You’ve heard the phrase: “After 50, it’s bangs or botox.” While we don’t 100 percent agree, it’s true that bangs — whether wispy, blunt, or baby — are a smart solution for managing forehead wrinkles, and given how trendy they are right now, it seems like that’s not exactly a secret. 

Still, some bangs are better than others, particularly if you’re over 50. Of their many types (and the hairstyles they work best with), none is more flattering on mature women than curtain bangs. I embraced curtain bangs a few years ago, and I can attest that they’re great. If you’re unfamiliar with them and need reassurance before making the cut, you’re in the right place. Read on to learn everything you need to know about rocking trendy curtain bangs.

What are curtain bangs?

The curtain bangs look is a different take on traditional straight-cut bang styles. This  type of bangs can be incorporated into a multitude of hairstyles: Curtain bangs soften a long cut with a center part, and reduce the severity of blunt bangs. The purpose of curtain bangs is to highlight the cheekbones and eyes — and according to celebrity hairstylist Mark Townsend, when done correctly, the delicate face-framing fringe will flatter anybody, no matter your hair type, hair color, or face shape.

The nice thing about curtain bangs is that they’re flattering when your hair is down and when it’s in an updo. (This is true regardless of your natural hair length and whether you have straight hair or curly hair.) In fact, curtain bangs might be the easiest way to instantly elevate any hairstyle, even an effortless ponytail or messy bun. This is perhaps why swoopy curtain bangs are the hottest hair trend on TikTok right now.

Despite millennial “let’s get bangs” mania, curtain fringe is an ideal choice for women over 50. That’s because it hides those annoying quotation mark lines between the eyes. Better still, there are a ton of different ways to style curtain bangs. 

How To Cut Curtain Bangs

Most of the time, I’m all for DIY projects and YouTube  tutorials. However, when it comes to cutting curtain bangs, I recommend leaving it to the pros. Getting the right length and layers for your facial structure sounds easier than it is. Styling curtain bangs, on the other hand, is easy.

Before you go in to get curtain bangs, you’ll need to decide whether you want a center part or side part, and whether you want long layers or short…