To Bang or Not to Bang? A Hairstyle Story.

I am an ex subscriber of the 'Bettie Bangs'. I sported them since I was 15. They were inspired by a band I love, The Dance Hall Crashers, rather than the lady who made them famous (see below). I wore and loved them for a good 5 years before I decided I needed a change. It took a whole year to grow them out. But I can't help but miss them.

If you don't know what 'Bettie Bangs' are, here is a perfect example on the lady who gave them her namesake.


If you don't know who this is, for goodness sake google her or hire out 'The Notorious Bettie Page' from the video store.

Some examples of my fringe over the years:

Unstyled bangs at 15, with a hack dye job only a 15 year old would do to boot. Hah.

My bangs with a concave bob at 16. BEFORE Posh made it famous, thankyou very much.


Age 20. Neat and perfect!


I'm one of those creatures who tends makes a dilemma out of minute details. A perfectionist you might say. Yep, that's me. I'm the one who will stand in the Grocery aisle for 10 minutes deciding on a particular product. But now that my hair is long and fringe-less I ache for the ease and good looks of bangs. Lately they have been popping up on famous celebrities. Even in Chanel advertisements in glossy magazines such as Vogue.



Beyoncé



Katy Perry


Damn you beautiful celebrities. Stop making me miss what I no longer have! Here's a funny story. When I flew down to Sydney for the DimitySO photoshoot I was almost certain I was going to have my bangs cut back in. It surprised when they didn't and a little part of my was actually disappointed. It was like I wanted an excuse to cave in! It's amazing how my mind works.

In order to put a perspective on things, here is the breakdown on Bettie Bangs.

PROS

• Extremely easy to style. Perfecto hair is achievable in 5 minutes!


• It looks damn good!


• It different, alternative and individual on the mainstream where the mainstream is concerned


• You never get hair in your eyes


• It looks fantastic with creative dying.

CONS

• Having to trim the sucker all the time.


• 'Sweaty Bettie Bangs'. Sweat tends to build up underneath your precious fringe and it feels pretty disgusting


• Being at the mercy of the 'split fringe'. This happened on my formal. (Grrr!!!!) due to a hairdresser who doesn't understand short bands. Very few do!


• Lack of styling versatility where fringe styling is concerned. Say goodbye to forehead rolls, Jessica Rabbit hair, Pompadours etc.


• Having the same hairstyle as 85% of the girls in the rockabilly circle. Ok ok, we should all like what we like, but you can't deny it gets a little tiresome sometimes.


• It takes me a whole year to grow out. Longer for others

Uh oh, the cons certainly are piling up!

While I do love the Bettie Bangs I think I will resist them while I am still a dark brunette. As much as I love Bettie Page I'm over being compared to her. The bangs were never about Bettie Page for me, it was all about Elyse Rodgers from The Dance Hall Crashers.


Elyse Rogers

I can imagaine myself cutting them back once I've taken my hair to a lighter shade. I have almost mastered the 40's style faux with the help of a hair rat and a tutorial by Fleur De Guerre. So for the moment I can content myself with that.


The ever elegant Fleur with her fauxbang / victory roll combination.

I just need to collect enough of my hair to cover the ends of my hair rat. But err ... that's another story.