Which fringe suits me? The best bangs for every face shape
Fringes have never been more fashionable, and getting a fringe can truly transform your face – as long as it’s the right one for you.
Because there are so many fringe types to choose from – everything from a retro-style full fringe or long, choppy fringe to a side-swept fringe or super-short baby bangs – picking the perfect style can be tricky, especially if you’ve never had a fringe before.
When choosing the right fringe to go with your haircut and hair type, it’s important to seek advice from an experienced hairstylist who has a good understanding of the fringe and hairstyle that will suit the shape of your face.
“A fringe’s shape influences which facial features are emphasised and how the eyes are framed,” Paul Edmonds told the Telegraph recently, when he was interviewed for a feature on how to find the right fringe for your face shape and the hottest trends for 2026.
“First, you have to decide on the width of the fringe,” says Paul. “Then how deep you want it cut in, meaning how far back the fringe starts. You also need to look at the hairline, because very often, for people who have something like a cowlick, their life is going to be made more difficult by having a fringe.”
Why does your face shape matter when selecting the perfect fringe? Cutting a fringe is about creating the most flattering look, and your face shape – whether round, square, diamond, heart-shaped or long – will determine which length, texture and shape of fringe looks best.
For example, with more square face shapes, you may want to create the illusion of roundness in your jawline, whereas with a long face shape, you might want to use a fringe to minimise your forehead.
On the other hand, maybe you just want to try a cool new fringe trend you’ve seen on a celebrity or on social media. Bangs (to use the American term for a fringe) are a massive hair trend for 2026, whether you’ve got a bob, a bixie cut or long hair, so if you want to embrace a trend-inspired fringe rather than decide based on your face shape, we say go for it!
If you’ve decided you’re ready for bangs, our expert team of stylists at Paul Edmonds London has put together a comprehensive guide on which fringe will suit your face shape.
Read on to find out which bangs will suit your face shape best. Plus, the answers to some frequently asked questions about fringes…
FRINGES TO SUIT A SQUARE FACE
If you have a square face, the style of fringe that will suit your angular jawline is one that isn’t too blunt or thick.
“With a square face, what you're trying to do is narrow the jaw,” says Paul. “It's all about disguising and balancing the face. I recommend going for a narrower fringe, as a wider fringe could make your face look wider. You also need to carefully judge the length of the hair alongside the fringe.”
Fringe styles that are well-suited for a square face include having a choppy fringe – a look that’s been popular on the red carpet recently – as well as having a rounded or side-swept fringe.
These styles will provide a softer look for a square face, particularly a side fringe, which helps to highlight your cheekbones while reducing any sharpness around the jaw.
Celebrities with square faces: Nicole Kidman, Zendaya, Margot Robbie, Cameron Diaz, Angelina Jolie.
FRINGES TO SUIT A ROUND FACE
For a round face, a shorter, layered fringe is the perfect option for creating the illusion of a longer face.
While we don’t recommend going as far as a severe micro fringe cut high on the forehead, short and wispy baby bangs can look beautiful on round face shapes as they show off your eyes and cheekbones while flattering your facial dimensions by squaring off a rounded edge.
A side-swept fringe is another excellent idea for a rounder face shape, meaning bangs that are soft around the edges, but fall longer and wider at the cheek. This swooping shape will bring depth to the face while being super flattering for your jawline and cheekbones.
“With round faces, I'd avoid very full fringes or wide fringes because they can make your face look rounder,” Paul says. “It's best not to be a heavy, one-length fringe, but something choppy or layered instead.”
Celebrities with round faces: Ayo Edibiri, Carey Mulligan, Emma Stone, Selena Gomez, Monica Bellucci
FRINGES TO SUIT A HEART-SHAPED FACE
A heart-shaped face – meaning a face with a wider forehead, defined cheekbones and a narrow chin – generally suits a longer fringe that is swept across to the side or parted in the centre, such as the curtain bangs trend sported by countless celebrities in recent years.
“Heart-shaped faces are the easiest ones to decide on a fringe for because they've normally got high cheekbones and a delicate jawline, so anything will suit them,” Paul says. That means you can play around with the length and try different trends.
The curtain bangs trend, as seen on pop star Sabrina Carpenter, is a favourite for heart-shaped faces because a longer fringe brings out the cheekbones and takes the emphasis away from the chin, as a chin on a heart-shaped face tends to be more pointed.
Celebrities with heart-shaped faces: Hailey Bieber, Sabrina Carpenter, Reese Witherspoon, Gwyneth Paltrow, Rihanna
FRINGES FOR A DIAMOND-SHAPED FACE
For a diamond-shaped face, meaning a face that is wider at the cheekbones and narrower at the forehead and chin, pretty much any fringe type will flatter your features. If you have this face shape, consider yourself lucky, as the ‘perfect’ fringe style is simply a matter of preference.
“You can vary it,” Paul says. “You can take a wider fringe or a narrower one, it depends on how you like to wear your hair.” That’s why actor Zoe Kravitz, with her incredible bone structure, can pull off a super-short, choppy fringe and still look stunningly beautiful.
What other factors should you consider when deciding on a fringe for a diamond-shaped face? It helps to think about your lifestyle and how having a fringe could impact your day-to-day styling. For example, if you are typically low-maintenance, opt for a choppy or longer fringe which can be left to air dry or easily swept to the side.
“Curtain bangs have been around for a few years now, but they’re still very much in demand,” Paul says. “The one thing that's being varied is that the centre is being cut into slightly to give a more choppy look.”
Celebrities with diamond-shaped faces: Jennifer Lopez, Taylor Swift, Zoe Kravitz, Kendall Jenner and Viola Davis.
FRINGES FOR A LONG FACE
A fringe is always a great idea for long face shapes, as it gives the illusion of a smaller face. If your hair is thick enough, it helps to opt for fuller bangs rather than a wispy style to create the most flattering transformation.
If you don't want to commit to a Claudia Winkelman-style block fringe, ask your stylist to break the fringe up slightly and give it a choppy finish or a slight centre parting so that it doesn’t feel too heavy.
“With long faces, you can do a nice full fringe because you're ‘taking off’ the top part of the face to balance the proportions,” says Paul, who is a fan of classic Jane Birkin-style bangs, the modern version of which is seen on actress Dakota Johnson.
“I think it also looks quite good if you wear it down over your eyebrows, so quite a heavy fringe, but still cutting into it slightly to reduce the general bulk is good because it gives you some adaptability.”
Celebrities with long face shapes: Dakota Johnson, Jennifer Aniston, Sarah Jessica Parker, Kelly Rowland.
Fringe FAQs Answered by Paul Edmonds
Paul's team of hairstyling experts have put together their most asked questions when it comes to fringes…
1. How often should you have a fringe trim?
To maintain the shape of your fringe and keep it in good condition, we recommend getting your fringe trimmed every three weeks. At Paul Edmonds, most of our clients get a haircut every six weeks and pop in for a complimentary fringe trim in between.
2. Should I try and cut my fringe at home or get it done in the salon?
If you have ever attempted to cut your own fringe by following an online tutorial that made it look super easy, you will probably already know the answer to this question!
“I've seen many a botched fringe job done at home,” says Paul. “You're more likely to be happy and avoid any disasters if you go to the salon for a trim.”
All our stylists offer free fringe trims in between cuts, so we can ensure it is perfect for your face shape and hair texture, and we can offer advice on how to grow out your bangs if that’s what you’ve decided to do.
3. Can people with curly hair pull off a fringe?
If you've got curly hair, you can absolutely pull off a fringe. In fact, a curly fringe can really help to frame your face and enhance your features.
However, it’s important that you go to a hairdresser who’s experienced with cutting textured hair and understands curl patterns.
The same rules generally apply in terms of how curly fringe styles suit different face shapes, but it also depends, Paul says, on “what you want to do, whether it's bringing a few tendrils down so you have a soft fringe, or a heavy curly fringe, which I really like.”
You will need to decide whether you want a fringe that can be styled straight as well as curly, he continues. “With our curly-haired clients, we cut the fringe in at a longer length when the hair is wet, then allow it to dry and see how the curls shrink. We then trim it again to the correct length.”
If you have curly hair and are getting a fringe for the first time, Paul suggests easing in with some tendrils or a centre-parted fringe. Once your stylist gets to know how the curls sit, you can try a bolder look.
4. Can people with thin hair pull off a fringe?
It’s a common misconception that you can’t have a fringe if you have thin or fine hair. The truth is, the right fringe paired with the right haircut can help your hair appear thicker overall while giving you a flattering new look.
Your stylist will recommend the best bangs to suit your hair texture and face shape, Paul says. “They may have to bring more hair into your fringe if you've got very fine hair.”
Wish you had thicker hair? Nutrition is the key to hair health, and beauty supplement Viviscal Professional delivers an expert-approved blend of nutrients to help give you fuller-looking locks.
Alternatively, hair extensions are a brilliant way to create more volume in your hair – and that includes fringes. Find out more about how you can achieve thicker hair with a range of undetectable extension types at Paul Edmonds London.
5. What type of fringes are there?
Full fringe – A fringe that is combed straight down and cut vertically across.
A blunt full fringe – is a fringe that is cut sharply and is often thick and heavy, adding definition to your face.
A choppy full fringe - is a fringe that is cut-into to create soft movement and texture, echoing the ‘undone but polished’ aesthetic
A wispy fringe – less heavy than a full fringe, a wispy fringe is perfect for those after something with less commitment and styling.
A rounded fringe – is similar to the full fringe, but has a rounded shape, being longer on the sides, so it blends into the rest of the hair.
A parted fringe – also called a 'Bardot fringe' or ‘curtain bangs’, this is where your bangs are parted, usually in the centre and each side is swept away from the face.
Side-swept fringe – a fringe which starts from a side parting and often only covers one half of the forehead. It is usually longer than a full fringe and is very flattering.
A micro fringe – either full or choppy, this is a very short fringe that ends above the eyebrows.
Baby bangs – the modern version of the micro fringe, baby bangs are cut in a choppy style slightly above the eyebrows.
Layered fringe – similar to curtain bangs, a layered fringe is wispy and blends seamlessly with the natural hair movement.
6. Which fringe trends are big in 2026?
What’s great about fringe trends at the moment is they’re so diverse. With bobs continuing to be in demand in 2026, we’re seeing blunt and choppy bangs paired with shoulder-skimming bobs on the catwalks and red carpet.
Inspired by daring celebrities like Zoe Kravitz, baby bangs have been making a comeback, while wispy or side-swept fringes are also big news in 2026 thanks to the bixie cut debuted last year by Nicole Kidman.
For a softer look that’s easy to maintain, curtain bangs are still on trend for 2026 (and will continue to be as long as Sabrina Carpenter keeps her signature look), and a Jane Birkin-style long, choppy fringe remains a shortcut to Parisienne cool.
7. How can I protect my fringe from heat damage?
If you’re going to be blow-drying, curling or straightening your fringe regularly, it’s essential you apply a heat protection product first to prevent damage and frizz.
For choppy fringes or curtain bangs, a texturising spray will add movement, while a lightweight serum will tame frizz.
Dry shampoo is an amazing time-saver for fringe styling, especially if your hair tends to be on the greasy side. A couple of spritzes left for a minute and brushed through will whisk away oil and refresh your fringe.
8. If I don't like my fringe, how easy is it to grow out?
If you choose carefully in collaboration with your hairdresser, we’re confident you’ll love your new fringe. However, if you feel your bangs don’t suit you or later find it’s too high-maintenance to style, don’t worry, it’s easy to grow out a fringe.
Depending on the length of the fringe, within a few weeks, you will be able to part it in the middle or sweep or clip it to one side. On your next appointment, your stylist can help blend it into the rest of your hair.
Paul Edmonds London: The Fringe Experts
Now that you know which fringe styles suit your face shape, have you got a fabulous new look in mind for 2026? Maybe you want to try cool girl-approved baby bangs, a sultry side-swept fringe, or a choppy fringe to go with your long locks?
Book a consultation with a member of our expert team who will consider your face shape, hair type, lifestyle and the latest hair trends so you can decide on a fantastic fringe that looks and feels sensational.
Book your next appointment at Paul Edmonds London.
