What ties Ananya Panday, Aditi Rao Hydari, and Hannah Montana together? Wispy bangs cover all three’s foreheads. Bangs as a hairstyle go way back in time, dating back to the 1920s’ flapper era, and then making a comeback with Marilyn Monroe’s side-swept bangs in the 60s. Cut to 2026, celebrities are embracing fringes in style. But when someone gets bangs, we often end up thinking, “I wonder if something’s going on in their life”. Such is their chaotic reputation. Whether you’re going through a breakup or need a fresh back-to-school look, bangs are on top of the list of choices.. Sonia Dhyani was extremely attached to her long hair, and cutting it was not a decision she took lightly. She had the same hairstyle for a long time and finally thought it was the right time to try something new and get out of her comfort zone. “Getting bangs was a spur-of-the-moment decision. I just wanted to try it out and see if it would go well with my look. However, it was a big emotional step for me,” said the senior communication professional.. The results surprised her. “It was not just a makeover, but a total change in my persona. I was feeling confident and fresh with my new look,” she added.. When life beats Shilpashree Jagannathan down, or when she feels nothing is going the way she wants it, her first reaction is to withdraw, feel pity for myself, but at the first sign of getting over the sadness, she tends to change her hair. The Canada-based content strategist said that, as someone belonging to a family that believes women should have long hair and where cutting and styling hair is frowned upon, changing her hairstyle is not just a coping mechanism to get over stress, but also a way to assert her identity.. Deepti Chandy, Therapist & COO, Anna Chandy & Associates, agreed that a haircut is often described as a refresh, even a detox, because psychologically, we link it to a shift in mood. After a breakup or a period of emotional upheaval, many people feel an almost immediate urge to cut their hair, get bangs, or experiment with colour. The act itself becomes symbolic. “By changing something external and visible, we attempt to mark an internal transition. It feels like a reset, a way of signalling that something has shifted,” she said.. Anna Mariam Ittyerah echoed her sentiments when she got bangs during lockdown. “I was bored to death. But I also felt like this move won’t be too risky since I don’t have to go out and show my face,” the Bengaluru-based copywriter said. She watched a couple of YouTube tutorials and did it herself. “I wanted to get bangs because I felt my forehead was way too wide. Plus, I grew up watching television shows like New Girl and Hannah Montana, where the main characters would have amazing bangs,” she elaborated.. For both women and men, hair is closely tied to identity and self-image. Chandy explained that it significantly shapes how we see ourselves and how we believe others perceive us. “For
