Should we all be getting ‘McDonald’s bangs’?

Just when we thought there couldn’t possibly be another quirkily-named bang trend, ‘McDonald’s bangs’ have gone viral (yep, that McDonald’s).

For years we’ve been told to “follow the arches” when it comes to satisfying our food cravings, but now it seems that the fast-food outlet is serving up more than just a cheeky burger and fries.

While the micro fringe and choppy fringe have all had their moment this year, McDonald’s bangs have racked up more than 194 million views to date on TikTok, fast becoming the unexpected source of our summer hair inspiration.

So what exactly are McDonald’s bangs? Perhaps it’s easier to start with what they’re not. If you’re expecting to mimic some kind of oil slick, fashioned from chip fat, think again. Being fluffy and voluminous, McDonald’s bangs are in fact the polar opposite and combine two of our favourite things: flattering face-framing layers and a retro finish.

Unlike your average fringe, which sits at the same brow-skimming length across the face, McDonald’s bangs are styled into a centre parting, swooped out at the ends and then lifted at the roots to create an M-shape that looks exactly like McDonald’s golden arches!

And while they share the same retro DNA as curtain bangs, they’re a fresh adaptation as the root lift is more curved. Moodboards for the look include Farrah Fawcett’s iconic ’70s flip hair and Swedish influencer Matilda Djerf.

“With their root lift and soft side sweep, McDonald’s bangs are a style that’s been inspired by the ’70s blowouts of the time,” says hairstylist Sam McKnight. “They are great for lifting the face while the gentle shape to the sides creates a softer frame.” The only prerequisite, he says, is that your bangs need to be long enough to sweep from either side of your face.

How to wear McDonald’s bangs

In terms of styling, McDonald’s bangs involve very little effort. Sam recommends misting a volumising spray such as his Cool Girl Superlift Volumising Spray onto the roots before “using a hot brush styler or a round brush with a hairdryer and blow drying up and back to create the shape.”