How to Confidently Rock Short Hair with Bangs: The Dos and Don’ts of This Haircut

Short hair with bangs comes in many forms, from pixie cuts to textured lobs with a sexy, side-swept fringe. It’s becoming a popular hairstyle to make you look edgy yet still presko especially in this heat. However, the cardinal rules for haircuts and haircare across short hairstyles remain consistent.

Are bangs good for short hair? Definitely. You can rock bangs whatever your hair length—it's all about getting the right style and wearing it with confidence. If you’re still on the fence about making the change, these dos and don’ts can give you an idea of what you’re in for. If you’ve already chopped off your hair, these tips can answer the question, “Now how can I take care of my short hair with bangs?”

We’re not going to tell you what you can and can’t do with your hair—if you believe in your heart that a buzz cut will make you happy, you shouldn’t let anyone stop you! That being said, there are certain lengths and fringe styles that are more flattering on specific face shapes.

A layered bob with side-swept bangs is great if you have a square face as the style highlights the cheekbones instead of the jawline. A pixie cut can balance out a heart-shaped face and lengthen a round one. Got an oval face? You’re in luck—practically any style will work for you!

Lots of people think about face shape but they don’t really think about hair texture. Is yours fine, straight, wavy, or curly? Pixie cuts work on fine hair, giving the illusion of more volume. If you have wavy or curly hair, you’ll want to go longer than you envisioned as your hair will shorten as it dries. Meanwhile, stick-straight hair might look best in a short bob with baby bangs rather than something super cropped.

Short hair tends to grease up faster than long hair, so keep an eye on your locks for a few days post-haircut to gauge how often you’ll need to wash it. If it looks like you’ll need a daily wash, use gentle products that are suitable for everyday use, like TRESemmé Detox and Nourish Shampoo.

It might take some getting used to, but you’ll need to adjust the amount of product you use on your hair. Using the same amount of hair serum on shorter locks can have your mane looking greasy and limp. You can start with a pea-sized amount and focusing on the ends of your hair. Remember that a little goes a long way, and it’s easier to add more product if you need to rather than to take it out.

You’ll need to book hair appointments more often for maintenance—every three weeks if you have a blunt, short style, and every couple of months for longer, softer styles. Otherwise, your hair will look like it’s in that awkward growing-out stage and may become unruly.

Slick your hair back, sweep bangs to the side, curl the ends…there’s more than one way to wear a short hairstyle. We have more ideas to style your short hair!

For the most part, you can ditch the brush as short hair is usually a low-maintenance haircut and doesn’t tangle as much as long locks. Brush your hair with your fingers for some lift and to give it that naturally tousled look. If you have full bangs, fluff them regularly with your fingers. The natural oils from your hands will tame them throughout the day.

This is a good rule no matter what your hair type, as heat is the enemy of healthy hair. Try air-drying more often than blow-drying, and just tame flyaways with frizz-control products like Dove Restorative Oil Nourishing Care Conditioner. You can also dab a damp cotton ball on stray strands to keep them in place.

The number one rule? Don’t overthink it and do have fun with your hair! Now go and show the world how to confidently rock short hair with bangs!