How to Fake Bangs That Look Real (Without Cutting Your Hair)

Knowing how to fake bangs is a great way to try out a new style without a lot of commitment. You don't need a lot of supplies or accessories to create them! A hair tie and a couple of bobby pins will be enough to give you convincing bangs. Or, if you want the easiest method for fake fringe, just pick up some inexpensive clip-in bangs. Most of these styles will be easier for those with longer hair, but if you have shorter hair, you can attempt the bobby pin method.

Easy Ways to Fake Bangs

Use clip-in faux bangs that match your hair color for quick, no-commitment fringe.
Arrange the ends of a ponytail or braid across your forehead and secure it with bobby pins or accessories to fake fringe bangs.
Brush or use styling tools to blend the fake bangs with the rest of your hair and look more natural.

Method 1

Method 1 of 6:

Clip-in Fake Bangs

Download Article

1
Start by blow drying, curling, or styling the basic hairstyle you want. Clip-in fake bangs work best if your hair is dry and already heat-styled. These fake bangs work with loose hairstyles, high ponytails, or buns, as well as shorter hairstyles.^{[1]
X
Research source}
- Make sure to check the packaging before using hot styling tools on your clip-in fake bangs. Some can be damaged by heat styling.
- Cut your fake bangs or take them to your hair stylist if they are too long or you want to customize the style.^{[2]
  X
  Research source}
2
Part your hair in the middle about 1” to 2” back from your hairline. You can leave your hair up or down. Leave 1” to 2” sections of hair next to your face. These sections will blend with the longer pieces on the fake bangs for a more natural look.^{[3]
X
Research source} If you want to add the faux bangs to a bun or ponytail, leave these front sections next to your face when you pull the rest back.
- When you choose your clip-in fake bangs, make sure to match your hair color carefully for the most natural look.
- Clip-in fake bangs with longer sections on each side and behind the bangs blend better with your hair.^{[4]
  X
  Research source}
Advertisement
3
Place the clip-in bangs and press down to fasten the clips. Most clip-in fake bangs are roughly triangle-shaped, with a clip at each corner. Make sure all of the clips are unfastened. Then, position the fake bangs on the 1” to 2” part in your hair.
- Adjust the fake bangs until you’re happy with the placement, and then fasten the top clip first.
- Once the top clip is fastened, make any additional adjustments and then fasten the 2 sides, making sure to position the clips behind the hairline.^{[5]
  X
  Research source}
4
Blend the fake fringe with the hair you left framing your face. If your fake bangs have hair along the sides and crown, gently use a brush to blend them with your real hair. If you’re styling an updo or ponytail, combine the sections you left loose on the sides of your face with the fake bangs and pin them back into your hairstyle with bobby pins.
- Smooth extra hair from the fake bangs back over the crown to hide the edges.^{[6]
  X
  Research source}
5
Check your style to ensure your fake bangs look natural. Take a moment to look at your style from all angles to make sure the fake bangs are well hidden. If you see any obvious breaks between your hair and the fake bangs, adjust them using a brush or pins.^{[7]
X
Research source}
- If your fake bangs are suitable for use with hot tools, you can use a curling iron or straightener to help blend them with the rest of your hair.
- Finish up by using hairspray to set your style.

Method 2

Method 2 of 6:

High Ponytail with Bangs

Download Article

1
Part your hair into two sections and make a high ponytail. Start by brushing your hair to remove all the knots and tangles. This will make it easier to part. Use a comb to section your hair from ear to ear across the back of your head. This divides your hair into top and bottom sections.
- Gather the top section into a high ponytail and smooth out any bumps before securing it with a hair tie.
Divide the loose bottom section of your hair into three strands and make a classic 3-strand braid. Leave about 4” of hair at the bottom. The end of the braid is what you use to make your faux fringe. Secure the braid with a small hair tie that matches your hair color.
3
Loosen the ponytail’s base and pull the end of the braid through. Pull on the base of the ponytail to make it slightly loose. Push one of your fingers through the hair under the hair tie from the front, making a small hole underneath your ponytail. Use your free hand to pull the braid up along the back of your head and push the end through the hole.^{[8]
X
Research source}
- Make sure you push the braid through the hole from the back so the 4” tail hangs over the top of your head.
4
Position the end of your braid over your forehead and secure it. Fan the hair out to look like bangs. Once you have the faux fringe in position, tug on the sides of your high ponytail to tighten it back up again. This also secures the braid.^{[9]
X
Research source}
- Use bobby pins to hold the braid in place if it seems loose or unstable.
5
Style the faux fringe with heat tools and styling products. Since these fake bangs are made using your hair, you can use a flat iron and any type of styling product you would use on the rest of your hair to give them the exact shape you want.
- Spray the fake bangs with hairspray for extra hold.

Method 3

Method 3 of 6:

Headband

Download Article

Use your fingers or a brush to smooth the hair. Section off a section of hair on the top front of your head. Then, secure it with a hair tie, leaving it slightly loose.^{[10]
X
Research source}
2
Flip the ponytail through a small opening in your hair. Split the hair in front of the ponytail with your fingers to make a small hole. With your free hand, flip the ponytail under to create a small topsy-turvy ponytail.
- Position the end of the ponytail so it hangs over your forehead.
3
Adjust the end of the ponytail across your forehead. Position the hair tie roughly 1” behind your hairline. You may need to adjust the placement of the hair tie depending on the length of your hair. Spread out the end of the ponytail and arrange it to look like natural bangs.^{[11]
X
Research source}
- This style works best with shorter to mid-length hairstyles.
- If you have longer hair, you may need to make the ponytail further back on your head.
4
Place the headband over the hair tie. Hide the hair tie by placing a headband directly over it.^{[12]
X
Research source} Try to make the base of the ponytail as flat as possible so it’s not as visible. Wider headbands made out of soft material are more comfortable and do a better job of hiding the hair tie. work better.
- If you have longer hair or don’t want to use a headband, this method also works with a hat or scarf.

Method 4

Method 4 of 6:

Beanie

Download Article

1
Start with hair that's long enough to pull over your eyes. You will be pulling your hair into a half-up, half-down ponytail, then flipping it over your forehead. It needs to be long enough to reach past your eyebrows.
- If you have curly or wavy hair, straighten it first. This will help make it look longer.
Slide your thumbs back through your hair at about eyebrow level. Lift the upper layer of hair into a half-up, half-down ponytail and secure it with a hair tie.^{[13]
X
Research source}
3
Drape the ponytail over the top of your head. Adjust the ponytail so that the ends fall over your forehead and eyebrows. If you need to, pull the ponytail back slightly. Leave the rest of your hair hanging loose.^{[14]
X
Research source}
- Don't worry if your half-up, half-down ponytail looks like a messy bun. The hat will hide it.
4
Adjust and pin the bangs close to the base of the ponytail. Spread the bangs so that they drape over your head and forehead in a triangular shape. You want them to be wider across your eyebrows and narrower at the top of your head/ponytail. Slide a bobby pin through each side of the fake bangs, close to the ponytail, to secure them.^{[15]
X
Research source}
- Wrap a second hair tie around the ponytail, if needed.
Use your fingers to pull the strands across your forehead so that they lay nicely.^{[16]
X
Research source} If you want to, you could even curl them under slightly with a curling iron or a flat iron.
6
Put on a loose-fitting hat. Find a loose-fitting hat, like a beanie or a slouchy, and pull it over your head. Make sure that it covers the top part of your head, just behind your hairline, as well as the nape of your head. This will ensure that your half-up, half-down ponytail is completely hidden. The rest of your hair will hang loose from under the hat.^{[17]
X
Research source}
- Don't use a tight-fitting hat like a sun hat or baseball cap. They will develop a bump where the half-up, half-down ponytail is and look fake.

Method 5

Method 5 of 6:

Bun

Download Article

1
Assess your hair length. In order to fake bangs using a bun, your hair needs to be long enough to be put up into a high ponytail, to be draped over the top of your head, and to cover your forehead. Put your hair up into a ponytail and try to pull the ponytail over your eyes to see if it’s long enough. Ideally, the end of your hair should reach past your eyebrows so that you can style the bangs.
- If your hair is curly or wavy, straighten it first. This will help add length to it.
- To assess the length of your hair when it’s down, check to see if it reaches your underarm. To create fake bangs this way, your hair may need to be at least this long.
Slip a hair tie over your wrist, then use your hands to gather your hair into a high ponytail. Hold your hair with the hand that has the hair tie on it, then use your free hand to slip the hair tie off and wrap it two or three times around the ponytail.^{[18]
X
Research source}
Use your thumb to gather a thin section from the top of your ponytail. Pull it over the top of your head so that the ends fall over your forehead.^{[19]
X
Research source}
Slide a bobby pin through either side of your ponytail bangs, securing them to the top of your head. If you need to, wrap a second hair tie around the base of your ponytail. This will help keep the fake bangs down and in place.^{[20]
X
Research source}
5
Twist the rest of your ponytail into a bun. If you want to get fancy, split the ponytail in half, then cross and wrap each half around the base of your ponytail. Secure the bun with bobby pins as you go.^{[21]
X
Research source}
- For a simple bun, twist the ponytail into a rope, wrap it around the base of your ponytail, then secure it with bobby pins.
6
Curl the fake bangs for a natural look. Use a flat iron or a large curling iron to curl the bangs under themselves. Keep the side edges of the bangs straight. This will give you a more natural look as well as help hide any short strands of hair that may stick out.^{[22]
X
Research source}
- Be sure to apply a heat protection spray to your hair before curling it.
- Comb through the bangs to help loosen the strands and make them look even more natural.
Set your style with hairspray. Once the hairspray dries, you are good to go! For a chic look, you could even wrap a scarf or headband around your head. This will help conceal the fact that your bangs are coming from your bun.^{[23]
X
Research source}

Method 6

Method 6 of 6:

Bobby Pins

Download Article

1
Start with a center part and neatly-brushed hair. This style works with most lengths of hair. It will be even more convincing if your hair is long enough to tuck behind your ears, however.^{[24]
X
Research source}
- If you want the illusion of side bangs, part your hair on the side.
2
Separate the front-left section of your hair from the rest. Create a part that extends from your center part down to your left temple. Make the part start about two to three finger widths behind your hairline. Tuck the rest of your hair behind your ear.^{[25]
X
Research source}
- Use the handle of a rat-tail comb to make your part clean and neat.
3
Hold the front section of hair where you want the bangs to end. Grab the front section of hair you gathered from the previous step and pull it in front of your face. This should help your fake bangs lay directly on the center of your forehead. Make a V shape with your index and middle fingers, then close them across your hair where you want the bangs to end.^{[26]
X
Research source} Replace your fingers with a duckbill clip to mark this spot.
- Shorter bangs work better for this method than longer ones. Something around eyebrow level would look the best.
Grab everything below the duckbill clip, and twist it under and towards your face. Keep the hair above the clip vertical, and the twisted part horizontal.^{[27]
X
Research source}
Remove the clip and pull the rope back towards your ear. Drape it behind your ear, and secure it with a bobby pin.^{[28]
X
Research source}
Section off the front part of your hair and tuck the rest behind your ear. Twist the sectioned-off part where you want the bangs to end, then tuck it behind your ear. Secure it with a bobby pin and cover it with the rest of your hair.^{[29]
X
Research source}
Un-tuck the rest of your hair and let it fall naturally over the pinned rope. Use your fingers to spread apart the fake bangs as needed so that they look more realistic.^{[30]
X
Research source}

Community Q&A

Search

Add New Question

Question

I want bangs, but my hair is curly. What do I do?

GeGeGeLL

Community Answer

You can still get bangs, but you might need to straighten them quite often. I suggest maybe doing a longer side bang.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 39 Helpful 39
Question

I want them to cover one of my eyes up, how do I do that?

GeGeGeLL

Community Answer

You could part your hair to one side and then pull your hair a little more in front of your face to cover your eye. You could also pull your hair over your eye and clip/pin the middle of the hair that is in front of your face to the rest of you hair. This will make it look like you have side bangs.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 19 Helpful 25
Question

My hair is short and curly. My mom won't let me straighten it. What do I do?

Community Answer

She probably won't stop you from doing a natural mask. Take a quarter cup of milk and two tablespoons of honey. Mix them until they're well combined and apply it to your hair. For best results, leave it on for two hours, then wash it off well with a sulfate-free shampoo. If you are Afro-American, this probably won't work.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 65 Helpful 27

See more answers

Ask a Question

200 characters left

Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.

Submit

Video

Tips

If you have curly or wavy hair, consider straightening your fake bangs and leaving the rest of your hair natural.

Thanks
Helpful 1 Not Helpful 3
Use bobby pins and hair ties that match your hair color. If you can't find any, find the closest shade.

Thanks
Helpful 0 Not Helpful 2
If you have straight hair, consider adding some gentle waves or curls to your hair while leaving your bangs straight.

Thanks
Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0