Beauty Hair 20 Gorgeous Curled Bang Hairstyles to Inspire Your Next Look By Elise Tabin Elise Tabin Elise Tabin is a beauty expert and editor. InStyle's editorial guidelines Published on December 23, 2023 @ 08:00AM Trending Videos Close this video player Photo: Getty Images Just when you thought you'd seen the complete resurrection of '70s and '80s-inspired haircuts, the curled bang reappears. Suitable for all hair lengths and types, today's modern take on curled bangs varies from a soft curl that inches down the face to a few wispy ringlets sitting front and center on the forehead. 20 '70s Hairstyles That Feel Chic and Modern Curled bangs are a statement maker that takes a basic cut to full-on fabulous. When trimmed to the correct length, they bring out the eyes and cheeks and frame the face. And with curled bangs, no matter if they're short, long, round, square, side-swept, or curtain style, you can create pretty much any look, be it demure, classically feminine, sexy, or edgy, depending on how the bangs are cut and styled. Meet the expert Davontae Washington is a celebrity hairstylist to stars like Victoria Monét and Kim Kardashian. Ona Diaz is owner of 5 Salon & Spa and celebrity hairstylist to stars like Queen Latifa and Dascha Polanco. Dafne Evangelista is a celebrity hairstylist and colorist to stars like Emma Chamberlain and Camila Coelho. Styling curled bangs takes little time, and they always fare better with less heat (a diffuser is always a must) and the right serums, oils, dry shampoos, and other styling products for your hair type. So before you make the chop, consult your stylist to figure out the best cut, like these 20 drop-dead gorgeous curled bangs for some major inspiration. 01 of 20 Full-On Curly Fringe Jon Kopaloff/FilmMagic Curled bangs can command all the attention or be more like Zendaya's and act as an extension of the overall haircut and style. "I love how her bangs seamlessly blend in with her collarbone-grazing curls," says celebrity hairstylist Davontae Washington. "If you want to recreate this look effortlessly, use a diffuser attachment like the Dyson Airwrap Multi-Styler Complete Long Diffuse Kit ($600). Or, for more of a wash-and-go style, try a product like Camille Rose Spiked Honey Mousse 4-in-1 Styler ($12)." 02 of 20 The Side-Swept Bang Aaron J. Thornton/FilmMagic Coco Jones's pushed-to-the-side wet-look semi-curled bangs are sexy with plenty of volume. Washington says you can achieve the look without needing to tease the hair, "which can cause damage," by using the VOLOOM 2.0 Rootie Hair Volumizing Iron ($140) and a firm hold hairspray. He adds that maintaining the health of curly hair with bangs always starts with a healthy scalp and replenishing moisture as needed. 03 of 20 The Layered Bang Look Timothy Hiatt/Getty Images for BET For those with coily hair that want to wear bangs in a cute, fun way, consider a layered haircut and shorter bangs. "KJ Smith's layers act like building blocks for volume since they stack up on top, which gives a gorgeous waterfall effect that accentuates her color beautifully," Washington says. 04 of 20 Super Subtle Color Pop Daniel Zuchnik/GC Images To make curly bangs even more fun, celebrity hairstylist and owner of 5 Salon & Spa Ona Diaz, recommends adding round layers with a bit of color throughout, similar to Aiden Curtis's hair. "Her bangs are cut to the perfect length—above her eyebrows—to frame her face and accentuate her eyes. Use a leave-in conditioner (anything heavier may affect the coil pattern) and let the bangs air dry to look like Aiden's bangs." 05 of 20 Short, Face-Framing Bangs Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for MTV If a hint of a bang with a shorter length is more your speed, take a less-is-more approach with your hair. "Yara Shahidi's short bangs frame her face nicely," Diaz says. "To style the bangs like this, first section them off from the rest of the hair. Then, apply a hair cream or gel to the bangs and dry them with a diffuser or let them air dry." These 10 Celebrity Haircuts Will Make You Want Short Hair with Bangs 06 of 20 The Peek-a-Boo Bang iamdavontae The options for styling curly bangs are endless, and one of Washington's favorite looks on his client Megan Thee Stallion is what he calls see-through bangs. "The bangs part in the middle to show a bit of the forehead, which peeks through," says Washington. "When wearing curled bangs like this, it's important to pull out and twist a few smaller pieces so they land in front." 07 of 20 An Oversized, Soft Curly Bang Samir Hussein/Samir Hussein/WireImage Jourdan Dunn's big, beautiful, and bouncy curls are the perfect mix of softness and sophistication. "What's fun about this look is that you can mimic the look of bangs without actually cutting them or committing to shorter layers," Washington shares. "Swirl a section of hair and pin it to create the desired bang length. You can even let the ends fall freely or swoop them over the eyebrow." 08 of 20 The Sexy Side Swoop SGranitz/WireImage Nicole Kidman's classic oversized curls hang right at her eyes, creating more of a sexy, come-hither look. "Shorter curly bangs can create a fun rocker vibe, but when they fall closer to the eyes and hide the eyebrows, it's more of a sultry look," Washington says. "This is especially true if the bangs are cut densely instead of just a few tendrils falling over the forehead." 09 of 20 Honey-Hued Curls Jim Spellman/WireImage Textured hair holds a curl well, and incorporating varying lengths throughout makes them more pronounced. To get Beyoncé's layered curly look, Washington says to cut bangs with shorter pieces of contrasting lengths that fall at that just-perfect spot. 10 of 20 A Face-Framing Soft Fringe Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for AMC "For soft waves like Sandra Oh's, ask your stylist for a shattered square layered haircut with bangs," says Diaz. "Then, to style the hair, use a styling foam like Innersense I Create Lift Volumizing Foam ($28) and a comb to create cohesiveness. Wavy bangs, like Sandra's, require more manipulation with the hands. Cup the bangs with your hands to allow the waves to take to their natural formation as they dry." 11 of 20 '70s-Inspired Curly Bangs vanessahudgens Vanessa Hudgens isn't one to shy away from wearing eclectic hairstyles, and her shaggy curled bangs are no exception. Diaz says to style the hair with your fingers to mimic Vanessa's look. "Finger curls are a heat-free way to get natural-looking wavy bangs, and it's a much easier method than styling the hair with a diffuser." To do it, first, dampen the bangs, then apply mousse like Wella EIMI Nutricurls Soft Twirl Anti-Frizz Styling Foam ($22) or curl-enhancing cream. "Twist small sections around your fingers from roots to ends to create relaxed-looking curls in the bangs and throughout." 12 of 20 Extra Long, Curly Bangs Kayla Oaddams/FilmMagic Celebrity hairstylist and colorist Dafne Evangelista says trendy curtain bangs look stunning on long, curly hair, as seen on Tori Kelly. "This style of bang is versatile and can add a touch of effortless style to curly locks. Curly hair has a lot of texture and movement, and by adding curtain bangs, the overall look is softer with a nice balance between the voluminous curls and the face-framing bangs." 13 of 20 The Drawn-Out Curl Julien Hekimian/Getty Images Not every type of curled bang style has to be heavy and springy, nor does it need to cover up the entire forehead. A longer wavy curl that's mostly pushed to the side, similar to how Meg Ryan wears her hair, is more flattering for some hair types and face shapes. According to Evangelista, gentle wispy strands can add elegance and softness to mid-length hair. "This bang style is a good choice for someone with a longer face shape because it helps soften the facial angles for a more balanced look." 14 of 20 Baby Springy Curls Allen Berezovsky/Getty Images Tamera Mowry's curly bangs aren't heavy nor thick but instead consist of a few springy curls that are perfectly defined. Washington says her bangs are a great way to fashion shorter layers into a piecey fringe. "Just use your fingers to gently pull out and twist the strands you wash to make a bang. You can section out just a few pieces of hair, like Tamera, or go denser." 15 of 20 Afro With a Touch of Curly Bang Pietro S. D'Aprano/Getty Images for L'Oreal Paris Viola Davis's voluminous Afro features a rounded bang, which Washington says is a flashback look inspired by the '80s with a modern twist. "Her hair is layered throughout the bang area, so it blends in nicely. Small sections of the bangs are twisted into spirals for a natural look. To define the spiral, I always recommend using a light hair oil." 16 of 20 The Moppy Fringe Mike Marsland/WireImage for Netflix Lily Collins often rocks some sort of a bang (usually straight and paired with sleek, long hair), but she occasionally switches things up. To keep curled bangs in place and prevent them from frizzing, Evangelista recommends applying a small amount of lightweight styling serum or gel to the bangs. "This will also add shine and control without weighing them down." Anne Hathaway's Trendy Micro Bangs Are Very 'Devil Wears Prada' 17 of 20 Wolf Cut Bangs Paul Archuleta/Getty Images Natasha Lyonne sports a softer version of the wolf cut with a loosely curled bang, which Evangelista says is a great choice for someone with a round face shape. "Typically, the cut features a mix of shorter and longer layers, shagginess throughout, and either a heavy fringe bang or no bang. Natasha's curly bangs feature ample texture and shape for plenty of the defining elements of the rock 'n' roll cut." 18 of 20 Squared-Off Curled Bangs Monica Schipper/WireImage To embrace the natural texture of curly hair, your stylist may recommend a square-shaped haircut like Grace Bower's, which compliments curled bangs. "The squareness of the haircut provides a structured, contemporary look, and the bangs add a touch of softness while framing the face. Together, it's a stylish, versatile look," Evangelista says. "It's always important to consider your face shape and hair texture when choosing a bang style and haircut." 19 of 20 Soft Tendril Bangs Daniele Venturelli/Getty Images "I love curly bangs, like Winnie Harlow’s, with updos because it gives an extra wow factor," Washington says. "This half-up, half-down hairstyle is an easy way to create bangs without scissors! After forming a topknot, pull out the ends of a few pieces so that they fall perfectly over the forehead. A texture spray like HH Science + Clean Effortless Volume Dry Texture Spray ($39) is a must for creating definition, too." 20 of 20 Short Curls and a Crop Cut Jesse Grant/WireImage Rumer Willis's short, curly cut is perfect for sporting bangs. Washington says frequent trims are the key to consistently getting the bangs to look good. "Sometimes, this can be time-consuming if this is not something you are used to doing," says Washington. "But the great thing is some stylists offer free bang trims for their clients, so always ask if they offer this service complimentary."