As a beauty editor, I spend all day, every day looking at celebrity hair transformations and new cuts, so much so that I’m constantly influenced every time a new style (à la Margot Robbie’s bob or Jennifer Lawrence’s bangs) hits the scene. So before every salon visit, I have an internal debate: Should I go for a French bob? A micro bang? There’s just an abundance of hair inspo to choose from. So when I booked my recent spring haircut, I decided to go for a U-bang look—in the name of beauty journalism, of course.
Now, what exactly are U-bangs? They’re a more subtle take on the drama-filled curtain bang that still accentuates the face and leaving you with a defined part. If you want to test the waters of bangs without fully committing, U-bangs are a great foray into the style. “I recommend these types of bangs to clients who haven’t had some sort of short bang or length around the face before, since it’s easy to style,” explains celebrity hairstylist Marc Ballance (who’s also the mastermind behind my own U-bangs).
Ahead, everything you need to know about U-bangs, plus inspiration from some of our favorite celebs who have been rocking the hairstyle as of late.
Jasmine Hyman for Cosmopolitan
What Are U-Bangs?
U-bangs follow the shape of a gentle, upside-down U across the forehead. “They’re achieved by cutting shorter in the middle and longer on the sides,” explains Ballance. The shortest part of the arc sits in the center, whether that’s above the brow, at eye-level or the cheek, while the sides gradually taper longer toward the ears, softly framing the face.
Prior to my U-bangs cut, my facial features didn’t feel especially accentuated (as pictured above). My forehead looked more prominent, and my front pieces fell long against my face while the top of my hair sat pretty flat. Now, my cheekbones and jawline look much more defined, and my forehead feels balanced with the rest of my features. Overall, my face looks more lifted, and my hair feels fuller, more voluminous, and a lot more elevated.
How to Style U-Bangs
Because U-bangs are blended into the rest of your cut and layers, they’re pretty low-commitment. “They are super low maintenance to style,” adds Ballance. You can let them fall naturally with the rest of your hair, or give them a quick refresh with some volume spray or a blowout if you want a sleeker finish.
“Just take a round brush and turn it under and away from your face in the U shape to make the silhouette,” Ballance says. You can also achieve the look with the round brush attachment on any styler (I’ve personally been reviving mine with my Dyson Airwrap).
U-Bangs Inspiration
Amy Sussman//Getty Images
TheStewartofNY//Getty Images
Dimitrios Kambouris//Getty Images
Robin L Marshall//Getty Images
Axelle/Bauer-Griffin//Getty Images
Meet the expert:
Marc Ballance is a New York City-based hairstylist at IGK Salon. Some of his notable clients include Bad Bunny, Nick Jonas, and more.
Why trust Cosmopolitan?
Jasmine Hyman is the assistant beauty editor at Cosmo where she writes about all the latest hair trends. For this story, she got U-bangs herself and spent hours finding all the best celebrity inspiration. She also spoke with Ballance about everything you need to know about the haircut and styling.
Jasmine Hyman is the Assistant Beauty Editor at Cosmopolitan, where she writes about the latest beauty trends and must-have products. Her most prized beauty possessions are a meticulous skincare routine and salon blowouts. You’ll also likely find her in bed reading a good book or endlessly scrolling TikTok (spoiler: it’s usually the latter) while listening to Harry Styles’ entire discography on repeat. Follow her on Insta to be inundated with pictures of her meals.
