How To Cut Wispy Bangs (with Pictures) - WikiHow

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Terms of Use wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. Learn why people trust wikiHow How to Cut Wispy Bangs PDF download Download Article Co-authored by Kemi Hill

Last Updated: July 2, 2025 Fact Checked

PDF download Download Article
  • Sectioning Your Hair
    • |
  • Cutting Your Bangs
    • |
  • Finishing and Styling Your Bangs
    • |
  • Video
    • |
  • Expert Interview
    • |
  • Q&A
    • |
  • Tips
    • |
  • Things You'll Need
|Show more |Show less X

This article was co-authored by Kemi Hill. Kemi Hill is a Hair Stylist and the Owner of Reveal Hair AZ in Tempe, Arizona. With over 15 years of experience, she specializes in silk press, helping women transition out of relaxers, traditional installs, clip-in enhancements, natural-looking color, and curl sessions. Kemi prioritizes providing simple and useful information to women who struggle with their hair care. There are 9 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 242,617 times.

Bangs are a timeless cut, but unless you have thin, wispy hair, your bangs will likely end up thick and choppy. Fortunately, it's easy to get wispy bangs. The trick is to cut vertically up into them after you make the base cut. Afterwards, you can style your bangs with a round-barrel brush to make them even wispier!

Steps

Part 1 Part 1 of 3:

Sectioning Your Hair

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  1. Step 1 Start with dry hair and part it down the middle. 1 Start with dry hair and part it down the middle. Hair shrinks a little as it dries, so it's important that it's dry when you cut it.[1] If you cut your hair while it's wet, especially if it is wavy or curly, your bangs might end up too short after they dry.[2]
    • Make sure that your hair is neatly combed and free of any knots and tangles.
  2. Step 2 Create a horizontal part across the top of your head, like a headband. 2 Create a horizontal part across the top of your head, like a headband. Somewhere around 1 to 1 1⁄2 inches (2.5 to 3.8 cm) behind your front hairline would be good, but you can make the part further back if your hair is thin at the front of your head. Use the handle of a rattail comb to create this part so that it's neat and clean.
    • The further back you make the part, the thicker your bangs will turn out.
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  3. Step 3 Pull the hair behind the part into a ponytail. 3 Pull the hair behind the part into a ponytail. Leave the hair in front of the part hanging in front of your face. If you plan on straightening your bangs on a daily basis, then you should straighten your hair now. Be sure to apply a heat protectant first, however!
    • You don't have to straighten all of your hair—just the part that you'll be cutting into bangs.
    • Consider leaving the wisps of hair in front of your ears out of the ponytail. This will make it easier to blend the bangs in.
  4. Step 4 Divide the hair into 3 sections, then clip the side sections out of the way. 4 Divide the hair into 3 sections, then clip the side sections out of the way.[3] Use the handle of your rattail comb to divide your hair at the outer edges of your eyebrows to separate it into 3 sections. These sections should be about 1⁄2 inch (1.3 cm) wide. Pin or clip the thin sections out of the way.
    • Bangs are rarely cut straight across; rather, they are longer on the sides and shorter in the middle. Creating 3 sections will make this variation in length easier to achieve.
  5. Step 5 Pin the top two-thirds of the middle section out of the way. 5 Pin the top two-thirds of the middle section out of the way. Use the handle of the rattail comb to divide the middle section horizontally, about a third of the way from the bottom. Twist and clip the thicker, upper section out of the way, and leave the thinner, bottom section hanging in front of your face.
    • You'll be cutting the bangs in layers. Clipping the rest out of the way will make this easier.
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Part 2 Part 2 of 3:

Cutting Your Bangs

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  1. Step 1 Comb the hair forward and pinch it where you want to cut. 1 Comb the hair forward and pinch it where you want to cut. Use a big, round-barrel brush to comb the thin, middle section forward. Set the brush aside, then made a V-shape with your middle and index fingers. Close your fingers, like scissors, around the hair section, then drag them downward to where you want to cut your bangs.
    • It would be an even better idea to pinch your hair a little lower than where you want to cut; you can always cut it shorter later.[4]
    • For bangs that skim your eyebrows, pinch your hair at about nose-level.
  2. Step 2 Cut straight across the hair, right below your fingers. 2 Cut straight across the hair, right below your fingers. Don't worry if your bangs look a little longer than you want them to. This is just the base-cut; you will be feathering them in the next step, which will make them shorter.
    • Use a good pair of hairdressing shears or barber shears for this. Don't use plain, old scissors.
  3. Step 3 Snip vertically into the bottom edge of your cut bangs. 3 Snip vertically into the bottom edge of your cut bangs. Pinch your bangs at about eyebrow level. Hold your scissors vertically, with the points facing the ceiling. Make little snips into the bottom edge of your bangs, cutting towards your fingers. Work your way across your bangs, from one side to the other.[5]
    • The further into your hair you cut, the more wispy your bangs will be. Anywhere between 1⁄2 and 1 inch (1.3 and 2.5 cm) would be good.
    • This technique is known as point cutting.
  4. Step 4 Let down another thin layer of hair, and trim it as well. 4 Let down another thin layer of hair, and trim it as well. Unclip the middle section and divide it in half horizontally. Clip the top part out of the way, and cut the bottom part using the already-feathered bangs as a guide. Hold the scissors vertically, and snip upwards into it as well.
    • Repeat this step for the top and final layer of the middle section.
  5. Step 5 Unclip and cut the side sections, angling them towards the bangs. 5 Unclip and cut the side sections, angling them towards the bangs. If your hair is very long, trim the side sections first so that they are 2 to 4 inches (5.1 to 10.2 cm) longer than your feathered bangs. Next, cut them so that they angle upwards to meet the side edges of your bangs.[6]
    • Be sure to cut vertically up into the bottom edges of the side sections as well.
    • Because the side sections are so thin, you don't need to cut them in layers like you did the bangs.
  6. Step 6 Snip vertically into your bangs until you get the wispiness you want. 6 Snip vertically into your bangs until you get the wispiness you want. Pinch your bangs between your middle and index fingers, and snip vertically up into them. Do the middle first, then the sides. Keep doing until your bangs are as thin and wispy as you desire.[7]
    • Don't cut more than 1 inch (2.5 cm) up into your bangs.[8]
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Part 3 Part 3 of 3:

Finishing and Styling Your Bangs

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  1. Step 1 Dampen your bangs with water from a bottle. 1 Dampen your bangs with water from a bottle. You can also just wet your brush, then comb your bangs with it. Your bangs should be damp, not dripping wet. The rest of your hair should still be pulled back, however.[9]
    • Dampening your hair first will make it easier to style with a hairdryer and round-barrel brush.
    • Skip this step if you prefer to straighten your bangs.
  2. Step 2 Hold a large, round-barrel brush under your bangs. 2 Hold a large, round-barrel brush under your bangs.[10] Give the brush a slight twist so that it catches onto you bangs. The round-barrel brush will not only make your bangs smooth, but also straight, with a gentle, downward curve.
    • The smaller the barrel, the tighter the curve will be. The larger the barrel, the larger the curve will be.
    • If you're straightening your bangs, apply a heat protectant to them instead.
  3. Step 3 Blow-dry your bangs with a round-barrel brush. 3 Blow-dry your bangs with a round-barrel brush. Turn on your hairdryer, and point it down onto your bangs. Slowly pull the brush and hairdryer down at the same time towards the ends of your bangs.[11]
    • Repeat this step as often as needed until your bangs are dry.
    • If you're straightening your bangs instead, simply clamp them between a flat iron, then pull the flat iron downward.
  4. Step 4 Brush your bangs out with a paddle brush. 4 Brush your bangs out with a paddle brush. You can leave the side edges of your bangs as they are, straighten them with a flat iron, or style them with a round-barrel brush in the same way that you style the bangs. Once you are happy with your look, undo the ponytail holding the rest of your hair back.[12]
  5. Step 5 Apply some shine serum or hair oil to the ends of your bangs, if desired. 5 Apply some shine serum or hair oil to the ends of your bangs, if desired. This will not only help your bangs look smooth, but it will also allow them to clump together and create a piece-y, wispy look.
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Community Q&A

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  • Question Since I am cutting my bangs without permission, what should I do with the trimmed hair? Kathleen Taylor Kathleen Taylor Community Answer You should clean up thoroughly and dispose of the trimmed hair in the trash. It will be difficult to hide the fact that you cut your bangs, as the change will be visible. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 1 Helpful 4
  • Question Can I apply this method to cut synthetic wig bangs? Kathleen Taylor Kathleen Taylor Community Answer Yes, you can apply this method, depending on the wig's existing parting. While altering a wig's base shape is challenging, if it already has bangs, you can use this technique to fine-tune them to fit your face and make them more wispy. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 0 Helpful 1
  • Question What is a wispy bang? Kathleen Taylor Kathleen Taylor Community Answer Wispy means frail, slight, and indistinct. Unlike a blunt cut bang, which has a definite end point and a solid wall of hair, wispy bangs are much lighter in weight, tend to show more skin, and have an indistinct edge. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 0 Helpful 1
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Video

Tips

  • Go slowly when you cut, and don't cut off too much at once. Remember: you can always go back and trim off more later.[13] Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
  • If you plan on curling your bangs, make them longer than you want to; they will become shorter when you curl them. Thanks Helpful 17 Not Helpful 1
Submit a Tip All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published Name Please provide your name and last initial Submit Thanks for submitting a tip for review! Advertisement

Things You'll Need

  • Hairdressing shears
  • Rattail comb
  • Paddle brush
  • Round-barrel brush
  • Hair clips
  • Hair tie
  • Hairdryer
  • Shine serum (optional)
  • Spray bottle filled with water

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Expert Interview

Thanks for reading our article! If you’d like to learn more about hair care, check out our in-depth interview with Kemi Hill.

References

  1. ↑ Kemi Hill. Hair Stylist. Expert Interview
  2. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PJ6OfpbOySI&t=2m5s
  3. ↑ Kemi Hill. Hair Stylist. Expert Interview
  4. ↑ https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/23/style/self-care/quarantine-cut-your-own-bangs-coronavirus.html
  5. ↑ https://www.elle.com/uk/beauty/hair/a32248466/how-cut-fringe/
  6. ↑ https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/beauty/hair/a32586548/how-to-cut-bangs/
  7. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PJ6OfpbOySI&t=5m40s
  8. ↑ https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/23/style/self-care/quarantine-cut-your-own-bangs-coronavirus.html
  9. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PJ6OfpbOySI&t=6m45s
More References (4)
  1. ↑ Kemi Hill. Hair Stylist. Expert Interview
  2. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PJ6OfpbOySI&t=6m50s
  3. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PJ6OfpbOySI&t=7m5s
  4. ↑ https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/beauty/hair/a32586548/how-to-cut-bangs/

About This Article

Kemi Hill Co-authored by: Kemi Hill Hair Stylist This article was co-authored by Kemi Hill. Kemi Hill is a Hair Stylist and the Owner of Reveal Hair AZ in Tempe, Arizona. With over 15 years of experience, she specializes in silk press, helping women transition out of relaxers, traditional installs, clip-in enhancements, natural-looking color, and curl sessions. Kemi prioritizes providing simple and useful information to women who struggle with their hair care. This article has been viewed 242,617 times. 18 votes - 94% Co-authors: 12 Updated: July 2, 2025 Views: 242,617 Categories: Trimming Hair In other languages German Dutch Spanish Japanese
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Reader Success Stories

  • Jan Aronson

    Jan Aronson

    Aug 16, 2020

    "As a survivor of many home bang-cutting catastrophes as a child, I have been afraid to try and cut my own bangs,..." more
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Did this article help you?

Yes No Advertisement Cookies make wikiHow better. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Kemi Hill Co-authored by: Kemi Hill Hair Stylist Co-authors: 12 Updated: July 2, 2025 Views: 242,617 94% of readers found this article helpful. 18 votes - 94% Click a star to add your vote Jan Aronson

Jan Aronson

Aug 16, 2020

"As a survivor of many home bang-cutting catastrophes as a child, I have been afraid to try and cut my own bangs,..." more Ashley Macdonald

Ashley Macdonald

Jan 28, 2023

"This helped me a lot. Thanks!" Paula A.

Paula A.

Oct 11, 2024

"Your story is so pretty." Rated this article: Share yours! More success stories Hide success stories

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