Curtain Bang Lob

The curtain-bang lob is the lob's flirtier cousin — collarbone-length, internally layered, with long curtain bangs parted just off-center that fall to the cheekbone on each side. It's the most-asked-for cut at salons since about 2019, and there's a reason: it works on almost everyone, doesn't require commitment from the cut underneath, and the bangs grow into face-framing layers if you change your mind.

The cut suits round, square, oblong, and heart faces — basically anything that's not strongly oval, which doesn't need the framing. Straight and wavy textures wear it cleanest; curly hair gets a curl-cut version. The bangs do the heavy lifting: they soften strong foreheads, balance long faces, and disguise the awkward in-between phase that grow-out bangs usually have, because curtain bangs are designed to grow out into face-framing layers gracefully.

Medium maintenance — daily styling is just blow-drying the bangs down and to the sides with a round brush (five minutes). The lob beneath needs no styling beyond a leave-in. Trim every eight weeks to keep the lob line; the bangs need a touch-up every four to six. The cut went mainstream around 2019-2020 (Dakota Johnson is the patron saint), but the underlying curtain bang traces straight to 1970s Brigitte Bardot. Ask for 'collarbone-length lob with curtain bangs starting at the cheekbone, parted just off-center.'