A tall forehead is one of the most common things brides mention to me at a trial, usually with an apology. There’s no need. It’s a proportion, and hair is very good at adjusting proportions: a fringe shortens the space, a side sweep breaks it diagonally, and volume at the sides widens the face so the forehead reads smaller. The options run from soft curtain bangs to face-framing layers, textured updos and half-up styles. Below are twenty, with notes on which part of the forehead each one actually covers and what I’d watch for when you wear it for a full day.
Cutting Bangs Before the Wedding, or Clipping Them In
Many of the styles below rely on some kind of fringe, so timing matters. Bangs look harsh for the first week or two after they’re cut, and they need a trim or two before they sit naturally.
- About eight weeks out: cut your bangs if you’ve never had them, so you have time to get used to them and to let a bad cut grow out.
- About two weeks out: a light trim to tidy the shape. Never cut them yourself the night before.
- At the trial: wear the bangs the way you’ll wear them on the day, and ask to see them in natural light.
If you don’t want to commit, clip-in fringe pieces are a good alternative. I’d bring one to the trial so I can color-match it and blend it with your own hair, then trim it on your head so the length is right.
1. Wedding Updo With Curtain Bangs
Curtain bangs with a low updo are the combination I suggest most for a tall forehead. They cover the center, where the forehead looks tallest, and open out at the cheekbones. I blow-dry them over a round brush, then split them with my fingers, never a comb, so the edges stay soft. With the rest of the hair tucked into a low updo, the bangs carry all the framing. A veil or small pins sit easily behind them.
2. Half-Up Half-Down With Side Swept Bangs
Side-swept bangs in a half-up style cut the forehead on a diagonal, which breaks up its height more effectively than you’d expect. I pin the sweep at the temple with a small hidden pin, because a side fringe tends to fall forward into the eyes after a few hours. The pinned top section stays tidy; the loose lengths move. A small floral pin or a sparkling clip on the sweep side adds detail. It works on medium to long hair, indoors or out.
3. Messy Bun With Face-Framing Tendrils
A messy bun with tendrils is forgiving on a tall forehead because the tendrils soften the hairline at the temples, where many tall foreheads look widest. I leave soft tendrils loose just in front of the ears and at the temples, and curl them so they don’t hang straight. The bun’s texture adds width at the back. It’s relaxed, suits boho and garden weddings, and survives a long day without needing much touching up.
4. Wedding Hairstyle With Wispy Bangs
Wispy bangs add coverage without a heavy line across the face. Light, feathery pieces graze the forehead and leave gaps where skin shows through, so the look stays airy. I’d recommend them if a full fringe feels like too much of a change, or if you’ve never worn bangs. They pair with updos, chignons or curls. On very oily skin they separate faster, so a little dry shampoo at the root helps keep them light.
5. Low Bun With Center Part
A center part with a low bun is a quieter fix. The part splits the forehead into two narrower sections, and if the front pieces are loosened rather than pulled back, they cover the corners of the hairline. I’d avoid a tight, scraped-back center bun; it puts the full height of the forehead on show. A light wave on the front pieces is my usual approach. It sits under a cathedral veil and shows off statement earrings.
6. Bridal Waves With Curtain Bangs
Soft, cascading waves with curtain bangs give you coverage and volume at the same time. The bangs handle the forehead; the waves add width lower down so the face looks balanced overall. Medium to long hair works best. I curl the bangs separately, with the iron turned away from the face, or they flip up. A small pin at the side or nothing at all suits this look.
7. Braided Updo With Loose Front Pieces
A braided updo with loose front pieces adds texture across the back and sides of the head, pulling attention away from the hairline. The loose pieces at the front do the softening. I’d suggest the braids start behind the ears, not at the front hairline, which would draw attention straight up. Small flowers or pearl accents tucked into the braid add detail. It suits boho, rustic and garden weddings and holds for a long celebration.
8. Side-Swept Curls Over One Shoulder
Side-swept curls over one shoulder create an asymmetry that moves the eye across the face instead of up it. I build the sweep on a deep side part, which also lets the hair cover one corner of the forehead. Curls should be pinned at the nape on the opposite side, so they don’t slide back. Statement earrings show on the open side. A comb or clip holds the swept section. It suits romantic weddings and medium to long hair.
9. Half-Up Style With Curtain Bangs
A half-up style with curtain bangs is useful if you’re growing out a fringe, because longer bangs can be swept to each side and still frame the face. I pull the top section back gently, not tight, so the hairline isn’t stretched. The bangs frame the eyes and the lengths below show your texture. It suits formal and bohemian weddings, and a small headband or floral pins add detail.
10. Voluminous Updo With Soft Fringe
Volume in an updo looks dramatic, but I’m careful where I put it on a tall forehead. Height straight up from the hairline makes the forehead look even taller; volume at the crown and the back, paired with a soft fringe in front, keeps the balance. Tiaras and jeweled pins sit well on the fullness. This one suits formal and glamorous weddings, and the fringe stops it from feeling stiff.
11. Loose Braided Crown With Bangs
A braided crown with bangs puts a horizontal line across the head, which visually shortens the forehead. I start the braid well behind the hairline so the bangs sit in front, separating the two. Small flowers or baby’s breath tucked into the braid add a soft touch. It works on medium to long hair and holds well. Outdoor and bohemian weddings suit it most.
12. Sleek Low Ponytail With Side Bangs
A low ponytail with side bangs is sleek, and I’d only suggest it if you like seeing your face clearly. The side bangs soften one corner of the hairline. The pulled-back sides show the jawline and earrings. I wrap a strand around the elastic and pin it underneath. It suits minimalist and modern weddings and stays put all day, but if you’re nervous about your forehead, a softer style on this list may feel easier.
13. Bohemian Updo With Wispy Fringe
A messy, textured updo paired with wispy fringe brings the softness of boho styling to a tall forehead. The fringe covers part of the forehead while the loose updo adds width around the face. It works best on wavy and textured hair, which naturally holds the undone shape. Fresh flowers, greenery or pearl pins add detail. A bohemian updo with wispy fringe suits garden and beach weddings and is comfortable to wear for hours.
14. Soft Curls With Middle Part
A middle part with soft curls is a symmetrical frame, and on a tall forehead it splits the space into two narrower halves. The curls should start around the cheekbones, which adds width at that level and balances the height above. I leave two curls loose by the face. A small pin or nothing at all finishes it. It works on medium to long hair worn down.
15. Twisted Updo With Face-Framing Layers
A twisted updo with face-framing layers is a refined option for a semi-formal or formal wedding. The twists add texture across the head, and the layers at the front cover the hairline’s corners. I’d only use this if you already have face-framing layers cut in, since loose pieces pulled from an updo are usually too short to frame anything. Jeweled pins or combs sit in the twists.
16. Beachy Waves With Curtain Bangs
Beachy waves and curtain bangs feel casual and work well for a beach or destination wedding. The bangs cover the center of the forehead; the waves add texture and width. Humidity is the main enemy here: bangs can curl or separate in salty air, so I set them with a light hold spray and blow-dry them thoroughly. A small pin or floral accent adds a little detail. Beachy waves with curtain bangs suit relaxed, sunny celebrations.
17. Vintage Updo With Pin Curls
A vintage updo with pin curls can cover a tall forehead in a very elegant way: a few sculpted curls placed near the hairline sit like a soft fringe. I set them with a setting lotion and pin each curl flat until it cools. The look goes with vintage-style gowns and a birdcage veil. It suits formal and themed weddings, and holds well all day.
18. Half-Up Braid With Soft Bangs
A half-up braid with soft bangs combines coverage with detail. The braided top adds texture behind the bangs, and the loose lengths show off your hair. I keep the braid relaxed and pancaked so it doesn’t look too tight against the bangs. Tiny flowers or pearl pins can go in the braid. It suits boho, rustic and garden weddings on medium to long hair.
19. Textured Bun With Curtain Bangs
A textured bun with curtain bangs is a modern pairing. The bun adds width at the back of the head; the bangs frame the eyes and cheekbones. I prefer the bun at mid-height rather than very high, which would add height above the forehead. Delicate pins, pearls or fresh flowers finish it. It works for both formal and relaxed weddings, and on most hair types.
20. Flower Crown With Loose Waves
A flower crown is a horizontal line across the head and breaks up the height of the forehead immediately. I set it slightly behind the hairline so a little hair shows in front, which looks softer than a crown sitting on the skin. Loose waves add movement below. Fresh or silk blooms in your palette both work. It suits boho, garden and outdoor weddings.
Cowlicks, Widow’s Peaks and Receding Corners
The height of a forehead is only half the story. The shape of your hairline decides which of these styles actually works.
- A cowlick at the front hairline will push a straight fringe sideways. I’d work with it by choosing side-swept or curtain bangs that go in the same direction.
- A widow’s peak looks great with a center part, but straight-across bangs can split around it.
- Higher corners at the temples are best covered with tendrils, curtain bangs or face-framing layers rather than a center fringe.
Heat, a Veil and a Fringe That Splits Apart
Bangs sit directly on skin, so they’re the first part of a hairstyle to show sweat and skincare. I ask brides to keep heavy moisturizer and primer off the upper forehead on the day. A little powder on the forehead before the bangs go down helps too. If they separate, a quick blast from a small travel dryer and a finger split brings them back. A veil comb set behind the bangs, not on top of them, keeps them from being pushed flat.
Your Forehead Is a Proportion, Not a Problem
A tall forehead is easy to work with once you know which tool you’re reaching for: coverage with a fringe, a diagonal with a side sweep, or width at the sides with volume and curls. Try at least two of these at your trial, and look at photos of each from a distance, not just in the mirror. The style that looks balanced in a full-length photo is the one to choose, and the most important thing is that you feel like yourself wearing it.
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