Help Bangs Flow to the Side
Q: I have a question about my bangs. I would like them to just flow to the side, but I don't know what product to use or how to style them to do this. Usually, the shortest parts of my bangs stick up, flip outward, or curl in different directions. How can I make my bangs flow smoothly to the side? What products or styling techniques can help keep everything going in the same direction?
A: It sounds as there are two things working against the style you want. Your bangs may need a little more weight and control so they hang rather than spring upward, and you also need to remove some of their natural curl or wave before directing them to the side.
Start with the Right Products
When washing your hair, use a moisturizing, smoothing shampoo and a conditioner. Look for formulas described as smoothing, moisturizing, anti-frizz, or designed to make the hair sleek and manageable. You don't need a heavy product. The goal is to keep the bangs hydrated and reduce the tendency of individual hairs to become fluffy.Rinse with warm rather than very hot water, and finish with a slightly cooler rinse if you like. Avoid vigorously rubbing the bangs with a towel afterward, since rough towel-drying can encourage frizz and make short hairs stand away from the rest of the bangs. Instead, gently squeeze or blot out the excess moisture.
While your bangs are still damp, apply a small amount of smoothing or anti-frizz serum. Follow with a lightweight leave-in conditioner if your hair tends to be dry or difficult to control. Use only a small amount on the bangs because too much product can make them greasy.
Blow-Dry in the Right Direction
This is probably the most important step.Rather than simply blowing the hair downward, use a large round brush and begin at the roots. Direct the airflow from the blow-dryer along the hair shaft, from the roots toward the ends. As you brush the bangs, gradually pull them toward the side in which you want them to flow.
For example, if you want your bangs to sweep toward the right, guide the roots and lengths toward the right while drying them. Don't immediately pull them sharply to the side. Start by drying them slightly forward and downward, then gradually curve them toward the side. This creates a softer, more natural sweep.
Pay attention to the shortest pieces. If these are the hairs that normally stick straight up or curl in different directions, make sure the brush catches them while they are damp. Pull them gently in the same direction as the rest of the bangs while applying the warm airflow.
Smooth with a Flat Iron
Once the bangs are completely dry, you can use a flat iron to refine the shape. Make sure the hair is fully dry before using it, and use a heat-protectant.Take relatively small sections and gently pull them through the flat iron while moving the iron in the direction you want the bangs to flow. Don't hold the iron in one place for too long. You are trying to smooth and redirect the hair, not make the bangs completely flat against your forehead.
For a side-swept effect, you can slightly angle the flat iron as you move toward the ends. This allows the ends to follow the sweep rather than simply hanging straight down. Use a quick, gentle pass rather than repeatedly going over the same section.
Set with Hairspray
If your bangs tend to return to their natural curl as soon as you finish styling them, use a light-hold hairspray.One useful technique is to lightly mist the finished bangs with hairspray and then gently smooth them with your brush. Avoid soaking the hair with spray, since too much hairspray can make the bangs stiff.
After shaping the bangs, let them cool completely before brushing or manipulating them again. This is an important step that is easy to overlook. Hair retains the shape it has been set in as it cools, so disturbing it while it is still warm can cause the style to lose some of its hold.
Once the bangs have cooled, gently brush through them. This breaks up the stiffness from the hairspray and leaves you with softer, more natural-looking bangs.
Finish with Pomade if Necessary
If you still have a few short pieces that insist on sticking up, you can use a very small amount of lightweight pomade, styling cream, or smoothing wax.Rub a tiny amount between your fingertips first, then lightly smooth it over the troublesome hairs. Don't apply a large amount directly to the bangs, as this can make them look oily. The idea is to give those stubborn pieces just enough weight to make them follow the rest of the hair.
You can also use a small amount of product on your fingertips to gently press down individual flyaway hairs rather than applying product to the entire fringe.
Additional Tips
• Style the bangs every time they are washed. If you repeatedly dry them in the desired direction, they can become easier to manage because you are consistently setting the shape.• Don't let the bangs air-dry first. If they dry in their natural curl or sticking-up pattern, it becomes much harder to redirect them afterward.
• Work from the roots. If you only straighten the ends, the roots can continue pushing the hair in the wrong direction.
• Use less product than you think you need. Bangs are close to the face and can become visibly greasy or stiff from excessive product.
• Use a larger brush rather than a very small round brush. A small brush can create too much curl or a pronounced flip at the ends.
• Avoid repeatedly straightening the bangs at very high heat. Bangs are often finer and shorter than the rest of the hair and can become dry or damaged relatively quickly.
• If only a few short hairs refuse to cooperate, don't keep applying more and more product. Those pieces may simply be too short to lie with the rest of the bangs.
The goal is to create the direction with water, brushing, and blow-drying first, and then use the flat iron and styling products to refine and maintain that shape. Think of the hairspray or pomade as the finishing step rather than the thing responsible for creating the style.
If the shortest portions of the bangs are significantly shorter than the rest, there is a limit to how much product can make them flow with the longer hair. In that situation, allowing those pieces to grow slightly longer will make a difference.
©Hairfinder.com
See also:
Tips for better bangs
Would bangs work with my curly hair?
How would I cut my hair to achieve the sexy long bangs look?