Creating soft '90s face-framing bangs starts with precise guide placement and builds through controlled overdirection, minimal tension and personalized detailing. Below, Moroccanoil® Global Ambassador and ARC™ Scissors Artistic Team Member Rachel Williams (@rachelwstylist) shares her step-by-step approach to cutting soft, face-framing '90s bangs.
1. Leave Extra Length in Your Guide
Rachel begins by creating a triangle section and dividing it into three subsections before establishing her guide. Rather than cutting directly to the finished length, she intentionally leaves extra length during the first pass. Starting slightly longer gives Rachel room to refine the shape as she works, allowing her to personalize the finished fringe before committing to the final length.
To create that soft guideline, Rachel uses the lightweight ARC Scissors™ PHANTOM II. The lightweight design helps her cut continuously through the section while maintaining control. Starting slightly longer gives Rachel room to refine the finished fringe without removing too much hair too soon.
2. Establish the Shape Before Adding Detail
After creating the guide, Rachel slightly overdirects each section back to it and uses deep cutting to connect the outline from the center to the outer corners. Building the overall shape first creates a balanced framework before moving into the finer detailing, helping maintain consistency throughout the fringe.
3. Reduce Tension for Softer Movement
Once the outline is established, Rachel shifts from technical cutting to visual refinement. Instead of holding each section tightly, she uses her comb with minimal tension so the hair falls closer to its natural position.
