“I’ve learned a lot of people don’t actually know their own face.” To that end, really take the time to understand your face shape and from there, he recommends drawing a rough sketch of your face on a piece of paper and shading the corners and/or the top of the head to see what helps give the illusion of an oval shape, which generally tends to be the desired goal for the most flattering results. Ahead of meeting with a pro, Townsend recommends doing your own research to understand what will works best for you.“When people come to see me for a haircut, they often show me pictures of bangs on a different face shape,” explains Townsend. “Always have your bangs cut by a professional hairstylist who will give you a consultation first, taking into account your face shape, features, and lifestyle,” says François.

Simply put: Leave curtain bangs to the pros.

“If you can give your bangs 10 minutes, you’re done,” assures Townsend. In addition to more trips to the salon for bang trims, there’s also the additional maintenance like more cleansing (bangs tend to get greasy because they absorb the oil, sweat, makeup, and SPF from your face) and daily finessing-though many consider the latter to be far and away worth it. “Some people find the feeling of hair on the face uncomfortable or it might be more practical to have hair fully swept back day to day,” he says. For one, there’s the sheer physicality of bangs. “Before taking the plunge, consider if bangs will suit your lifestyle,” says François.

While curtain bangs are coveted for good reason, you do have to weigh if they’ll be right for you across the board.

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