31 fringe hairstyles for some major inspiration

Curtain, blunt, side-swept or French – fringes are having a moment and the timing couldn’t have been better. “It’s fringe season right now,” Dionne Smith, expert hair stylist confirms to GLAMOUR. Now autumn is here, it’s a good  time to switch things up with a new ‘do – and there’s no easier, cheaper or more transformative way than with a fringe. 

But before you make the cut, you might want to think about the type of fringe you want. With dozens of renditions – from side swept, to micro – fringes are about as versatile as they are stylish. 

The curtain fringe is trending

This season? It’s still all about the curtain fringe, i.e. the universally-flattering, Brigitte Bardot-inspired ‘70s style fringe that flicks out at the ends to perfectly frame eyes and cheekbones. “The corners by the edge of the eyebrow are left longer giving an arch shape, then the layers behind the fringe have to work back so they flow into the rest of the haircut,” explains international session stylist and Babyliss ambassador, Syd Hayes. “So, when you grab your hair and take it up into a ponytail, you have a softness that sits around your face and jawline,” he adds. “It’s easy to wear, easy to maintain and suits a variety of face shapes,” agrees Declan Haworth, Colour Director at Blue Tit hair salon. “It’s also a great way to add shape to your hairstyle if you’re not ready to commit to a full fringe.”

Even better, it look equally as good when grown out, making it one of the lower maintenance options. “An extra long fringe and curtain bangs are a super cool way to change your look, without a hair-length change for example,” says celebrity hairstylist, Danielle Priano. “They are easy to maintain and grow nicely in case you decide it’s no longer for you.” Plus it works perfectly with The Shag, The modern Rachel and the ’70s waves that are all trending for autumn. 

The barely-there fringe

Another fringe we’re seeing a lot of is the barely-there fringe, or wispy fringe, which allows you to dip a toe into fringe territory, slowly, without fully committing. It’s a cute soft, style in its own right, with a very light, see-through feel, but equally, it’s a pretty first-step if you’re scoping out how you’d feel about a heavier fringe. It works beautifully with a range of textures, with delicate curly-girl, wavy or straight fringes. 

Some others to consider

That said, there’s plenty of other styles to consider. You could try the nonchalant, French-girl fringe (a low maintenance option that’s less structured and so can be worn pushed to the side or all at the front), or the micro-fringe, a favourite of celebrities like Emma Watson and Rooney Mara who have previously adopted the look.

Then there’s classics like a long, side swept fringe (great if you don’t want a huge change), blunt-cut bangs like Taylor Swift’s or Naomi Campbell’s, or the bottleneck bangs which offer up some of the structure of a curtain fringe, but feel less heavy.