Looking to get bangs? The shattered fringe is the hair trend you need to know about

It’s 2026, and we’ve never been more indecisive about what to do with our hair. There seem to be more options than ever before. From the antique bob to the air pixie, the latest hair trends have been encouraging us to chop off more of our hair than ever before, inch by inch.

However, if you don’t want to choose between the length of your hair and having a trendy cut, there’s a solution: the shattered fringe. If you’ve got finer hair and thought a fringe would never work for you, think again. You don’t have to have thick hair to be able to pull off a full fringe.

A shattered fringe is lighter in the centre, but more fragmented and textured than a traditional full fringe,” says Sam Burnett, founder and creative lead at Hare & Bone. “Instead of a dense, solid block across the forehead, it’s broken up with uneven movement: modern, piece-y and slightly airy. At Hare & Bone Salons, we cut this fringe to feel ‘lived in’, so it looks intentionally effortless rather than overly precise,” he explains. 

It’s the opposite of the fluffy, pin-straight fringes that have typically trended, which makes it suitable for more hair types and textures. “It works brilliantly on straight to wavy hair types because the texture shows really nicely, and it’s ideal if you want fringe without the heaviness,” says Burnett.

This cut could be for you if you struggle with finer hair, no matter how many volumising or thickening products you use. “Fine hair can love a shattered fringe because it creates shape without removing too much density,” he says. It also suits those blessed with curls, but Burnett has one key warning: “For very curly hair, it should be approached carefully: the shrinkage and curl pattern need a specialist cut so it doesn’t sit too short or too wide.”

The good news is that the shattered fringe works for a range of face shapes, and can be customised easily – you just need to adjust the length. “It’s especially flattering on round and heart-shaped faces because it creates softness and draws attention to the eyes and cheekbones. It’s also great for longer face shapes because it visually shortens the face a touch, without the intensity of a heavy full fringe. For square faces, I’d keep it slightly longer and more broken around the edges to soften angles,” says Burnett.

Unlike fuller fringes, which have to be heavily styled to get a precise effect, the shattered fringe is more low-maintenance. In fact, the messier the better. “The styling trick is to keep it light and separated, not overly smooth. I’d recommend blow-drying it first, even if you air-dry the rest of your hair, because the fringe sets the tone for the whole style. Dry it side to side for control, then let it drop into place and finish by separating it with fingers. If needed, a tiny bend with a round brush adds that modern ‘shattered’ look,” he says.

If you want even more oomph, Burnett recommends using a texturising spray or a dry shampoo at the roots to give it a piece-y finish, without it looking too weighed down.

If the shattered fringe sounds straight up your street, here are all the references you’ll need to take with you to your next hair appointment. 

Images: Getty