Swoop bangs: The Reese Witherspoon look making us want side fringes

We don’t know about you, but back in our high school days swoop bangs were all anyone wanted (that and quiffs, claw hair grips and massive flower accessories). Lately though, a war is raging in the hair world, with different fringe clans clamouring for dominance – leaving side-sweeping bangs to fight their corner.

And while we love all fringe styles equally, we believe that swoop bangs deserve a little more attention right now. Why? Because they’re universally flattering, can be tweaked to be subtle or statement, and could be the just what you’ve been looking for!

So, whatever your vibe, if you don’t know about swoop bangs, it’s time to get acquainted.

country singer carrie underwood with curled swoop bangs

1. Curly side bangs

Carrie Underwood: country singer extraordinaire and long-standing member of the swoop bangs society.

We love the way that she curls her bangs outwards, which opens up her face and merges her fringe into the rest of her hair beautifully.

actress emma stone with wavy tousled mid length hair with swoop bangs

2. Tousled bangs

Does your hair have a natural wave or curl to it? Great! No one ever said that bangs need to be dead straight and, actually, letting them work with your natural texture can give them a really fresh, laid-back finish.

actress kristen bell with sleek swoop bangs

3. Sleek bangs

Perfect for those who love a glossy, primped and primed style, swoop bangs can be slick without looking greasy.

The key is to bring some of the shine throughout your lengths too, that way it won’t look like you’ve just got oily roots!

Editor’s tip: Want to know how to add shine to lacklustre locks? Shine sprays, like the VO5 Tame & Shine Spray, are the answer. They come in an easy spray format and are light enough that they won’t weigh down your hair.

actress shailene woodley with soft brunette swoop bangs in an updo

4. Soft side bangs

Do you wear your hair up a lot for work? Fringes are a really easy way to spruce up an updo. Even if you just go for a basic bun, soft sweeping bangs will do your talking for you.

reese witherspoon with long graduated side swoop bangs

5. Graduated bangs

Not all swoop bangs are made equal – it’s all about where you decide to cut them off. Be clever and think about where you want your bangs to stop to best frame your features, like Reese’s eye-level look.

Marion Cotillard with exaggerated swoop bangs on the red carpet

6. Exaggerated bangs

When formal occasions call for something a bit fancier, whip out the bold bangs. Play up your swoop bangs with an eye-catching style and you won’t even need to do anything major to the rest of your hair.

Editor’s tip: More structured styles like this call for a more heavy duty hairspray for support.

The VO5 Ultimate Hold Hairspray is perfect as it’s got an ultra strong hold, so you can make your bangs as bold as you please, without fear of them falling flat on your forehead.

7. Subtle side bangs

If you’re currently in the in-between stages of growing out swoop bangs, or you like the look but want the option to clip them back sometimes, just keep it subtle.

If you’ve already got a straight fringe, you may not even need to cut your hair to achieve this, just move your parting over slightly and push your fringe to the side, et voila!