Hairstylist Tells Us 5 Mistakes You Might Be Making When Styling Your Bangs

If you've never had bangs before, you might think they're a huge commitment. They can significantly shake up your look (though that's often in the best way possible!), and growing out bangs involves seriously trusting the process. Not knowing how to properly style your bangs at home can also be frustrating, but if you can master the art of styling your bangs like a pro — and get around the extra work they require, from maintenance cuts to frequent washing — the rewards are worth it. Curtain bangs, in particular, are one of the haircuts we're seeing everywhere in 2025, so going for the chop and styling your new 'do to perfection is one way to stay on top of the trends.

Often, learning to style your bangs like a salon professional is less about what to do with them and more about what not to do. According to celebrity hairstylist and salon owner Jennifer Korab, there are a few common blunders that many amateurs make with their bangs that can completely ruin the look. She tells Glam exclusively that using too much heat isn't going to do your fringe any favors, and neither is employing too much product. Replace these rookie errors with tried-and-tested techniques, and you'll be able to style any kind of bangs, from the en-vogue curtain cut to versatile yet edgy peekaboo bangs.

The right products are essential for any kind of hairstyling, but at the same time, it's possible to have too much of a good thing. Jennifer Korab warns us that less is more when it comes to sprays and serums. "Because bangs rest against the forehead, they can quickly become oily," Korab explains exclusively to Glam. "Using heavy serums, creams, or oils only speeds up the process, making them look greasy and limp. Stick to lightweight sprays or a small amount of volumizing mousse to maintain movement without buildup."

A product like the highly rated SHIBUI Volumizing Mousse is what you're looking for here. In general, lightweight products will have words like "weightless" on the packaging, and it's a bonus if they're designed for fine or thin hair. Given the amount of heat-styling that a fringe requires, a heat-protectant spray is going to be one of the most-important products in your bangs toolkit, and the good news is they definitely come in lightweight options. The Kenra Platinum Blow-Dry Mist provides thermal protection without weighing down the hair, and the Lee Stafford Heat Protectant Spray also comes highly rated for the same reason. 

As mentioned, heat is incredibly important for styling your bangs. Unless you've nailed the curly girl method and are purposely letting your hair air-dry, you'll want to reach for the hair dryer pretty much as soon as you're out of the shower rather than letting your bangs partially air-dry first. "Bangs dry quickly, and if they aren't styled immediately, they can settle into unwanted shapes," Jennifer Korab shares exclusively with Glam. "The best approach is to dry them as soon as possible, using a brush to guide them into place before they start setting." 

Letting your hair air-dry comes with both pros and cons, and if you're going for a natural look, then it's no problem. You'll even get less heat damage that way! But if you want to heat-style your bangs, it needs to happen almost instantly since it won't work once they've started to dry. Squeeze out the excess water, and then your bangs will be ready for the dryer.

Heat-styling your bangs is the quickest and easiest way to ensure they dry in the style you want, but it's possible to overdo it when it comes to the temperature setting. Flat irons are among the hair tools that do the most damage to your hair, but they can also ruin the styling when used incorrectly. "Flat irons and round brushes can easily overwork bangs, making them too stiff, overly straight, or curled in an unnatural way," Jennifer Korab explains in our exclusive chat. "Instead, use a low heat setting and a blow dryer with a round or paddle brush, directing airflow downward for a soft, natural finish."

As a rule of thumb, try not to use a setting hotter than 140 degrees Fahrenheit when styling your bangs, and if you can, go even cooler. Of course, even when you're using a lower heat setting, it's still important to protect your hair with a heat protectant product. 

Many people don't even get to the point of using a flat iron on their bangs because blow-drying is enough. While you can really tame your fringe with a hair dryer, you'll want to avoid using the wrong technique. In our exclusive chat, Jennifer Korab advises us against blow-drying your entire bangs at once, which can lead to inconsistent results and unsightly kinks. "Instead, work in small sections, focusing on the roots first," she recommends. "For side-swept bangs, over-directing them in the opposite direction adds natural movement, while blunt bangs look best when dried straight down with a slight curve at the ends."

Different styles of bangs may require slightly different drying techniques, so you might have to experiment with what works for you. The effortless, retro "Birkin Bangs," which were revived in 2023, may need nothing more than a straight-forward blow-dry with a round brush, while curtain bangs can be styled with a flat iron. 

Avoiding these mistakes can help you get the best bangs of your life, but not if you're working with the wrong tools. Generally speaking, it's best to use a round brush when blow-drying your hair, but remember to pay attention to its size, too. Different fringe styles may also call for different brushes. "A brush that's too large can cause bangs to puff up too much, while a too-small brush can create tight, unflattering curls," Jennifer Korab tells Glam exclusively. "A medium round brush (about 1 to 1.5 inches) works well for soft volume, while a paddle brush is ideal for sleek, straight styles."

The 1.3-inch Hot Curling Brush from GLGL is a great example of the general size to be looking for; however, your hairstylist can provide you with tailored advice if it isn't the right fit. Those with thinner, finer, or shorter bangs might prefer to go for something smaller, like the 1-inch Perfehair Small Round Brush for Short Hair. If you're blow-drying a straighter fringe — or perhaps you're getting in on the baby bangs trend — check out the Paul Mitchell Pro Tools 427 Paddle Brush.