So here, we spoke with experts on the grow-out process, how to style them easier, and what you can expect during those dreaded awkward phases. “Bangs that are cut straight across do have a few frustrating days ahead when growing them out. Mainly because they don’t blend or connect to the rest of the hair,” says celebrity hairstylist Marcus Francis, brand ambassador for new natural brand Better Natured. So what should you do? Well, it might require a salon visit. “If it’s possible on your next visit to the salon, ask your stylist to soften the corners by cutting a very small section at a 45-degree angle so that it has a bit more connection to the rest of the hair,” he says. “If in that visit you can have them soften the ends of the bangs by either point cutting them to give them texture so the grow-out process will be kinder, or gently using the thinning shears to do the same thing. Adding softness to the bangs will make it an easier process to grow out your bangs.” If you can’t make it to the salon or would rather tend to the problem by yourself, use this at-home hair trimming technique from celebrity hairstylist and Biolage brand ambassador Sunnie Brook: Use a wide-tooth comb to break up your ends, then grab a section of your hair and cut into the strands, scissors facing you. This trick, Brook says, is great for removing split ends and giving a more textured look. “It gives the hair more of a tapered end rather than a blunt end,” Brook says. This tactic also gives you a more forgiving finish. “In general, wavy bangs are easier, as it can blend into the rest of the hair,” says Francis. “For example, shaggy bangs—aka longer bangs that graze the eyebrows or below—are much easier to grow out.” During the grow-out process, “slice a few pieces on the sides to help them blend,” essentially making a few face-framing layers a bit longer than the bangs themselves. “In my experience, curly bangs are actually easier to grow out. The texture in curls is pliable, and you can twist or mold them into place to morph into the rest of the hair,” says Francis. “Using a leave-in cream can help mold them into place. Using setting clips will help you to shape the curl, especially the ends, into place how you’d like.” Begin this styling process while air drying. Like hairstylist and founder of Hair Rules Anthony Dickey tells us about air drying, if you want your curls to lay flatter, apply product while sopping wet; if you want some more volume in the area, do a quick pass with a microfiber towel to remove some of the water and build volume.
