Bangs, the ultimate decision that can make or break your look and for a very long time. I’ve never been a real fan of bangs but I am very familiar with the decision making process because I am forever part of the same conversation with friends and family throughout the years. It goes a little something like this:

“Should I get bangs?”

“Wouldn’t I look better with bangs?”

“I think I need bangs…again.”

“Why did you make me get bangs?!”

“My bangs make me look like a little girl!”

“I HATE my bangs!!”

Bangs can be stylish or silly, flirty or failing, trendy or treacherous. It’s never a happy medium so they are either looking amazing or they can look like you let your 4 year-old niece play dress up in your head. The “should I or shouldn’t I get some bangs” is a real dilemma for every woman but for a natural woman it can be down right scary.

The thing about natural hair that makes it unpredictable is that our hair is prone to shrinkage and this can vary from natural to natural with some having around 25% to some getting as much as 75% shrinkage. With numbers like that trying to cut your hair is a challenge but figuring how your bangs are going to fall and fit into the overall picture of your look seems even more impossible.

Have no fear, Sabrina is here! OK, I’m not the bang whisperer but I did some digging to find out the best way to cut your own bangs. Before we get to the cutting part though we have to figure out if you actually absolutely want bangs. We ask this because it is just as easy to just create fake bangs by pinning them back. It’s the safe and easy way to get the style of bangs without the work or commitment.

It is better to start here is you aren’t sure and 101LadyT gives one of the best ways to get that bang loving feeling without scissors since everyone knows growing out bangs is really no fun. If you miss ’em rock ’em with three little bobby pins* and then go back to your regular length when you’re done. Check out her video tutorial below:

Faux bangs no scissors needed- 101LadyT

If you have decided to take the plunge and get bangs and you don’t want to go to a stylist then you can absolutely do it yourself with the right tutorial. Typically you want to cut your bangs on dry hair and pretty much clump by clump.

We recommend starting out with your hair in its most organic state, this means not weighed down by product stretched or wet. With some cutting shears start out slow, carve out the section of hair you plan to cut and let it fall naturally so you can see what you are doing and just where to start cutting.

Everyone is different but you can use your eyelashes as your gauge, cutting piece by piece in a straight line until you are complete. If you think you need to cut more don’t just continue cutting, we suggest you wet your hair, allow it to dry and see where your hair falls to make sure you absolutely need to cut more.

The thing about bangs is, once you cut that’s it, there are no takeies backsies, so you need to be absolutely sure and careful. The lovely Nik Scott LHDC did a video where she cuts bangs on dry hair, it was a pretty honest video because she made a few mistakes along the way.

What’s so great about this video is that her tips on doing it are better than her actual demonstration, because she figured out what she could have done better. Despite that though her bangs they ended up looking remarkable.

Check out her video below:

How to cut curly bangs natural hair | LHDC-TV

How to ‘fix’ bad bangs

If you took the plunge and cut your bangs, there might be a chance that they aren’t quite up to par. If you find yourself in that position you are not alone and there are ways to fix ‘bad’ bangs, here are a few suggestions:

Hair clips – Hair clips can become your best friend when you have too short or messed up bangs. Simply slip a flat hair clip into the bangs, position the clip off to the side, holding the short bangs in place and you’re done. Hair clips are gorgeous, full of color and popular so they can make great accessories when trying to fix bang snafus.

Headbands* and scarves – When you have bangs you aren’t quite feeling then a headband* might just be in order. They are great for hiding bad bangs, and they come in all shapes and sizes. They can be as fashionable, casual or as glammed up as you want them.

Pompadour (Clip your bangs back) – Just twist your bangs back and clip into place on top of your head with a couple of bobby pins*. You can just wear the hair back or you can clip the bangs into an updo.

A Sexy Side twist or braid – You can twist your bangs to the side and pin them to the rest of your hair or you can add them into a flat twist adding longer hair along the way. If you want something more dramatic you can french braid your bangs along the hairline.

A deep side part – Just part your hair far to one side and let your longer hair cover your bangs. You can also pin your bangs under the parted hair with some bobby pins*.

The moral of the story is, hair grows, so if you feel you made a mistake don’t worry, your hair will be back before you know it. If you cut your own bangs and you are loving it, please share below, we would love to hear about your experience.