Think you can’t wear bangs? Thing again. These pro tips will help get the perfect fringe for your face shape.

By Sarah Thompson

Photography Imaxtree.com

Fringe hair 101: Get the best bangs for your face Bangs are a tricky subject. So many of us want that chic fringe hair look, but are too timid to go under the scissors. And even those rocking an on-trend fringe might be in for an upgrade. Lucky for you, we’ve curated the ultimate guide to finding the right bangs for your face shape to have in hand at your next appointment with a hair stylist.

If you have no idea where to start…
You shouldn’t worry. Your hairdresser should be able to determine your face shape and make recommendations about the style of bangs you should receive. “A good stylist should know what looks most flattering and be able to execute. A fringe is commitment. Like a pet, you have to take care of them. Clients should be told about the maintenance of their fringe, styling and blow-drying techniques, fringe hair trims and what can happen if you try to cut them at home,” recommends Morgan Servinis—Pro Hair Stylist at Toronto’s Bob Paige Salon.

Now, if you’re interested in determining your face shape before you hit the beauty parlour—after perusing magazines for fringe hair inspiration—try this technique. “To find out what kind of face shape you have, try the ‘lipstick trick’. Clip all your hair back away from your face in front of a mirror. Then take a bright lipstick and draw onto the mirror, following the outer line of the face. Stand back and take a look. This should give you an idea of what exact face shape you have,” says Servinis. With this in mind, you’re ready to hit the salon chair for your new set of bangs based on your newly discovered face shape.

11 rules for BANG HAIRSTYLES

If you have a square face shape…
Women with a square face shape tend to have a naturally edgy face (perfect for the punk fringe hair look), but you need to ensure that your bangs are making the face more circular and not increasingly harsh. “A soft, rounded bang that is shorter in the centre and longer towards the cheekbones will achieve this. Nicole Richie is a good example,” says Dee Kane—Education Director at LURE Salon in Vancouver. “Avoid blunt straight bangs that would square off the face even more and create a Frankenstein effect.”