Straight hair has no spring to hide a short cut, so curtain bangs cut at the cheekbone stay at the cheekbone, and they need a quick pass with a small round brush to sit open past lunch. Here is how I cut curtain bangs on straight hair for different lengths, densities and face shapes.
1. Classic Curtain Bangs at the Cheekbone on Long Straight Hair
I cut the classic version of curtain bangs straight hair clients request at the cheekbone with a center part, on dry hair, shears angled down and out so the sides run longer and melt into long face framing. There is no spring in straight hair, so the length I cut is the length they get. Medium density on an oval or long face suits it. A small round brush rolling away from the center handles the blow-dry. Trim every five weeks.
2. Curtain Bangs Over a Blunt Lob at the Collarbone
The lob gets cut straight across at the collarbone on dry hair with no layers; then I put curtain bangs in at the cheekbone and tie them into a short face frame, which sets a soft front against a hard line. Fine to medium density on an oval or heart shaped face suits it. A round brush does the bangs and a flat iron does the lob. The bangs need a trim every five weeks, the lob every eight.
3. Jaw-Length Curtain Bangs on Straight Hair
I cut long curtain bangs on dry hair angling from the nose to the jaw with a center part and blend them into long layers; on straight hair they are the safest first step into bangs because they tuck behind the ear. Round and square faces benefit from the vertical lines, and medium to thick density suits it. A round brush rolling back handles the blow-dry. Trim the bangs every six weeks.
4. Fine Straight Hair With Wispy Curtain Bangs
On fine straight hair I take a shallow triangle, cut the curtain bangs at the cheekbone on dry hair and point cut heavily so they read sheer, because a narrow section is the only way to avoid stealing density from the sides. Low density on a heart shaped or oval face suits it. A small round brush and a light mousse at the root handle the blow-dry. Trim every four weeks.
5. Heavy Curtain Bangs for Thick Straight Hair
I take a deep section from further back on the head for the heaviest curtain bangs straight hair can carry, which only thick hair handles, then cut them at the cheekbone on dry hair and point cut the interior so they do not sit like a block. Oval and long faces suit the weight. A medium round brush rolling each side away from the center does the bangs, and a flat iron does the length. Trim every five weeks.
6. Curtain Bangs Cut Into Butterfly Layers
Curtain bangs and butterfly layers on straight hair get cut as a single shape: bangs first at the cheekbone on dry hair, then the short tier slide cut to the chin and the long tier to the chest so the bangs flow into both. Medium to thick density on an oval or long face suits it. A large round brush rolling the short tier back handles the blow-dry. Trim every eight weeks.
7. Shoulder Length Straight Cut With Curtain Bangs
I cut the length blunt at the shoulder on dry hair, add long face framing and put curtain bangs at the cheekbone with a center part; this is the version of the cut my chair sees most. Medium density on an oval, round or heart shaped face suits it. A round brush does the bangs and a paddle brush dries the length flat. Trim the bangs every five weeks.
8. Side-Part Curtain Bangs for Straight Hair
Side-parted curtain bangs get cut on dry hair with the short side at the brow and the long side at the cheekbone, so they sweep across as one piece; a center part is not a requirement. Round and square faces benefit because the diagonal breaks up width, and medium density suits it. A flat brush pushes the bangs toward the heavy side in the blow-dry. Trim every five weeks.
9. Short Curtain Bangs Cut to the Brow
I cut short curtain bangs on dry hair with the center at the brow and the sides angling down to the cheekbone, parted center, so they sit higher than the cheekbone version and show more forehead. Oval and long faces carry the shorter length, and medium density is ideal. A small round brush rolling away from the center and a light spray handle the styling. Trim every four weeks.
10. Long-Layered Curtain Bangs on Thick Hair
Internal layers on dry hair take the bulk out of thick straight hair; I leave the perimeter blunt at the chest and cut curtain bangs at the cheekbone from a deep section; the long layers carry the weight down under the bangs. Thick density on any face shape suits it. A paddle brush dries the length and a round brush rolls the bangs. Trim every eight weeks and thin the interior every other visit.
11. French Bob Topped With Curtain Bangs
I cut the French bob blunt at the chin on dry hair and put curtain bangs at the cheekbone so they skim the bob line, swapping the usual blunt fringe for a soft center-parted one. Fine to medium density on an oval or heart shaped face suits it. A paddle brush handles the blow-dry with nothing tucked, and the bangs roll out. Trim every six weeks.
12. Round-Face Curtain Bangs Straight Hair
For a round face, curtain bangs straight hair gets cut to start at the cheekbone and run past the jaw, on dry hair with a center part, angled steeply so no horizontal line crosses the face, which makes the face read longer. Long layers from the collarbone keep the sides smooth, and medium density suits it. A round brush rolling back does the bangs, then a flat iron takes the length close to the face. Trim the bangs every six weeks.
13. Curtain Bangs Lit With a Money Piece
I cut curtain bangs at the cheekbone and the face frame from the chin on dry hair, then lighten the bangs and the first two face sections two to three shades, which brightens the front with no full color service. Medium density on any face shape suits it. A round brush handles the bangs. Trim every five weeks and refresh the color every twelve to sixteen.
14. Long Straight Blunt Cut With Curtain Bangs
The perimeter goes straight across at the mid back on dry hair with no layers; then I put curtain bangs at the cheekbone and blend them into a long face frame and nothing else, balancing soft against sharp. Medium to thick density on an oval or heart shaped face suits it. A round brush does the bangs and a flat iron does the length. Trim the bangs every five weeks and the length every ten.
15. Curtain Bangs on Straight Hair for Women Over 40
I cut curtain bangs for women over 40 a little longer, at the cheekbone or below, with soft point cutting on dry hair, and connect them to long layers from the collarbone so they frame rather than cover. Fine to medium density on an oval or round face suits it. A round brush and a light serum handle the styling. Trim the bangs every six weeks and gloss every eight.
16. Curtain Bangs Stepping Into Lip-Length Face Framing
Curtain bangs at the cheekbone on dry hair come first; then I slide cut face framing from the lip to the collarbone so bangs and frame read as one curve, giving the bangs a second step. Medium density on an oval or long face suits it. A round brush rolling away from the face dries the bangs and the frame together. Trim every six weeks.
17. Lob With Curtain Bangs for Fine Hair
I cut the lob straight at the collarbone on dry hair and take only a shallow section for cheekbone curtain bangs, with no other layering so the ends stay full; fine hair needs the bangs narrow and the lob blunt. Low density on an oval or heart shaped face suits it. Blow-dry upside down with mousse, then roll the bangs out. Trim every six weeks.
18. Center-Part Curtain Bangs on Long Straight Hair
Cheekbone curtain bangs, cut on dry hair and matched exactly side to side, go in with face framing from the lip to the chest, so a center part on long straight hair reads as two vertical lines around the face. Oval and long faces suit it and medium density is ideal. A round brush does the bangs and a flat iron does the length. Trim the bangs every five weeks.
19. Soft Layers Under Curtain Bangs on Straight Hair
I cut curtain bangs at the cheekbone on dry hair, then slide cut layers from the collarbone down so the bangs have something to blend into and the straight hair keeps moving. Medium density on any face shape suits it. A large round brush rolls the bangs and the layers back together in the blow-dry. Trim the bangs every five weeks and the layers every ten.
20. Bottleneck-Style Curtain Bangs on Straight Hair
Bottleneck bangs start with the center cut at the brow on dry hair; I angle out to the cheekbone and blending into long face framing; they are curtain bangs cut short in the middle and wide at the sides, like a bottle neck. Oval and long faces suit the shape and medium density is ideal. The center blow-dries flat and the sides go on a round brush. Trim every four weeks.
21. Flipped Ends With Curtain Bangs
I cut a straight shoulder length cut with slight outward graduation on dry hair so the ends kick out, and curtain bangs at the cheekbone, which gives the whole thing a retro feel. Fine to medium density on an oval or long face suits it. A medium round brush turns the ends outward and the bangs roll away from the center. Trim every six weeks.
22. Grown-Out Curtain Bangs Re-Cut for Straight Hair
Grown out curtain bangs get re-cut on dry hair; I take them down to meet the chin, angled from the lip, and blend them into the face frame so the length looks intentional rather than overdue. Round and square faces benefit because the length creates a diagonal, and medium density suits it. A round brush rolling back dries them, or they tuck. Trim every six weeks.
23. Balayage Under Curtain Bangs on Straight Hair
I cut curtain bangs at the cheekbone and long layers on dry hair, then hand paint the lengths and leave the bangs at the base shade, because balayage on straight hair works best with the bangs slightly darker so they frame. Medium to thick density on any face shape suits it. Blow-dry smooth and roll the bangs out. Trim every five weeks and refresh the balayage every sixteen.
24. Chin-Length Face Frame With Curtain Bangs Straight Hair
With curtain bangs straight hair at the cheekbone, cut dry, I put the face frame at the chin and leave the back long, which gives a bob effect at the front with no length lost. Medium density on an oval or heart shaped face suits it. A round brush dries the bangs and the frame away from the face. Trim every six weeks to hold the frame at the chin.
25. Shag With Curtain Bangs for Straight Hair
I cut curtain bangs at the cheekbone on dry hair, connect them to short crown layers and point cut everything down to the chest; a shag on straight hair needs that heavy point cutting for the layers to feather. Medium to thick density on an oval or long face suits it. Rough-dry with mousse and finish with texture spray. Trim the bangs every five weeks and the shag every eight.
If you want more options, try curtain bangs round face and curtain bangs wavy hair.
Curtain bangs on straight hair only behave if you cut them dry, because there is no spring to hide a too-short fringe once it dries. FYI, I connect the bangs into short crown layers so the line stays soft at the cheekbone. A quick point cut is all it takes to keep them from looking blunt.
