How to Style Curly Bangs

Co-authored by Ashley Adams and Hannah Madden

Last Updated: August 29, 2022 References

Getting bangs is a fun way to refresh your curly style and give your hair a boost. But if you’re worrying about how to style them, don’t worry—we’ve got you covered. In this article, we’ll walk you through the process of styling your bangs naturally curly, as well as how to blow them out if you want to wear them straight. Read on for everything you need to know about curly bangs!

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Styling Bangs With Natural Curls

1
Wash or wet your hair. Styling curly bangs goes best when your hair is completely wet. Either wash your hair like you normally would in the shower, or use a spray bottle to spray your bangs until they’re dripping wet.^{[1]
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- In general, it’s always a good idea to style curly hair when it’s wet.
2
Apply a curl-enhancing cream. Curl creams moisturize your curls and also weigh down your bangs a bit, so they won’t be super poofy. Use about a dime-sized amount of your product, then run it through your bangs with your fingers.^{[2]
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- Curling creams are great for people with thick, very curly hair. If you have fine wavy hair, you can skip curling cream.
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3
Use a Denman brush to brush your bangs forward. Denman brushes are brushes with plastic bristles that help define curls and cut down on frizz. Hold the brush with the bristles facing upward, and start brushing from underneath your bangs. Brush your bangs forward and away from your face to give them volume and lift before you start styling.^{[3]
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- If you have blunt or straight across bangs, brush them upwards to give them volume at the roots as they rest on your forehead.
- If you have curtain or swooped bangs, brush them to the side while still brushing upwards at the root for extra volume.
4
Twist or coil your bangs to enhance the curl. Grab a 1 in (2.5 cm) wide section of your bangs, then twist the curl around your finger, following the natural curl direction. Gently squeeze the curl into shape and scrunch it, then do the same thing with the rest of your bangs.^{[4]
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- Finger coiling is optional, but it’s a great way to define your curls (especially if you’re trying to fight frizz).
- Keep in mind that you’re trying to encourage the natural curl that’s already in your bangs. If your curls are larger or looser, feel free to grab larger sections of hair.
5
Add a lightweight gel for extra hold. Styling gels help keep your curls in place all day. Squeeze a dime-sized amount of lightweight gel into your hands, then gently scrunch the gel into your curls.^{[5]
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- In general, try to style your bangs the same way that you style the rest of your hair when it’s curly. If you use gel on your hair normally, add it to your bangs—but if you don’t use gel, you don’t have to put it in your bangs.
6
Air dry or diffuse your bangs. If you’re short on time, put a diffuser attachment on your hairdryer and flip your head upside down. Diffuse your bangs and the rest of your hair until it’s fully dry. If you’d like to air dry your bangs, simply leave your hair in place and go about your day like normal.^{[6]
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- If you used a gel in your bangs, they may dry slightly crunchy. This is a good sign—it means the gel created a “cast” to hold your curls in place. Whenever your bangs are dry, simply give them a few scrunches with your hand to make them soft and fluffy again.

Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Straightening Curly Bangs

1
Wash or wet your hair. If you have wavy or not super curly hair, you may want to blow out your bangs instead of leaving them natural. If that’s the case, either wash your hair like normal or use a spray bottle to wet your bangs until they’re dripping wet.^{[7]
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- Blowing out your bangs also helps keep them in place, especially if you have a particularly unruly cowlick that you’re trying to tame.
2
Brush your bangs to one side. While your bangs are still wet, roughly brush them to one side of your forehead, just using your hands. Brushing them to one side helps them meet in the middle to avoid that dreaded part that tends to happen with new bangs.^{[8]
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- Even if you have curtain bangs that are supposed to part in the middle, pushing them to one side to start will help give them volume and bounce.
3
Point your hair dryer downward to start drying. Position your hair dryer above your bangs, pointing down on top of your head. Use a brush to gently brush through your bangs and separate the hair strands to get them to dry faster.^{[9]
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- Brushing your bangs while drying them also helps smooth out your curls and make them straighter, if that’s the look you’re going for.
4
Brush your bangs to the other side as you dry. With the hair dryer still on your bangs, use a brush to brush your bangs to the other side of your forehead. Going back and forth like this will give your bangs volume and promote bounciness so they don’t get slicked to your forehead.^{[10]
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- Try to switch sides every 5 to 10 seconds.
5
Finish drying with a round brush for volume. When your bangs are almost fully dry, grab a round brush and brush up underneath your bangs. Point your hair dryer down at your bangs as you brush through to give your bangs more volume.^{[11]
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- If your bangs are frizzy, smooth them down with some hair oil.
- You can either let the rest of your hair air dry, or you can dry your hair curly with a diffuser attachment.

Community Q&A

Question

I need to have my curly bangs as a crown volume. It comes down after styling. They're like sleeping on my forehead, when I wanted them to stand like an afro. How do I do this?

Community Answer

Braid your hair in small braids and then get a curling iron. After, take the braids out and put hair spray for them to stay.
Question

I have wavy-ish, but my bangs, which I let grow out to where they are as long as my regular hair, are curly. What should I do with it?

Community Answer

I have the same type of hair. I cut and swoop them to the side. It looks good with wavy/curly hair.
Question

I have grown my natural curly hair back, but I find it difficult to maintain, and always have to tie it back. What shall I do?

Community Answer

Try using some coconut oil before washing. Apply it on wet hair from roots to ends, and then apply shampoo. Rinse them out.