Dear Modern Austen: I want bangs. Should I get them?
Modern Austen advises Fringe Admirer on the pros & cons of getting bangs.
Dear Modern Austen,
I know this is a silly, un-serious, and possibly vain question, but I want to know if I should get bangs. I’ve wanted them for a long time, but how can I know how they will look on me? And don’t they take a long time to grow out? How will I live with them if I don’t like them?
So, that’s it. I want to get bangs. Should I get them?
Fringe Admirer
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Dear Fringe Admirer,
If there’s anything I’m vain & even foppish, if I may use the word to describe myself, about it’s my hair. I may not be as extravagant as Mr. Frank Churchill, traveling 16 miles to London from Highbury just to have his hair cut, but I do find it hard to concentrate on anything else when I have a hair out of place, a bad hair day, or, worse, a bad haircut. And I’m diligent about my haircuts, getting one every six weeks exactly. Sometimes I’m overcome with a freakness, like Mr. Churchill, for a trim; I suddenly can’t stand it anymore & need to make an appointment. Perhaps it is folly, something a woman of sensible character shouldn’t be concerned with, but there are worse vices.
Your question, Fringe Admirer, is not unimportant. What you’re really asking is what type of risks are worth taking. Most women reading this will understand why you don’t make this decision lightly. Bangs are tricky—they don’t look good on everyone. You need to have a face for bangs, I think. And, as you say, they take so long to grow out if you don’t like how they look. You also need to consider what your bangs say about you: Are you going for a folksy, chic, or punk-rock look? Either way, bangs are a commitment, a transformation, an alteration to how the world sees you, & you see yourself. You want to know whether you’re ready to take such a risk.
Start by asking yourself why you want to get bangs. Do you know someone with bangs and love how they look? Has something happened in your life to prompt this need for a change? Whatever your reason, it’s likely you’ve imagined someone else’s fringe on your forehead, but the reality is that your fringe will never look like the perfect bangs you imagined.
“It’s likely you’ve imagined someone else’s fringe on your own forehead, but the reality is that your fringe can’t look like anyone else’s.”
I still fall prey to the expectation that my maid can somehow style my hair to look exactly like the most beautiful woman’s at last night’s ball, but it’s no good! I’m always met with disappointment to find that nothing much has changed when I look in the mirror. That’s why it’s important to get clear about why you want bangs, Fringe Admirer, for there are limitations to what any haircut can do for one’s life.
Do you feel settled in yourself? Are you looking to become someone new? Do you want bangs because you want to be more like someone else, or because you think they’ll suit who you actually are? Trying to be someone else will always fail. You will hate your fringe if this is your intention.
No matter what advice I or your friends give you, getting bangs is a risk. What’s scary & exciting about taking risks is that you don’t know what will happen, but you have to be prepared regardless. You might have to live with bangs you hate as they grow, but you’re also likely to find that you look great with bangs & want to keep them forever. Even if you hate them at first, your hair will grow. Think of getting bangs as a chance to grow as a person, too.
You’ve spent all this time wondering what you’ll look like with bangs. Wouldn’t it be better to just know? I’m aware this is easier said than done. After all, people can be frightful gossips, & reputations based on appearance are fragile. But taking risks is never easy, & it’s worse to live with the regret of never taking a chance than the consequences of actually doing it. Well, this isn’t always true, but it is in this case.
You’re scaring yourself by focusing too much on the bad things that could come from getting bangs. What about the good? Make a list of all the pros! Number one should be that fringe is in, & you’ll be in good company.
Your question about getting bangs can’t be answered with a simple yes or no. The choice is yours to make. But you ask if getting bangs is something you should do. I don’t like how imperative should sounds. I will say that I think you have more to lose if you don’t get bangs.
Yours,
Modern Austen