Retro bandanas, silk scarves, chiffon maxi dresses—it’s safe to say bohemia has once again taken the fashion world by storm and is now filtering into our beauty subconscious, too. Case in point: boho bangs—spotted on everyone from Suki Waterhouse to Alexa Chung and Daisy Edgar-Jones—have been cropping up everywhere this summer.
Defined by soft layers and subtle texture with an effortlessly undone finish, the boho hairstyle’s allure is simple: it not only taps into our renewed fascination with 1960s free-spirited nostalgia but also delivers instant cool factor.
Don’t be fooled, though—what may appear to be a laid-back, laissez-faire chop is, in fact, the result of an expert cut, a few clever styling tools, and an arsenal of hardworking products. Below, Izzy Warren, a stylist at Hershesons Fitzrovia, breaks down this summer’s biggest bang trend and shares the tips and techniques you need to re-create the look yourself.
What are boho bangs?
“Boho bangs are relaxed and effortless. They are not harsh and one-length but the cut features shorter pieces that gradually become longer. It’s slightly messy and undone, with a soft, wispy outline,” Warren explains.
While the boho bangs of old felt choppier and fuller, today’s iteration is noticeably softer and more undone. “It’s evolved through the way it’s styled and its versatility: you can keep this look effortless with a more ‘cool-girl’ finish, or you can blow-dry it for a polished look,” she notes.
Modern boho bangs range from Suki Waterhouse’s choppy take and Florence Welch’s piece-y version to Daisy Edgar-Jones’s softer, undone finish.
How to style boho bangs
There’s a distinct cutting technique for these bangs, Warren notes. “Full bangs are cut to the same length, whereas with the boho version, the center is the shortest point. You can then decide whether to keep it slightly fuller or choppier. Once you have the base, you gradually make each section longer for that effortless, boho-inspired finish,” she adds.
After the bangs are cut, styling becomes key. “You can rough-dry the bangs from left to right, stretching the roots with your fingers to encourage a natural kink and shape—no round brush needed,” she says. “If you want a more polished vibe, a round brush will deliver a put-together finish.
“Place hair clips on your bangs while your hair is still wet, parting them where you’d like them to sit so they set in place. Don’t remove the clips until your hair is fully dry, then try an air dry spray for that gorgeous, natural boho texture,” she concludes.
If you’re wondering why bohemian-inspired beauty is resonating right now, it likely stems from a wave of rebellion sweeping the beauty sphere—and a move away from the homogeneous clean-beauty look that once monopolized it. Whether you opt for light boho bangs, smudged under-eye liner, or cascading waves, the aesthetic offers a sense of individuality and free-spirited charm that’s hard to beat.
