Egyptian Actresses Who Rocked the Fringe Before It Was a Thing

CairoScene

11-04-2025

Before the micro-bangs discourse took over TikTok and French-girl fringes became a Pinterest staple, Egyptian actresses were already setting the standard.
Bangs have been through it all— blunt, wispy, micro, curtain, baby-doll soft, or full and dramatic. Before they became a trend cycled in and out of fashion by Parisian it-girls, Old Hollywood icons, and Tumblr-era cool kids, Egyptian actresses had already perfected the art of the fringe— cutting and shaping it (pun intended) long before it was a passing fad.
For decades, these leading ladies set the standard for who-wore-what, shaping trends long before social media made it a sport. From Samia Gamal's feathery, side-swept bangs in the '50s to Sherihan's perfectly tousled '80s fringe, these actresses were setting trends in each of their eras. Some, like Soaad Hosny and Laila Elwi, embraced playful, face-framing layers, while others, like Faten Hamama and Dalida, opted for short, sculpted bangs that accentuated their features. Whether it was Madiha Kamel's voluminous, rockstar-esque '80s bangs or Naglaa Fathi's effortless '70s waves with a soft fringe, each style added to their on-screen personas, defining eras of fashion and film.
From structured micro bangs to breezy, undone layers, this Styled Archive includes all the Egyptian icons who made the fringe a timeless statement.
Shadia in 'Enta Habibi' | 1957
A textbook case of baby bangs before they were called baby bangs. Shadia's ultra-short fringe is chopped high on her forehead. The contrast? Perfectly coiffed, glossy curls cascading down, like a fusion of sweetness and sharpness. Soaad Hosny in a candid photograph | 1960s Shwikar in 'Iktilny Min Fadlak' | 1965
Shwikar's bangs graze just past her eyebrows— soft, flicked slightly to the sides for a face-framing effect. Her voluminous mid-length layers bring a retro romance to the look, finished with a signature 1960s outward curl. Dalida in 'Segara W Kas' | 1955
Dalida's nurse look is a scene-stealer— those sharp, sculpted micro-bangs paired with the perfectly pinned-up waves make her feel more like a film-noir villainess than a nurse. The look is severe in the best way, emphasizing her bold brows and dramatic eye makeup. Samia Gamal in 'El Ragol El Thani' | 1959
Samia Gamal's take on wispy bangs is all drama: ultra-short, perfectly arched to reveal her expressive brows, and paired with sculptural waves that add to her striking beauty. Faten Hamama in 'Bein Al Atlal' | 1959
The fringe is wispy, parted slightly in the middle, blending seamlessly into the gentle waves that frame her face. It's a perfect mirror of Faten Hamama's on-screen persona; elegant with a touch of vulnerability. Youssra on vacation | 1970s
Her bangs are feathered, light, and easy, effortlessly swept into the golden-hour breeze. They barely skim past her lashes, adding to the carefree, sunlit glamour of 1970s beach style. Magda in a photoshoot | 1950s
A polished take on vintage volume, Magda's hair is all about controlled waves, with bangs that fall just between a full fringe and a curtain bang. They blend into her soft curls, giving an air of refined femininity, with an unmistakable Egyptian screen siren flair. Madiha Kamel in a photoshoot | 1980s
The '80s came with unapologetic volume, and Madiha Kamel fully embraced it. Her bangs are layered and teased to match the sheer height of her hair, adding a boldness that only enhances her already magnetic presence. Lebleba photographed by Van Leo | 1960s
Lebleba's hair is a class in volume. The bangs are slightly curled under, framing her forehead without overwhelming her delicate features. The layers have a buoyancy to them, adding to the overall sense of movement. Nadia Lutfi in 'Matloob Armala' | 1965
Nadia Lutfi's platinum blonde moment shows how pairing delicate, barely-there bangs with a voluminous blowout should be done. The fringe is ultra-fine, wispy to the point of disappearing into the rest of the style, which only makes the entire look feel lighter, airier, and more effortless. Laila Elwi in Cairo | 1990s
The '90s layers hit differently, and Laila Elwi's feathered bangs are proof. Swept slightly to the side with an effortless curve, they blend seamlessly into the face-framing layers that cascade down. Naglaa Fathi on the cover of 'Al Maw'ed' | 1984
Naglaa Fathi's signature look was all about movement. Her bangs are cut in soft, uneven layers, blending into the feathered layers that sweep outwards. It's that effortless 'undone but done' look that defined beauty in the '80s, like she just shook out her hair and it fell into place. Nagwa Fouad in 'Al-Ghagreya' | 1960
Nagwa Fouad's voluminous curls frame her face with that signature '60s bombshell effect. Her bangs are soft and wispy, blending into the layers rather than creating a stark contrast. It's the kind of fringe that looks effortless, like she just tousled her hair and walked onto the set of a film. Sherihan on the cover of 'Al Chabaka' | 1986
Sherihan's fringe is pure drama, much like her performances; thick, full, and cut straight across but long enough to skim her lashes. Paired with the straight hair that spills over her shoulders, the look is bold yet feminine, playful yet commanding. Maali Zayed in a photoshoot | 1990s
Lutfi's hair is styled in a full-bodied, rounded fringe, cut straight across in a way that it sits just above her eyebrows, slightly curved inwards, adding a youthful, playful touch to her look.
It's balanced with the shoulder-length cut, creating a silhouette that frames the face with a chic structure. Gehan Nasr in a photoshoot | 1990s
Ultra-feminine and soft, Gehan Nasr's bangs are parted just slightly in the middle, blending into her signature voluminous waves. The look feels like a cross between a princess and a '90s supermodel; romantic but totally effortless. Nelly Karim playing the piano | 1999
This is a true 'late-90s' fringe moment— wispy, slightly uneven, and naturally falling into her face. It's not overly styled or structured, just subtly enhancing her features.