bangs” for how they resemble Audrey Hepburn’s chic lil bang, can go edgy or classic, depending on how you style. Regardless, they’re made for anyone who wants to focus on their cheekbones. In a blunt cut like Zendaya‘s, it creates balance between your features.

According to Tovar, curtain bangs are one of the most common cuts, largely because they can work on basically every face shape and hair type. But they’re fantastic for highlighting the facial symmetry of an oval face. To style, Tovar recommends keeping a spray bottle filled with water in your bathroom to spritz down (if your hair isn’t already wet), then blowing it dry with a small round brush.

If you prefer a more classic bang style but don’t want to hide too much of your forehead, ask for a wispy, long shape. Reneé Rapp‘s bangs are a perfect example: They bring shape and volume to her roots without taking away or hiding too much of her face.

Want to add volume without too much heaviness that detracts from your face? Try a layered, blunt bang. The long, face-framing pieces soften and play up your jawline, as the blunt bangs elongate your face. It basically brings attention to the center of your face: Cheekbones, eyes, lips.

Tovar says her clients love a long bang that “exposes some forehead but adds some fun around the front.” A long, layered look creates movement and bounce in your hair, which you might enjoy for enhancing and softening your features if you have a angular, square face. You can also really play with length here. A shorter curtain bang with a ton of layers around your face feels more playful, while a blended layered bang, like Priyanka Chopra‘s, is sophisticated and fresh,

Sweeping your bangs to the side helps elongate your face, which can draw attention to your features and increase sharpness to your soft, rounded face. Luckily, every texture, including curly and coily, can wear a side part (see Yara Shadidi‘s here, complete with a chic French bob).

With bottleneck bangs, your bangs are the shortest at the center of your face and gradually get longer and frame your face. Just like a bottleneck (and Selena Gomez‘s bangs here). Why they’re best for round faces, though, is how the V-shaped curve juxtaposes your soft edges. This can make cheekbones appear more prominent, add shadows to your jawline, and/or highlight your eyes and lips.

Rectangle face shapes, which often are characterized by an elongated mid-face structure, look stunning with a long bang. Just look at Anne Hathaway‘s look here. These long bangs can be wispy or full, but the trick here is cutting them just past your brows. This can help bring out your eyes and/or draw attention to the sharpness of your jawline. Tip: Cut them a little bit shorter to start. Bangs grow fast, so they’ll be at the right length in a week or two’s time.

These choppy bangs (complete with an ultra-cool pixie cut on Joan Smalls) are basically like an arrow pointing to your best features. Cheekbones, jawline, and eyes take center stage when the bangs are layered and sharp. Bonus points if there are face-framing pieces that ground the shaggy look.

“I think a really lovely and universally flattering style is soft and long curtain bangs,” says Tovar. “It works for most people.” It’s got a rounded, muted feel that isn’t too sharp or angular yet can complement all face shapes.

Anyone—I repeat, anyone—can have bangs. Regardless of your face shape, hair texture, and ~vibe~, there’s a bang for everyone. But to decide if they’re right for you, experts recommend thinking mostly about the time you’re willing to spend on your hair. “I think a huge consideration should be lifestyle and whether or not you’re committed to putting in some type of effort to style them on a daily basis,” says Tovar. Because, let’s face it: Bangs aren’t exactly a quick and easy haircut. It requires a level of finesse, heat-styling, and products. And if you’re not exactly down with the upkeep, you might not enjoy them (even if they look super good). When in doubt, though, “get the bangs!” says Tovar. “It’s just hair. Have fun, and if you hate them, they will grow.”

• Gia Tovar is a hairstylist at 939 Salon in Chicago, IL. She specializes in haircuts, especially bangs, bobs, and layered looks.

Beth Gillette is the beauty editor at Cosmopolitan with seven years of experience researching, writing, and editing hair stories that range from how to style a bob to hair-growth shampoos. She connected with expert hairstylists to write this story.