Laura Dern Masters Effortless Curtain Bangs and Beach Waves

a white woman with blonde hair posing at a red carpet event

(Image credit: Getty Images)

I wish I could commit to any hairstyle the way Laura Dern has fully committed to wearing curtain bangs. She wears the fringe and wavy hair combo so well, I'm almost convinced I should get the cut—especially after seeing her at her most recent film premiere.

On Dec. 17, Dern attended a San Francisco premiere event for Is This Thing On?, the marriage dramedy she's starring in alongside Will Arnett. For the event, she wore a white blouse with frills along the neckline underneath a striped, black blazer dress. Her glam was also worthy of some commotion. She wore a hint of peachy blush on her cheeks and pink, rosy lipstick and styled her hair in what's now become her signature: curtain bangs with lightly-tousled waves.

a white woman with wavy, blonde hair and curtain bangs — Laura Dern wears beachy waves and curtain bangs to the premiere of "Is This Thing On?"

Dern has been wearing curtain bangs as her signature hairstyle since she first revealed the cut back in 2023 at the 38th Annual Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Induction Ceremony. She even wore an extra-wavy, summery fringe back in August when she attended the Venice International Film Festival.

The shaggy look has never exactly gone out of style, but it's shaping up to be especially popular in 2026. Hair experts are predicting that the shag will be one of the most requested haircuts of next year, and even Kourtney Kardashian is getting a jump on the trend with her new Farrah Fawcett-style curtain bangs courtesy of hairstylist Dimitris Giannetos.

Curtain bangs are actually pretty low maintenance and easy to style at home. If Laura Dern's beach waves and bangs combo has you convinced, read ahead to shop a few styling essentials.

OUAI

Texturizing Wave Spray

Get the beachy, textured look with a wave spray.

Bio Ionic

Universal Styling Diffuser

If your hair's already pretty curly, grab a diffuser to dry your wet hair without creating any frizz.

Not Your Mother's

Curl Talk Frizz Control Sculpting Gel & Defining Cream

Add frizz-free definition to curls and waves with this soft, non-flaky sculpting gel.

Conair

Infinitipro by Conair Triple Barrel Tourmaline Ceramic Waver

Want to get the wavy look with naturally straight hair? Use a waving tool to add some bends to your hair.

Moroccanoil

Perfect Defense Heat Protectant

Make sure you're using a heat protectant to protect your hair from thermal damage.

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Danielle Jackson is the senior beauty writer at Marie Claire. She has nearly a decade of experience covering beauty, lifestyle, and entertainment and was previously the senior beauty editor at Women's Health, where she thoughtfully covered topics related to skincare, haircare, aesthetics, and wellness. Before that, she spent three years as an assistant beauty editor at PS, and in the years since, her work has appeared in titles like Vogue, InStyle, Glamour, and more. Danielle graduated from the University of Georgia with a BA in English, and has lived in Brooklyn for almost ten years. When she's not writing, you can find her reading romance novels and talking about sunscreen. You can find her on Instagram @danielleknecole.