How Bangs Became Zooey Deschanel's Normal Style: 'It All Started At Age 2'

Some celebrities have a trait or style choice that is practically woven into their identity. Bangs are precisely that for people like Zooey Deschanel and Taylor Swift, who are just some of the celebs who look so different without their signature bangs. While Deschanel wasn't born with bangs, she was pretty close to it. The "New Girl" star revealed in a 2013 interview with Glamour that her bangs have been with her since she was two. 

That's right, she was just a toddler when she committed to the look that would eventually become a key part of her identity in showbiz. "It all started at age two, when, at my very first haircut, the stylist lopped off the front of my waves into girly, face-framing fringe. I've had bangs for most of my life since." Deschanel also emphasized just how much she loves her bangs. While she's tried different hairstyles throughout her life for work or for fun, the actor always found herself returning to the style she simply loves best. She added, "I really don't feel like myself without them." 

While that interview was more than a decade ago, Deschanel hasn't wavered in her hair philosophy. In 2021, she took to her Instagram and posted a photo of herself with her bangs grown out with text that said "Proof I have a forehead" and jokingly captioned the photo: "For all the doubters." The actor clearly knows how stunning and youthful she looks with them.

Zooey Deschanel, who has had a stunning style transformation over the years, isn't the only one who feels awkward without her bangs. Fans of the actor are often just as surprised as she is when they catch a rare glimpse of her forehead. You see, the "(500) Days of Summer" actor showed up to the 2013 Met Gala with her bangs swept to the side in a chic updo, and the internet went wild. 

In fact, a famous meme, that even Deschanel herself is aware of, surfaced after the event. The image had a side-by-side comparison of the actor and it said, "Seeing Zooey Deschanel without bangs and glasses made me realize [why] nobody knew Clark Kent was Superman."

Bangs are just a part of Deschanel's signature image. It's like what winged eyeliner and a high ponytail are to Ariana Grande, who has the best tips for the perfect cat eye makeup. In the 2013 Glamour interview, Deschanel even shared that her bangs are what helped her be more recognizable. She explained, "When I first got into acting, I was a bit of a chameleon and just wasn't recognizable. So I used my look to help create an identity. Now people know me as the girl with bangs."