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Aren’t full bangs so intimidating? What if you get flyaways? What if they don’t line up? What if they puff up in the humidity? These are the spirals we put ourselves through… and spirals Jane Birkin never cared for. Birkin Bangs, a cut named after her, still lives on in women’s heads (and foreheads) today, but what exactly is it, and how can you get the look?
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It’s Perfect If It’s Imperfect
Birkin bangs get their name from Jane Birkin, the late British-French actress, singer, and style muse who managed to inspire both an Hermès bag and a haircut.
Birkin bangs are straight from the ‘70s playbook: soft, a little messy, but better because they’re not perfect. They flatter most face shapes, give that lived-in frame around the eyes, and require no rigid styling routine.
Note: it’s not stuck in the past with Jane. The bangs solidarity club is alive and thriving even in today’s time, with Daisy Edgar-Jones, Anne Hathaway, and Jenna Ortega all proof that the cut works on any face, any carpet, any decade.
What to Ask For at the Salon
As tempting as it is to grab the scissors and go full DIY, this is one fringe best left to the pros. Here are four elements to emphasize.
Let loose! The shorter center, the feathered sides—they’re all there so the bangs fall easy, not heavy. Also, treat your brow as your anchor point; anything higher or heavier loses the charm.
And though they’re meant to look effortless, “effortless” might involve a few tools, like a blow dryer and a round brush. Bend them over for polish, flick them out for edge, or skip the heat with a texture spray.
Just don’t overdo it—the charm is in the looseness. And when in doubt? Ask the only question that matters: what would Jane Birkin do?
Photos: JANE BIRKIN DAILY, COMPLEX POP (via Instagram), DISTRACTED FILM (via X), ANNE HATHAWAY
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