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Home • Hair

Celebrity Hair: Bold, Beautiful Bangs

This Inauguration Weekend, much of the buzz in DC revolved around First Lady Michelle Obama's new haircut with bangs. Forehead fringe is a chic complement to any haircut so let's take a look at a few celebs rocking this haute tress trend.
By Nicole Marie Melton · Updated October 28, 2020
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01
Talk of the Town

On Inauguration Weekend, Michelle Obama’s new bangs were the center of attention. The Commander-in-Chic’s new ‘do is simply stunning!

Bold, Beautiful Bangs
Chip Somodevilla/ Getty Images
02
Red Carpet Ready

Kerry Washington is another celeb who has taken the beautiful bangs trend by storm. She arrived at The Hollywood Reporter’s 21st annual Women In Entertainment breakfast wearing this modern hairstyle.

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Jason LaVeris/FilmMagic
03
Fierce Fringe

Taraji P. Henson attended the Black Girls Rock Awards wearing her new, eyebrow-grazing bangs.

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04
Tress Trendsetter

Not many women can pull off waist-length locks, but Naomi Campbell shows us how it’s done at the NBC 2013 TCA Winter Press Tour. The picture-perfect model also sizzled in one of this season’s hottest hair trends—blunt bangs.

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Getty Images
05
Gold Medal Gorgeous

At NBC Universal’s 70th annual Golden Globe Awards afterparty, Gabrielle Douglas glowed in full bangs and shoulder-length waves.

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Allen Berezovsky/Getty Images
06
Curly Cues

Bangs don’t always have to be stick-straight! Mariah Carey’s spiral fringe is adorable with her masses of ringlets.

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07
Transformed Tresses

Gabrielle Union recently decided to transform her look with bangs, and we’re totally feeling her new style. A two-tone colorway adds extra pizazz!

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Alexander Tamargo/Getty Images
08
Color Splash

Keri Hilson hosted the Pool After Dark event in Atlantic City wearing two-toned curls and side-swept bangs.

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Tom Briglia/FilmMagic
09
Get Low

Bridget Kelly attended Keith Campbell’s book launch wearing jet black bangs with platinum blonde lowlights that are edgy and fresh. 

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Roger Kisby/Getty Images
10
Knockout Style
Laila Ali attended the 33rd Annual Salute to Women in Sports Gala wearing piecey bangs and chunky curls.
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Jason Kempin/Getty Images
11
Blonde Bombshell
Beyonce rocks her new bangs at the Brooklyn Nets game in New York.
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James Devaney/FilmMagic
12
Highs and Lows

Yolanda Adams rocked sassy bangs with lots of layers and sun-kissed highlights at the 2012 BET Awards.

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13
Classy Cut

Carmelita Jeter arrived at ESSENCE’s exclusive New York Fashion Week Luncheon wearing a shoulder-length bob with blunt-cut bangs.

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Bold in Bangs

Bangs are a fun and sassy way to spruce up any style as evidenced by Tia Mowry’s razor-cut fringe she sported at a WeTV event for her reality show.

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Signature Style

At ESSENCE’s exclusive New York Fashion Week luncheon, Tasha Smith rocked her signature bangs-and-bob combo.

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16
Pump Up the Volume

Jennifer Hudson added major volume to her layered bang at the Pampers “Lullaby And Goodnight” event in NYC.

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17
Cut it Out

Jessica White cut blunt, wow-worthy bangs into her hair at the 3rd Annual Angel Wings Foundation Dinner.

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18
Clean Sweep

Monica arrived at the 2012 Billboard Music Awards wearing a swooping bang paired with a braided updo.

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19
Tressed to Impress

Jill Scott appeared on the red carpet of the NAACP Image Awards in a loose, eyebrow-grazing fringe.

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Going for the Gold

At the Bravo Upfront Event, NeNe Leakes flaunted bright gold side-swept bangs.

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21
Fit for a Queen

While attending the 2012 Outstanding Mother Awards, Gayle King added a touch of sizzle to her flipped bob with bold bangs and golden highlights.

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22
Flipping Out

Erica Campbell loves pulling tress switcheroos, and this asymmetrical bob with a lush bang is one of her top looks.

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Beautiful Bob

At The New York Times’ “TimesTalks” Chat Series, Viola did a dramatic sweep of her choppy bangs for an easy and fresh update to her bob.

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A visit to the ESSENCE office in NYC.

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The Micahjesse.com Five Year Anniversary Celebration at Canoe Studios in NYC.

Why: Diaz would make even Rapunzel jealous of her super long, bone straight strands.

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Short and Sassy

At the White House Correspondents’ Weekend in Washington, D.C., Kerry Washington sported a chic shoulder-length ’do with choppy bangs and soft brown highlights.

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Sleek Strands

With her low pony and glossy, flat-ironed bangs, Jada Pinkett Smith’s hair is sleek and chic.

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The Think Like A Man screening at the AMC Empire 25 theater in NYC.

Why: Olivia’s multi-colored streaks and two-toned layers make for a fierce and fabulous look.

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29
Signature Style

Naomi Campbell sported her signature bangs-and-blowout at the Michael Jackson: THE IMMORTAL World Tour show by Cirque du Soleil.

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Flirty Fringe

Naomi Campbell’s signature bangs-and-blowout ’do has jump-started a zillion new trends. So easy breezy chic!

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Curly Top

Jill Scott blossoms in this retro, Diana-meets-Chaka style. How cute are her curly bangs?

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32
So Very Kerry

Bangs are a chic compliment to any haircut, from long layers a’la Kerry Washington to an Estelle-esque pixie. Here, our favorite be-banged celebs.

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Pin-up Pretty

Nicki Minaj’s full, blunt bangs give her long, platinum strands a retro pin-up feel.

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34
Have a Heart

At the Vanity Fair Oscar Party, Serena Williams sported just-above-the-brow bangs that perfectly flattered her heart-shaped face.

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35
Casual Corner

Racing from show to show backstage at New York Fashion Week, Chanel Iman sported a messy bun and tousled, casual chic bangs.

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Fierce Fringe

Naomi Campbell adds designer sunglasses to her signature bangs-and-blowout ’do. So easy breezy chic!

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Bang Bang

Keisha Whitaker’s slightly feathered, grown-out bangs give her ’do a casually chic look.

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38
Oh Boy

Estelle’s full fringe adds texture and dimension to her layered boy cut.

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Mod Cute

With her long, heavy bangs and sleek blowout, Tyra Banks works the ’60s mod look to perfection.

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40
Curly Cue

Jennifer Hudson’s bouncy curls get a dose of sophistication from her eyebrow-length, perfectly trimmed bangs.

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So Bangin’

Veronica Webb’s short, above-the-brow bangs give her face a wide-eyed, youthful appearance.

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Feline Fatale

Shaun Robinson’s glossy, side-swooping fringe gives her long, layered tresses a sex kitteny vibe. Raowrr!

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43
Chic Chanteuse

Fantasia puts a modern spin on the retro bowl cut with her thick, full bang and face-framing tendrils.

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44
Blonde Ambition

Beyoncé parts her long, blonde bangs on the side for a soft, sexy look that compliments her blowout.

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45
On the Same Page

Lisa Raye’s Bettie Page-style bangs give her tresses a vampy, pin-up girl sexiness.

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46
Just Like Honey

When Ciara experimented with honey-hued hair, she also tried long, Marianne Faithfull-esque bangs— such a sexy look for CiCi!

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