How to Grow Out Bangs and Skip the Awkward In-Between Stage

There’s no way to sugarcoat it — growing out bangs is pretty high up there on the list of most annoying beauty woes. It can feel like the time between appropriate bang-length and the moment your hair finally evens out is ages long. Besides cursing yourself for getting them in the first place, there are a few tips and tricks for concealing bangs during that awkward growing-out stage. We tapped New York City-based hairstylist Drew Schaefering to find out exactly how.

The Best Way to Grow Out Bangs

It all depends on the overall shape and length of your haircut, but the easiest way to hide bangs involves layers and creating a natural movement of the hair. When your bangs have softer edges, they’ll start pushing to the sides more easily, so they’re less noticeable. Ironically, this involves getting a hair trim. “Every three to four weeks or so, they will need to be reshaped around the face again to soften them,” says Schaefering. “Working them into soft, face-framing layers helps give the visual of them elongating.”

Haircuts That Hide Bangs During the Growing Stage

While it may seem counterproductive to get a haircut when you’re trying to grow out your bangs, it’s actually very necessary to make your bangs blend with the rest of your hairstyle. “Adding softening layers around your face helps break up the horizontal lines that bangs can produce,” says Schaefering. “Another option is to bring the length of the rest of your hair up to create another horizontal line that distracts from the weight line in the bangs.”

Tips for Making Bangs Look Good — Even When They’re Getting Too Long

Like all great hair discoveries, the trick to growing out your bangs starts with experimentation. If you don’t like the way your bangs look while they’re growing out, Schaefering recommends trying to style them differently than you normally would. The main key: volume. “Try a smaller round brush and add some bounce and wave to them so the hair doesn’t lay on top of itself.” His favorite volumizing products include the L’Oréal Professionnel Tecni Art Soft Curls Aqua Mousse or Tecni Art Volume Envy Extra Strong Hold Volume Mousse. We also like the Garnier Fructis Root Amp Root Lifting Spray Mousse. For a heatless option, try setting clips. “Use setting clips while the hair is drying to secure the shape with less effort,” recommends Schaefering. “Sometimes adding a different type of movement to your hair through the use of product or a small change can give you a totally new feel to your current look.”

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