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French women have always operated on their own beauty standards, and slowly but surely, we’re catching up. In makeup, they don’t shy from wearing a red lip. Even their hairstyles seem to have that certain je ne sais quoi, perfectly imperfect tousle to their tresses. They’ve also been big advocates for bangs. So much so that the most coveted fringe on the market these days has been dubbed “French bangs”.
French bangs are a blended fringe that begins at the center of the forehead and moves down and out, along the cheekbones. What makes them so popular is that are so versatile. They exist in various lengths and densities, making them friendly to any hair type or face shape. Below, we’ve rounded up 30 celebs wearing French bangs to inspire your next hair look.
01 of 30
Piecey French Bangs
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Kelly Rowland's piecey approach keeps her French bangs light and airy. Cutting up into the hair is a great technique for achieving this look. By removing weight and adding some separation, thicker hair types won't feel weighed down by this trendy style.
02 of 30
Curtain French Bangs
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French bangs aren’t too far off from curtain bangs. The difference is in that initial cut at the center of the forehead. Curtain bangs are ever so slightly shorter and cascade into those longer, heavier sections. Here, Camilla Cabello left some layered pieces out in front of her ears to give a full face frame to her Met Gala ponytail.
03 of 30
Classic French Bangs
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Anne Hathway wears a classic French bang that shows off all its stereotypical features—shorter in the center and seamlessly blended into her haircut. If you have naturally straight hair, you may not need to blow dry French bangs. Reach for no-crease clips to help set your hair in the preferred place.
04 of 30
Wavy French Bangs
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Wavy hair types, like Sabrina Carpenter, can also enjoy a French bang. Use a round brush and blow dryer to gain more control of your naturally wavy texture. If you want a similar style as Carpenter's, part your bands at the center, angle your brush accordingly, and use no-crease clips to help hold that center part.
05 of 30
Edgy French Bangs
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Leave it to Zendaya to make her French bangs super edgy. The center of her fringe is a subtle nod to the micro bang with its choppy yet soft edges. For a similar effect, ask your stylist to use thinning shears to help blend your strands to different lengths.
06 of 30
Heavy French Bangs
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Kerry Washington's French bangs fully embrace her natural density. There's little effort to thin or remove weight and it has no impact on her perfect face frame. Using a little bit of pomade can give your French bangs the appearance of separation without any cuts necessary.
07 of 30
Overgrown French Bangs
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When your French bangs are especially long and overgrown, pull a Kylie Jenner. Make the extra length work to your advantage with this wispy side-swept effect. Dampen the roots of your French bangs and rough dry them over to one side using a blow dryer to make the style last all day.
08 of 30
Full French Bangs
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French bangs don't require separation. They're characterized more by that subtle gradient from the center of the forehead to the tip of the cheekbone. Selena Gomez's take on French bangs is fully blended and like the rest of her style, full of bounce.
09 of 30
Tousled French Bangs
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Ashley Tisdale’s tousled French bangs are the epitome of effortlessness, as all French beauty practices should be. There’s volume, movement, and a seamless blend into the rest of the hair. Keep a volumizing powder or dry shampoo on hand to prevent your French bangs from getting oily on second and third-day styling.
10 of 30
Long French Bangs
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Opting for French bangs that are brow length or longer, like Jenna Ortega's, gives them more versatility. The added length allows for a playful approach. You can constantly switch between side bangs, curtain bangs, and a French bangs when.
11 of 30
Textured French Bangs
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A part of what makes French bangs so covetable is the texture they offer. Most are cut using a combination of tools like feather razors, shears, and thinning shears. Penelope Cruz's French bangs put that textured technique front and center as the focal point for her lust-worthy fringe.
12 of 30
Wispy French Bangs
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Wispy French bangs like Rihanna's are extremely low maintenance. The cut is doing most of the work here rather than the style. Wispy French bangs can be worn air-dried for a polished finish.
13 of 30
Choppy French Bangs
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Ciara's choppy French bangs are a perfect match for her layered haircut. These chops help accentuate her wavy texture and give extra movement throughout. For a similar effect, spritz your French bangs (and the rest of your head) with your favorite wave spray.
14 of 30
Face Framing French Bangs
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French bangs will always frame the face, no matter your hair type or style. That's what makes this look so flattering to so many different textures and features. With longer hair like Olivia Wilde's, a simple ponytail that isolates the French bang will highlight your facial features.
15 of 30
Bouncy French Bangs
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French bangs are fun on any hair type, but we're loving how bouncy Beyonce's curls are in this playful cut. Use your favorite moisturizing shampoo and conditioner to keep your curly texture full of volume. Then separate and twist your damp curls with your fingers and use a diffuser to lock in the shape. Pro tip: tilt your head in different directions for added lift.
16 of 30
Thick French Bangs
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A thick French bang is bold and stylish, with plenty of natural volume. Hailey Bieber's bangs remain on the longer side without looking heavy. The blended ends fall effortlessly around the eyes and cheekbones.
17 of 30
Subtle French Bangs
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When you're not sure how distinct or choppy to go with your French bangs, aim for a more subtle start. Keke Palmer's version is a little wispy at its edges and while it tapers down, it doesn't transition into any major layers. This is a great way to introduce bangs to your style before finding your flair.
18 of 30
Country French Bangs
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Maybe it's the headscarf, but Lily Aldridge's French bangs look like they were destined for the countryside. This may look like your typical bang, but the effortless blend into those face-framing layers makes it all work as one unmistakable look. This type of cut will look intentional at any length, buying you time between trims.
19 of 30
Side Swept French Bangs
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Gemma Chan's choppy French bang has an elongated center which gives versatility in styling and parting choices. Here, Chan's fringe is worn in a subtle side sweep that still blends into outer lengths. Hairspray is the all-star product to help hold choppy fringes in their desired placement.
20 of 30
Curly French Bangs
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Even with as much body and texture as Jourdan Dunn has, the French bangs work perfectly with her look. Especially with a ton of curls, the line between French bangs and the rest of the hair is nearly nonexistent. This creates a more natural and effortless appearance.
21 of 30
Shaken French Bangs
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For a wake-up-and-go approach, the French bang is on your side. Straighter hair types, with little natural movement, are going to love the minimal styling required with this trend. Similar to Emily Ratajkowski's French bangs, shaking it up with the hands is all the styling you'll need to do.
22 of 30
Shaggy French Bangs
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French bangs also work great with shaggy haircuts and excessive layering. Like Suki Waterhouse's style, the bangs just become another layer in the hair. For longer, thicker hair types, a hot brush will help you speed up your blow-drying time.
23 of 30
Natural French Bangs
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The key to making your natural texture look as good in a French bang as Yara Shahidi's is to define your curls. We suggest gently separating the curls with your fingers and working your favorite moisturizing cream or product into the hair. Always choose your fingers over a brush, as the bristles can easily disrupt the curl pattern.
24 of 30
Feathered French Bangs
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A feathered French bang can have a very retro vibe, especially when pushed to the side. Felicity Jones channels Audrey Hepburn's baby bangs by keeping her French bangs light and feathered. When worn in an updo, these bangs bring out a whole new character.
25 of 30
Scrunched French Bangs
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French bangs offer more length than most other types of bangs. This makes them excellent for wavy or curly hair types, like Sandra Oh's. The trick is not to use too much product. If you need to refresh or reset your scrunched bangs, simply add a spitz of water and touch as minimally as possible to prevent frizzing.
26 of 30
Separated French Bangs
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Not every French bang needs to be tapered to look blended. Sydney Sweeney's French fringe proves that the face-framing layers in your cut don't need to connect to look purposeful. These separated lengths still operate in unison and their distinction keeps the styling versatility wide open.
27 of 30
Faux French Bangs
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Still not sure if you want to fully commit to French bangs? Try out a faux bang extension before you cut your real hair. This will help you play around with the various styles available to you before taking the plunge. You’ll soon see how perfectly these bangs frame any length, even while in an updo.
28 of 30
Casual French Bangs
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French bangs are about as casual and low maintenance as it gets when it comes to bangs. Halle Berry's French bangs seamlessly integrate with any haircut or style she wears, down or up. Their soft, casual appearance means they don't need to be regularly styled with precision in order to look natural.
29 of 30
Smooth French Bangs
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To get a straight and smooth finish on your curtain bangs like Constance Wu’s, there are plenty of things you can do outside of styling with shine spray and a flat iron. Start by using a clarifying shampoo to remove any build-up at least once a week. Other gestures like sleeping on a silk pillowcase and using a microfiber hair towel will make your French bangs much more smooth and manageable.
30 of 30
Center-Split French Bangs
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French bangs are versatile and that center chop can be as subtle as you need it be. If longer fringes are your preference, take this image of Julia Roberts to your stylist. Her shorter snip may be hard to recognize, but it's part of what's holding her French bang in place for that perfect center split.
