Funky & Flattering Styles
When you're at an art museum, how often do you notice the frame holding the painting rather than the canvas itself? A good frame shout accentuate the beauty of the painting rather than overshadow it. In case you aren't following the metaphor, your face is the painting, your hair the frame; here are 20 cuts & styles that will make your face pop.
1. Side Bangs
Leave your snide comments about 2000s emo kids hiding behind their side bangs at the door. Side bangs are one of the most universally flattering styles and tend to be a gateway into the world of bangs. This style adds angles to round faces and softens square ones.
Oregon State University on Wikimedia
2. Wolf Cut
One of the most buzzy cuts of the past few years, the wolf cut combines a '70s shag with an '80s mullet for dazzling results. The heavy layers work best on heart-shaped and square faces, which benefit from volume at the crown of the head. Minimal styling is required for naturally wavy or curly hair.
3. Shag
Want that perfect just-rolled-out-of-bed look? A shag is the way to go. This retro-chic style uses lots of layers for a carefree style that looks great on every hair texture and shape.
4. Soft Bob
Bobs can be severe to say the least, especially on rounder faces. The soft bob avoids blunt bangs or angles, opting for a snug—but not tight—fit around the jawline, lifting and brightening the face. This style is short and sweet.
5. Baby Bangs
Popularized by Audrey Hepburn in Roman Holiday, baby bangs are soft and sweet. You may be surprised by how much of a difference they make to to your look. Baby bangs are cut blunt or whispy, then smoothed with a flat iron and a twist for a little classic Hollywood romance.
Bud Fraker (1916-2002) [1] on Wikimedia
6. Pageboy
Some people may say that the pageboy is passé—an old lady style that grew out of Beatlemania. We're taking the bold stance that the pageboy isn't dated, just styled wrong. Styled correctly, this style can give old Hollywood glam or daring gamine. Done incorrectly, you might end up looking like a Renaissance art textbook.
7. Quiff
A quiff is a fun and funky way to add some retro flair to you look, and it isn't just for men. Quiffs are a fun way to play with shape, texture, and gender expression. The higher you take your hair, the longer you'll make your face, while a short quiff highlights a heart-shaped face.
Dick Thomas Johnson from Tokyo, Japan on Wikimedia
8. Wavy Bangs
Bangs aren't just for straight hair, and wavy bangs require next to no maintenance. The best thing you can do for this style is add some leave-in conditioner and let your waves take the reigns. Wavy bangs are so bouncy and fun, they're almost worth getting a perm for.
9. Pixie
Ready for the big chop? Take the plunge and get a pixie cut! Pixie is more of a classification rather than a single cut, as versatile as you are. This cut brightens and lifts your face; however it requires regular salon maintenance to keep its shape.
Kingkongphoto & www.celebrity-photos.com from Laurel Maryland, USA on Wikimedia
10. Eton Crop
If you want to go even shorter, you can take things to the next level with the Eton crop. Named after the prestigious British school, this style was the shortest of the short in the 1920s, a slicked-down men's cut. It's certainly daring, but it will accentuate your face like nothing else!
11. Shingle Bob
The shingle bob first set the world on fire in the original Roaring Twenties and has now come back with a vengeance. The current iteration is longer than the original, stopping at the jaw rather than the cheek, making it wearable for more people. This style adds length to your neck, plus, it's just fun to flip around.
Dick Thomas Johnson from Tokyo, Japan on Wikimedia
12. Choppy Bangs
If blunt bangs are a little too angular for you, you can shake things up with a little texture. Choppy bangs still have that high fashion vibe, but they're more forgiving—especially for thin hair. The broken ends and pieces scattered throughout add edge without making you look disheveled.
13. Whispy Bangs
Whispy bangs are so fine and feathered, you could almost forget they're there! This style makes ample use of feathering to provide volume and texture without weighing you down with a sweaty forehead. Whispy bangs are one of our faves for fine hair.
/u/vivianaq on Reddit on Wikimedia
14. Piece-y Pixie
Wanna be bold? Try a piece-y pixie. This style uses cascading layers and lots of texture to add some edge to your usual pixie. We recommend this style for longer faces with oval or rectangular shapes.
15. Flippy Bob
Flippy bobs are back, and we couldn't be more excited! From the Motown it-girls of the 1960s, to the rom-com darlings of the 1990s, the flippy bob has finally reemerged after another few decades. This style requires a little finesse with a brush, but the result is an bright and lifted face with no surgeon required.
16. Curtain Bangs
Curtain bangs were made famous by Brigitte Bardot and are still synonymous with cool, French girl style. Curtain bangs are one of the most sought-after hairstyles because they provide maximum bang for your buck—if you'll excuse the pun. These bangs work on all hairlines and particularly shine with longer slightly textured hair.
17. Bixie
Ask anyone what the worst part of short hair is and they'll say maintenance. Whether you've gone too long between salon visits or are stuck in the awkward phase trying to turn your pixie into a bob, the bixie is here for you. A cross between two beloved styles, the bixie is a seamless transition stage between the two.
Gabriel Hutchinson Photography on Wikimedia
18. Curly Bangs
Who said that curly girls can't get in on the bang trend? Put that flat iron away and embrace your hair's natural texture. Depending on your curl type, this cut can go from soft and demure to geometric and funky, it's all up to you.
19. Bottleneck Bangs
Bottleneck bangs are a more severe version of curtain bangs, starting short then growing long as the blend in with the rest. People with longer hair and oval faces are best served by this peekaboo style. Bottleneck bangs do take a little maintenance to get the perfect amount of volume.
20. Face-Framing Updo
We've talked a lot about bangs and short hair, but there isn't any need for a chop at all! If you want to show off your makeup for a big event, you can simply pull most of it back, leaving a few key strands to draw attention to it. No scissors required!
