Many may know Jane Birkin as a style icon, first coming up in the 60s – uh, hello, the namesake Hermès Birkin bag! I, a beauty enthusiast, however, know Jane as the icon behind Birkin bangs, a hairstyle she wore and popularised for over six decades. Impressive, much?
Now, while that may be a long time to rock a hairstyle, the fringed cut is still very much on trend today – if not, even more popular. So, to understand a bit more about Birkin bangs, who they're best suited to and how to style them, we spoke to hairstylist Chlöe Swift, who revealed all.
Not to mention the nine inspiration pics that demonstrate Birkin bangs can work for any face shape and hair type! Get you a girl hairstyle who can do it all...
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What are Birkin bangs?
As we now know, Birkin bangs originate from the iconic Jane Birkin, but what actually defines them? Well, Chlöe describes the cut as "shorter in the middle, and longer and sweeping on the edges."
"This style gives the top of your hair a fuller, more voluminous look and actually makes the hair overall appear thicker," she adds. Sounds pretty appealing to me, wouldn't you agree?
And not only that, but because Birkin bangs are a fringe style, rather than an all-over cut, they add shape, style and fun back to any look. So, if you're in the market for a new 'do but aren't ready to commit to an all-over chop, Birkin bangs could be for you!
Who are Birkin bangs best suited to?
When it comes to hair type, Birkin bangs are versatile. "They suit a variety of different hair types from naturally straight to wavy, as well as naturally curly," Chlöe says. Though if you do have curly or coily hair, do be mindful that bangs in general take more styling time, especially if you're smoothing them down.
And the good news doesn't stop there, folks, because most face shapes work well with Birkin bangs, too: "Oval, square, heart and round faces all work with Birkin bangs, particularly those with more forehead space. They are very flattering as they soften this room at the top of the head," Chlöe explains.
If you have a very small forehead, however, you may want to steer clear of this style. "You don't want these heavier style bangs to overwhelm the face," Chlöe says.
Your overall haircut and length are also something to consider when getting Birkin bangs. "Birkin bangs work with so many haircuts, including long tresses, midi cuts and boyfriend bobs," Chlöe says, before adding, "so long as the rest of the haircut sits longer underneath the bangs."
But the options are pretty much endless, seeing as the bangs are disconnected. "They sit separately from the rest of the cut," says Chlöe.
How to style Birkin bangs
Because of their choppy, piecey style and graduated length, Birkin bangs are pretty self-styling. However, if you want to polish them up after a day or two, both Chlöe and I love to style bangs with a hot brush. My favourite is the Wavytalk Thermal Brush, which can only be used on dry hair. If you're looking for a heated brush that can be used on wet and dry hair, Chlöe recommends the Dyson Airwrap.
"I love to dry my bangs using a hot brush like the Dyson Airwrap with the smoothing attachment, lifting up for some volume and tucking and rounding underneath," Chlöe says. "And then I like the flick out the edges of the bangs using a curling tong or a straightener, just to bevel the edges backwards so the hair kicks and flicks out."
Secure with some hairspray (there's nothing worse than a rogue fringe in the wind) et voilà!
Your new-old haircut awaits...
Birkin bangs inspo
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Lia Mappoura (she/her) is the Beauty Writer at Cosmopolitan UK, with over four years of experience reporting across the brand's print, social, video and digital platforms. Lia covers everything from emerging trend analysis to viral celebrity hair and makeup moments, making her an expert at spotting the season’s next big beauty look (before it takes over social media feeds).
In 2025, she was named The Rising Media Star at the Love Perfume Awards with The Perfume Shop, recognised for her outstanding digital fragrance content and for building genuine authority within the space. She is passionate about challenging outdated beauty stereotypes, championing inclusive representation in beauty, and educating readers on the trends, products and conversations shaping the industry today. Follow her on Instagram or find her on LinkedIn.
