These 10 Celebrity Haircuts Will Make You Want Short Hair with Bangs

By
Erin Lukas
ErinLukas
Erin Lukas
Erin is a Brooklyn-based beauty editor. She covers all facets of beauty.
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Updated on May 26, 2023 @ 04:21PM
Photo: Getty Images/InStyle

If you're among the short-haired camp and have saved a photo of Zoë Kravitz's pixie with choppy baby bangs or Kerry Washington's blunt bob and bangs, you're probably ready for the commitment. Much like short hair, bangs require extra styling and routine trims to maintain the perfect length. Combine the two and expect to spend double the time on your hair.

That being said, if you're looking to switch up your existing cut and you're willing to put in the extra effort, bangs will dramatically transform your current style. But are they worth the work? The short answer is, yes.

When you add bangs to a bob or a pixie, it's important to keep your face shape and hair texture in mind. "Short hair brings focus to the face and requires balance," says Jason Linkow, a stylist at Antonio Prieto Salon in NYC. "Avoid bangs that are unsuitable for your hair texture."

If you're in the short hair camp and are considering bangs, let these celebrities convince you. Read on for the 10 best celebrity short haircuts with bangs for every face shape.

01 of 10

Selena Gomez

Selena Gomez textured bob with bangs

@selenagomez / Instagram

If you have a round face shape like Selena Gomez, Linkow says that narrow bangs split down the center will give your face more length. "The cut should sit tighter to the head and have loose, soft length around the face to balance. Some height or texture in the crown can be flattering," he says.

02 of 10

Ginnifer Goodwin

ginnifer goodwin with mussed up pixie in black lace and pearl dress
Ginnifer Goodwin. David Livingston, Getty

Ginnifer Goodwin's mussed up pixie and choppy bangs suits her round face shape, thanks to the styling of her hair at the top of her head, Adding a little height can help elongate the face, so reach for a pomade or styling paste.

03 of 10

Viola Davis

Viola Davis
George Pimentel/FilmMagic

Loose, soft, longer fringe — as demonstrated by Viola Davis's side-swept bangs — is another great option for round faces.

04 of 10

Helen Mirren

Helen Mirren
Ryan Emberley/Getty Images for L'Oreal Paris

Mirren's shaggy bangs compliment her bob, which hits at the the hollows of her cheeks. If you have a heart-shaped face, Linkow says that keeping the sides of your bangs longer will bring balance to a wide forehead.

05 of 10

Rihanna

Rihanna
Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic

Tapered bangs like Rihanna's soften up square-shaped faces. Along with fringe that's longer at the sides, Linkow says that some volume up top is ideal.

06 of 10

Zoë Kravitz

Short Hair With Bangs
Steve Granitz/WireImage

Oval face shapes are the most versatile when it comes to bangs, but Linkow says it's important to keep your hair texture in mind. Zoe Kravitz's choppy baby bangs and layers add movement to her pixie.

07 of 10

Kristen Wiig

Short Hair With Bangs
Todd Williamson/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Image

Another factor to consider when getting bangs is the inevitable grow-out period when you decide that you're over them. Here, Kristen Wiig added layered, angled bangs to her cut — a genius way to avoid the awkward stages of growing out a pixie. The bangs blend seamlessly into the rest of her current length.

08 of 10

Kerry Washington

Short Hair With Bangs
George Pimentel/Getty Images

Kerry Washington accessorized her bob with piecey, textured, full bangs that are longer at the sides —another great option for heart-shaped faces.

09 of 10

Scarlett Johansson

Scarlett Johansson at 89th Annual Academy Awards with undercut and pompadour
Getty/ Dan MacMedan

If you have an inverted triangle face shape like Scarlett Johansson, side-swept bangs or a fuller style at the crown of your head will be most-flattering. Here, her undercut and pompadour combo, follow the lines and shape of her face.

10 of 10

Alexa Chung

Alexa Chung
Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images

Alexa Chung is the queen of bedhead. Her effortless wavy, shaggy lob is always on point, and her see through bangs complement her oblong face shape and the style as a whole.

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