Bangs, In The Real World

February 4, 2010 3:00 pm     Posted in Beauty, Entertainment, Style  Brittany - University of Saint Thomas g+ page

I blame deciding to slice my bangs up to my eyebrows on every high fashion magazine there is.  I saw all of those glamorous models with their thick, dark bangs and wanted some of my own.  Little did I know, there were a few side-effects that come with the sudden impulse to go Edward Scissor Hands on my hair.


By Brittany

Don’t get me wrong, I love my new ‘do -  I feel extra sheek and sassy, a little bohemian, and eyes seem to pop out more than Pamela Anderson’s boobies. But after prancing out of the hair salon, life happened and I was graced with the slightly annoying presence of my new bangs.

If you’re chewing on the idea of taking the fringe plunge, I give you a look into a world of bangs:

12:45 P.M. Now that the rest of my hair has been trimmed and styled, my hairstylist finally comes to the melodramatic point of cutting my bangs. I stop her for a moment, take a deep breath. Once I’m mentally ready, I give a slight nod and she comes at me with the scissors. I watch my life (full of good hair days) flash before my eyes as 4 inches of my former layers flutter away to their final resting place on top of my Ugg boot. I hold the arm rest tighter, trying not to make a scene. I make a mental note to Google image ‘celebs with bangs’ when I got home to make myself feel better about this hasty decision.

1:15 P.M. I play with my new hair a little bit in front of the mirror. I look left. I look right. I look at it from the back. “OK,” I think to myself. “It looks good.” I breathe a sigh of relief. After paying the girl at the front desk and hugging my stylist (“OMG thank you!”) I walk home. And look at my reflection in every reflective material: car windows, mirrors, spoons, phones, computer screens. I don’t look twelve, I don’t resemble Justin Bieber, and I have already forgotten to Google image ‘celebs with bangs.’ Things are looking up.

5:00 P.M. I am standing on the treadmill attempting to put my hair up for a much needed jaunt. I check my reflection in the TV:  I look like an adolescent boy with a bowl cut. It’s creepy, not at all cute, and unfair to all people attempting to have a workout free of silent giggles. I try a headband. Bad move; my bangs stick out the back like a Ricky Martin haircut. That would be fine if I was shaking my bon bon on stage for millions of adoring girls, but I’m not. Now I just look ridiculous.

7:00 P.M. My light workout (I lasted 10 minutes before I got frustrated and gave up) has sent my bangs into an uproar.  The pieces that are not sticking up everywhere are plastered to my forehead; I look like I just ran a marathon with Katie Holmes. It’s awful. “Am I going to have to shower ten times a day to make these puppies look presentable?” I have a mild meltdown in front of my mirror.

9:00 P.M. After much primping (and more priming), I am about ready to hit the town, and my bangs…look…good. Like, really good. Although they are hiding some very serious flat-iron burns on my forehead, I managed to put them together nicely. And they make my basic black top and jeans outfit look way more chic. “Yay bangs!”

10:00 P.M. While lurking around the bar awkwardly, I am stopped by many boys commenting on my bangs. Guys. It was quite the honor; I felt like I needed to give some kind of acceptance speech for being so awesome.  When was the last time men commented on anything besides my French Maid costume?  Yeah, they definitely went south once the dancing started (and by “south” I mean “wet, wavy and stuck to my face”), but I had a few emergency bobby pins on hand to fix the problem.

Despite the ups and downs (and one wasted trip to the treadmill), I say bangs are definitely a do. They won’t be easy, but they will definitely be worth it.

Besides, good or bad, you can always grow those suckers out.

17 Comments on "Bangs, In The Real World"

  1. Jenna says:
    Thu, 4th Feb 201010:39 am 

    I got bangs a year and a half ago. I thought I'd get bored of them after a few months and grow them out, but I actually really like them. To pin them back, I'd recommend starting at one side and twisting them, then sliding a bobby pin or two in when you get to the other side. Hats are another a good way to get them out of your face. I also picked up a mini flat iron at the drugstore, which reduces the risk of those nasty forehead burns.

  2. Linda says:
    Thu, 4th Feb 201011:48 am 

    Had bangs once,still growing them out.

    From now on, I'm not cutting my hair…there are so many ways to fake a bang or fake a short do, without actually cutting your locks..so that's what I'm doing now.

    Great suggestion about the mini flat iron! @ Jenna, I burn my forehead all the freakin time :( .

  3. Erin says:
    Thu, 4th Feb 201011:59 am 

    I had short bangs like in the picture for a while. It just takes a week or two before you get in the swing of things and figure out what is best. I think for most people any hair cut that requires blow drying and flatirons instantly becomes their most hated hair cut, either because they can't do it like it was the first day or that they are too lazy to invest in doing it the right way so it always looks bad. Like jenna suggested get the small flat iron for your bangs, it doesn't heat up as much so it won't do as much damage and it won't end up burning your forehead.

  4. Laurel Reid says:
    Thu, 4th Feb 20101:51 pm 

    After debating about whether to do the 'do or not for MONTHS, I finally got bangs – and i LOVE THEM!!! I have gotten so many compliments, my bf loves them, and yes, while they do require a flat iron, it'll make you look so much more put together, fun and stylish at the same time. I just wish I had had the courage to get them sooner!

  5. Celia says:
    Thu, 4th Feb 20102:46 pm 

    I have never, ever, in my entire life, NOT had bangs. I had the blunt, across-the-forehead cut until high school, where I opted for a side bang. They're still a bit heavier than a typical, wispy side bang and I love them.

  6. Ace says:
    Fri, 5th Feb 20105:23 am 

    I've had my bangs since high school and I adore them. I wear them to the front, side, up, but they always give my hair a little something extra.

  7. Emily says:
    Fri, 5th Feb 20105:31 am 

    Don't use a flat iron, when you blow dry your hair take a small round brush and blow your bangs out straight before,drying the rest of your hair. It takes about two minutes and will keep them from being plastered to your forehead by the end of the day.

  8. nikki says:
    Fri, 5th Feb 20105:37 am 

    I don't know what seems to be the problem with bangs/fringes.

    I get a different cut everytime I go for one. And (touch-wood) it is adored even by others.

    Instead o getting it done like a celeb, I try and customize/get it customized to suit my face more (for any cut).

    Bangs/Fringes for me are annoying wen they start getting into the eyes. Apart from that, it is always cool for me.

    PS: I don't think I would want to sport them as long as in the pic. (Cuz they are almost into the eyes, once the "styling" wears off).

  9. Brittany - Universit says:
    Fri, 5th Feb 20108:31 am 

    To reiterate my point. Guy at the bar last night: "It takes a bold woman to have bangs. I'm not trying to hit on you, but it's true."

  10. Meagan - Mizzou says:
    Fri, 5th Feb 20104:58 pm 

    I have had bangs my entire life and I really like them. As Emily said, use a hair dryer and a round brush to style them every morning to keep them off your forehead. And no, you won't make them stick out horribly if you go slowly and get used to how to make them poof just a little. If you wash your hair at night or feel like freshening your bangs up during the day, stick your head under a faucet, wet them, lather in some shampoo, rinse, and blow dry. Perfect.

  11. Casey says:
    Sat, 6th Feb 20106:38 am 

    I've been wanting to try bangs again for a couple years now (the last time I had them I was ten living up north). But now I live in Florida and after about 3 hours my hair never ends up looking the way it did when I first left my house (thanks humidity!), and I get hot and sweat really easily, so sadly I just don't think they would be the best option for me :( Maybe one day when I move away from hell.

  12. Jessica says:
    Sun, 7th Feb 20106:59 am 

    I had bangs when I was in 1st grade, and got them again last summer on a desperate attempt to change my hair without doing something completely crazy. I have no regrets, and absolutely love them, so much that they have become my trademark and I have people constantly coming up and asking me where I get my hair done, etc. A few tips:

    1. The blow-drying tip is the best. I almost never flat-iron my bangs, and they stay looking like they are supposed to all day. Blow dry straight down to get out any cow-licks, then round brush.

    2. No product. I've found that any products (even hair spray) makes them look greasy and stringy after a few hours.

    3. Dry shampoo. If they do end up looking stringy, spraying a little dry shampoo or baby powder at the root soaks it right up.

    4. Not a tip, but more of a bonus- bangs hide impurities on your forehead, and have been a lifesaver when it comes to blemishes. Another bonus- no more painful eyebrow waxes..nobody sees those bushy caterpillars above your face now.

    5. When you do want to put them back in a headband, push them to the side and back. Put the headband in, then take the pieces sticking up and pull them to the side opposite of your part, and usually they stay there.

    Hopefully this will all help to make bangs even more of a girl's best friend, without the annoying downfalls. :)

  13. maddie says:
    Mon, 8th Feb 201011:10 am 

    LADIES!

    i cut my long hair off after much debating and got a cute bob with sideswept bangs. here's my recommendation: ask your stylist to cut in framing pieces at the front of your hair, like from the temple, so that when you put it up they fall down. it makes all the difference. i used to have bangs and long hair and whenever i put it back i looked like i had a bowl cut… not good times. the sliced out pieces make it chic and casual when you put your hair in a ponytail. a must!

  14. Alex says:
    Tue, 28th Dec 201010:51 pm 

    Thanks for the insight, I've been playing with the idea of getting bangs for a while now. On a different note, I feel compelled to say that you are probably the best blog writer I've heard in a while. Your writing is clever, charismatic, and fun. Keep it up!

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