Everything You Need to Know About Micro Bangs, According to Hairstylists

There’s no denying that bangs are fun. From curtain bangs to Birkin bangs, bottleneck bangs, side bangs and Korean bangs, the options are endless. And just when you thought there couldn’t possibly be another iteration, well, may I present to you micro bangs. The style has timeless appeal, going back as far as ancient Egypt, being used as an avant-garde statement by the flappers in the ‘20s and giving Audrey Hepburn and Bettie Page their signature ‘50s looks. Below, I spoke with three hairstylists to explain the cut, how to style it and give you some inspiration on contemporary iterations.

• Sarah Potempa is a celebrity stylist and co-founder of The Beachwaver Co. She is known for designing the first-ever rotating curling iron, the Beachwaver, and uses the tool to create waves for her clients. Her work has been featured in Vogue, Marie Claire, Teen Vogue and Vanity Fair, and her celebrity clientele includes Camila Cabello, Jennifer Garner, Ana de Armas and Lea Michele.
• Sunnie Brook is a celebrity hairdresser and Biolage global ambassador with more than 20 years in the beauty business. As a previous salon owner and educator, Brook's client list is composed of a who's who of Hollywood, including Elisabeth Moss, Hailey Bieber and Ashley Park.
• David Reid is a Los Angeles-based cosmetologist and hairstylist specializing in cutting, color and styling for natural hair. Reid is the brand ambassador for Thank God It’s Natural, a textured haircare brand, and has previously collaborated with the likes of Wella, Sebastian, and R+Co.

Micro bangs, baby bangs…is there really a difference? Yes, the hairstylists say, though the differences can be subtle. As Brook explains: “Micro bangs are short, bold and ultra-intentional—typically cut well above the brows, often around mid-forehead or even higher.” Meanwhile, baby bangs are softer and wispier, and mall bangs are all about volume and layering. If you had to describe micro bangs in three words, Brook says they’d be sleek, minimal and modern.

One of the best and enduring examples of the look was none other than Audrey Hepburn—think of films like Roman Holiday (1953) and Funny Face (1957), where the actress sported a short crop and micro bangs that gave her an impish, girlish look. Potempa also cites actresses like Charlize Theron (2019) and Kaia Gerber (2018) as contemporary examples of the micro bangs trend.

Edgy and dramatic, micro bangs are not for the faint of heart. Nor is it for the person who’s hoping for a low-maintenance haircut. Due to the length, you’ll need to trim them every two to four weeks, Brook advises. She tells me that heart/oval shaped faces are well-suited to this haircut as they will balance the proportions of the bangs. Straight and wavy hair are also the easiest to work with, as Brook shares, “Micro bangs work best when they lay effortlessly without too much manipulation.”

If you have a rounder face, Brook recommends opting for slightly longer bangs that graze your brows for better proportional balance. While curly and coily textures can rock micro bangs, she does caution that they’ll be a hefty styling commitment.

As the pros have said, this haircut is high-maintenance, requiring bi-weekly or monthly trims, plus daily styling. Depending on your hair density, you may also find that they become greasy more quickly, as they sit on your forehead and absorb oil from the skin. (To help with that, Brook recommends the Biolage Scalp Sync Oil Balancing Serum, below.)

When it comes to styling, Reid says it’s all about the drama. “Micro bangs are great when juxtaposed against volume and length,” he tells me. “Consider long, sleek and blunt lobs with an asymmetric micro bang or a micro bang on a ‘jellyfish’ cut like that worn by Lady Gaga and Miley Cyrus.”

While curly-haired folks can pull off the micro bangs trend, Brook advises having your stylist cut them slightly longer and working with your natural texture. The result will be a soft and airy effect.

To really put the edginess in this look, Potempa encourages getting experimental with color. “With a bold style like a micro bang, make it even bolder by dyeing it a different color than the rest of your hair,” she says.