How to Style Curtain Bangs With a Flat Iron

To style curtain bangs with a flat iron, start with dry hair and a heat protectant, part your bangs where you want them to fall, then hold each side in a C-shape and gently move the iron through horizontally. Repeat on the other side so both halves match. Easy peasy. Hey, we’re all for multifunctionality, so if we can use a flat iron to straighten, curl and tailor - sign us up!

Flat irons have grown to become one of the most versatile tools for curly hair, straight hair, thin hair, or thick hair - so it makes sense that we’d want to reach for it to style shorter hair like curtain bangs and layers. Fortunately, we have the expert scoop on how to get more ‘bang’ for your buck when it comes to your flat iron - plus tips & tricks for short hair styling too.

How do you style curtain bangs with a flat iron?

The process for styling curtain bangs with a flat iron is pretty straightforward if you follow just a few simple steps, outlined by professional hairstylist and color expert Presley Poe.

1. Always start with heat protection, like Temp Check Heat Protector - This is the best first step to take before using any hot tools to help minimize the risk of heat damage.
2. Start With a Blow-Dry - To begin, Poe says to grab your favorite hair dryer and “blow-dry hair as desired using a paddle brush on the curtain fringes, sweeping from side to side following the shape of the head.”
3. Get on the Path - Figure out which direction you want your curtain bangs to go before you style. “Find the path you’d like to have and separate the hair,” says Poe.
4. Over-Direct It - “Hold hair flat with two fingers and over-direct it towards the opposite side,” mentions Poe.
5. Create a C-Shape Bend - There are a number of ways to style curtain bangs with a straightener, but Poe has a particular method she prefers. “I use a low setting, and instead of creating a bubble-like finish by using a curling method from top to bottom, I prefer to hold the hair in a C-shape and flat iron horizontally,” she notes.
6. Keep It Going - “Tap over the shape all the way down keeping the C-shape in the iron,” says Poe of the continued process.
7. Do It All Again - Now that you’ve done it on one side, it’s time to do it all over again on the other side. This helps ensure that you get the same style and shape on both sides.

For curtain bangs, a flat iron with a more narrow width is ideal, like the Three Way Multi-Use Flat Iron by Mane. This option has ceramic nano-coated 1” flex plates and 4 precise temperature settings so you can adjust for your hair type and texture.

Can I do curtain bangs with curly hair?

Yes, you can pair your curly hair with curtain bangs. No matter how coily your ringlets are, there’s a curtain bang style that will work. Here are a few options to talk over with your stylist.

• True Curly Curtain Bangs - Cut them a bit longer in length to perfectly frame your face and let your natural texture shine. In our humble opinion, this is what we picture when we think of curly hair with curtain bangs. Add some lightweight product before drying, like Hydration Hugs Leave-In Conditioner, to keep curls soft and frizz in check.
• Blown-Out Curtain Bangs - An easy styling option that gives your bangs some extra oomph and a touch of 70s flair. We dig it. You can style after drying with your flat iron using the steps above, or Mane’s It’s Giving Petite Mini Hot Round Brush for the perfect finish.
• Barely-There Curtain Bangs - This option functions more as face-framing layers, which are universally flattering. Opt for this more subtle approach if you’re still a little hesitant about this whole curtain bang thing, as they offer the easiest grow out too.
• Soft Waves to Coily & Crafted - Tailor your curtain bangs to your curl pattern. Looser curls can offer a beachy, wavy curtain bang. You can take it another step by asking your stylist to thin out the very ends with a razor so they rest gently on the top of your cheekbones. The key to coily curtain bangs is having your stylist cut them coil by coil. No matter how tight your curls are, you can customize a curtain bang style that best suits them.

Can I curl short hair with a flat iron?

Yes, you can curl short hair with a flat iron. Experts Emily Pinegar, hairstylist, educator, and owner of salon M + suites in Cedar Hills, Utah, and celebrity hairstylist Marilisa Sears break it down.

1. Avoid Curling on Freshly Cleansed Strands - “Best case scenario for me is second-day hair with little to no stylers already in the hair from before,” Sears says. “You want a bit of that texture second-day hair has without a ton of product or dirt buildup.”
2. Start with products - “Kicking things off with a heat protector is a must, of course,” says Pinegar. This is a crucial step if you want to prevent heat damage. We love Temp Check Heat Protector because it provides up to 450° heat protection and can be used either damp or dry.
3. Go From Roots to Ends - Pinegar says to “run the flat iron quickly over every hair strand from root to end. This is going to help with any kinks or frizz.”
4. Put a Twist in It - To get the curl, there’s a signature technique to pull off. “Bring the flat iron to the top of your roots with a slight twist like you would with a curling iron,” Pinegar notes. “Go around one time and then pull through keeping it turned. For a tighter curl, twist that flat iron around a couple of times. Curl all curls in the same direction for a more traditional curl look.”
5. Alternate Directions - If you’re going for less traditional and more tousled, change from all forward or all backward to an alternating technique as you go. “The reason for switching directions is because it helps the hair move,” Sears explains. “While going through this process, not only is speed important but so is fluidity. If you stop the flow, you’ll get a bump from the edges of the iron.”
6. Tailor Your Texture - “Once you’ve pulled it through, take your finger and twist the warm hair with your finger creating a ringlet,” encourages Pinegar. This will help keep the curl in place after the fact. “If you desire to have a little flatter or straighter end, undo your flat iron, straightening it out so it's not in a curling motion as you get close to the ends of your hair,” she shares.
7. Repeat, Set, Finish - “Bring your next small section down and repeat these steps” until your entire head is curled the way you like it, creating beautiful curls. “Once all sections have been curled, spritz with a setting spray,” Pinegar says. Cotton Candy Dry Texture Spray is excellent for adding light grip and perfectly undone texture. To finish things off, Pinegar says to “let your hair fully cool and then take either your wide-tooth comb or fingers and separate your curls.”

To Keep it Short, But Sweet

Styling short hair, from pixies and bobs to face framing layers and bangs, is super simple once you have a few tricks in your back pocket. The right tools, like a flat iron, paired with a few products like heat protectant and texture spray will keep your strands looking and feeling influencer-level fantastic style after style.

Shop the routine

• The Three Way Multi-Use Flat Iron
• Temp Check Heat Protector
• It’s Giving Petite Mini Hot Round Brush
• Cotton Candy Dry Texture Spray

FAQ

What temperature should I use for curtain bangs?

Choose a temperature for your flat iron based on the texture and condition of your hair. A good starting guide would be to aim for around 200°F for fragile or fine hair, 325°F for fine or damaged hair, 360°F for chemically-treated, finer type 2, type 3 and natural hair, and 450°F for ultra-thick or coily hair. Always remember to use heat protectant first, no matter what temp you choose.

Can you style curtain bangs without a blow dryer?

Yes, you can style curtain bangs without a blow dryer by allowing your bangs to air dry completely. You can then add product immediately to finish, or finish the style on your fully dried hair with a hot tool like a curling iron, thermal brush or flat iron.

Is a flat iron or a hot round brush better for curtain bangs?

The right tool for styling curtain bangs depends on the end result you’re trying to achieve. A flat iron is great for a sleek finish or for easily adding a defined bend, while the It’s Giving Petite Mini Hot Round Brush by Mane is good for providing a softer, rounder finish.

How do I keep curtain bangs from falling flat?

The key to keeping curtain bangs from falling flat is to avoid touching them after you’ve finished styling. A few other tips are to avoid overly oily skincare products on your forehead, washing with a clarifying shampoo before styling and refreshing with a dry shampoo when they start to feel weighed down.

Can you curl short hair with a 1-inch flat iron?

Yes, a 1-inch flat iron is a good plate width for curling short hair, like The Three Way Multi-Use Flat Iron by Mane. A 1-inch iron grips short sections close to the root, so it works well for bobs, pixies and layers. Twist it half a turn and glide it down for a loose curl, or turn it twice for a tighter one.