Curtain Crop vs. Curtain Bangs: What's the Difference, and Which One Should You Get?

It's one of the easiest haircut mix-ups to make right now, but it's also one of the easiest to avoid, once you actually know what sets these two apart.

If you've been looking for inspiration for your next haircut lately, you've probably come across the "curtain crop" and "curtain bangs." They sound alike, but they're two very different haircuts with two very different levels of commitment.

The curtain crop is a full haircut, not just a fringe. It's commonly described as a grown-out pixie, with a floppy middle part or soft curtain-like wisps of hair framing the face.

According to Sam Rubinstein, founder of London's Rooibos salon, it's one of the most requested cuts right now, describing it as somewhere between a shaggy bob and a "grown-out mullet-phase bob."

The hairstyle, worn by Kiera Knightley in "Bend it Like Beckham" and Carrie Anne Moss in "The Matrix," is low-maintenance and suits any age or hair type. It's also easy to style, with just a bit of cream or texturizing spray.

Curtain bangs, on the other hand, are just bangs. Instead of a full haircut, they're a fringe that parts down the middle and sweeps to either side, leaving the rest of your hair untouched.

Hairstylist Mark Townsend says the style is flattering to most, calling it "a simple way to elegantly frame your face."

In a nutshell, the curtain crop is a full haircut while curtain bangs are just an add-on to whatever hairstyle you already have.

If you want a more drastic transformation with very little upkeep, go for the crop. If you want a face-framing update without cutting your length, but don't mind extra trims and styling, curtain bangs are the safer bet.