Glasses and Long Bangs

Woman with long bangs and wearing glasses
 
Q: Are long blunt-cut (straight) bangs okay when you're wearing glasses? I've been wearing eyeglasses since last week, and now my long bangs are falling over the top of the frames. I think it looks messy, but a friend says it actually looks sexy and gives me a stylish, mysterious look. Is she right, or should I go ahead and cut my bangs shorter?
 
A: While I often encourage a woman to talk to her friends about a new look before making up her mind - provided the friend is someone whose opinion she genuinely values - this is one of those situations that is a little different.
 
Learning to wear eyeglasses and getting used to seeing yourself in them is usually a gradual process. For many people, it takes a few weeks for the glasses to begin feeling like a natural part of their appearance. During that adjustment period, it is common to over-analyze every detail, including how your hairstyle interacts with your frames. Because of that, the first question isn’t whether the look is fashionable; it’s whether your bangs are interfering with the comfort and function of your glasses.
 

The Practical Reality:

If your bangs constantly brush against your lenses, catch on the frames, or make you feel like you are always pushing your hair aside, that can become frustrating very quickly. Hair transfers natural oils and styling products to your lenses, which means you will be cleaning smudges off your glasses constantly. In this case, practicality should come before fashion.
 
On the other hand, if the bangs aren't physically bothering you, there is no reason to change them just because you wear glasses. Long, blunt bangs paired with eyeglasses are a classic, highly fashionable combination. Many women intentionally choose this style because it creates a chic, intellectual, or even slightly mysterious look. When your friend says it looks great, she is absolutely right.
 

Matching Frames to Your Fringe:

The style of your glasses also makes a major difference in how your bangs look:
 
• Bold, Dark, or Thick Frames: These create a strong visual statement and balance the "heavy" look of blunt bangs beautifully.
 
• Thin Metal or Wire Frames: These blend into the face more easily, allowing your bangs to remain the main focal point without making the top half of your face look too crowded.
 
Glasses with thin frames, paired with long bangs
 

How to Adjust Your Style Without Losing the Look:

If you decide the current length isn't working, you don't have to make a drastic change. You can easily tweak your fringe to make it feel neater and more comfortable:
 
• The "Just-Above" Trim: Try shortening the fringe just slightly so it rests a millimeter above the top of your frames. This keeps the dramatic, straight-across look of blunt bangs while keeping the hair completely off your glasses.
 
• Point-Cutting : Have your stylist use a point-cutting technique to snip vertically into the ends. This removes bulk and weight without sacrificing length, creating a lighter, slightly wispy curtain of hair that drapes softly over your frames rather than looking like a heavy block.
 
• Styling with Lift: When blow-drying, use a round brush to curve your bangs slightly outward and forward. This creates a tiny bit of "lift" at the roots, allowing the hair to hover elegantly over the top of your frames instead of lying flat against them.
 
Tip: When you go to the salon for a trim, always wear your glasses. Put them on and sit normally in the chair so your stylist can see exactly where the frames sit on your face and cut your bangs to complement them perfectly.
 
©Hairfinder.com
 
See also:
 
Hairstyles to combine with glasses
 
How to match hairstyles and glasses
 
The different types and styles of bangs
 
Tips for better bangs