I've lost count of the number of times I've taken a picture of Taylor Swift to the hairdresser, asking them to recreate the singer's trademark fringe – or bangs, if you're in the US.
Her bangs, which she sometimes sweeps to the side (namely in her 1989 era), but more often wears full frontal, have been my ultimate inspiration for years, but she's come under fire lately for the heaviness of her fringe.
"Her bangs are sooo heavy and thick... Would be more flattering [with] just wispy light bangs!!" one detractor wrote on a photo of Taylor on HELLO!'s Instagram. Another simply commented: "Ditch the bangs."
© Getty ImagesIndeed, Taylor's fringe has become heavier in recent weeks, and given that her fans love to read into her every move, the 'Swifties' as her devotees are known, are speculating that she's wearing a clip-in fringe to disguise the fact she's growing out her fringe ahead of her and Travis' wedding, believed to be taking place in early July.
If you ask me, it would be a weird move for Taylor to grow out her fringe, or sweep it back, rather than the hairstyle she's most famed for on her wedding day.
The history of Taylor's hair
Taylor had her bangs cut in back in 2011 on a shoot for Vogue and has never looked back. Though the song writing icon is known for reinventing her sound and style with every album (or era, as she calls them), her bangs have been firmly in place since her fourth album, Red, which came out in 2012 - jokes about her fringe being her longest every relationship are not welcome here.
Fringe wedding hair
Search 'wedding hair' on Pinterest (every nearly-weds BFF when it comes to wedding planning), and you'll be met with photo upon photo of beautiful bridal hairstyles, but not one with a fringe in place.
And as someone in their mid-30s, the last decade of my life has been littered with weddings, and only one of my be-fringed friends wore their bangs down on their wedding day. So, what gives?
I asked hair stylist Michael Douglas for his take. As well as being a renowned hair professional, he is also the husband of Davina McCall, who proudly wore her own trademark fringe in place for their December 2025 wedding day.
"A fringe is often something people slightly hide behind," Michael says of the reason many brides choose to sweep their fringe out of the way on their big day. "Bangs are very useful at hiding wrinkles, but they can cast a shadow over the face," he notes – not ideal when you've paid thousands of pounds for a photographer.
"Fringes can also be unpredictable, and could be blown about in the wind," Michael adds of why fringes aren't often worn on wedding days.
© GettyFellow stylist Elliot Bute of top salon Hershesons adds: "A wedding day is such a photographed moment, so many people naturally want a hairstyle that feels timeless.
"Pulling the fringe back can create a more open, elevated feel around the face and allows the features, makeup, and dress details to really stand out. It can also give the hair a more polished finish and help the overall look feel a little more formal."
The same, but different
While it might seem odd for Taylor to go for a radically different look on her wedding day than the one she is known for, wedding expert Zoe Burke of wedding planning website Bridebook explains: "On your wedding day, you want to look like yourself, but different. It helps it to feel like more of an occasion – it's why glasses-wearers might switch to contacts for the day, or someone who always wears their hair down will opt for an updo.
"You will still look like yourself, but with enough of a difference that it surprises people and feels special."
© GettyElliot agrees: "If you wear your fringe every day and it feels like part of your personality, keeping it is often what will make you feel most confident. The goal with wedding hair is not to create something unrecognisable, it's about enhancing what you already love about yourself. When someone looks back at their wedding photos, they want to see themselves, just elevated."
As for Taylor's recent heavier fringe and longer hair (Swifties have started calling the musician 'Tay-princess' due to the sheer length of her hair), Zoe notes: "It's super common for nearlyweds to grow their hair out before their wedding to give them more length and body to more intricate hairstyles too. It's likely Taylor is growing her hair longer to give her stylist more to work with on the big day."
© Los Angeles Times via Getty ImagWedding fringes
If you do want to wear your fringe firmly in place on your big day, Elliot has a few words of advice.
"A heavy fringe can look incredibly chic for a wedding; it adds personality, softness and can frame the face beautifully. The key is working with the fringe rather than trying to hide it.
"Soft waves, a classic blow-dry, relaxed updos, or a textured low bun can all work beautifully with a heavier fringe."
He also suggests keeping movement and softness through the hair to stop the look from feeling too structured. "For a more modern bridal style, I love a fuller fringe paired with effortless texture. It feels fresh, cool, and individual."
One bride who wore her trademark fringe down for her wedding was beauty editor Amanda May, who got married in 2024. Of her decision, she told me: "When I was having my wedding hair trials done, a lot of the advice was to look like yourself with a tweak; don't go too far with a new look, because you want to feel your most confident self."
"My fringe has become so emblematic of my identity, and it finishes a look, so wearing it down, as I always do, was a nice finishing touch."
With Taylor's wedding reportedly just weeks away, with it rumoured to be taking place at New York City's Madison Square Gardens, we don't have long to wait to see what the billionaire does with her hair. But while we are waiting, read on for some of my favourite Taylor hair looks that I think could work for her big day...
© Getty ImagesSide-swept wedding hair
Taken earlier this month at the Songwriters Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, Taylor's hair looked wedding-ready, with a messy chignon paired with a slightly side-swept fringe,
© FilmMagicPrincess hair
At the 2024 Golden Globes, Taylor Swift channeled her inner princess with long, thick, golden hair - perfect for a wedding.
© AFP via Getty ImagesA wedding updo
For the 2023 Grammys, Taylor proved why up-dos work so well for weddings, showing off her dazzling earrings.
© WireImageA fringed updo
Throwing it back to 2013, Taylor showed us all how a heavy fringe works beautifully paired with an updo.
© Getty ImagesA braided bride
Adding a braid to an updo adds a magical, fairytale wedding touch to an already pretty style.
