Why is it that whenever I start to feel even a little bit stuck in life, I get the (very strong) urge to cut bangs? I should be studied by a scientist collaborating with a chic downtown salon. Over the years, I’ve turned to different styles of bangs a handful of times to spice up my life (hey, it’s a quick dopamine hit that grows out)—but not all of them have been successes. Here’s what I’ve learned, so you don’t have to make the mistakes like me.

You should know that before cutting bangs

Celebrity hairstylist Alexander von Trentini was my guide for this most recent trip to the salon. His first piece of advice? You need to think about the cut—do not, he repeats, do not cut bangs impulsively. I guess that’s where I always went wrong in the beginning.

Find bangs that suit your face shape

According to the expert, the first step is to understand the shape of your face and choose accordingly: “Bangs should balance out the shape of your face,” he says. “This means that if you have a round face, the bangs need to go outwards to create a heart shape. Beth Ditto is a wonderful example of this, it suits her perfectly. If you have a long and narrow face, you would opt for longer bangs, like curtain bangs and fringes along the face, to soften it. This year, the so-called ‘wispy bangs’ are also on-trend, they are very cool and work for many face shapes. Delicate bangs fall into the face and let the forehead peek through. A wonderful soft-focus style that works with open and tied-up hair.”

Consider your hair texture

I have naturally curly hair, which I’ve learned can make bangs difficult to cut and time-consuming to style. And what kind of bangs actually suit curly hair? Luckily, there are plenty of curly-haired icons who have worn bangs to guide my way (hello, Zendaya and Chappell Roan).

“It’s best to clarify this with the hairdresser beforehand: Does my hair type work with this kind of fringe? Do I have enough hair in the fringe area, or is the hair there perhaps even too thick? Are the temples too transparent, or are there gaps so that you can see the scalp? The answers to these questions will help you make the right choice.”

How much time do you want to spend on your hair?

If you think that bangs are a great alternative for quick styling, we have bad news—they are a high-maintenance haircut. Even with straight hair, bangs are usually a lot of work because they never just fall by themselves, but instead need to be styled.

You should definitely be aware of this before cutting your bangs, and be sure that you want to invest this time every day. The expert agrees: “Bangs are a lot of work, even more than long hair,” von Trentini says.