How To Style Bottleneck Bangs Haircut: Top 10 Hottest Bottleneck Bangs Hairstyles Knowinsiders.com
How To Style Bottleneck Bangs Haircut: Top 10 Hottest Bottleneck Bangs Hairstyles Knowinsiders.com
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When Margot Robbie graced the cover of British Vogue in August 2021, sporting a new 70’s inspired, layered haircut, the image quickly made it to Pinterest boards of hair and fashion-conscious readers worldwide.

Bottleneck bangs are the latest trend in the world of fringe and we’re not mad about it. We've seen side bangs, blunt bags, and curtain bangs—the latest trend in the fringe department is bottleneck bangs, and we're kind of obsessed.. Not only are they universally flattering, they're also easy to style (read: great for bang beginners).

Here is how you can style the perfect bottleneck bangs haircut, and top 10 best hairstyles for you to try this summer.

What are Bottleneck Bangs?

Photo: Getty Images
Photo: @Lilycollins

The term was coined by London-based hairstylist and international creative color director for Evo Hair, Tom Smith. "Bottleneck bangs are the ultimate 70's inspired, super flattering, face-framing, cutting technique that can be adjusted to suit almost any face shape," he says. "This hairstyle takes inspiration from the neck of a bottle, starting slim and short in the middle, curving longer around the eyes, and then longest following the line of the cheekbone."

Despite them falling in the center of your forehead, however, Smith assures that bottleneck bangs are low-maintenance, since they are more choppy and textured. So the more lived-in, undone, and effortless they look — the better.

Wondering the difference between bottleneck bangs vs curtain bangs? Similar to curtain bangs, bottleneck bangs are about 1 to 2 inches of wispy, lash-skimming bangs with angled, cheekbone-framing pieces on each side. However, they resemble the shape and slope of a bottleneck because they start shorter at the top and graduate to longer pieces that curve around the eye and cheek line.

This type of face-framing is a hot commodity right now for multiple reasons. "I think bottleneck bangs are trending right now because of how easy they are to style," says celebrity hairstylist Andrew Fitzsimons. "With this versatile bang, you have the luxury of being able to switch between having hair in front of your face or completely to the side."

Paul Cucinello, a New York City-based celebrity stylist and founder of Cucinello Beauty, also loves how versatile bottleneck bangs are. "The trend is having a moment right now because they're super-flattering, easy to style, and a cinch to camouflage when you want them to disappear or start to grow them out." (Hot tip: To prevent the bangs from looking too flat, you can ask your stylist for a choppier texture.)

Why Bottleneck Bangs Are The Universally Flattering Way To Do Cool Girl Hair

Photo: Unsplash
Photo: Unsplash

Considering getting a fringe, but worried it might not suit you? Then you need to know about bottleneck bangs. A style that’s trending currently, it marries a face-flattering cut with an easy-breezy ’70s sensibility – if you’ve previously tried and failed to pull off other fringe iterations, this one is for you.

“Bottleneck bangs are a hybrid between a full and grown-out fringe,” says George Northwood, who has cut his fair share of fringes in his time, including those of Alexa Chung and Daisy Edgar-Jones. “It gets longer at the sides, and essentially morphs into a grown-out fringe. Basically, it’s a fringe that offers the best of both worlds.”

Unlike an average fringe, which sits at the same length across the face, the bottleneck bang is differentiated by shorter strands in the centre of the forehead, creating a “bottleneck” shape on the face. These shorter pieces are key to its universally flattering appeal: “They are really flattering, as they break the fringe up a bit,” says Northwood. “It’s the safest style for all face shapes.”

Those with rounder faces will appreciate how tricky it is to find a fringe that doesn’t emphasise make the face look wider – for them in particular, this is a great fringe to try. “Most people can work one – it’s a universal style in that sense – but if you’ve got really curly or coily hair, it’s also worth noting that it will take some work to blow dry hair straight into a similar shape,” adds Northwood.

Poster girls for the bottleneck bang include Dakota Johnson, Edgar-Jones, Chung, and Margot Robbie on the cover of British Vogue’s August 2021 issue, all of whom have fringes that look suitably effortless, while flattering their features. It’s a cut that lends itself perfectly to a mussed-up, bedhead texture: “It’s the kind of fringe we always err towards in the salon,” says Northwood, who is famous for his undone aesthetic. “It blends with the rest of the hair really nicely and doesn’t look like it’s been stuck on, as some fringes can.”

How To Style Your Bottleneck Bangs With Different Hair Types

Bottleneck bangs have quickly dethroned curtain bangs as the fringe trend of the moment. They’re the talk of the town and on everyone’s mane, including some of our fave A-list celebs like Lily Collins, Margot Robbie, and Dakota Johnson. Chances are you’ve thought about trying the bangs on for size yourself. We strongly encourage you to do so, but before you get the fringe, we wanted to offer some guidance on the best bottleneck bangs for you. So, we reached out to Tom Smith, leading hairstylist and International Creative Director at Evo. The man who predicted the fringe trend shared the perfect bottleneck bangs for your face shape and even your hair type.

Before trying on any trend, it’s always important to consider your hair type. This is especially true when it comes to bangs. Whether you have straight or kinky hair, you can rock bottleneck bangs. Tom shares the best way to do so for various hair types below.

Best Bottleneck Bangs for Straight Hair

Tom shares that “straight hair types can wear bottleneck bangs well, but care should be taken to ‘carve’ into the shape to encourage movement so they don’t look too flat.” This means you should “ask your stylist for a choppier textured result and consider styling them with a round barrel brush to encourage lift and body.”

Best Bottleneck Bangs for Wavy Hair

Photo: @gleitonpedrostudio
Photo: @gleitonpedrostudio

Bottleneck bangs for practically made for wavy hair types. They suit your natural texture the best, after all. To get the bangs, Tom notes that “wavy hair should be treated with respect and cut ‘with’ the texture of the hair rather than against it, using the natural waves of the hair to guide the different layers in the bang.”

Best Bottleneck Bangs for Curly Hair

Photo: Shutterstock
Photo: Shutterstock

As with most curly cuts, the key is to cut your coils in their natural texture (aka dry). If the bangs are cut when your hair is straight or wet, there’s a good chance they won’t turn out as you had hoped. “I would cut the curls individually to gradually shape the correct face-framing bottleneck bang shape,” shares Tom.

Best Bottleneck Bangs for Kinky Hair

Photo: Instagram
Photo: Instagram

Yes, even those with kinky curls can get on the bottleneck bang trend. Yours will take their own unique shape. “Instead of focusing on the curve of a bottleneck, consider a smoother semicircle-shaped curve that frames the face across the forehead or a deep upside-down V-shape that parts in the middle and angles down towards the jaw,” notes Tom.

Best Bottleneck Bangs for Thin Hair

Instagram / @CATCOIFFEUR
Instagram / @CATCOIFFEUR

If your hair tends to be somewhat fine or thin, Tom shares that your “bang section can start from further back, helping to add more hair into the bang.” He does note to “take care not to remove too much thickness from the front sides of the hair in front of the ear” so you don’t have more bang than you bargained for.

Best Bottleneck Bangs for Thick Hair

Photo: Getty Images
Photo: Getty Images

Those with thicker hair can stick to the tried and true bottleneck bang shape, though Tom says you’ll want “to ‘slice’ and personalize the shape after the initial length has been cut. This gives the softness and texture that makes the bang so popular.”

Best Bottleneck Bangs for Coarse Hair

Instagram/@luvalyssamiller
Instagram/@luvalyssamiller

For coarse hair types, it all comes down to styling. “The challenge here is product choice,” says Tom. “In coarser hair types, a heavier cream-based product is very useful to add definition. However, when hair sits on or near the face it tends to get oily faster and so styling the hair smooth with a blow dryer or gently with a straightening iron can be a better way of smoothing coarse hair.” He notes that a “wax-based texture spray (such as Evo Shebang a Bang) helps to tame coarseness or fluffiness without adding too much weight or oil.”

Best Bottleneck Bangs for Your Face Shape

Another thing to consider before trying this trend is your face shape. Using Tom’s suggestions as a guide, you’ll be able to find a pair of bottleneck bangs that look absolutely stunning on you.

Best Bottleneck Bangs for Round Faces

“A bottleneck bang can really flatter a round face by covering part of the widest part of the face,” Tom says. “If the face feels heavier at the jaw, consider leaving the longest parts of the bang around this length rather than taking them closer to the cheekbone.”

Best Bottleneck Bangs for Diamond Faces

Diamond face shapes tend to have very defined cheekbones. Tom shares that “in order to not make the cheekbones wider, the bang should sit heavier on the forehead and curve around to sit on the cheekbones to help slim them.”

Best Bottleneck Bangs for Heart-Shaped Faces

Bottleneck bangs will really complement this face shape by softening and covering the wide forehead. “Take care that the longest part of the bangs does not sit near the jaw,” says Tom. He suggests you “keep them closer to the cheekbones to open a narrow jaw area.”

Best Bottleneck Bangs for Oval Faces

Oval face shapes are lucky in that nearly every hairstyle looks great on them, even bottleneck bangs. Tom shares that with this face shape, you’ll want to personalize them to draw attention to your best features. “A person who takes pride in their brows may choose a shorter central part so as to frame them,” he shares. “Someone who wants to encourage a contoured cheekbone will ensure the longest parts of the ban are soft and wispy and sit above the cheekbone to help enhance them, rather than longer or heavier which may cover them.”

Best Bottleneck Bangs for Square Faces

The great thing about this bang style, Tom points out, is that it “can effectively soften the corners of a square face by creating curves over a wide forehead.” He encourages you “consider allowing the longest parts of the bang to open around the cheekbone and flow around to an additional layer around the jaw to help soften a square jaw. Styling the bangs with more bend, curve, and texture will also be effective at softening a strong square face.”

How to Cut Bottleneck Bangs

If you want to get this ultra-chic style, we have great news! In this section, we’ll walk you through step-by-step instructions on how to get the perfect bottleneck bangs.

Gather Your Supplies

Before you start, set yourself up for success by grabbing everything you’re going to need.

→ Hair scissors

→ Rattail comb

→ Hair ties

Separate the Bangs

Make a center part and figure out how far back you want your bangs to start. Then, use your comb to mark out how much hair you want to include in your bangs.

To do this, make an angled part that goes from the middle of your head to the sides of your hairline. When you finish, you should be left with a triangle shape, with the highest peak directly in the middle of your head.

After you’ve carved out your bangs, comb them to the front and secure them with a hair tie. Then, brush the rest of your hair back and gather it into a ponytail.

Once your hair is secured, remove the hair tie holding your bangs and comb the hair to the front so it falls straight down onto your face.

Cut the Middle of Your Bangs

Check your bangs to make sure you’re okay with the amount of hair you’ve included and how it falls. If you’re satisfied, start by removing the length from the middle.

Typically, the center of bottleneck bangs falls just below your eyebrows.

For straight and wavy hair, pull the hair taut with one hand and use the other to make tiny, even cuts until the middle section is just a little bit longer than you want.

When cutting curly hair, let the curls fall like they usually do, and try not to disturb your natural curl pattern as you snip.

While cutting, make sure you leave your bangs a little longer than you want them to be in the end. That way, you’ll have a safety net if you change your mind later. Plus, you can always go back and shorten your bangs at the end.

Once you’ve finished cutting the center portion, take a step back and examine your work. Decide how long you want to leave the sides before you move on to cutting them.

Cut Both Sides

After cutting your middle section, go back to the center of your bangs. Start with either the right or left section and make your way over to the side. Once again, pull straight and wavy hair taut with one hand as you cut with the other.

Similarly, cut your natural curls and coils as they are. As you make your way to the side, angle your scissors downward. Remember you want your bangs shorter in the middle and much longer on the sides.

Try to create a gradual slope so your fringe doesn’t come out too blunt or choppy. Keep cutting until you’ve reached your desired length, and then repeat the process on the other side.

Do the Finishing Touches

Once you’re satisfied with your cut, tousle your bangs with your fingers. Pull them to both sides and check for missed hairs.

Next, it’s time to soften the look and give your bottleneck bangs their signature texture. To do this, you’re going to feather the ends with a sharp pair of hair shears.

Feathering the ends helps soften the edge of your fringe, so they don’t look like they were chopped with craft scissors.

Hold your scissors at a 90-degree angle and make small, vertical snips into the ends. Pause after every few cuts to examine your work, and stop once you’re happy with your final result.

Pros and Cons of Bottleneck Bangs

Not sure if bottleneck bangs are right for you? Bangs are a major commitment, so in this section, we’ll take a look at some of the pros and cons.

Use the information we’ve included to help you decide if you want to give bottleneck bangs a shot.

Pros

There’s a reason bangs are a go-to option for many women. Here are some of the advantages of getting bottleneck bangs.

They are relatively low maintenance compared to other bang types.

Bottleneck bangs pair well with various haircuts, making them highly versatile.

This style of bangs is universally flattering and works with virtually all face shapes and features.

Your bangs will still look good even when they start to grow out.

Bangs can make you look more youthful.

Bottleneck bangs are on-trend and can even be a conversation starter.

Cons

Although bottleneck bangs are an excellent option for some, they won’t work for everyone. Here are some downsides to consider before taking the plunge.

Bangs can cause acne flareups as the strands brush up against your skin.

You won’t be able to tuck your bangs behind your ears when they’re in the way.

Bangs are a commitment, and the growing-out period can be frustrating.

You may have to heat style your bangs, which can lead to heat damage.

Because bangs get oily quicker than the rest of your hair, you’ll have to wash them more often.

Dos and Don’ts of Cutting Bottleneck Bangs

If you’ve decided bottleneck bangs are right for you, there are a few things you should keep in mind. The following is a list of dos and don’ts that’ll help to ensure that your bangs come out looking the way you want them to.

Dos

Follow this list of dos to stay on the right track as you craft your bottleneck bangs:

→ Do get your hair cut by a professional if you don’t have experience cutting your own hair.

→ Do hold your scissors at a 45-degree angle to prevent your bangs from coming out too blunt.

→ Do plan out how much hair you want to include in your bangs.

→ Do soften the ends of your bangs by cutting them vertically.

→ Do look at plenty of pictures to get an idea of how you want your bangs to fall.

→ Do hold your bangs taut so you can get an accurate cut.

Don’ts

Now that you know the dos, it’s time to dive into some things you should steer clear of. Keep this list of don’ts in mind to avoid a bang fail.

→ Don’t cut your hair while it’s damp unless you have experience doing so.

→ Don’t cut too much hair off at once – you’ll quickly regret it.

→ Don’t forget to take your hairline and any cowlicks into consideration.

→ Don’t get bangs if there’s a chance you’ll change your mind in a few days.

→ Don’t cut bangs into curly hair while it’s straight.

→ Don’t cut your hair while it’s dirty.

Top 10 Hottest Bottleneck Bangs Hairstyles

1. Everyday Bottleneck Bangs

Photo: Getty Images
Photo: Getty Images

This example is really the core essence of the style – it’s soft and choppy, hits at the eyebrow level and curves down to the cheekbones, and blends seamlessly with the rest of the cut. Get flattering volume like this by styling your bangs with a round brush (we’ll share tips in the next section).

2. Voluminous Bottleneck Split Bangs

Photo: Shutterstock
Photo: Shutterstock

If you really want the iconic split bang look, you need plenty of volume and a little swooping shape on each side. This example nails it! Slight curvature in the bangs keeps them from lying flat against the forehead for a look that’s flattering on all face shapes.

3. Off-Center Bottleneck Fringe

Photo: Shutterstock
Photo: Shutterstock

This version is full of volume and parted a little off-center to better flatter the model’s square face shape. With a lot of open space between the sections, this slightly-longer length won’t hide your pretty eyes or have you constantly moving your bangs out of your face.

4. 90s-Inspired Curled Bottleneck Bangs

Photo: Shutterstock
Photo: Shutterstock

The curled-under look of 90s bangs are a fun way to style this trendy bang! The cut and shaping are 100% modern with the only “twist” being the way the bangs are styled. Grab a larger-barreled curling iron and clamp the bangs around the barrel for a few seconds to get this vintage curled-under look.

5. Messy Thick Bottleneck Bangs

Photo: @tomsmithhd
Photo: @tomsmithhd

Fans of casual, messy styles will appreciate this example! Her bangs are a little thicker to give them extra body and volume. The auburn color is rich and deep to lend this look a more polished vibe while the feathered styling adds a touch of casual messiness to balance it out.

6. Choppy Bottleneck Split Bangs

Photo: Shutterstock
Photo: Shutterstock

Soft choppiness typically defines this type of bang, but you can lean into the edgy look by adding layers for more choppy texture. Styling with a little pomade can help you accentuate the shaggy, uneven texture.

7. Sleek Bottleneck Bangs

Put a glamorous twist on your bangs by keeping them thin and styling them with a “low profile” look. These bangs don’t feature as much volume so the shape is sleeker and more fitting for fine or thin hair. Dress them up or down to match your style for the day!

8. Short and Sweet Bottleneck Fringe

Svitlana Sokolova/Shutterstock
Svitlana Sokolova/Shutterstock

This example is a little shorter so the longest part of the bangs hits right at the top of the cheekbones. This is the perfect length if your cheekbones are one of your favorite features to show off! It also helps keep the bangs out of your eyes if you’re not a fan of longer bangs.

9. Bottleneck Wispy Bangs

Krakenimages.com/Shutterstock
Krakenimages.com/Shutterstock

Volume and fullness may not be the right picks for some face shapes, so opt for wispy, flattened bangs with the signature bottleneck opening instead.

Run a flat iron over your bangs while gently curving the ends under. A tiny dab of pomade or wax will help you nail the separation and “piece-y” look here.

10. Coily Bottleneck Bangs

Look Studio/Shutterstock
Look Studio/Shutterstock

Coily and kinky hair can rock these trendy bangs with ease by using thinner pieces of hair. The center is cut short to hit right at the eyebrow level, while the outside edges hang longer to blend the bangs into the rest of the high-volume style.

Who Shouldn’t Get Bottleneck Bangs?

While we could go on and on about how *delightful* bottleneck bangs are, we’d be lying if we said they’re the perfect fringe choice for everyone. Let’s talk about the potential problems you can run into with these bangs.

► If you have oily hair: Bangs of any type can be a problem for women with oily hair, and since this type hits right at the brow bone down to the cheekbones/jaw area, there’s going to be a lot of contact with your skin. And if you tend to touch your bangs a lot anyway, you’re sure to end up with slick lil’ greasies by the end of the day. Work around it by keeping dry shampoo handy and you’ll be fine!

► If you’re prone to bang regret: If you’re the type to get bangs and get hit with instant regret, you may want to try a longer fringe option like curtain bangs instead of the bottleneck type. Bottleneck bangs are somewhat short – usually hitting around the brow line and cheekbones – and it can take months of pinning them back or tucking them behind your ears as you grow them out. Tread carefully to avoid fringe regret!

► If you prefer long bangs: Since this type of bang is shorter, you won’t be able to neatly tuck them behind your ears or push them back when they’re in the way. If you’re one to opt for longer bangs usually, think long and hard before taking the bottleneck leap. You can always get longer curtain bangs to ensure you’re comfortable with the length!

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