18 Side Swept Bangs Hairstyles and the Best Ways to Style Them

ByCathy NHL

Side swept bangs are the fringe stylists suggest to anyone nervous about bangs. They are cut on an angle so they fall across the forehead toward one side instead of straight down, which softens your face without covering it. A missed trim is not a problem either, because the pieces grow into face-framing layers rather than an awkward in-between stage. How they look depends on how long you take them and what the rest of your hair is doing, from a cropped pixie to a silk press. Most women start with the long version that blends into layers.

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Long Side Swept Bangs With Long Layers

This is the version most people picture. The bangs start near the brow and get longer as they sweep across, so the shortest piece sits at the eyebrow and the longest melts into the layers around the cheekbones. Nothing looks cut off.

It works on almost every face shape because the diagonal line softens the forehead without covering it.

Blow-dry the bangs forward first, then sweep them to the side with a round brush so the bend looks natural instead of stiff.

Chin-Length Bob With Side Swept Bangs

A chin-length bob can look severe on its own. Adding side swept bangs breaks up the straight lines and gives the cut some movement at the front.

Keep the bangs long enough to tuck behind one ear on days when you want them out of the way. That option matters more with a bob, since there is no length to pull the hair back with.

Ask for the bangs to be cut slightly longer than the shortest layer so the two blend.

Side Swept Curtain Bangs

Curtain bangs usually part in the middle. This version pushes the whole fringe to one side, so you get the soft feathered ends of curtain bangs with the swoop of a side bang.

The result is lighter than a regular side bang because the pieces are cut with more layering at the ends.

It suits women who already have curtain bangs and want a change without another cut. Dry them to one side with a brush and they fall into place.

Wispy Side Swept Bangs

Wispy bangs are thin enough that you can see the forehead through them. Swept to the side, they look like a few soft strands that happened to fall that way. This is the least committed side bang you can get, and it grows out into face-framing pieces within a couple of months.

Fine hair does well here since the bangs do not need much density. Thick hair needs the section thinned out so the fringe stays airy instead of turning into a heavy curtain.

Collarbone Lob With Side Swept Bangs

The lob sits right at the collarbone, long enough to tie back and short enough to feel like a real cut. Side swept bangs give it a focal point at the front.

Pair them with a few long layers through the ends so the bangs do not look like an afterthought.

Straight or wavy both work. If you wear it wavy, keep the bangs smoother than the rest so they still look like a bang rather than a shorter wave.

Pixie Cut With Side Swept Bangs

A pixie with a long side swept bang is the softest way to wear short hair.

The back and sides are cropped close, and the top is left long enough to sweep across the forehead toward one temple.

The long fringe does the work here. It adds shape to the face and gives you something to style each morning.

Work a small amount of paste through it while damp and comb it to the side. Let it dry in place.

Curly Hair With Side Swept Bangs

Bangs on curly hair need to be cut dry, curl by curl, so the stylist can see where each one will spring up. Cut this way, a side swept bang on curls looks intentional instead of frizzy.

Ask for the bangs to sit longer than you think you want. Curls shrink when they dry.

To style, scrunch a little curl cream into the fringe and use your fingers to push it toward one side. Skip the brush, which will break up the curl pattern.

Choppy Side Swept Bangs

Choppy bangs are cut with the scissors pointed into the hair instead of straight across, which leaves the ends uneven and piecey. Swept to the side, they look a little undone in a good way. The uneven ends are the whole point.

This bang suits thick hair best. The choppy ends remove some of the weight so the fringe does not sit in a heavy block. A dab of texture paste on the ends keeps the separation visible through the day.

High Ponytail With Side Swept Bangs

Pulling the hair up into a high ponytail leaves the whole face exposed, and side swept bangs fix that. They fill in the space around the forehead and keep the look from feeling too tight.

Smooth the ponytail back with a brush and some gel, then leave the bangs out before you tie it. Tie it high, near the crown.

Blow-dry the fringe to the side with a small round brush so it curves toward the cheekbone rather than hanging flat.

Beach Waves With Side Swept Bangs

Loose waves and a side bang go together well because the bang follows the same soft bend as the rest of the hair.

Wave the lengths with a wand or a flat iron, then run the iron through the bangs once with a slight curve toward the side. Do not wave the bangs themselves, or they will look like a stray curl. A light mist of sea salt spray keeps the waves in place without making the bangs stiff.

Shag Haircut With Side Swept Bangs

The shag is built from short layers on top and longer layers underneath, and a side swept bang fits into it naturally. The bang is just the shortest layer, pushed to one side.

This cut works best with some texture. Air-dry with a mousse or add a bit of dry texture spray once the hair is dry.

Ask your stylist to cut the bang so it connects with the layers around the ears. That way it grows into the shag instead of away from it.

Messy Bun With Side Swept Bangs

A messy bun on its own can look like you just did not do your hair. Leaving a side swept bang out changes that.

The bang looks planned, so the bun looks planned too.

Twist the hair up loosely and pin it at the crown or the back of the head.

Pull the bang out afterward and smooth it to the side with your fingers. A little dry shampoo at the root gives it lift so it does not lie flat against the forehead.

Half-Up Half-Down With Side Swept Bangs

Half-up styles pull the top section back and leave the rest down. With side swept bangs, you leave the fringe out of the tie and let it fall across the forehead.

The look is a good middle ground for women who want the hair off the face but do not want a full updo.

Secure the top section with a small claw clip or an elastic. Then brush the bangs to the side and set them with a pin behind the ear if they slip.

Balayage With Side Swept Bangs

Balayage is hand-painted color that gets lighter toward the ends. Side swept bangs give the colorist a spot to paint a few lighter pieces right at the front, which brightens the face.

Ask for the bangs to be colored a shade or two lighter than the roots, but not as light as the ends. That keeps the fringe from looking like a separate block of color. A smooth blow-dry shows off the gradient best. Caramel and soft blonde tones both suit it.

Blunt Heavy Side Swept Bangs

Not every side bang has to be soft. A blunt version is cut thick from a deep section, then swept over in one solid piece. The ends are cut straight rather than feathered.

This bang makes a stronger line across the forehead and works well on thick, straight hair. It also hides a high forehead more fully than a wispy bang.

The trade-off is maintenance. The blunt edge needs a trim every four weeks to stay clean, and dry shampoo helps between washes.

Silk Press With Side Swept Bangs

A silk press straightens natural hair with heat and no chemicals, leaving it smooth and shiny. A side swept bang gives the press a finished front, since the sleek length can look plain on its own.

Black women who wear silk presses often ask for the bang to be cut while the hair is straight so the stylist can see the true length.

Wrap the hair at night and keep the bang pinned flat so it holds its sweep until the next wash day.

Gray Hair With Side Swept Bangs

Gray hair and side swept bangs are a good match.

The bang softens the face and covers the forehead lines that many women over fifty would rather not draw attention to.

Keep the bang long and light. A heavy fringe in gray can look flat, while a lighter one lets the silver tones move.

A purple shampoo once a week keeps the gray from turning yellow, which matters most at the front where the bangs sit closest to the face.

Short Side Swept Bangs

Most side bangs sit at or below the brow. A short version stops above it, then sweeps to the side in a small curve.

This bang shows more of the face and looks a little playful. It suits women with smaller foreheads who find long bangs overwhelming.

Short bangs need more upkeep than long ones since a small amount of growth changes the look. Plan on a trim every three to four weeks. Blow-dry them to the side while damp so they set.

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