What To Know About The Trendy Bottleneck Bangs Hairstyle

In recent years, fashion trends have really been wrapped up in nostalgia, with things like Tumblrcore and Y2K fashion becoming especially popular, per NPR. Vintage clothing trends, such as '70s-inspired platforms heels and '90s-era slip dresses, have similarly made their way back into mainstream fashion.

Hair trends are no exception to this wave of nostalgia, with PopSugar reporting on the popularity of '70s-inspired Farrah Fawcett curls and Y2K zigzag parts. Even though these trends take from classic looks, they're often modernized, which is where styles like bottleneck bangs come into play.

Elle describes bottleneck bangs as a subtler version of curtain bangs, a style that was initially popular in the '60s and '70s and has made a comeback in the modern era, per Oprah Daily. Bottleneck bangs get their name from their shape, as their center section typically falls at the brow and tapers downward on either side, following the silhouette of a bottle.

If you're thinking about committing to bottleneck bangs, there are a few things you'll probably want to note.

To understand bottleneck bangs, we need to look at curtain bangs. If you're unfamiliar, Glamour explains that curtain bangs are a shaggy fringe that frames the face the same way curtains frame a window.

While this style was first popularized in the '60s and '70s, curtain bangs have reappeared on celebs like Camila Cabello, Yara Shahidi, and Selena Gomez. In their popularity, they've also been married to traditional straight bangs to create the hybrid style that is bottleneck bangs (per PureWow).

As seen in the example above, while bottleneck bangs include the shaggy, face-framing lengths of curtain bangs, they are centered around wispy, brow-length pieces that are brought together to create a distinct look.

Besides spawning from curtain bangs, the emergence of the bottleneck bangs trend can also be linked to a specific celebrity. Elle traces the popularity of this style back to Margot Robbie's look on the cover of the August 2021 edition of British Vogue, which the magazine explains is directly inspired by the vintage curtain bang look.

Hairstylist Bryce Scarlett was responsible for creating Robbie's hairstyle, but the name was likely introduced by stylist Tom Smith, who's discussed the trend on social media. Since the spread, bottleneck bangs have only grown in popularity.

Bottleneck bangs have also been seen on several other stars. PureWow explains that this style has been worn by Anne Hathaway and Elizabeth Olsen, while The Zoe Report adds Lily Collins and Dakota Johnson to the list of bottleneck bangs-wearing celebrities.

If you are looking for inspiration for your own bottleneck cut, we recommend checking out how these celebs style and wear their own bangs, as they provide some great inspiration.

Besides their star-studded endorsement, bottleneck bangs are popular because of how easily they can be tailored to look flattering on anyone. PureWow mentions how things like forehead size and face shape can be considered when determining where the bangs begin and how much tapering to include.

British Vogue adds that those concerned with making their face look rounder don't need to worry, as this fringe is universally flattering. "It's the safest style for all face shapes," says celebrity stylist George Northwood.

Another great thing about bottleneck bangs is how easy they are to style. This is mentioned on Real Simple by celebrity hairstylist Andrew Fitzsimons, who references the fact as one of the reasons that the style is so trendy right now.

If you're looking for some specific tips for styling your bottleneck bangs, hairstylist George Northwood explained to British Vogue, "You have to rough dry it forward, onto the face – blow drying upside down to help 'lift' the fringe doesn't work, because [the] hair will then statically stand on end... Then take a small round brush and bevel the ends – you can also use a flat iron."

In addition to working with any face shape, bottleneck bangs also look great with a variety of hair types and styles. As mentioned on Love Hairstyles, layered cuts are quite trendy, so pairing such a hairstyle with the vintage-inspired bottleneck bangs provides a great combination of classic and modern.

Plus, the volume provide by such styles channels the big, curly looks of the '60s and '70s without feeling dated. If you need more convincing, TikToker @lillianbabaian shows how well bottleneck bangs work with long, layered haircuts.

For a truly vintage-inspired look, you can also pair bottleneck bangs with shag haircuts. Southern Living explains that shag cuts were extremely popular in the 1970s, when it was seen on celebs like Stevie Nicks, Jane Fonda, and David Cassidy.

Nowadays, the shag cut has been modernized to be more versatile and flattering while still staying true to its vintage inspiration. In this way, shag hairstyles pair really well with the contemporary bottleneck bangs, as demonstrated by Instagram user @hollygirldoeshair.

If you're not into mid-length shag cuts or long-haired layers, then you can be reassured that bottleneck bangs also work with short hairstyles. Specifically, we love how well these bangs pair with trendy bob cuts. As mentioned on Bustle, the short bob is a hairstyle that is projected to maintain popularity through 2023, so this is also a great option for anyone wanting to keep their cuts modern and on-trend.

If you want an example of how cute bobs look with bottleneck bangs, check out this cut from Instagram user @thebangsbabe, who pairs the style with a jaw-length bob.