Will 2013 be the year of the bang?

AP Photo/The White House, Lawrence Jackson

Not long after Kate Middleton was caught rocking a brand new set of side bangs (just weeks prior to announcing her pregnancy), Michelle Obama debuted a 'do of her own, just in time for the Inaugural Ball. Lady Obama showed off her shoulder-grazing bob with a new layer of blunt fringe on her 49th birthday on Thursday. She also debuted a new Twitter handle, @FLOTUS (which stands for First Lady of the United States), that appeared to be immediately flooded with bang commentary.

the @flotus is banging: stylem.ag/13N9dg4

— styledotcom (@styledotcom) January 18, 2013

Not to be outdone, Kim Kardashian also revealed a new set of side-swept bangs earlier this week, while celebs like Jennifer Lawrence, Kerry Washington, and Beyonce continue to rock fringe like champs. Jennifer Lopez jumped on the bandwagon with a less flattering set of fringe for her recent People Magazine cover, while Karlie Kloss's chicer-than-chic crop with wispy bangs was deemed the "Haircut of the Year."

So, is this the year of the bang, or what?

"Absolutely," said George Amaral, a senior stylist at Mario Russo's Newbury Street location. "Bangs are one of the best ways to change the whole haircut without making a drastic change. You look more youthful almost instantly. Side-swept bangs like Kate's were more popular last year but this year, it's all about a full bang."

But is there anyone who should just say "no" to the bang trend?

"It's not about face shape when it comes to bangs. It's about your hairline. People who have cowlicks or a very low hairline tend not to look good with fringe," he continued.

But what if I'm not ready for this type of commitment?

"If you start off with a full blunt bang over the brow, wait for it to grow out and after a month you can try for a side-swept bang. In about six months you can have the bangs cut into the sides of your style. It's not as difficult as it used to be to try a bang because there are so many modern hairstyles that you can grow into while you're waiting for them to fully grow out."

Ah, we feel better.

Will you get bangs in 2013? What do you think of Michelle Obama's new bangs? Do you think Karlie Kloss's bangs are the haircut of the year? Do you think Kim Kardashian's bangs are copying Kate Middleton's bangs? Do you think we should get bangs? (We do not.) Comment here.