bangs.

Carelessly brushing the eyes, it's the fringe that makes you look like you've perpetually just rolled out of bed after a big night out. Back for 2012, thick, grungy bangs are one key way of styling a fringe this year. We look at how it's being worn both in the music and fashion worlds, as well as how the effortlessly-cool are rocking it on the street.

The cut and how to wear it

There’s not a lot of rules or fussiness associate with a grungy fringe hairstyle – and that’s precisely the point. But if you do want to go and ask your hairdresser for the cut, here are some things to bare in mind:

• This style works best if your hair is straight, or a bit wavy. Slight waves can add to the tousle of the look, but anything more will require regular straightening, so only make the cut if you’re prepared to spend time styling it.
• The thicker the bangs the better. If your hair is thin consider that the fringe will have to be quite deep (i.e. start from far back on the crown) in order to achieve thickness.
• Don’t go for wispy layers – as with bangs generally in 2012, a blunt cut is best.
• Length-wise you want below the eyebrows or just sweeping the eyes.
• The rest of the hair can be bobbed or long – the key is just to keep it relatively straight but tousled.
• Use a texturising product to get that messy effect even on cleanly washed hair.
• For a styling variation messily curtain the hair from the centre sweeping out.