The Noncommittal Bang

By VICTORIA JONES, MARKETING COORDINATOR

Interviewing ROWAN P., EXPERIENCED STYLIST

Published October 16th, 2026

As an avid bangs haver and trend appreciator, I look towards the founding mothers. I carry a deep respect for the author of the baby bang, Audrey Hepburn. The '70s inspiration Stevie Nicks and the inspired Suki Waterhouse continue to bless us with the shag. Acknowledging the twee movement and all that Zooey Deschanel has done for the fivehead community, I wanted to know: what's the next move for those that love a face-framing layer?

So I sat down with Rowan, an Experienced Stylist at 501 Salon + Spa who encourages framing on the majority of her clients. Turns out, the answer is more nuanced, and way more wearable, than any single trend.

A Guide to Modern Fringe

A Population in transition

For most of recorded history, bangs were a binary event. You either had them, or you would never even consider it. 

"Bangs used to be kind of an all-or-nothing mentality," Rowan explains. "You basically had a fringe, or you had one-length hair with long layers. Now, I'd probably say 80% of my clients get curtain bangs or at least some sort of face framing."

Researchers (our stylists) continue to log frequent Sabrina Carpenter requests, alongside the 90s blowout and its entire aesthetic ecosystem. "It's a lot of curtains, more than anything, or the little wispy pieces, because those are very 90s, early Y2K haircut energy," Rowan says.

The shag, apex fringe of the past few years, is showing early signs of seasonal decline, though its layers remain embedded in plenty of everyday cuts. "I agree the shag is falling off a tiny bit," Rowan acknowledges. "But I think plenty of people have found their cut for life with it." We agreed that dedicated trend-chasers will migrate with the herd. Everyone else is welcome to stay put.

Into this shifting landscape steps a new, sophisticated option: the “wispy fringe”. It's the refined descendant of that 90s nostalgia, the curtains and textured pieces everyone keeps asking for, evolved to survive how people actually live.

Clients want options. They want bangs they can wear forward as a true bang, swept to the side like a curtain, or honestly, sometimes not at all. They're asking for versatility! That's where wispy fringe comes in.

Wispy fringe, is the piecey, feathered curtain bang that's longer than traditional fringe. It's defined by flexibility. The same cut works differently depending on how you style it on each given day.

Zoë Kravitz rocks hers as delicate tendrils that frame the face, understated and romantic. It's fringe that doesn't demand attention.

Miley Cyrus pulls hers away dramatically, creating movement and volume at the crown. Bangs are almost an accessory for her, not just framing.

Bella Hadid brought back the early-2000s aesthetic with a fuller, piecier bang pulled to the side. Bold. Intentional.

Mika Abdalla shows the real flexibility by pinning hers back into updos when she doesn't want fringe. The cut sits there, ready when she is, hidden when she isn't.

Rowan's name for it is perfect: "the noncommittal bang." It can be reinvented tomorrow depending on your mood, your schedule, or the humidity.

Notable fringe Icons of the 2020s

  • IRIS LAW

    @LIRISAW

  • mika abdalla

    HAIR BY @MARISACUTS

  • ZOE KRAVITZ

    HAIR BY @NIKKINELMS

Are bangs for me?

When I asked if she steers clients toward different styles based on face shape, Rowan was direct. "I don't normally think of that, really. If I'm thinking of anything, it's their lifestyle."

2026 stylists aren't pushing a “copy paste” cut like chain haircut salons used to pass out as freely as candy on Halloween night. They're asking the actual questions that matter: Do you spend two minutes on your hair every day? Do you work out regularly? Do you have to wear your hair up for work? Are you busy and want something that still looks intentional?

"If someone doesn't own any styling tools and doesn't want to, then we should maybe do more face framing instead of a curtain bang or full bang," Rowan says. "Especially because bangs will require some amount of styling. I think it's important to be realistic about lifestyle."

Conversing about practicality is a crucial step when you’re in the chair during the hair consultation. "Clients are definitely asking for more low-maintenance hair now more than ever," Rowan explains. "I think it's partially due to a slightly struggling economy, but also because people are busy. It's more of a luxury to have something that looks perfected in between appointments or for a long time, rather than something that needs touching up every few weeks."

The Minimum Effort Approach

A bang, like a sourdough starter or a houseplant someone gave you as a gift, needs a little daily attention. Not much. Here is Rowan's maintenance protocol.

Flat creaseless styling clips "I always tell clients about these," she says. "You comb your damp fringe to the shape you want, then put clips in to set your bangs. Keep them in to dry while you do your makeup or make your coffee. Minimal effort required. I literally take mine out before I get out of my car at work."

Dry shampoo is your best friend for texture and volume. It keeps bangs from separating too much, especially when they're freshly cut.

Grooming clay "Just a tiny swipe, rub it in your hands, then pinch and shape your bangs. It gives you control without the commitment of a full style."

The combination? Blow-dry away from the face, use dry shampoo for texture, shape with clay. Takes minutes. It's not about looking effortless without effort. It's about designing a cut that works with your lifestyle, not against it.

"I think bangs will always be a thing, and I think the wispy bangs are here to stay for a while because they make bangs more accessible to a wider range of clients."

"Bangs have a history of being somewhat extreme or dramatic, those 'break up bangs' moments where people say 'I'll never do it again.' Wispy bangs offer a softer alternative."

Translation: This isn't a fleeting trend. It's a practical evolution of what bangs can be. More people get to have them because they're less all-or-nothing. Less drama, more flexibility.

If you’re ready to Take the leap, the most important thing is honesty in consultation. Before you book, know:

  • How you’ll wear them: forward, to the side, or both

  • How much time you’ll really spend styling

  • Your week: workouts, updos, work requirements

  • Consider trying clips, dry shampoo, or clay

The next move for bangs isn’t about copying a celebrity. It’s about finding the version that actually works for you.

Experienced Hairstylist at 501 Salon + Spa since late 2025

RowaN P

Victoria Jones

Marketing Coordinator at 501 Salon + Spa and Industry Salon since Spring 2026