About Bangs
The term "bangs," as it relates to hairstyles, is defined by the American Heritage Dictionary as "a fringe of hair cut short and straight across the forehead." But bangs in modern hairstyles can be not only straight, but also curled, swept over to one side and even spiked with mousse. Bangs are likely to continue in their popularity as long as celebrities continue to wear them. Does this Spark an idea?
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History
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Elizabeth Taylor wore straight cut bangs in her portrayal of Cleopatra in the movie by the same name in 1963, and one marble sculpture of the Queen of Egypt that was exhibited at Chicago's Field Museum looks exactly like Taylor's hairstyle. So we know bangs have been around at least since the time of Cleopatra (30 B.C.). Movie stars have worn them since the movie industry began with silent films in the early twentieth century, as did the flappers with their bob haircuts of the 1920s. In the 1930s, bangs flourished as part of the "bowl" haircuts that mothers gave their children at home to save the cost of barbershop cuts. Bangs seemed to disappear briefly during the pompadours of the 1940s World War II years, but First Lady Mamie Eisenhower made them popular again in the 1950s while her husband was in the White House, and the Beatles even made them stylish for boys in 1964. Cher wore them in the mid-1960s when she was still half of Sonny and Cher. Bangs seemed to go out of style again in the late 1960s and early 1970s when everyone grew out their bangs to be the same length as the rest of their long straight hair - including the Beatles. They came back with a vengeance with the big hair look in the 1980s and early 1990s, and they haven't left us since.
Function
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Bangs can help camouflage high foreheads that may make one's face appear a little longer than your comfort zone. They can also help to hide facial blemishes, moles and birthmarks. And that's in addition to adding a stylish look to one's hairdo.
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Types
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Bangs can be worn many ways, as evidenced by the photos of people with bangs you can see if you click on the link in our reference section. There are the straight, blunt cut type that resemble those of the Beatles in the early to mid 1960s. There are the short curled bangs and the cute wispy bangs like actress Meg Ryan wore in the movie "French Kiss." There are bangs that are swept to one side across the forehead, and spiked bangs made stiff by a hair product. This look was initially made popular by men and boys in the 1950s, and became popular again in recent years. The only difference is in the length of the stiffened bangs--in the 1950s, they were shorter than more recent incarnations. And the product used to make them stand up has changed from a hair gel to mousse. Bangs can be cut different lengths for even more variation.
Effects
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Bangs provide an illusion that can change the size and shape of one's face, as well as add a new twist to an old hairstyle. Even if one has always worn bangs, they can be styled or cut a little differently to give one a whole new look. Straight, flat bangs that hug the forehead typically give one a casual appearance, while those same bangs can be bent slightly and puffed up with a large curling iron and hairspray for a dressier look. The effect one is trying to achieve can normally be accomplished with just a little practice with different styles.
Benefits
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One benefit of wearing the hair with bangs is that bangs provide a natural shield to the damaging rays of the sun. Sunscreen still should be worn underneath for protection of the forehead when the wind blows the bangs back, but when the bangs are in place, they do provide some protection. Bangs also collect drops of perspiration that form on the forehead when one is engaging in outdoor activities, protecting the eyes from the perspiration flow. And, after a swim or a drenching in a rain storm, even when the rest of the hair is ruined and flat, one can always put on a hat or a headband, fluff up the bangs and still look presentable.
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