Nostalgic ‘popstar bangs’ are trending again – here’s how to style them now

Miley Cyrus set social media alight earlier this month when she announced she’s set to reprise her iconic role as Hannah Montana for the 20 year anniversary of the show, slipping back into the trademark wig she wore to play the fictional popstar.

From 1980s-inspired rock chick for her 2020 Plastic Hearts album, to emo icon during her ‘Can’t Be Tamed’ era to her infamous bleached pixie cut, 33-year-old Miley has tried it all in the hair department – but nothing can top the heavy bangs she wore as Hannah Montana, and her reprise of the role that kickstarted her career signifies the return of the popstar bang.

On the enduring popularity of Hannah Montana’s heavy, face-framing fringe, celebrity hair stylist Adam Reed comments: “That full, heavy fringe paired with long, glossy lengths was pure pop fantasy; it framed the eyes dramatically and instantly transformed Miley into ‘Hannah’. It’s unapologetically theatrical, and it wasn’t just hair, it was character creation.”

Fellow hairdressing legend Michael Douglas says it’s the angles of Miley’s hair that make it so unique, explaining: “The thing that makes the Hannah hairstyle pop is the disconnection between the length of the hair and the fringe.

“The vast majority of people have a concave fringe that blends into layers or a graduation around the face heading down towards the jaw or chin. This creates a merging of the fringe into the rest of the hairstyle. The great thing about Miley’s look is that the definition means you can clearly see where the fringe begins and ends.”

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Making it work

As someone who grew up in the late 90s and early 2000s, I’m no stranger to turning up to the hairdressers clutching a completely unrealistic photo of my favourite popstar at the time, asking for my fringe to be cut like theirs (Hilary Duff and Ashleey Simpson, most frequently) – and with Miley transforming back into Hannah, we suspect hordes of Hannah fans asking for their hair to be cut into her trademark style, so how can we make it work for 2026?

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Popstar bangs in 2026

“I’d soften the density and break up the bluntness,” suggests Adam. “Keep the fringe full but add micro-texture through the ends so it feels expensive rather than costume. Pair it with modern, barely-there layers and a more natural finish. Make it less poker-straight, with more movement.”

On whom the dramatic look will suit, Adam muses: “A fuller fringe like this works beautifully on oval and longer face shapes as it visually shortens the face and draws attention to the eyes. It’s also great for anyone wanting a bold identity shift, because a fringe this strong always changes how you carry yourself.”

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Michael cautions that a fringe disconnected from long hair doesn’t suit everybody – but it’s not all about face shape.

“I’m not really interested in face shapes, but more interested in the features of someone’s face. A look like this often requires dainty features, a smallish nose, and a small mouth. That said, I’m a great believer in allowing people to have what they want, so in that sense it can suit anyone – I don’t like the idea that there’s something that doesn’t suit someone. If you want it, have it!”

If you want to channel your inner popstar without the commitment, Adam recommends a clip-in fringe, known as a ‘winge’ (a fringe wig, for the uninitiated).

“They’re a brilliant way to experiment with a bolder shape,” Adam says of the clip-in. “You can add it or remove it depending on your mood, which makes it playful rather than permanent.”

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Unending influence

Curious as to why pop stars have such a hold on our hair dreams, well into adulthood, I asked life coach Hattie MacAndrews for her take, and she explained it’s all down to confidence. Having our hair snipped to emulate celebs helps us channel their confidence.

“When it comes to boosting your confidence, sometimes the tried and tested ‘fake it till you make it’ approach is the simplest way to achieve that feel-good factor,” Hattie says.

Of the enduring mood boost of a new ‘do, Hattie adds: “A new look can pick you up on a grey day and help you to feel more put together and polished. However, what we absolutely always want to avoid is doing anything too drastic if you’re not in a great headspace, ie the classic post break-up fringe. Doing anything extreme and permanent isn’t a great idea on impulse, and can have the opposite effect of a confidence boost. So please, think it through! And if you’re sure it’s a style that you can maintain – go for it!”