While virtually anyone can have a fringe (bangs) to their hairstyle, the most important thing to remember is how the concept of a fringe is defined. A person’s hair texture and
wave pattern are going to be major determining factors in the form that any fringe takes in a hairstyle. Therefore it is important that any individual contemplating the incorporation of a fringe into their hairstyle be aware
of what their hair is most likely to do.
All too often, individuals have tried to add a fringe to their existing look with disastrous results. And even when the results don’t qualify as a disaster, they can very often
be unpleasant for the individual, who was anticipating a different result. Because of this, there is one major rule that MUST be observed when contemplating the addition of a fringe area:
“Know your hair.”
It sounds simple, but just because you have been styling it all your life doesn’t necessarily mean you understand all that it can or will do in any given situation. And frankly,
those individuals who do fully understand the limitations and needs of their hair in order to make it behave in the way they want wouldn’t be asking about how to incorporate a fringe. They would either know how to make it
work, or would know that it simply doesn’t suit them.
So, in an attempt to help those who aren’t as well-versed in their own hair, let’s take a look at the concept of the fringe, the problems that can be inherent in various hair types
and solutions that can be adapted in many cases. We’ll start with defining “fringe”.
What is a fringe?
At its simplest, a fringe (bangs) is an area of the hair at the forehead that is cut shorter than the main body of the style. This is often done to provide a framing feature to the face
and minimize features that might otherwise be too prominent or unappealing. Sometimes it is simply a matter of esthetic preference. A fringe can offer a youthful look, or turn an otherwise simple hairstyle into something
softer and more sultry.
The specific shape and length of the fringe varies as widely as individuals do. The fringe on one person’s hairstyle may be softly-curved and wispy to caress the upper portions of
the face. It may be a sharply-defined line of hair that focuses the attention of the viewer to the horizontal place to make a narrow face appear broader. It may even be a long, angle-cut affair that sweeps to one side or
another to partially mask a portion of the face for a bit of flair or dramatic effect. All of these would be a fringe, and would be defined as such based solely on their clear delineation from the main body of the
hairstyle.
Fringe Lengths
The length of the fringe is generally a matter of esthetic preference, but often needs to be adapted to suit various hair types and problem traits. Not heeding the needs of
these types and traits can lead to myriad problems that at the very least would require lots of additional effort in styling to adapt while the issues resolve themselves.
Hair Types and Fringe Issues
Curly Hair
As mentioned above, the hair type in question has a tremendous bearing on the specifics of any fringe that can or should be attempted. And one of the most problematic hair types
for incorporating fringes is the very curly hair type. There is a reason that most women with very curly hair wear their hair very simply when they opt for a longer style. Those women have often been the victim of an
attempt to “add a fringe” that resulted in the creation of a puff-ball on their forehead. This happens as a result of the aforementioned ignorance of what the hair is most likely to do.
