Rechel Mans McKenny, a writer, shared her personal experience with Elle. “I hit my lowest point in mid-January. I managed to wrangle a few hours of childcare and had a moment to contemplate myself and my needs for the first time. I looked at myself in the mirror. I looked older and sad, and I felt those things, too. I felt like I needed a big change, and it was now or never. And after this past year, I couldn’t go on with things like they were. My long, untended hair hung around my face and I thought about what it would be like to pretend that a few snips of the scissors could rewind the hands of time.”

After dealing with grief and going to therapy, Rechel believed that getting bangs can be a sign of belief in yourself and hope for the future. Haven’t we all felt the need for that big change even if it’s just a new haircut? The act of doing something different can feel like the first step toward something bigger. We’ve seen that in pop culture and heard  of the many therapeutic benefits of a new haircut. But when that change involves getting bangs [fringe], it can quickly blow up in one’s face if not thought through. 

Bangs have always been a versatile style choice, from the bold, crisp cuts of the 1960s icon Jean Shrimpton to the sultry, full fringe of 1950s pinup Bettie Page. Whether you go for short, wispy, or full bangs, they can dramatically alter your look with minimal effort, even helping to hide a forehead if you wish. Bangs, much like any bold choice, have long been a symbol of rebellion and change.

Over time, bangs may have earned a ‘bad rap,’ often associated with women trying to emphasize their quirkiness or stand out from the crowd. Yet, despite this, bangs remain an enduring style we can’t help but secretly covet—even if we’re hesitant to admit it. Ultimately, the allure of bangs has always been about more than just hair, and more about the statement they make.

Why are They Called “Bangs” Anyway?

The origin of the word ‘bangs’ is a bit uncalled for. It evolved in the 19th-century from the term ‘bangtail,’ which refers to cutting a horse’s tail straight across. So, by having bangs, I’m both a trendsetter and a horse’s rear end? Great, but I digress. The word ‘bangtail,’ which means trimming a horse’s tail to a blunt, tassel-like end, eventually led to the term ‘bangs’—what describes the fringe we now sport on our foreheads. 

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Bangs gained popularity in the late 1800s and early 1900s, first as a youthful style for girls, and later in the 1920s,  when flappers embraced the look. Fast forward to modern times, we’ve seen the rise of bangs, pinup bangs, retro bangs, and even Hayley Williams made the famous side-swept emo bangs more appealing. Stars like Kate Moss and Zooey Deschanel also sported them in the early 2000s, bangs made a comeback—and suddenly, they were everywhere again.

The Bangs “Scare” We Know Now Dates Back to the 1600s as a Political Debate

The claiming of bangs starts with their longevity—for over a century and possibly thousands, if the ancient Egyptians truly favored them (though historical records are limited). One might argue that plenty of less desirable trends have lasted just as long, but only few have left their mark on iconic figures, or influenced how women cut and styled their bangs throughout history like bangs have. From Jean Shrimpton in the 1960s to Bettie Page in the 1950s, and even Audrey Hepburn, bangs have been worn by some of the most influential celebrities of the 20th century. What most of these women had in common wasn’t their hairstyle — it was, in fact, their outlook and of course, their politics.

According to what hairstylist Sean Flynn told The Cut, “Short bangs kind of come out from a reactionary or revolutionary standpoint.” From Joan of Arc’s bold chop to the flapper rebellion of Louise Brooks, and Betty Page’s unapologetic sexuality to the defiant Chelsea cuts, bangs have long represented a form of physical defiance. More than just a style, they’ve symbolized rebellion and empowerment throughout history.

Bangs have always been more than just a hairstyle—they’ve been a bold way to experiment with femininity. Hair has long been a symbol of femininity, and changing it dramatically, like cutting bangs, has often been seen as a big statement. In fact, back in the 1600s, bangs were quite controversial. Conservative clergy at the time believed that women who cut or curled their bangs were heading down a sinful path. It was seen as rebellious, even dangerous.

This edgy reputation of bangs should have stayed cool. But over time, bangs became a go-to for people trying to deal with stress or emotional struggles. Instead of being seen as a powerful statement, they started to be viewed as a quick fix for deeper problems. As more people turned to bangs during tough times, the Internet caught on and began poking fun at the trend, turning what was once a bold choice into a running joke.

There’s a number of people who believe that wanting bangs isn’t really about the haircut itself, but something deeper. Alas the popular idea that if you feel like getting bangs, you should probably go to therapy first. This concept also took off when Allie Wach went viral for her tweet  back in 2018, sparking a conversation about how bangs became a symbol for women dealing with depression. Instead of seeking therapy, the joke goes, they head to the salon for a dramatic change in hopes of feeling something different. To onlookers, these women are often seen as embodying the quirky, troubled manic pixie dream girl persona.

“Cutting off the front of your hair is the ultimate expression of self-delusion, a desperate attempt to right something deeply wrong — with a pair of scissors.” Noted The Atlantic. Over time, bangs shifted from representing a rebellious punk style to something people turned to when life felt overwhelming. It became such a common thing that everyone including hair experts began advising against getting bangs during moments of emotional distress.

But despite how much people try to label or mock them, bangs still hold that sense of breaking free from the norm.

The Idea That Getting Bangs is a “cry for help” is a Fairly New Way of Looking at it

It’s not so much a cry for help as it is a way of taking control of your appearance. For women, how they look is often scrutinized or used against them, so changing something like your hair can feel like a way to express a shift happening inside. It can be a response to feeling stuck, whether it’s after a breakup,  or just feeling weighed down by the pressures that come with being a woman.

It’s hard to say exactly when this connection between bangs and needing therapy started.

Somewhere along the line, the choice to cut bangs became linked with emotional stress or life changes, though no one can quite pinpoint when it shifted from being just a hairstyle to something more symbolic.

This connection between bangs and emotional turmoil has now become a common way for women to talk about their feelings, especially on the internet. Saying “I got bangs” has become a shorthand way of expressing that something deeper might be going on. Cutting your hair can feel like a way to take control when life feels chaotic, a small action that gives the illusion of managing stress or emotions. But at the same time, many of us recognize that relying on a haircut to fix things is a bit of a stretch, which is why this idea is often met with humor and self-deprecation.

In the end, the conversation around bangs is less about hair and more about how women cope with stress. At its core, it comes from wanting to see a visible change when looking in the mirror. It’s a relatable way to express those moments when we feel out of control, even if we know that a new haircut isn’t going to solve everything. And honestly, they shouldn’t be reduced to something trivial or associated with negative stereotypes like TERFs, because they’ve long been a simple, universal way to cope with life’s ups and downs.The beauty of bangs lies in their ability to make you feel like something is shifting, even if it’s just on the surface.