Micro Bangs: What to Know Before You Cut

Micro bangs are very short bangs cut high on the forehead. How they look depends on your hairline shape, and hairlines vary a lot: in one study of Japanese adults, 29.6% of women had a widow's peak, and frontal hairlines ranged from linear to round to M-shaped. How quickly bangs grow out also varies by person.

Here's what research says about hairline variation and growth rate, and what to think about before cutting.

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Key Takeaways

• Frontal hairline shapes vary: in 456 Japanese adults, women's hairlines were round (38.5%), linear (36.1%), M-shaped (18.2%) or triangular (7.2%).
• A widow's peak was present in 29.6% of women in that study and in 81% of 360 women in a US study.
• Hair growth parameters vary with scalp area, sex and geographic origin among young adults.
• We found no study of micro bangs themselves, so the guidance here is about your hairline and hair.

What Are Micro Bangs?

Micro bangs are a short fringe cut well above the eyebrows. They sit right at the front hairline, which is why the hairline shape matters.

Is Your Hairline Right For Micro Bangs?

Hairlines aren't uniform, and your front hairline, any widow's peak or cowlick and your temple shape all affect how short bangs sit. A stylist can look at those before cutting.

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Practical Points

• Look at your hairline first. Check for a widow's peak, cowlick or M-shape.
• Expect grow-out to vary. Growth rates differ between people and scalp areas.
• Ask a stylist before cutting very short.

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What The Research Shows

Hairline Shapes

A questionnaire and measurement study of 456 healthy Japanese subjects found women's frontal hairlines were linear 36.1%, triangular 7.2%, round 38.5% and M-shaped 18.2%, and men's were linear 45.9%, triangular 0.82%, round 10.7% and M-shaped 42.6%. A widow's peak was present in 29.6% of women and 32.8% of men, and the mean mid-frontal length was 6.2 cm in women and 6.65 cm in men (Kashiyama et al., 2021).

Female Hairlines

Hairline characteristics were measured in 360 female volunteers. A widow's peak was present in 81%, and lateral mounds in 98%. The mean distance from the mid-eyebrow to the frontal midpoint was 5.5 cm (Nusbaum & Fuentefria, 2009).

Growth Rate

A study of 2,249 young adults without alopecia from 24 ethnic groups measured total hair density, telogen percentage and growth rate on three scalp areas. Diversity was a key finding, with differences linked to scalp area, gender and geographic origin. African hair had lower density and slower growth, Asian hair thicker diameter and faster growth, and Caucasian hair high density (Loussouarn et al., 2016).

Hairline shape matters for a fringe; see widow's peak hair.

See also: Hair Whorl: What It Is and What Research Shows · Hair Density: What It Is and How It Changes

For cuts and styling tricks that make thinning hair look fuller, see our guide to hairstyles for thinning hair.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do micro bangs suit everyone?

It depends on your hairline and hair. Hairlines vary in shape, and many women have a widow's peak.

How long do micro bangs take to grow out?

Growth rate varies by person, scalp area and origin, so there is no single answer.

Can micro bangs damage my hair?

We found no study on micro bangs. If you're worried about hair loss at the hairline, see a dermatologist.

References

1. Kashiyama K, Haraguchi R, Ban F, et al. Study of Frontal and Temporal Hairline Patterns in Japanese Subjects. Plast Reconstr Surg Glob Open. 2021. PubMed
2. Nusbaum BP, Fuentefria S. Naturally occurring female hairline patterns. Dermatol Surg. 2009. PubMed
3. Loussouarn G, Lozano I, Panhard S, et al. Diversity in human hair growth, diameter, colour and shape. An in vivo study on young adults from 24 different ethnic groups observed in the five continents. Eur J Dermatol. 2016. PubMed