How to Style Bangs for Different Textures, According to the Pros

While steering clear of greasy-looking fringe is an aim across the board, those with stick-straight hair often need to be extra cautious. “It’s best to avoid using products in them because bangs lay against the face, and often the natural oils from the skin and hair can weigh them down,” explains Roszak. Instead, lean into drying techniques while hair is still damp. For extra volume, Townsend recommends blow-drying the hair straight down with a flat brush, like a boar-bristle Mason Pearson, and then when it’s 90% dry, using a round brush—held vertically—to “flick” bangs up. For a grittier, more lived-in effect, Roszak suggests rough-drying using your fingertips. In between washes, consider a targeted refresh just on the bangs. “Spritz on a dry shampoo for a quick fix versus having to do a full wash and restyle on your entire head of hair,” says François, who counts Redken’s Deep Clean Dry Shampoo as his go-to.

Kevin Murphy Doo Over Dry Hairspray

Redken Deep Clean Dry Shampoo

Dyson Supersonic Hair Dryer

Dove Invisible Dry Shampoo

Wavy

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Ride the wave—and embrace what you’ve got. “With a long, wavy fringe, you can air-dry for an effortless wash-and-go look that emphasizes the relaxed waves of this hair texture,” says François, who tends to lean primarily on his Mist Nourishing Water as a styling primer or refresher in maintaining the S-shaped pattern of waves. In a similar spirit, Townsend encourages his wavy-haired clients to use their fingers instead of a brush and add a featherlight mist of Oribé Aprés Beach Spray to preserve their natural bends, or to lean into the ’70s-era curtain bangs look by using a round brush (held horizontally) or hot brush to sweep fringe down and away from the face to a fanned-out effect. Alternatively, if you want to set the hair in a certain wave or revive second-day bangs, Roszak says a spray water bottle and flat clips are her secret weapons. “After giving the bangs a couple of spritzes, I use one flat clip at the root of the bangs, helping them to lay flat at the root,” she explains. “I then shape them in the direction I want them to lay, often allowing for a little swoop or bend, adding two extra flat clips toward the ends.”

Vernon François Mist Nourishing Water

Oribe Apres Beach Wave and Shine Spray

JVN Complete Air Dry Cream

Revlon One-Step Hair Dryer & Volumizer Hot Air Brush

Curly

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