The big bang theory
By Karen Thomas, USA TODAY
First, braids. Now, bangs.
Celebrity hairstyles come and go, but this summer we’re seeing lots of stars sporting that schoolkid look, with heavy bangs brushing eyelashes.
Gwyneth Paltrow hit a screening of Ashtanga, NY with bangs added to her straight-arrow ‘do. Mary J. Blige was sporting new blond bangs at VH1’s Diva Duets. Heidi Klum was on the cover of the May Elle looking as if her mom had just sheared her bangs at the kitchen table. Bette Midler hosted a picnic June 11 with new bangs, and Liv Tyler was recently married in bangs.
“Bangs give that illusion that you’re hiding something, and your eyes are really opened up,” says Pierre Michel stylist Peter Vanek, who recently gave bangs to Tara Reid and Sports Illustrated model May Anderson. “For women, it gives them a bit of a younger look, especially the heavier bangs.”
They’re “sexy,” “flattering” and give “great dimension to the eyes,” says Hollywood stylist Frederic Fekkai. But bangs aren’t meant for women with round or square faces, and they look best with longer hair, he says.
Hollywood is filled with stars who could benefit from summer bangs, Fekkai says. Brooke Shields would look “great.” Courteney Cox? “Fantastic on her.” Jennifer Aniston, Salma Hayek and Charlize Theron would look good too, he says.
The trend isn’t limited to women. Antonio Banderas, now starring in Nine on Broadway, is sporting tiny bangs. When Jim Carrey appeared on the cover of Entertainment Weekly in April with wispy bangs, he was so unrecognizable that it started rumors he had had plastic surgery. Talk about a younger look.
