How to Cut Long Bangs with a Middle Part

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Long bangs styled in a middle part, also called feathered bangs or curtain bangs, have made a comeback in fashion and the media. They add a simple face-framing element to your haircut while looking grown out and cool, even when you first cut them. You can give yourself these long bangs at home by following your natural face shape and cutting at an angle for a perfectly layered and chic look.

Method 1
Method 1 of 3:

Sectioning Your Hair

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  1. Wash your hair and then use a blow dryer or allow your hair to air dry fully before you start cutting your hair. If you do blow dry your hair, pull the front pieces of your hair forward so they fall on your face. [1]

    Tip: If you have curly hair and you usually wear it naturally, don’t blow dry your hair. Instead, let your hair air dry so your curls hang like they normally would.

  2. Drag the tip of a rattail comb from the center of your hairline back to the crown. Part your hair in the middle using the bridge of your nose as a guide. Look in the mirror to make sure your part is straight all the way back. [2]
    • It is important to make sure your part is straight so that your bangs look even.
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  3. Start with hair above your forehead that is about 2 inches (5.1 cm) away from your hairline. Section out a triangle from your part down to the ends of your eyebrow. Pull the rest of your hair back with a clip. [3]
    • It is best to start with less hair than you think you want to cut. You can always add more hair to your bangs, but you can't take any away.
  4. Use your comb to brush through your bangs from your forehead down to keep them together. Make sure they are laying flat on your forehead and are brushed all the way down with no knots or tangles. [4]
    • If you have curly hair, don't comb your bangs. Instead, leave the curls intact and gently pull the sides of your hair together so that they meet in the middle on top of your forehead.
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Method 2
Method 2 of 3:

Cutting Your Bangs at an Angle

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  1. Grab your hair near the bottom and grip it between your pointer finger and middle finger. Pull your hair all the way taut so that it lays flat on your forehead. [5]

    Tip: Hold your hair near your mouth to start cutting even if you want your bangs shorter. You can always cut more hair off later, but you can’t go back once you’ve cut your hair too short.

  2. Point your shears upwards and slightly to the right at a 45 degree angle. Keep your shears pointed at an angle the entire time that you cut your hair to ensure a more textured and blended cut. [6]
    • Always use cutting shears made specifically for cutting hair. You can purchase these at most beauty supply stores.
  3. Start on the right side of your bangs and cut across to the left side. Make your first cut just below your fingers and keep holding your shears at an angle. Cut across all of your hair with your shears in the same position. [7]
  4. Use your comb to brush your bangs into place on either side of your face. If you like how they look, you don't have to cut anything else. [8]
    • Bangs at this length are great for a super subtle cut and a seamless blend. They may look more like layers than bangs.
  5. Comb down one side of your bangs where it would hang naturally on your face. Grab the bangs in between 2 of your fingers and hold them at an angle that follows the natural slope of your face. [9]
    • You can also use your comb to hold your bangs in place if you want a straight line to follow.
    • Trim your bangs at an angle to make them shorter and more textured. Hold your shears up and point them down toward your hair at a slight angle next to your eyebrow. Make small cuts all the way down your hair in a diagonal line that ends at the bottom of your ear. [10]
  6. Grab the side of your bangs that you just cut and pull the short piece toward the longer side. Make a cut on the longer side to match the length of your short bangs. Continue making cuts at a downward angle until you reach the end of your bangs. [11]
    • Don't worry if your bangs aren't perfectly the same length. The wispiness of the bangs in your hair will hide any imperfections.
  7. Grab one side of your bangs and hold them in between 2 fingers. Hold your textured shears at an angle and make small cuts at the ends of your hair across the length of your bangs. Do this to both sides of your bangs to make them even. [12]
    • Textured shears have a small comb attached to one side and make jagged cuts, so they will add some nice layers and lightness to your bangs.
    • You can find texture shears at most beauty supply stores.
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Method 3
Method 3 of 3:

Twisting Your Bangs to Cut Them

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  1. Secure your bangs between your pointer and middle finger near your eyebrows, just above your nose. Make sure the top part of your hair looks smooth and doesn't have any lumps. [13]

    Tip: You may need to comb your bangs a few times until they lay perfectly flat.

  2. Use your fingers to twist your hair to the right or left one time. Hold your hair tightly so that the twist stays in place. [14]
    • Adding a twist to your hair makes the angles look more blended and gives you a few more layers in your hair.
  3. Hold your shears pointed upwards toward your forehead about 1 in (2.5 cm) below the twist. Hold your shears at a 45 degree angle to make more blended cuts. [15]
    • If you don't hold your shears at an angle, your cuts will look more choppy and blunt.
  4. Keep holding your shears at a slight angle as you make your cuts. Cut in a straight line from right to left across your hair to give yourself bangs. [16]
    • Try to make your line mostly straight, but don't worry if it looks a little jagged. This just means your bangs have more texture in them.
  5. Unclip your hair from the back of your head and brush your bangs into your hair. If your hair doesn't have any texture in it, try adding some layers to make your bangs blend seamlessly with the rest of your hair. [17]
    • You don't have to add layers to your hair if you like the more blunt look of your bangs.
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Expert Q&A

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  • Question
    How do you cut long hair into layers at home?
    Ambia Elms
    Master Hairstylist
    Ambia Elms is a Master Hairstylist and Owner of olive + elm Hair Salon in Gilbert. Arizona. With 27 years of industry experience, she specializes in short to medium-textured haircuts and gender-affirming hair services. Ambia and her team pride themselves on their sustainability initiatives and their status as a Certified Sustainable Salon by Green Circle Salons.
    Ambia Elms
    Master Hairstylist
    Expert Answer
    Flip your hair over as far as you can and brush everything so it's just hanging down. Then, cut a straight line across from it while your head is upside down. When you lift it back up, gravity does the rest of the work and the layers will just fall into place.
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    Yes No
    Not Helpful 1 Helpful 1
  • Question
    What is a common mistake when cutting bangs and how to avoid it?
    Yan Kandkhorov
    Hair Stylist
    Yan Kandkhorov is a Hair Stylist and Owner of K&S Salon, a hair salon based in New York City's Meatpacking District. Yan has over 20 years of experience in the hair industry, is best known for paving the way for iconic hair trends in the industry, and has operated his salon since 2017. His hair salon has been voted one of the Best Hair Salons in New York City in 2019 by Expertise. Yan and K&S Salon has collaborated with leading fashion magazines and celebrities such as Marie Clair USA, Lucy Magazine, and Resident Magazine.
    Yan Kandkhorov
    Hair Stylist
    Expert Answer
    A common mistake is to blow dry your hair the wrong way. You have to make sure it is in the direction you will style it when you finish to dry it.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
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      Tips

      • Always leave your hair longer at first so you have room to cut more off if you'd like to.
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      Things You’ll Need

      • Cutting shears
      • Texture shears (optional)
      • Comb

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      References

      1. ↑ https://hairstylecamp.com/middle-part-bangs/
      2. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UWSXHrh1aZA&feature=youtu.be&t=51
      3. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UWSXHrh1aZA&feature=youtu.be&t=61
      4. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UWSXHrh1aZA&feature=youtu.be&t=89
      5. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dGp5mKnLT0U&feature=youtu.be&t=141
      6. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UWSXHrh1aZA&feature=youtu.be&t=110
      7. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UWSXHrh1aZA&feature=youtu.be&t=110
      8. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UWSXHrh1aZA&feature=youtu.be&t=122
      9. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dGp5mKnLT0U&feature=youtu.be&t=311
      1. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dGp5mKnLT0U&feature=youtu.be&t=311
      2. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2xw3a5jjJnw&feature=youtu.be&t=209
      3. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2xw3a5jjJnw&feature=youtu.be&t=216
      4. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8dOxqskmHL0&feature=youtu.be&t=182
      5. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8dOxqskmHL0&feature=youtu.be&t=186
      6. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8dOxqskmHL0&feature=youtu.be&t=221
      7. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8dOxqskmHL0&feature=youtu.be&t=228
      8. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2xw3a5jjJnw&feature=youtu.be&t=305

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