What Are Bunny Bangs? A Celebrity Hairstylist Explains
"Bunny Bangs" Are the Cutest Hair Trend For Fall
As POPSUGAR editors, we independently select and write about stuff we love and think you'll like too. If you buy a product we have recommended, we may receive affiliate commission, which in turn supports our work.
If you're craving a hair change but not ready for a full chop, we have just the thing for you. "Bunny bangs" are the perfect compromise and the fall haircut trend that you need to try this year. Soft, wispy, and face-framing, this fringe is stylist-approved — even if you may have sworn off bangs before.
Bunny bangs may sound new, but the style has been around for years, and it's making a comeback for good reason. To learn more about the bunny bangs trend from a professional, keep reading.
Experts Featured in This Article
Richard Mannah is a celebrity hairstylist and Joico's senior global artistic director.
What Are Bunny Bangs?
The look features a short, airy fringe paired with longer, face-framing side pieces that add softness and movement. "It's a fringe, but it's not just the bit across your forehead," hairstylist Richard Mannah says. "It's the disconnected side pieces that give it that softer, more beautiful, fluffier finish." As for the name? "If you can imagine a bunny with their ears flopping down, that's where I think it comes from."
Unlike heavier, blunt-cut bangs, bunny bangs are intentionally lightweight, making them more wearable across a variety of face shapes and hair textures. "There are so many kinds of different fringes," Mannah says. "You've got a strong bang, a square bang, a rounded bang. But the bunny bang is less about structure and more about softness. It's piecey, airy, and meant to feel light."
While bangs have a reputation for being high maintenance, bunny bangs are relatively easy to manage — especially when they're kept soft and light. Still, regular upkeep is important. "A fringe is a big commitment," Mannah says. "You've got to be emotionally ready."
He recommends stopping by the salon for a quick trim whenever the fringe starts dipping into your eyes, typically every three to four weeks, depending on hair growth. "Sometimes just having the fringe trim can make the whole look new," he adds. "It's definitely worth it."
The Best Hair Types and Face Shapes For Bunny Bangs
The style works across a range of hair types, though Mannah notes that a smoother or slightly wavy texture creates the easiest styling experience. "You can do it with curly hair," he says. "It's just going to have a different texture for its finish." In those cases, he suggests cutting the fringe longer than you think, so it sits at the right length once dry.
Face shape also plays a role. "I would avoid doing a fringe on a rounded shape," Mannah says. "It could accentuate that roundness." A longer, sweeping fringe may be a better fit for those clients. For oval or heart-shaped faces, bunny bangs are often ideal — especially when paired with soft side pieces to frame the cheeks and jaw. "You've got to look at someone's cheekbones, face shape, hair texture — it's all these elements added together that make it work," he says. "And that comes down to the consultation with the hairdresser."
How to Style Bunny Bangs
Bunny bangs are designed to be soft, flexible, and easy to work with, especially when cut and styled intentionally. "It's not about getting too much volume or making it too flat," Mannah says. "It's that in-between bend that makes it look modern and fresh."
The key to getting the look right starts with sectioning — at the hands of a professional hairstylist, that is. "When [the stylist] takes a section, it's about not taking it too far back or making it too thick," he says. "The whole point is for it to feel soft and flattering, not heavy."
For everyday styling, Mannah suggests using a round brush and a blow dryer with a concentrator nozzle to add a subtle bend. To enhance the airy, piecey finish, he recommends a lightweight shine mist, like Joico's Heat Hero ($24) or the Color Wow Extra Mist-ical Shine Spray ($29). "When you blow-dry it, make it look a little bit more piecey — not greasy," he says. "I spray it from an arm's length or on my fingertips and work it through the fringe."
Soft Bunny Bangs
This version of bunny bangs is light, wispy, and almost blends into the rest of the cut. It's perfect if you want a fringe without the heaviness. Jenna Ortega wears them just above the lashes, paired with soft waves that keep the look romantic.
Textured Bunny Bangs
Messy, piece-y, and full of movement, textured bunny bangs lean into a more undone aesthetic. Suki Waterhouse, who's practically synonymous with bangs, makes the style look effortlessly cool with her shaggy layers.
Ponytail With Bunny Bangs
A sleek ponytail puts bunny bangs front and center, making them the star of the style. Zendaya's glossy, high-fashion take proves just how bold this fringe can be.
Platinum Bunny Bangs
Add a bold color, and bunny bangs instantly become a high-drama moment. Rihanna's platinum-blonde version, paired with a red lip, prove the style works as well for fashion risk-takers as it does for minimalists.
Space Buns With Bunny Bangs
Bunny bangs can be playful, too — especially when paired with double space buns. Lisa's cozy selfie shows how the cut works just as well for casual, off-duty days as it does for dressed-up moments.
Bun With Bunny Bangs
Pulling your hair into an updo lets bunny bangs take center stage. Penélope Cruz's chic bun paired with a shiny fringe proves the style works for elevated, red carpet–ready looks.
Olivia Tauber is a freelance writer based in New York, pursuing her master's in journalism at NYU. She's the contributing assistant beauty editor at Popsugar and contributor to Interview, Bustle, SELF, and HuffPost. Her career began in corporate publicity at Showtime, followed by production for "The Pivot," an Emmy-nominated series.
