I may not have clocked it at the time, but when I look at someone and think, “I love those bangs ,” odds are they're curtain bangs. As seen on Sabrina Carpenter , Dakota Johnson , and Zendaya —just to name a few—curtain bangs are everywhere. In fact, they’re likely on your Pinterest or in your secret album of hair inspo pics right now. Curly, pin-straight, side-swept, blown out —you can create all of these looks with curtain bangs, making them the perfect way to change up your look. “Curtain bangs can be so appealing because they create an immediate transformation without requiring a dramatic haircut, ” says celebrity hairstylist Nicolas Flores .

What exactly are curtain bangs, you ask? Well, unlike your traditional bangs, curtain bangs aren’t cut straight across the forehead. Instead, curtain bangs are cut at slight angles—kind of like a triangle, with longer pieces on the sides of the face and shorter pieces in the center. The gradient lengths create a curtain effect.…