Snip or Skip?
Wondering if you should get bangs? As fun and stylish as they seem, getting a fringe—and maintaining it—can be more of a hassle than you might expect. Before you decide to snip your locks, we're here to help you weigh out the pros and cons to avoid any styling nightmares. Here are 10 reasons you should cut your fringe and 10 reasons you might regret it.
1. Youthful Look
Want to look younger? Well, one of the biggest perks of bangs is that they can instantly shave years off your appearance, making you look more youthful, fresh, and bubbly. (Plus, they can help hide any fine lines or wrinkles on your forehead.)
2. Frames Your Face
Whether you have a rounder face or a more angled jawline, bangs can frame any face shape nicely, depending on how they're cut. They can help soften your appearance, create dimension and structure, and flatter your natural features.
3. Hides Breakouts...
Got breakouts on your forehead? No problem—bangs can cover up those blemishes just fine! No more having to dot concealer on your red spots, or stick on pimple patches to hide those pesky zits. With a fringe over your eyes, no one will know you're having a bad skin day except you.
4. ...And a Bigger Forehead
If you have a bigger forehead, bangs can also help balance things out, allowing you to feel more confident about your appearance. No more having to wear a headband!
5. Versatile Styles
The best thing about getting bangs is that there are so many different cuts you could go for, and so many ways you can style them. Whether it's curtain bangs, wispy bangs, or micro bangs, you can choose a look that best matches your personality.
Edna Santos Photography on Pexels
6. Low Commitment
If you're not ready to get a full haircut yet, bangs are a great low-commitment alternative. You don't need to completely change your style, look, or length of your locks—just snip off a few strands and see if you vibe with having a fringe instead.
7. Draw Attention to the Eyes
If you're wondering how to make your eyes naturally pop, without the need for mascara and eyeliner, it's bangs. Having a fringe that stops above your eyes automatically draws people's attention to them, so they're the first to be noticed when others look at your face.
8. Effortless, Put-Together Look
With bangs, you can easily get up and go without needing to style your hair. Why? Because having a fringe already makes you look put together, and you don't need to add curls or braids to amp up your look—your bangs do all the heavy lifting.
9. Trendy
Have you ever gone without bangs, but then wanted to get them as soon as you saw someone else with them? There's a good reason bangs never seem to go out of style: they look good and stay in trend no matter what the new popular haircut is.
10. A Fresh Start
If you've gone through a recent breakup or just want to embrace the "new year, new me" motto, bangs give you a fresh start without changing too much of who you are. So, if you're ready to flip the page to a new chapter, maybe getting a fringe will help set the tone.
And yet, even with all the cool reasons to get bangs, you might still end up regretting actually getting them. Why? Here are 10 reasons:
1. Hair Routine
If you already don't have to do much for your hair in terms of upkeep and styling, getting a fringe might only complicate things. Not only might you have to blow-dry your bangs a certain way (so they stay down), you may also need to style them a bit so they're not just lying unnaturally flat.
2. Forehead Breakouts
While bangs can hide some imperfections—fine lines, pimples, and a bigger forehead—it's not all rainbows and sunshine with a fringe. In fact, if you've never had bangs before, getting them might trigger a breakout, since your skin isn't used to having hair covering your forehead.
3. Good Luck on a Windy Day
On windy days, it's a bad time for anyone with bangs. Unless you have them anchored down with a strong hairspray, they'll be flying every which way with the breeze and probably unfurl from any styling you did for them. Wearing a hat might help, but it could also end up flattening your fringe.
4. Trap Sweat & Oil
Getting bangs doesn't just potentially trigger breakouts on your forehead, but it can also trap sweat, dirt, and excess oil, making your hair look greasy—even if you just washed it. That means you'll either need to wash your locks more frequently, rely on dry shampoo, or use a good hair powder that soaks up the greasiness.
5. Needs Frequent Trims
If your hair grows fast, you'll constantly need to trim your bangs, which can be a hassle. After all, you don't want to be visiting your hairstylist every couple of weeks or so. And if you don't have a steady hand yourself, that means you likely won't be able to keep your fringe style for long.
6. Flat Iron Investment
Don't already have a flat iron lying at home? You'll likely need to invest in one if you want to get bangs—it's practically a must for styling. Sure, you might be able to get away with curlers, but for a fringe that stays nicely shaped throughout the day, using a flat iron is your best bet.
7. Not All Styles Suit Everyone
With all the versatile fringe styles that exist, you're bound to find one that complements your face shape, but the downside is that not all styles will. So, even if you wanted wispy or blunt bangs, if your hairstylist advises against it, you'll probably need to opt for a different look.
8. Agonizing Wait to Regrow
Sure, your hair might grow back fast, but it doesn't make the wait any less agonizing if you have a fringe style you don't like. Cut your bangs too short, and you'll have to find creative ways to hide your haircut disaster until your locks sprout back to normal length.
9. Hurt Your Eyes
Another con of having bangs? When they get too long, they can be an absolute pain for your eyes. Not only will they block your vision but they'll also get into your eyes, meaning you'll need to constantly brush them away, which can ruin the style.
Apostolos Vamvouras on Unsplash
10. Instant "Oh No"
When you decide to cut your bangs, once you've committed to the chop, there's no coming back from it. If you're thinking of getting a fringe for the first time, put the scissors down and schedule an appointment with a professional hairstylist to do it for you. Otherwise, you'll have to face the consequences if you accidentally snip them too short or wonky-looking.
