Should We Get Bangs? (Cannes 2023 Edition)

When in Cannes, ‘do as the French ‘do. 

To bang, or not to bang — that is always the question.

Bangs often get a bad rap. It’s easy to get scissor-happy and snip away at our fringe until it winds up too short…or in a regrettable bowl-cut. You either love them or hate them, but there’s no denying a solid set of bangs when you spot some.

This summer, our vote is a resounding YES to bangs, and it appears that a 2023 Cannes Film Festival red carpet full of celebrities from Dua Lipa to Blackpink’s Rosé are in agreement. At the star-studded two-week-long event, we’ve witnessed plenty of things worth mentioning — the return of exposed bras, Jennifer Lawrence in flip flops, Elle Fanning in her slay era, and bangs. Lots and lots of bangs, of all kinds.

From chic micro bangs to full-on fringes, we present to you the best bang hairstyles worn by your favourite stars at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival.

Dua Lipa

For her Cannes debut, Dua Lipa walked the red carpet with jet-black, piecey bangs that swept over her eyes and down all the way to her jawline. Stylist to the stars Rio Sreedharan sculpted Lipa’s cool girl fringe as part of a deliberately undone French twist updo. When in Cannes, ‘do as the French ‘do.

Naomi Campbell

Naomi Campbell has never been one to shy away from a bang, and we’re grateful for it. This supermodel brought her signature black bangs to Cannes, and they were as blunt as ever, falling just beneath her eyebrows. The stylist responsible? Lorenzo Barcella, who often collaborates with Naomi to craft long lengths and avant-garde haircuts for major editorial moments.

Rosé

For her first time at the Cannes film festival, Blackpink’s Rosé unveiled a cutesy set of rose gold (ha!) tinted micro bangs. In another post by the K-Pop star, we get a behind-the-scenes look at hairstylist Lee Seon-Yeong at work during the application process of what appears to be a clip-in bang — which is the perfect alternative to taking the plunge and snipping away at your natural hair.

Sabrina Elba

Opting for a full-on and fanned-out fringe, Sabrina Elba wowed us with this bold look. Also styled by Sreedharan — whose expertise is clearly a hot commodity in Cannes — we loved the way Elba’s brow-grazing bangs transitioned into an elaborately crafted spiked-out bun. Sophisticated bangs in the front, party in the back.

Nadia Lee Cohen

Creative visionary Nadia Lee Cohen stepped out with a fiery fringe peeking through the hood of her slinky Saint Laurent gown. Behind the style, Gonn Kinoshita worked to shape Cohen’s copper hair into a baby bang and a face-framing curl. “76th Cannes but my first!” writes Cohen in another Instagram post. When she looks this good, we’re sure it won’t be her last.

Gemma Chan

This year at Cannes, International L’Oréal Paris Hair Artist and Expert Stephane Lancien had a case of bang fever. His bang-wearing Cannes clientele included Aja Naomi King, Luma Grothe, and actress Gemma Chan. Chan was a ray of light on the red carpet in a white full-length Louis Vuitton gown that juxtaposed her choppy, forehead-covering bangs (which were also clip-ins!).

Grace Elizabeth

With a tousled set of black curly bangs, former Victoria’s Secret model Grace Elizabeth was a vision of Old Hollywood beauty. For this hairstyle carried out by global hair artist Aleksandra Sasha Nesterchuk, the top model’s pixie cut was transformed by plucking out pieces at the front of the head and creating individual C-shaped curls. Forget Barbie, this look was giving Betty Boop.