What to Consider Before Cutting a Fringe

A fringe is one of the quickest ways to change a haircut and one of the slowest to undo. It takes minutes to cut and months to grow past the eyes, the cheekbones and finally the chin. That does not make it a risky decision, only one worth ten minutes of honest thought first. These eight questions are the ones that tend to separate people who love their fringe from people who clip it back by week three.

1. What do you want it to do?

Name the reason. A change without losing length, a softer line around the face, a frame for glasses, a new shape for hair you usually tie back. The reason points to the type of fringe: a light, wispy one changes little and grows out easily; a full, blunt one is a statement and a commitment.

If the honest answer is “I am bored,” a fringe may well be the right move. It may also be worth trying a temporary version first (see question 8).

2. What does your hair do at the front?

Stand at a mirror with damp hair combed forward and let it settle. Look for two things.

First, the growth pattern. A cowlick at the hairline pushes hair up or to one side, and a fringe cut over it will follow that push. This is workable, but the fringe may have to be longer, heavier or swept to the side the cowlick favors.

Second, the density at the hairline. Fine or sparse hair at the front makes a soft, see-through fringe; a thick blunt one would have to be taken from further back on the head.

3. How does your texture behave when it is short?

Every texture can wear a fringe. What changes is the cut and the upkeep.

• Straight hair shows every line, so a blunt fringe looks crisp and an uneven one looks uneven. It can also separate by the end of the day if it picks up oil from the forehead.
• Wavy hair dries shorter and less predictably than it looks wet. A slightly longer, softer fringe gives the wave room.
• Curly and coily hair springs up considerably once the weight is cut off. A curly fringe is best cut curl by curl on dry hair, by someone who does this regularly, and worn in its own pattern.

Whatever your texture, the question to ask the stylist is where the fringe will sit when it is dry and unstyled.

4. How much morning time are you willing to give it?

A fringe is the one part of a haircut that usually cannot be ignored. Sleep flattens it or sends it sideways, and it sits in the middle of your face.

Realistically, expect to wet and reshape it most mornings, which takes two to five minutes. Some people wash just the fringe at the sink between full washes. If you blow-dry it, low heat and a small round brush or your fingers are enough; our piece on heat-styling habits that help reduce damage applies to this small section as much as to the rest.

If your current routine is “get up and go,” choose a longer, side-swept or curtain style that still works when it is left alone.

5. How often will you get it trimmed?

A fringe that sits at the eyebrows only has a few millimeters before it is in your eyes. Depending on how fast your hair grows and how precise the style is, that can mean a trim every three to six weeks.

Ask your salon how it handles fringe trims between full cuts. Many offer a quick, inexpensive or complimentary tidy-up, but policies vary, so find out before you commit.

6. What touches your forehead already?

Think through an ordinary week.

• Glasses. A fringe that ends at the top of the frames works; one that falls behind the lenses is irritating. Wear your glasses to the appointment.
• Exercise. You will want a headband or clips for workouts, and the fringe will need rinsing or reshaping afterward.
• Hats, helmets and headphones. All of them press a fringe flat or bend it.
• Skin care and sunscreen. Moisturizer, sunscreen and foundation on the forehead transfer to the hair resting on it, so a fringe can look oily sooner than the rest of your hair. Letting products settle before the fringe comes down helps.

None of these is a reason not to do it. They are the things you will be managing.

7. Which type suits your answers?

If you are undecided, start with the longest, softest version. A curtain fringe can be made shorter and fuller at the next visit; the reverse takes months.

8. Can you try it first?

A few ways to preview the effect before anything is cut:

• The ponytail flip. Tie your hair in a high ponytail, bring the ends forward over your forehead and pin them. It is rough, but it shows you your face with hair across it.
• A clip-in fringe. Sold as hairpieces in a range of textures and colors. An afternoon with one tells you a lot about how it feels on your forehead.
• Face-framing pieces. Ask for longer front layers at this cut. If you enjoy having hair around your face, shorten them next time.

If the answer is yes

Book it as part of a proper appointment, bring photos of fringes on hair like yours, and say how you style your hair day to day. Our checklist on what to tell your stylist covers the full conversation.

Then give it two weeks. A new fringe takes a few washes to settle, and you take a few mornings to learn it. On the days it refuses to cooperate, a clip, a headband or one of these easy second-day hairstyles will carry it until the next wash.