At one time or another, we’ve all considered getting (or at least seriously pined for) that coveted French girl fringe. However, every time we almost take the plunge, something stops us. That thing is how on earth do we style it?!

We understand, this classically chic, nonchalant hairstyle can seem unachievable at times but, we promise you, it really isn’t! Whether you’re still making up your mind about whether to have one cut in or you’re currently struggling with your own, we’re here to help. Read on, and learn how to master an elegant French girl fringe once and for all!

What is a French Girl Fringe?

If you’re unfamiliar with the French girl fringe, all we can say is, prepare to fall in love! Forget the super thin and uneven fringes of school days past, French girl fringes are all about textured ends and soft edges that blend perfectly with the rest of your hair. They’re usually on the thicker side yet they’re cut and styled in such a way that they complement your cheekbones and look playfully untidy, yet undeniably chic. 

If you’re still not quite sure what constitutes a French girl fringe, look to the stars. Not those in the night sky, those on the red carpet! Think Felicity Jones, Sabina Socol, Alexa Chung, and, Daisy Edgar Jones. These famous ladies certainly have the French Girl fringe nailed, and soon, you will too!

Are There Different Types of French Girl Fringe?

In our experience?

Yes. There are different types of French girl fringes. 

That said, that’s really more down to the styling of the fringes and the length they’re sitting at rather than the cut itself.

Whilst you’ll usually always find that they’re cut quite thick and have textured/tapered ends, some will sit in a relatively straight and full formation across the forehead. Meanwhile, others who’ve had them cut longer (or have simply started to let them grow out) can style them into more of a curtain bang situation than a full fringe. 

Either way, it’s the chicest look going and we’re here for it in all of its beautiful forms!

Does Everyone Suit a French Girl Fringe?

In truth, there are no hard and fast rules when it comes to getting your hair cut. Just because your online research tells you something isn’t right for your face shape or you shouldn’t get a certain style because your hair is too short, long, curly, straight, blonde, black, or whatever else, if you want it and you feel comfortable in that style, we say go for it!

When it comes to the French Girl fringe, we feel exactly the same. Traditionally, this style is said to best suit those with shorter hair (We’re looking at you Taylor LaShae!). Anything above the shoulder will look instantly chicer and more stylish with a French girl fringe.

That said, if your hair is longer, we certainly don’t recommend ruling out this look!

It only takes a quick search on Pinterest (be honest, you have it open anyway) to see that the French girl fringe suits hair of all colors, lengths, and textures.

Therefore, if you’ve been longing to have this fringe cut in for as long as you can remember but don’t fancy lopping off your long locks, keep them long! This style can absolutely still work for you with long hair.

Simply look for inspo online and talk to your stylist over the phone or in-person when it’s safe to do so. You’re certain to find an iteration of this style that works for your hair type. 

For a little added inspiration, we recommend looking to French girl curtain bangs, à la Brigitte Bardot circa 1965. If you want to make sure your new bangs blend seamlessly into your lengthy tresses, this is the way to go.

My Hair is Curly, Will the French Girl Fringe Work for Me?

If your hair is very curly or super wavy, we can understand why you think this style might not work for you. After all, most French girl fringes we see online belong to ladies with super straight or only slightly wavy locks. Therefore their fringes are always on the smooth and sleek side rather than bouncy and voluminous.

Well, we’re here to tell you that, although you may not see them represented as prominently when doing your research, curly French girl fringe’s are absolutely a thing, and, they’re seriously beautiful!

Still not convinced?

Let us explain…

One thing we love so much about French style, in general, is how natural and organic almost every look is. By this, we mean minimal make-up, a capsule wardrobe made up of simple, elegant, and versatile pieces, and hair that’s not overly ‘done’, celebrating its natural texture.

So, if your hair is curly and you want to go for the French girl fringe, there’s no need to worry about meticulous styling. You won’t need to marry your blowdryer just to get it looking right every morning. Why? The best way to get the look you’re going for is to let it be. 

Additionally, there are a few things we suggest for enhancing your hair’s natural texture, but more on that later…

How to Master Styling Your French Girl Fringe

By now, we’re thinking you’ve probably decided to go for the French girl fringe. How could you resist?! If that’s true, you’re going to want to know just how to style your new chop.

 Luckily, we’ve done the research for you and are ready to share our top tips on how to get the most out of those oh-so-chic bangs of yours.

So, whether your hair is poker straight or incredibly curly, the fringe of your dreams is easier to achieve than you might think.

Why?

It’s all about working with what you already have…

Skip a Wash Day

When it comes to fringes of any kind, the last thing you want is your hair becoming overly greasy and sticking to your forehead. The same goes for the French girl fringe. After all, this style is all about looking effortlessly chic which can’t happen if your hair is weighed down with excess oil!

With this in mind, it can be seriously tempting to wash your hair every day to keep it feeling fresh and clean. Unfortunately, this can wreak havoc on your hair! Over-washing can make it dry and frizzy, it can also cause your hair to overproduce oil as it tries to balance out the constant stripping of moisturizing sebum. 

What can you do instead?

It’s very simple!

Instead of constant washing which can quickly dry out your hair and cause split ends, we suggest getting your hands on a good quality dry shampoo. A quick spritz will instantly refresh your locks by adding that freshly washed scent. Not to mention its powder-like substance will absorb any excess oils and give your hair that just-washed look again. Allow it to work its way in and tease the hair with your fingertips to make sure it gets to all the places it needs to be. 

You’ll also notice this adds the most incredible texture and slight volume to your hair that’s perfectly in line with the French girl fringe style.

What’s more, we all know that second-day, third-day, and sometimes even fourth-day hair always looks better than first-day hair! We wouldn’t want you to deprive yourself of those seriously good hair days in place of washing over and over again.

This way you can experience your tresses becoming more and more manageable after washing whilst allowing the natural oils in your hair to nourish your scalp in between.

Back Away From the Blow Dryer!

We know, we know. This one can be a tough pill to swallow. But, if you really want to achieve that French girl hair with a French girl fringe to match, blasting your locks with hot air regularly is an absolute no-no.

The reason for this is, blow-drying has a tendency to strip our hair not only of moisture but also of the natural shape it takes on when left to air dry. Those with straight hair may find it’s still as straight either way but it’ll certainly be lacking moisture afterward.

Meanwhile, those with wavy or curly locks often experience frizziness, less bounce, and a change of shape. Though it’s not necessarily in a bad way (blowdries, as we know, can look seriously amazing) they more often than not alter the construction of your tresses which is not the look we’re going for here.

As we said before, the French girl style in every aspect is about natural beauty. Effortlessness, and an organic look. Letting your hair dry on its own, therefore, is the best basis to start with for your new fringe. Working with and elevating what you have naturally will lend itself to the prettiest, and easiest, French-inspired hairstyle you’ve had to date.

Introduce a Little Moisture

Speaking of elevating your natural hair, how do you do that exactly? There are a few ways! And, we’re happy to tell you that each is super effective yet quick and simple to introduce into your routine! Let’s begin…

Okay, so you may be blessed with beautifully moisturized and shiny hair but if you’re not in that lucky 0.1%, we suggest adding a little extra moisture to your locks. Doing so will not only help your hair to feel softer and shinier, but it’ll also aid curl definition if you have them, make straight hair look instantly healthier and sleeker, and help waves look and feel incredibly soft yet beautifully defined.

Now, this can be done in several ways. Firstly, we suggest investing in a great conditioner. Perhaps you condition your hair with every wash or maybe just once a week. Whatever works for you, conditioning your tresses will always result in healthier hair that’s silkier, more defined and tamer as it dries.

If your hair is really on the drier side and you, therefore, find your fringe is seriously unruly when it dries naturally, a leave-in conditioner could be a great solution for you!

Add a Little Texture

Since you already have or are seriously considering getting a French girl fringe, we’re betting you’ve seen literally hundreds of images of them by now. 

And, what do they all have in common? 

Amazing texture! 

This is yet another thing we adore about French girl fringes.

They look eternally chic without having to be super smooth and perfect. You’ll often see them intentionally or naturally mussed up and it only adds to their beauty!

That said, for some of us, that texture just doesn’t come naturally. Especially if we have quite soft or straight hair. This type of texture will often sit flat and doesn’t give us much to work with in the way of volume.

If this sounds like you, don’t panic. There are plenty of ways you can add texture to those tresses and easily achieve the French girl hair you’ve been dreaming of.

Firstly, as we already covered, leave your hair to dry rather than blow-drying it. This will offer way more to play with than super straight, styled hair.

Next, look for non-heat styling ways you can add texture to your hair overall. This will make sure your natural fringe blends well with the rest of your hair. 

One tried and tested method is to plait your hair whilst it’s still damp. Notice we say damp and not wet. Plaiting dripping wet loc s often means they won’t dry properly. It can also lead to other problems for your hair such as weakening the strands and putting stress on your roots as you pull it into place. Not to mention, you’ll achieve a much better shape if you let your hair dry over halfway before braiding.

Another way of adding texture to your locks is to reach for that dry shampoo we mentioned earlier. Even when you’ve just washed your hair, A gentle spritz of spray shampoo can add instant lift and texture to your fringe!

Styling Your French Girl Fringe After Washing

Okay, so if air-drying your fringe just does not work for you, we totally understand. Sometimes, a little heat is necessary to get your fringe where it needs to be and that’s okay. One thing, never use straighteners! They’re way too harsh for this little amount of hair and will not only damage it but make it look way too overworked and anything but French!

All we suggest is that if you are going to go down the heat styling route, you approach it with caution, and medium heat only! This will still shape your bangs as they need to be shaped but won’t dry them out too much. You still want to create that lived-in, laissez-faire look, so make sure you go easy!

Always start by spritzing on a lightweight heat-protecting spray before you begin drying. Then, pop your dryer on its lowest heat setting and gentlest power.

For Longer French Girl Bangs…

Using a round brush, take it in turns to gently blow dry your hair fully over to one side, and then the other. It may seem like it’s doing nothing at first but, trust us, it will! Repeat this action until the hair is fully dry. 

Once you let the hair back into the middle and separate your fringe with your fingers, you’ll find you’ve created a gentle shape that helps them to sit in place. This technique also won’t result in one big giant curl that won’t lay flat!

For Short French Girl Bangs…

Happily, you can use the exact same technique for shorter fringes! However, you may find a fine-tooth comb will make the hair easier to control.

Ready to rock your own French girl fringe? Go on, take the plunge, you won’t regret it!