Jump to:
When growing out bangs, there’s a waiting period — there’s no way around that. Most stylists say that it takes around five months to completely grow them out, and we’ll show you what ‘dos to rock to look great in the meantime.
How to Grow Out Bangs: A Summary
Growing out your bangs is a waiting game, and you need styles to use along the way. Fortunately, there are plenty of tricks for you to try so that you look your best throughout the process. These include:
- Choose Where to Part Your Hair
- Train Your Hair
- Try Braids or Twists
- Transition to Layers
- Sweep Bangs to the Side
- Trim Regularly
- Use Moisturizing Shampoo and Conditioner
- Try a Hair Mask
- Choose a Hairstyle That Suits You
- Give it Time
How to Grow Out Bangs in 10 Steps
Follow these steps to grow your bangs out and look great while growing out your bangs:
Step 1. Choose Where to Part Your Hair
Bangs hang down over your forehead, but once grown out, they’ll blend with the rest of your hair. It’s important to choose where you want to part your hair when you start growing your bangs out. This is particularly important if you have had full bangs without a part.
You’ll either part your hair in the middle and create curtain bangs as they grow, or you might want to part your hair on the side. This way, the bangs will become side bangs and then layers as they grow out. You need to stay with the part you choose so that you’re able to train and trim your bangs as they grow.
Step 2. Train Your Hair
Now that you’ve parted your hair, you need to train it so it gets used to laying in a direction that supports your new style. Although you cannot change the direction that hair grows out of your scalp (you might always have that cowlick or strong forward growth), you can encourage it to lay in a certain direction naturally, which will drastically reduce the amount of time you have to fool with it.
When you’ve had bangs for a long time, your roots are trained to grow the hairs in the direction of the bangs. Now, you need to train it to grow to the sides. Use a round brush and your hair dryer to train your hair to go to the side where you want it as it grows out. Aim the hair dryer away from the part to keep your hair moving in the direction you want it.
Step 3. Try Braids or Twists
The most difficult part of growing out your bangs is the stage where it’s longer than bangs, but still too short to do anything with it. It’s challenging to blend them in with the rest of your hair, but they’re too long to leave them alone.
You should try braids or twists during this phase to conceal your bangs. If you twist the shorter hairs and pin them on the sides, you’ll create a kind of vintage look. Another great idea is to French braid the hair around your head. The braid will frame your face, and it looks fantastic.
There are different ways to create braids out of your shorter hair. One option is to make small French braids that mimic barrettes, and another is to braid the hair all the way around your hairline. This is a modern look that helps conceal your bangs as they’re growing out.
Read Next: How to French Braid Your Hair
Step 4. Transition to Layers
Once your hair gets past the awkward stage, it’ll be long enough to transition into layers. It should be around chin length before you try this. Whether you have chosen to part your hair on the side or in the middle, you should transition to layers that frame your face.
Your bangs will now be part of a hair style rather than hair that is growing out. You have a lot of different options that you’ll want to discuss with your stylist, but your hair is now finally out of the awkward stage.
Step 5. Sweep Bangs to the Side
Another way to handle your bangs as they are growing out is to sweep them off to the side. This helps to tame your bangs and give them a semblance of purpose and style, while keeping hair out of your face.
You might consider using styling products at this time to keep your hair out of your face as it grows. You should use a high-quality setting spray to keep it off to the side.
Step 6. Trim Regularly
It may seem counterintuitive to trim your hair as you grow it out, but it’s important to do so. You don’t want to remove length from your bangs, but you need to soften the ends as they grow.
As they get longer, you should also have your stylist trim them to incorporate them into the rest of your hair. You’ll want to get through the awkward stage, and then you’ll start blending them in with the rest of your hair.
Step 7. Use Moisturizing Shampoo and Conditioner
You might have heard that healthy hair grows faster than dehydrated hair with damage. While that’s not entirely true (hair grows about 1/2 inch per month and there’s not much you can do to speed it up), it does look better as it’s growing out. Keeping your hair healthy also allows you to avoid split ends and breakage, which can make it harder to achieve bang length. While you’re growing out your bangs, it’s important to take care of your hair and help it become as healthy as possible.
Make sure that you’re using a moisturizing shampoo and following it with conditioner. These products will help you give your hair the nutrition and hydration it needs to be healthy and repair any damage.
Step 8. Try a Hair Mask
One way to give your hair a boost is to try a hair mask. Your hair depends on hydration and nutrients to keep it healthy and looking great as it grows out. A hair mask is a great treatment for your hair.
Apply a good-quality hair mask to your hair, and massage it in so that it penetrates deep into the strands. Leave it in overnight and place a shower cap over your head to protect your bedding and your pillow. You should try this treatment once a month to keep your hair hydrated, smooth, and silky as it grows out.
Step 9. Choose a Hairstyle That Suits You
As you grow out your bangs, you need to choose a hairstyle that suits you and the current length of your bangs. Most styles of bangs are long enough to part them and sweep them off to the sides. If you have fringe bangs, however, you might need to grow them until they’re long enough to do this.
You won’t have any trouble turning your bangs into a style, as long as you blend them with the rest of your hair. It takes around five months to grow your bangs out, and after the second month, they’ll likely be long enough to style with waves or curls.
Adding the body to your hair helps to hide the fact that your hair is different lengths, and it looks styled. If you’re having trouble with them, you should use accessories. Use bobby pins to pin some of your hair out of your face or pick up an attractive hair clip. Another option is a headband or hair ties. Any of these accessories will help to conceal the fact that you’re growing your hair out. When your bangs have some length to them, just below the chin, you should braid your hair to conceal it. It’s all about faking it until you make it at this point.
Step 10. Give it Time
No matter how you manage your hair, growing out bangs is going to take time. The most difficult time is in the beginning. That transitional phase where your hair is too short to style and too long to look nice is quite challenging.
This is when you need to be most patient. You need to decide where you want to part your hair, and then start working on it. You’ll find many different creative ways to blend your growing bangs in with the rest of your hair. It’ll get easier as your hair gets longer, so keep your eye on the end results.
Things to Consider
Puppy 9/Shutterstock
Things to Do
- Braid your bangs to frame your face
- Give your hair the nutrition and moisture it needs
- Try a hair mask
- Experiment with different styles
- Go for a layered look
- Use accessories
Things Not to Do
- Don’t leave your bangs in your face
- Don’t be impatient
- Don’t overuse styling products
So, How Do You Grow Out Bangs?
When you decide to grow out your bangs, you need to prepare yourself to wait it out. It’ll take you about five months to grow them out completely. You need to have a plan for different hairstyles while you’re going through it. Once it gets past the awkward stage, you have a lot of great styles to choose from.