Curtain bangs took the world by storm in 2020. The ’60s and ’70s-inspired fringe was on everyone’s head, including some of our favorite celebrities. And while many are still sporting the bangs, its popularity has definitely declined. But, bangs aren’t going anywhere in 2022. So if you’re thinking about growing out your curtain bangs to get rid of them, stop you right there. Curtain bangs have run their course, but bottleneck bangs are the hot new trend poised to take over this year.
We spoke with London-based hairstylist Tom Smith (aka the man behind the trend) to learn everything there is to know about this trend. The international creative and color director of Evo Hair dishes on how to achieve this style, who it looks best on, and more so scroll below!
Bottleneck Bangs, Explained
If you guessed the name of this style came from a bottleneck, you’re a real Sherlock Holmes. Tom shares that they “ their name from the curve that is seen from the neck and shoulder of a bottle that describes how they frame the face of the wearer.” They are “narrower and shorter in the middle between the brows and steeply angling down around the eyes curving around into a second bang ‘layer’ that sits around cheekbones or jaw.”
Other than their ability to flatter nearly every face shape, Tom shares that “one of the greatest selling points of this bang is that it looks great when one wears their hair up. Many people love being able to pull out face-framing pieces from their ponytail or bun and it facilitates this brilliantly.”
Achieving this cut depends on a few important factors, including length and your face shape. Similar to curtain bangs, this style will be shorter in the center and longer on the sides. For all you stylists who want to prepare, Tom shares his recipe for bottleneck success.
“Bottleneck bangs are achieved by first determining the desired shortest central length and longest lengths,” he starts. “Then, cut bangs that skim your cheekbones at an angle that flatters your face, curving around to create a layer that sits somewhere between your cheekbones and jaw, that disconnects from the rest of the hair. The central part should be cut shorter. Keep the cutting line soft and choppy, with the shortest part in the middle and getting longer on the edges.” He notes that “on thicker hair, I like to personalize this further by slicing some weight out to give the bang movement.”
Who They’re Perfect For
Nearly every hair type can sport these bangs, though Tom notes that “hair types 1B through to 3B can wear these bangs easily.” Those with hair types 1A, 3C, 4A, 4B, or 4C may have a little more difficulty with the style, though it’s not impossible to get the cut.
For hair type 1A, Tom notes that you should be “willing to style curves and shape them” accordingly. When it comes to the curlier hair types, you’ll need a cut to focus on your unique curl pattern and pay attention to how you style them. “Hair types 3C and 4A can consider a version of bottleneck bangs but the result should be adjusted to compliment the curl pattern and consider the curl length of the face frame,” says Tom. “Hair types 4B and 4C will struggle to achieve the definition that the bangs require without a fair bit of styling.”
As far as face shape goes, these bangs look great on every visage. It will just require an adjustment depending on your face shape. “Because the upper central part of the bang can be adjusted to part and sweep it can be great for giving a longer appearance to a shorter face,” says Tom. “The opposite is also true. If one wants to wear a full bang, this can also be achieved by retaining the longer edges to create the bottleneck shape.”
He shares that this bang style looks best on those with long or wider face shapes “because of how the hair frames and closes in the face in a very sexy, sultry way.” They’re also phenomenal for square face shapes. “The curves and angles of the bang can soften a strong, square face extremely successfully,” says Tom.
The Right Way to Style Bottleneck Bangs
Styling the bangs is relatively easy. All you’ll need is a blow dryer, a round brush, and either a flat iron or curling iron. When blow drying them, Tom says to “focus on drying the roots forward first. This will give you control over how the bank opens or parts.”
Once dry, you can style them with a straightener or curling iron. “I love using a straightening iron to bend them in a really customizable way, but they can also be blowdried with a round brush or styled with a large curling iron for a more flicky result,” says Tom.
Bottleneck Bangs Inspiration
We wanted to be sure to leave you with some inspiration for when you eventually get the style. Scroll below for some of the best bottleneck bangs on Instagram! Remember to save one that’s similar to your face shape and hair type so you’ll know what the bangs will potentially look like on you.