After much 'back and forth,' I decided to go ahead and 'bite the bullet' and get Bettie bangs again. I posted about this topic a week or so ago. After having my hair cut in a Middy, I discovered that my 4-6 inch bangs were not cooperating. I was experiencing a lot of difficulty when it came to trying to make my bangs/fringe look good. The rest of my hair styles like a dream, but those darn bangs refused to play nice! I found myself taking too much time getting ready for work in the mornings due to my bang/fringe's 'mood' so I decided to go to my stylist this past Friday afternoon for a quick bang trim and viola: the Bettie bangs that I had for almost 4 years came back.
I realize that having Bettie bangs limits my styling options but I am okay with that now. Part of my reluctance was the idea of restricting my styling flexibility but since I have the shorter bangs, I am indeed happier because I have one less section of hair to style. All I have to do is blow dry my bangs and I am done. No pins, no curls, just done. Yes! And, If I want straighter bangs, like in the above photo, I just use my flat iron. And if I want shorter, rounder bangs, I simply use a round barrel bristle brush as I blow dry. Today I did a shorter, more rounded look:
I feel confident now about keeping my bangs short. It is easier and takes less time.
They look great! I've been wanting to try it but I'm nervous that they won't look good on me because my face is so round. Even though it limits your styles, it would be nice to not have to worry about dealing with styling bangs! You have lovely eyebrows, by the way!!
ReplyDeleteBrittany,
ReplyDeleteThank you for the compliment! I love it when have the faux bang look! It really suits you! I think your hair is always so pretty. I also like the new knit snoods you have been wearing! As soon as my hair is long enough, I am going to get a few of those snoods! Those nylon ones tend to look bad after a while!
Thank you for the brow compliment! I just had them done. My natural brow color is a very pale blond (weird since I am a natural red head). I used to color them in with pencil but after seeing many examples of badly done, crooked brows in photos over the years, I started going to the salon about 11 years ago. I get them tinted and waxed every 5 to 6 weeks and I also use pencil or MAC's brow marker between appointments. Speaking of brows, I thought your brow tutorial a while back was so great!
I also wanted to say a huge thanks for the pin curl tutorial! I have so much trouble with pin curls and some days when I get up and take out the previous evening's clips, I have to wet my hair again and blow dry because my hair looks nuts! A while back, I found a vintage how-to for pin curls and it shows rows going in alternating directions. It also shows how the curls are lower on the head like you stated. I have fallen victim to the 'high-placed' pins and yowza! Can we say puffy, frizzy mess?! lol I am excited to try again using your guide!
looks awesome!
ReplyDeleteYour hair looks great--I love both style options!
ReplyDeleteI must hear more about dying your brows, too. My natural brows are very pale blonde as well, and I've never really looked into dying them—seems this would eliminate a lot of hassle every morning!
Thank you, phenolicfanatic! I forgot how much I miss my bettie bangs!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the brow tip! I've been wanting to get mine done, now I think I will! Yes, I adore my knit snood! It's so easy for bad hair days!!
ReplyDeleteI have had so much trouble with pin curls! For a long time, I put them up too high and looked like a clown! I try to keep them just along the bottom of my head, no more than an inch above my ear and that seems to work pretty well! Another big mistake I made was not brushing them out properly. Brushing out takes a really long time but once you get the hang of it, the whole style looks really nice! I agree with Jitterbigdoll, I want to hear more about brow dying too! My hair is naturally medium blonde but my brows have always been dark!
I love them! I especially love the 40s look of the second picture. It suits you really well!
ReplyDeleteJitterbugdoll,
ReplyDeleteThank you for the compliments!
I have to say that having my brows professionally tinted has been heaven! I do not have to spend time coloring in my brows and making sure they are even! All I do is put on some clear brow setting gel (clear mascara works great) and I am out the door! When my brows start to fade between appointments, I use MAC's brow marker or MAC's brow crayon in Strut.
Most reputable salons and spas offer tinting and waxing. If you call around to places in your area, just ask if they offer "brow tinting."
Now, if you find a good esthetician (skincare, makeup, brow, waxing expert) they should have different dye colors for brows. The colors are usually light, dark, or middle brown. I am told by my esthetician, Gina, that she uses a middle brown.
Here is a general rule for brow color: if you hair is light, go one to two shades darker and if you hair is dark, go one to two shades lighter. Brow color should not match the hair. It looks too one-dimensional and flat. Also, having brows that are too dark or too light looks unbalanced.
If you do decide tinting is for you, I hope you find someone amazing! Once your brows are tinted, there is no going back. Let me tell you, waking up and seeing brows is so nice! Also, going to the pool or beach and not having to worry about my brows washing off is just fantastic!!
Brittany,
ReplyDeleteThose snoods are to die for! And that is an interesting point about brushing pin curls out! That is another thing about them that makes styling tricky. In the past, I have just brushed curls out and it's instant 'puff ball head' for this gal. Not pretty! I will be sure to re-read your tutorial and brush my hair out slowly the next time I pin curl.
As for brows, they can either be darkened or lightened. The esthetician uses a type of low volume bleach to lighten. General rule: light hair girls go one to two shades darker and darker hair girls go one to two shades lighter.
Speaking of dark brows, one time I had an esthetician who dyed my brows JET BLACK! I am not kidding. I had no idea what made them think black brows would look nice on a girl with pale skin and red hair! When I got home from the salon, my husband asked me if I was "experimenting with makeup." If only! I wanted to cry. Thankfully, the tint fades and my brows looked better after two weeks!
Thanks for the compliment, Holly! I forgot how much I missed my bangs. I had them 'Bettie style' since 2006. I decided to curl them under today with one of my round bristle brushes. When my stylist cut them on Friday, he used his flat iron. I may go slightly shorter next time since my hair seems to go so fast in summer.
ReplyDeleteI think they really suit you and they bring out your eyebrows/eyes very well.
ReplyDeleteLooks beautiful! <3
ReplyDeleteI LOVE your hair, I have a very small round face and I'm never sure I could get away with that look but I'd really like to try, maybe when I next visit Nina's Hair Parlour I'll ask her, at least I know she'll be honest eeek!
ReplyDeleteLove your eyebrows!The bangs turned out great!I always want to grow mine out but they cover my wrinkles on my forehead so well that I just can't!Hahaha!
ReplyDeleteIt looks great - really suits you!
ReplyDeleteThis is what I have - its so easy to maintain, even if you just put the rest of your hair under a scarf (like I do most of the time!) - you just blow roll the front, slap on some red lippy and your good to go!
I love how your bangs are styled in the second picture! I know what you mean about the "growing out bangs" not cooperating. I've had Betty bangs for the past 3 years, but started growing them out a couple months ago. It's frustrating having to spend a great deal of time trying to get them just right. I'm doing my best to not grab my shears and chop them off again!
ReplyDeleteThe bangs look great on you, they really frame your face well.
ReplyDeleteI also have bangs and was considereing growing them back out and then I realized.. for now I would probably miss them so I just keep cutting. lol It actually may be time for a trim.
Thank you, Atomic Mama! I think your hair looks fabulous!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Tara!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Straight Talking Mama! I think your hair color is lovely! I also love the hairstyle you have in your blog photo/icon!
ReplyDeleteArt Deco Dame,
ReplyDeleteThank you for the compliment! My brow guru, Gina, is amazing! She brings my pale brows to life! You hair looks great! I just got my first actual wrinkle earlier this year! It is between my eyes. I guess that is what I get for being lazy and not putting my contacts in (I tend to squint)!
Clare,
ReplyDeleteThanks for the compliment! I did the scarf thing today acutally! I woke up late and I had no time to do my hair so I put on a shower cap and took a quick shower and was out the door. I put my scarf on in my car.
My hair is not long enough to completely fill out a snood so I love wearing a chiffon scarf on lazy/late days. As soon as my hair is longer, I am going to get some of those lovely knit snoods Brittany of Va Voom Vintage featured on her blog!
Craft Doll,
ReplyDeleteHey fellow Richmonder!
It was hard trying to grow the bangs out but I just could not get them to behave! I went back to the bettie bangs with some hesitation but I am now glad I did it. I tried to get them to work but I prefer my hair with the bettie bangs. It is easier to style and the bangs seem to suit me. The husband loves them!
Melzaelf,
ReplyDeleteI love your hair! Your blog/icon picture is amazing! I had black hair and bettie bangs until March. I went back to my natural red and grew my bangs out. I often miss my black hair but it was hard to keep up since I needed root re-touching every 5 weeks (if not sooner).
I like having longer bangs but it just wasn't working out. I got my 'bettie groove back' and I do not regret it!
They look great! I've been resisting the urge to cut mine again. Now you've made it harder to resist!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Kim! Bettie bangs seem to be a winner look for a lot of girls but having longer bangs to do rolls is always a great option! I just have too much trouble with mine when they are long. I am also a bit lazy and tend to be late for work so having the short bangs over the last few days has really been easier.
ReplyDeleteoh my beauty especially the second pic..yes indeed your eyebrows do stand out with your bettie bangs..I know no matter what I always go back to mine..feel so odd without them.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the lovely comment, La Dama! Like I said before, I really tried to do longer bangs but I just couldn't get them to work. I think I look better with bettie bangs anyway so maybe my hair was trying to tell me something!
ReplyDeleteI LOVE your look...just georgeous! I'm growing out a short layered cut, which for the life of me have no idea WHY I got in the first place. I can only blame it on a menopause moment. My hair was waist length. What's done is done-so now I have to suffer and wait...and just let it grow. I think that I am going to try this style when it's long enough. It looks fab! I'm 50 now...and I think it would suit me. by the way I am featuring your picture and a link back to your blog on my blog-if that's not ok PLEASE tell me and I'll delete it!! I've been scouring the internet and honestly your picture is the nicest one I have found -of pictures that about match my age and style I would like to have!
ReplyDelete