For some reason completely unbeknownst to me, I’ve gotten quite a few questions from readers lately asking how I do my hair, particularly my bangs. I actually find my hair endlessly frustrating, which is why I’m surprised that anyone would want hair styling tips from me! I can’t really style it (it hardly holds a curl), it breaks really easily, and it’s so fine that top-knots and thick braids are completely out of the question. It’s one saving grace is that thanks to its stubbornly straight and fine texture, I can usually just air-dry it, which is how I normally wear it on the blog.
Having said that, I usually have to wash my bangs every other day to keep them from going limp, and this is how I’d normally style them if I wanted them dry as I leave the house! Just wanted to note that this is for side-swept bangs – I’ve added little notes as to how to style your bangs if you wanted to wear them straight down à la Zooey Deschanel!
1. This one should be pretty obvious…comb your bangs! I just combed mine over to the side I want them to fall over to.
2. If your hair is thick, I’d suggest using a flat brush, but if you have fine hair like me then a round brush is the way to go! It will give your bangs a bit of body. Since I am wearing my bangs side-swept, I used the round brush and blowdryer to direct the bangs in that direction.
However, if you want to wear them straight down (which I often did before deciding to let them grow out), then push your bangs to both the left and the right. This will get rid of any kinks or cowlicks you might have!
3. Don’t foget your face-framing wisps! I like them slightly curled in so that they blend in with my bangs.
4. Since the rest of my hair was dry, I just twisted the rest of it with a Goody spin pin up into a ballerina bun. Sometimes if I wear it up like this for a really, really long time, my hair will hold a curl for awhile!
Just a quick aside: if you wash your hair daily, really try to see if you can cut back. Even though my hair is thin, once it adjusted to being washed less it became so much healthier and feels much less brittle. It was the smartest decision I ever made hair-wise! Bangs, on the other hand, need slightly more frequent washing, but I try to limit it to once every other day.
5. Shake out what would probably be curls for most of you, but slight waves for me.
6. And done!
My hair texture seems similar to yours (super fine, naturally straight as a pin) and I used to struggle with styling my bangs when I had them. The round brush/blowdryer trick was a necessity everyday. Cute tutorial, Alex! Have fun at the cabin with Matt 🙂
xo, alison*elle
I've always wanted to get bangs but seriously too chicken to. How do you ask for them to be cut? I really love how yours look.
Have a great weekend and happy anniversary.
http://www.lyzhang.com
Gorgeous lady beautiful hair!! 🙂
Oh this is awesome! And honestly, that spin pin is now on my list to get at the store, I'm so one to do the lil buns and can't stand pinning them up for a good ten minutes, or the look of the elastic..so YAY!! Thank you my dear!!
Have a great weekend, xoxo
this is awesome! thank you for sharing! i NEED that spin pin! i kind of want side bangs now, too…
You have such beautiful hair! Aha, mine is really thick, but don't be fooled. That just means its really bushy. I've given up trying to style it everyday.
However, that blowdryer intrigues me…it sounds just like the one I need!
Thanks for sharing this. 🙂
http://www.trendyteal.blogspot.com
YAY! your first hair tutorial you had mentioned. GREAT job – end result is gorgeous. i'm totally hopeless with hair, too. it's my weakness, so you're not alone.
have a lovely weekend! x
http://thesparkle.net
My hair is ridiculously fine too and doesn't curl except when I use those nice ceramic curling irons that don't have a clamp.
how pretty! i love this tutorial.
you have such amazing hair too.
xo kaitlin
kaitgirl
I'm still on the hunt for spin pins from Goody, I've been looking for a set ever since you first posted about them, but still, no lucky. Sigh. They'd probably get tangled up in my obscenely thick and coarse hair, anyway, but a girl can dream 😀 Hope you have a wonderful weekend ahead, pally, and that school isn't driving you too crazy just yet! Happy early anniversary to you and Matt 🙂
xox,
Cee
I never would have guessed that you have fine hair, it always looks so full! Have a great weekend!
Marisa
http://style-rhapsody.blogspot.com
This is a very nice posts! Your hair is so long and perfect, it looks like you spend a million hours on it!
Thanks for this post Alexandra!
It is actually pretty helpful and now I will look into that blowdryer and the spin pin!
I've had straight hair my whole life without bangs, I recently (a couple months ago) did have them cut to include bangs. Every time I cut my hair I am told I have an intense cowlick that will make it "near impossible" to have bangs so I forgo it. Then I saw New Girl and LOVED Zooey's hair style. I went straight to a new hairdresser and told her what I wanted (with a photo of course). She started with the same speech but I told her I didn't care, but please TRY! And now I think the cowlick is gone? I'm not sure, but I have straight bangs!
Thanks for these tips, I'll try them when I wanna do the side swept style 🙂
-Josie, 8bitgrayscale
Please check out my giveaway here!
I love your bangs. I think it really frames your face. I will try your method of side sweep bangs!
xx
http://am2pmchic.blogspot.com/
Beautiful hair! And you look so cute in the first picture <3
lovin the bangs and lip colour =) I'm still maintaining my bangs hehe thanks for sharing hun xoxo
So lovely my dear! perfect and amazing post!!!!
Nice hair:)
Great tips!
http://www.designers-artists.com
I got those Goody pins but still can not for the life of me figure out how to use them. UGH. It just doesn't want to stay in.
Your hair looks amazing. I love your bangs. I just purchased some of those Goody pins but I haven't tried wearing them yet.
Love this idea! =)
http://pinkchampagnefashion.blogspot.com/
Your hair doesn't look fine at all. So gorgeous! You're a Lone Wolf like 🙂
Great advice, I never know how to blow-dry my hair properly, so thanks for sharing!
http://styleservings.blogspot.com/
Love it! nice one honey 🙂
xx
http://www.sickbytrend.com
Oohh
I do wadh myhsireveryday!will def try to cut itback:)
Yiur hair looksamazing..hair-envy you..haha
your bangs are really soft and well-structured!
thanks for the information!
xo
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Miss Kwong – Art and Fashion
Your hair is so gorgeous!
xo, H
http://givemeglamourplease.blogspot.com
Spin pins are a lifesaver for stay-put buns and 'dos; I can't wait until my hair is long enough to use mine again!
I feel like you really just need to try different things until you find a hair routine that works for you! Do you agree?
I just found your blog via skippy says and my god I am so happy I did. Your photography is breathtaking. I love it. The pictures in your beach side post were gorgeous, especially the ones of you out on the water. I live by a lot of water and have very fond memories of canoeing so they just hit a soft spot. I love your blog! I don't know where you live but I'm so jealous of the nice weather…
So happy to have found your blog!
Courtney
I Can Be Many Things
great post! you do have great bangs 🙂 xo
i have the same blowdryer, it works really well!
you make me want to have bangs now
http://www.dentelleetfleurs.blogspot.com
Haha thank you, this post was an education – had no idea what a bang was! #ignoranceisBritishbliss xx
South Molton St Style
Isn't this hairdryer awesome? I felt the same way, never really thought there would be much of a difference between hairdryers but I love this one!!
You definitely have awesome bangs! Glad to have the tips since I just cut mine! I have the exact type of hair as your friend, it takes forever to dry. I am soooo jealous that your hair looks that good when it air-dries! I know the grass is always greener, since my will hold curl, but dang, that would be handy 🙂 Also great advice about cutting down on shampooing, so much better for your hair and so much more convenient for the lazy 🙂
Katie- Hems For Her
Beautiful. You pull off the bangs so well!
xo L.