How to Grow Out Your Bangs Without Completely Hating Your Hair

A celebrity hairstylist says it *is* possible.

Dakota Johnson with long brown hair and bangs
Photo: Getty Images

If you're under the impression that bangs are a big commitment because you have to get regular trims, just wait until you find yourself wanting to grow them out.

Deciding it's time to move on from your bangs is the easy part. The struggle is getting through the four or five months it actually takes to fully grow out your bangs. Even TRESemmé global stylist Justine Marjan confirms that this can be a dark period for your hair and psyche.

"It's so hard to grow out your bangs because they're constantly changing where they frame the face as they grow, and not every length is flattering," she says. "It's tough to have the patience to let them catch up with the rest of the hair, so you have to be creative with styling so they blend with your current cut."

Marjan says one of the biggest myths about growing out your bangs is that you shouldn't touch them at all. In fact, the truth is the total opposite. "It's super unflattering when a blunt bang grows out if weight isn't taken out and if it isn't slightly shorter in the center so that it can frame the face," she explains.

Since support groups for growing out your bangs don't currently exist, we're to help. We turned to Marjan for her tips on how to get through every awkward length, plus the best styles for growing out your bangs.

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Stage One: A Couple Weeks In

The first few weeks of growing out your bangs will be the bleakest. Your hair is constantly poking you in the eyes, and every day that you don't grab scissors and cut them yourself is a major win.

Marjan recommends training your bangs into a curtain shape during this initial stage. Start by applying a bit of gel to your roots, at the front of the hairline, when your hair is damp. Then blow dry with a small, round brush. "Use the nozzle on the dryer to direct the hair forward onto the forehead, then use the round brush to direct the middle and ends of the hair back so they create a curtain that opens and frames the face," she says.

For extra hold that isn't crunchy or sticky, finish by spritzing your fringe with a lightweight hairspray like TRESemmé Compressed Micro-Mist Hairspray Hold Level 4: Extend.

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Stage Two: A Month or So In

Alexa Chung wavy shoulder-length hair with pearl hear barrettes
Darren Gerrish/WireImage

When you're a month or two into growing out your bangs, take advantage of the current vintage hair accessory trend. At this point, your bangs have probably grown out to an in-between length that's too long to wear down, but too short to tuck behind your ears.

Marjan suggests embracing '90s hair accessories like bobby pins, clips, and headbands by using them to pin and tuck bangs away in style like Alexa Chung.

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Stage Three: Two Months In

Halle Berry loose updo with curtain bangs
Steve Granitz/WireImage

Congrats! You're halfway there, but the struggle isn't completely over. When you're styling your hair, Marjan says to think of "fluffy French girl texture." Start by spritzing your hair with a texture-boosting hairspray like TRESemmé Compressed Micro-Mist Hairspray Hold Level 1: Texture and place no-crease clips around the front to set the hair in a wave pattern.

"Either let the hair set like this for 20 minutes or apply heat to it with the GHD Air Blow Dryer" she instructs. "Finish by removing the clips and scrunch in more hairspray."

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Stage Four: Three Months and Beyond

Hillary Duff layered wavy bronde hair with face-framing bangs
Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for Disney

"When your bangs are almost grown out, blend them into the hair by taking your hair length up and layering around the face," Marjan says. "If you are attached to length and don't want to take it up, try Hidden Crown Hair clip-in extensions to blend the front pieces."

The pro recommends using hair spray, clips, and a blow dryer the same way you did in stage three to create a wave pattern in your hair, leaving the ends straight.

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