Call it the Disney princess effect, but we’ve never really fallen out of love with the idea of long, flowing hair. Bobs, lobs and directional asymmetric cuts may come and go, but there’s something timeless about Rapunzel-worthy lengths.
But if you’re worried that growing out your hair might result in a do that’s pretty but a little – whisper it – conventional, we have a simple solution. Whether you choose a blunt, full style, a choppier cut or an easy-to-maintain side fringe, one of the easiest ways to add interest to your style is to opt for what our American cousins have christened ‘bangs.’
Easy to style and flattering for every face shape, it’s no wonder that legions of A-listers have chosen a fringe to add a little je-ne-sais-quoi to their lengths. Here are some of the best...
Long hair with a side fringe
Effortless, modern and reassuringly easy to maintain, a side fringe could be one for you if you can't face committing to regular maintenance trims. Make like teen stars Selena Gomez and Zendaya and team your fringe with a dramatically side-swept parting.
Long hair with a blunt full fringe
The blunt, full fringe is a classic for a reason - it's simple, flattering on a variety of face shapes and makes you look immediately put together, à la fringe veterans Jessica Biel and Felicity Jones. This cut will work particularly well on thicker hair.
Long hair with a choppy full fringe
For a fresh take on the classic full fringe, ask your hairdresser for a choppier, textured cut like Dakota Johnson, or opt for a tapered style that sits higher on the forehead, like Suki Waterhouse's trademark bangs.
Ready to go for the chop? Don’t book a salon appointment without checking out our edit of the best long hairstyles with fringes, inspired by the A-list...
Long Hair With Fringe - Grazia
1 of 25beyonce knowles long hair fringe bangs
Beyoncé has had some pretty memorable hairstyles in her time, but we have a special place in our hearts for the effortlessly cool choppy full fringe and honey-coloured lengths that she turns to time after time.
2 of 25frida pinto long hair fringe bangs
A good way to check whether a full fringe is for you is to opt for a soft ‘half’ fringe like actress Frieda, which can be worn to the side, parted down the centre or brushed across the forehead.
3 of 25frida pinto long hair fringe bangs
Oscar-winning actress and all-round superwoman Julianne Moore regularly inspires us with some serious envy, too. Plaudits are in order for her flattering, wearable take on the full fringe, which is slightly feathered and brushed out to the sides.
4 of 25keira knightley long hair fringe bangs
With bone structure like that, Keira Knightley can get away with pretty much anything, hair-wise. Here, her softly side-swept bangs – combined with choppy layering and messy waves – are a masterclass in how to grow out a full fringe with minimum effort and maximum impact.
5 of 25zendaya long hair fringe bangs
If you’re a hair chameleon who’s not ready to make the commitment of getting a fringe cut in, there’s a simple solution. Make like Zendaya and switch up your parting to tease your lengths into a flattering faux side fringe. Fake it ‘til you make it, and all that…
6 of 25selena gomez long hair bangs fringe
Selena Gomez’s sophisticated side fringe takes her look from teen starlet to red carpet royalty. Of course, it helps that her brunette lengths are glossy and super-conditioned, with not a flyaway in sight.
7 of 25claudia schiffer long hair fringe bangs
Since starting out as a model in the early ‘90s, Claudia Schiffer has regularly sported a blunt-cut full fringe, but we’re also huge fans of this parted take on her signature style, shaped so as to blend in effortlessly with her long hair.
8 of 25jennifer lawrence long hair fringe bangs
From blonde to brunette, bob to long waves: Jennifer Lawrence has had her fair share of memorable hair styles. While we love her current ice-blonde crop, we still look back fondly at her piece-y bangs and bronde colour from her Hunger Games promo days.
9 of 25jessica biel long hair fringe bangs
If we could have a 'fringe hero,' it would certainly be Jessica Biel. The actress's effortlessly styled, glossy full fringe has an air of Brigitte Bardot, and works particularly well thanks to the shorter, framing strands layered around her cheekbones and jaw line.
10 of 25jessica chastain long hair fringe bangs
Here, Jessica Chastain's side fringe is styled to retro perfection, waved so as to seamlessly blend in with her Old Hollywood-referencing red carpet 'do. Want to recreate her look? You'll need hairspray, and plenty of it...
11 of 25kate middleton long hair fringe bangs
A simple hair switch-up can make headlines when you're Kate Middleton, Duchess of Cambridge, and this new take on the Duchess' go-to side-swept fringe (which made it's debut late last year) was no exception.
12 of 25liv tyler long hair fringe bangs
As befits her status as bona fide music royalty, Liv Tyler's eyebrow-skimming full fringe has a touch of '70s rock and roll about it.
13 of 25naomi campbell long hair fringe bangs
No one does it like Naomi - and her signature hair style is a case in point. When she's not switching up her look for shoots and shows, the supermodel has rarely strayed away from her brow-skimming full fringe. If it ain't broke...
14 of 25olivia wilde long hair fringe bangs
Olivia Wilde has worn her hair in a piece-y full fringe on and off for years. If you're blessed with thicker hair, we'd recommend a similar cut (those with finer strands should steer clear - you might end up with an overly wispy finish.)
15 of 25reese witherspoon long hair fringe bangs
Just looking at this throwback photo of Reese Witherspoon's early Noughties full fringe has us reaching for the Sweet Home Alabama DVD - it's hardly surprising that the actress has since tried out plenty of variations on this classic style.
16 of 25rosie huntington whiteley long hair fringe bangs
She's best known for her centre-parted blonde lob, but here Rosie Huntington-Whiteley proves that she can pull off bangs (and a glossy shade of chestnut brown) just as well. If you're after a similar finish for your fringe, you'll need to blow dry it with a rounded brush - air drying just won't cut it...
17 of 25sandra bullock whiteley long hair fringe bangs
Sandra Bullock's glossy brunette lengths look perfect with a choppy full fringe, tapered ends and a touch of balayage - and luckily, it's a formula that is universally flattering for any face shape.
18 of 25dakota johnson long hair fringe bangs
We're big fans of the contrast between Dakota Johnson's choppy, effortlessly disheveled fringe and her sleekly styled lengths, as seen at on the red carpet at this year's BAFTA ceremony.
19 of 25emma stone long hair fringe bangs
She's experimented with darker hues and dramatic bleach blonde, but we can't help favouring this auburn shade and heavy side fringe on Emma Stone.
20 of 25felicity jones long hair fringe bangs
This classic, slightly tapered full fringe is a strong look for The Theory Of Everything actress Felicity Jones.
21 of 25kate moss long hair fringe bangs
Kate Moss hit the headlines when she had this choppy, brow-grazing fringe cut in after years with a rock and roll centre parting. While the model has since grown out her bangs, we still think this look deserves a slot on any list of Mossy's best styles.
22 of 25taylor swift long hair fringe bangs
If Hiddleswift over-exposure and that Kanye drama have you pining for Taylor Swift's 'Red' era, the chances are that you have a place in your heart for the singer's long hair and fringe combo.
23 of 25sienna miller long hair fringe bangs
From her 'Factory Girl' pixie crop to the rose gold hue that launched a thousand copy-cat dye jobs, Sienna Miller has had some adventurous hairstyles since her boho '00s days. This flattering, face-framing style shows that she looks just as good when she keeps things simple.
24 of 25suki waterhouse long hair fringe bangs
Sitting above her brows, Suki Waterhouse's slightly curved full fringe perfectly enhances her delicate features. For a similar style, ask your hairdresser to taper the cut slightly, instead of a conventional blunt finish.
25 of 25zooey deschanel long hair fringe bangs
When you think Zooey Deschanel, you think glossy, full fringe. In fact, we're struggling to picture the New Girl actress without her signature style - but why mess with a tried and tested formula?
READ MORE: The Bob Is Back: All You Need To Know About This Season's Haircut