Best Bangs for Your Face Shape

Whenever we consider getting bangs, we think back to the scene in Legally Blonde where Elle's friend Serena announces over the phone, "I got bangs! My hair is so now!" But as we all know, that tiny snip of hair isn't such an easy feat. Cut them too low, and you'll risk looking like a Muppet, and cut them too high above your eyebrows and you'll look like a kindergartener whose mom just gave her an at-home haircut. We turned to René Fris, world-renowned hairstylist and host of ReneFris.com's online styling consultation service to give his expert tips on getting the right fringe for your face shape.

Since your forehead is the wide part of your face and your chin swoops down to a sharp point, be careful of getting bangs that are too wide. "This could make your forehead appear even larger and your face longer," says Fris. Take Reese Witherspoon for example, who is the quintessential example of a heart-shaped face. Opt for side-swept fringe, or wispy bangs that are parted in the middle.

Consider yourself lucky! Just like a pair of long legs, an oblong face can pull off a variety of styles. "My personal favorite cut for an oval face is straight across the face (like Halle Berry, shown here), says Fris. "This cut will give you a very modern look." Take a look at any red-carpet roundup from this current awards season, and you'll see that blunt bangs are the new little black dress. "Layered bangs are also a classic and elegant choice. Just make sure the layers are shorter in the middle of the forehead and get longer toward the edge of the face," says Fris.

Your main goal here is to add angles to your face so that it will appear longer, and even slimmer in some cases. "Make sure that your bangs are not too soft, because that will make your face seem even rounder," says Fris. Long, side-swept bangs like Cameron Diaz's are your best bet and will help offset any fullness.

If there is equal distance between your temples and your jawlines on both sides, then you have a square-shaped face. You'll want to choose a cut that softens the angles of your jaw. "Layers are a good choice, because they help bring more dimension to your face," says Fris. Take a cue from Sandra Bullock—her brow-skimming textured bangs are mega-flattering.

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"Bangs should always fall at the middle of or right below the eyebrows," says Fris. Fight off the temptation to trim any higher than these guidelines, whether it's to save money or time between visits. "Your bangs should be perfect from day one," Fris adds. Avoid botched fringe by visiting your stylist every few weeks—most salons offer bang trims for $5 and up.

To add volume to your bangs, hold a large, round brush underneath and pull them up as you hit them with heat. To get them to flip under, curl just the ends to avoid making them too poofy. If you're air drying them, spritz a volume spray over your bangs and run your fingers through them so they have a pretty, effortless look.

Fris recommends Joico JoiShape Styling Spray and Kerastase Mouse Nutri-Scuplt.