Curtain bangs are easiest to DIY if you go slow, cut less than you think, and work with clean, slightly damp hair for control. Below is a simple, stylist- inspired guide plus safety tips.

Before you cut

  • Wash or lightly mist your hair so itā€™s damp , not dripping; this gives more control than cutting on dry or very wet hair.
  • Use proper hair-cutting scissors if possible; kitchen or office scissors can create frayed, choppy ends.
  • Style your hair how you normally wear it (middle part vs slight off-center), because your part determines how the bangs will fall.
  • Start with longer, more ā€œface-framing layersā€ than true short bangs if youā€™re nervous; you can always go shorter in small trims.

If your hair is very curly or coily, itā€™s safest to cut bang pieces in their natural curl pattern and leave them longer than you think because curls shrink as they dry.

Step 1: Create the triangle section

This section becomes your curtain bangs.

  1. Find your center part. Comb hair straight down and split it evenly.
  1. From the very top of that part, create a small triangle by drawing two diagonal lines to your temples or just inside your brows, depending on how thick you want the bangs.
  1. Clip the rest of your hair back so only the triangle section is free.

Tips:

  • Smaller triangle = softer, wispy curtain bangs.
  • Bigger triangle = thicker, more dramatic bangs.

Step 2: Set your ā€œguideā€ length

This is the shortest point in the middle.

  1. Comb the triangle section forward so it falls over your forehead.
  1. Take a thin central slice (about 1ā€“2 cm wide) from the middle; this becomes your guide.
  1. Decide where you want that center to hit: between eyebrows and top of the nose for classic curtain bangs, or at cheekbone level for long, subtle bangs.
  1. Hold that central slice between your fingers and point cut (tiny snips with the tips of the scissors pointing upward into the hair) until it reaches your chosen length; this avoids a blunt line.

Always cut a little longer than you want; hair will spring up a bit when it dries and after styling.

Step 3: Angle the sides for the ā€œcurtainā€ shape

This is where you create the swoopy, face-framing look.

  1. Split the remaining bang hair into left and right sides.
  2. Working on one side at a time, comb the hair straight down and slightly over the eye on that side.
  1. Use the middle guide as your starting point:
    • Hold the hair so the section closest to the center lines up with your guide.
    • Angle your fingers down toward the ends of the hair near your cheekbones or jaw, depending on how long you want the outer edge.
  1. Cut along your fingers in a diagonal line , shortest at the center, longest near the outer corner of your eye/cheek.
  1. Repeat on the other side, trying to mirror the angle and length.

Some stylists also pull each side across to the opposite side of the face and then cut parallel to the part; this automatically creates shorter pieces in the middle and longer ones on the outside.

Check balance: let both sides fall naturally, look straight ahead, and trim tiny bits to even them out if needed.

Step 4: Soften and blend

To avoid heavy or ā€œhelmet-likeā€ bangs, you want soft ends and a smooth blend into your lengths.

  • Use thinning shears or point cutting on the bottom edges to feather them, especially near the outer corners.
  • Take small vertical sections and lightly snip into the very tips; this keeps the ā€œcurtainā€ airy rather than chunky.
  • If you have layers already, lightly connect the longest part of the bangs to the shortest layers around your face with a few extra angled snips.

Do this slowly; itā€™s easy to over-thin, which can make bangs stringy.

Step 5: Style curtain bangs

Styling makes a big difference in how your cut looks. Blow-dry method (for straight or wavy hair):

  • Apply a lightweight leave-in or heat protectant.
  • Blow-dry your bangs forward first to remove cowlicks, then flip them back and out to each side using a round brush or hot air brush.
  • Wrap the bangs around the brush, lift at the roots for volume, and roll them away from your face, then let them cool in that position (you can use rollers for extra bounce).

Curly/coily hair:

  • Style your curls as usual with your regular products.
  • Cut and refine only on curls that are clumped, and let them fall where they naturally want to sit, maintaining the shorter center and longer sides.

Mini safety and ā€œdonā€™t panicā€ tips

  • Never cut straight across in one big chop; always use small, vertical or angled snips for a softer line.
  • If youā€™re unsure, keep them at cheekbone or lip lengthā€”this still gives a curtain effect and grows out easily.
  • If you cut too short, lean into a fuller fringe and let a professional refine the shape; styling with more volume and texture can make short bangs look intentional.

A simple example: imagine you aim for bangs that skim your cheekbones. You cut the center first to just below your brow, then angle each side so they reach the top of the cheekbone, feather the tips, and style them away from your face with a round brush for that easy, ā€™70s-inspired swoop.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.