How To Grow Out Your Bangs (The Right Way!) In 6 Easy Steps
Stop hating your hair.
Krakenimages.com / Shutterstock So, you bravely went where some girls only dream of going and got bangs.
You nailed the cute but sophisticated look, but now you’re ready for a change. Or, maybe a change is ready for you, but you don’t trust yourself to maintain your bangs alone.
When you're in the awkward growth period, you might feel tempted to hide your bangs and your hair from the world. And that's where knowing how to grow out bangs can be a real lifesaver.
Bangs are amazing... until they start to grow out.
Your vision is partially blurred by the hair poking your eyelashes with every blink. You’re constantly pushing your bangs from side to side or aggressively combing down the bits that won’t stay in your ponytail.
The transition can be infuriating and leave you feeling completely out of love with your look. Luckily, there are steps you can take to speed up the growing out process slightly, or at least make it more bearable.
Looking after your hair and getting creative with your look will help you fall in love with your bangs again, even in the in-between stages of growing out your bangs.
Here's how to grow your bangs out in 6 easy steps.
1. Trim, don’t chop.
This may sound counterintuitive. You’ve committed to the growing process and don’t want to ruin your progress by taking scissors to your bangs. But this is the key to stimulating hair growth.
“Ong good tip to grow out bangs or get them past the 'awkward' stage is to get trims every 2-3 weeks, along with using less heat to keep them healthy and doing a hair treatment once a week,” suggests Roy Naccour, hair stylist and owner of J. Joseph Salon in Tampa, Florida.
Trimming off split and dyed ends means your hair can absorb more vitamins and other good stuff that make your hair grow faster. Just remember: less is more when it comes to trimming your bangs.
Once you have the scissors in hand, it may be tempting to just pack it all in and go back to square one. But don’t give up!
This little trim will speed up your progress and give you long, wispy locks in a couple of months. For additional instructions, this YouTube tutorial can help.
2. Lock in your hair's moisture.
Keeping your hair moisturized will prevent breakages, which will keep your hair growing quickly and healthily. This is particularly important if you have color-treated hair, as you might find that your hair texture is deteriorating if you don't frequently visit the salon.
Adding moisture and depth to your hair will also make it easier to keep those annoying flyaways in check. Using a deep conditioning mask on your hair once a week will nourish your locks.
The faster your hair grows, the quicker you can say goodbye to awkward bangs.
3. Train your bangs.
It might seem like your bangs are fighting you every step of the way, but that doesn’t mean they can’t be tamed. Show them who's boss by sweeping them into a curtain shape that shows them where they are supposed to be growing.
Blow-drying them into place after a shower will keep them out of your eyes while framing your face in a flattering way. You can also apply some gel to your damp hair, keeping it just on the roots of your bangs for a hold that isn’t crunchy or sticky.
"The best way to train your bangs, at least first time bangs, is to always style from wet to dry to avoid any splits that may occur from previous hair parts,” Naccour recommends. “A great style is taking a round brush and blow dryer, and having the bangs go away from the face. Or, if you want them in the face, try round brushing them underneath or using a flat brush, brushing in an X-motion back and forth."
If you’re not a fan of the curtain bangs look, try a side sweep. And check out this tutorial for training your bangs if you need extra guidance.
4. Get creative with clips.
As your bangs start to grow out, you’ll find them falling out of ponytails and sticking out in all directions. Channeling some retro vibes with a vintage barrette will shake up your look and cover up your mid-length bangs.
For a 90s-inspired look, gel down your bangs behind your ears and add lots of layered bobby pins. This look is both trendy and practical.
Headbands are another chic way to keep your hair out of your face without having to gel your bangs into places. You can also opt for the hair accessory of your choice.
5. Braid away your worries.
Once your hair is a little longer, you’ll be able to disguise the uneven length by styling those pesky bangs into a braid (or twist if you struggle with braids) that goes around the side of your head, along the hairline. This is a stylish way to grow your hair out gracefully.
Keep your braid or twist tight to catch those annoying short hairs that hate to stay in place. Secure it with bobby pins or hairspray for a cute look that lasts all day.
6. Embrace the wisps.
The journey gets a little easier as your hair gets longer, but if you’re going for a sleek, even haircut, mid-length bangs might be your worst nightmare.
Instead of constantly gelling your bangs into place, experiment with some different looks.
Wispy curtain bangs are very chic in France, so try channeling your inner Parisian with this look.
For a beachy, messy look, pull some strands from your ponytail so your bangs blend in like layers. You’ll be able to achieve a sleek center part quicker than you think, but for now embrace the face-framing layers!
What are the best hairstyles for bangs?
The best hairstyle to complement your bangs really depends on the texture of your hair as well as your face shape.
“Knowing your face shape, particularly the shape and size of your forehead, can help you make the right decision on a length, and/or fullness, which will complement your features,” Naccour recommends.
For example, people with round faces would do best with side bangs, while people with heart-shaped faces might find blunt baby bangs or crescent styles to work.
“Oval face shapes take very well to any type of bang. If you have more of a long-shaped face, straight-across heavy bangs are for you. Meanwhile, heart-shaped faces are great for that wispy fringe or a side swept bang,” adds Naccour.
“It is always a good idea to ask your stylist’s opinion, but having a general idea before your appointment will help you feel more confident in your decision.”
How long does it take bangs to grow out?
Depending on the style, length of the bangs, and health of your hair, it takes bangs “anywhere between 3-6 months” to grow out, according to Naccour. This is considering that hair grows, on average, one-half inch per month.
But the length of time your hair takes to grow out also depends on how much you nourish and take care of your hair.
"Doing weekly deep conditioning treatments and taking vitamin C or zinc can help create collagen and absorb iron, which is a vital mineral for hair growth. Zinc is good for balancing the scalp and keeping it nourished while growing,” Naccour says.
"Another great way to help the growth process is to trim the dead ends. Ask your stylist to trim a quarter inch to half-inch off of your bottom length so the distance between your bang length and your bottom length starts to become closer together. This will make your bangs appear longer."
No wonder it's so essential to ensure your hair is healthy!
Alice Kelly is a senior news and entertainment editor for YourTango. Based out of Brooklyn, New York, her work covers all things social justice, pop culture, and human interest. Keep up with her on Twitter for more.