The much-maligned side-part hairstyle has had a rough ride to make it back into the cultural zeitgeist. It was not so long ago that it got #cancelled on TikTok for being “cringey”, “millennial” and better-off in the bin – along with skinny jeans, rose gold jewellery and Harry Potter house alliances. But, we love to ride the trend cycle and the side-part has firmly forced its way back into the conversation and onto the heads of some of our favourite pop girls and muses, like Olivia Dean, Chappell Roan, Bella Hadid and Zoe Kravitz.
Rather than returning to the rigid (and ultra deep) sk8r boi side-part hairstyle that ruled the noughties though, the 2026 rendition is a little softer and subtler. “Side partings are making a comeback because we’re moving away from overly structured, centre-part perfection and towards styles that feel softer and more flattering on the face,” confirms celebrity hair stylist and Color Wow ambassador, Carl Bembridge.
Olivia Dean has been serving up endless inspo, choosing to wear her hair in a soft-side part for major events like her Grammys win, and the music videos for Man I Need and So Easy (To Fall In Love). Speaking after her Grammy's red carpet and performance, Olivia's hairstylist, Rachel Polycarpe explained the look “[paid] homage to high glam ‘70s hair."
“I wanted to do something that felt feminine, bold, soft and effortless,” she explained. We love the whole vibe. Just like her music, Olivia's aesthetic feels relaxed, retro, joyful and a total mood.
“The soft-flip side-parting is such a flattering and versatile look. It gives instant shape around the face without feeling heavy or dramatic,” notes Carl. “It feels romantic, youthful and very wearable. It’s also perfect for anyone who wants to refresh their look without committing to a big cut. Just changing the parting can completely transform the style,” he adds.
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What haircut is good for a side part?
As for how to make a side-part hairstyle work for you, there's so many ways to wear it. “Side partings work beautifully with almost any hairstyle – a curly, textured, blown out look, a voluminous bob, a sleek bob, a low ponytail or long layered hair,” says Carl. “They’re incredibly versatile and flattering,” he adds.
They can add extra shape to a midi cut, they can give height and movement to blunt cuts, they can help to showcase pretty layers and they also look hottt with shorter chops (keep scrolling).
Depending on how you style it, it can project a different aura. Olivia's side-part is “soft and gorgeous,” he says. Dua Lipa's side-part feels cool and confident. And Beyoncé 2024 Super Bowl side-part felt “powerful, polished and iconic,” says Carl.
Is a side part more flattering than a middle part?
A side-part is not necessarily more or less flattering than a middle parting, it just gives us range and more options in our arsenal. “It’s such an easy way to change up a look without changing the haircut. Even if you’re wearing the same sleek style or the same bouncy blow dry, simply switching the parting can completely transform the overall feel of the hair,” says Carl.
The look is heavy on retro references from the ‘60s and ’70s and has an old-Hollywood quality when worn glam. But it can also feel very easygoing and romantic when gently flipped and worn with natural texture. “A side-part instantly adds movement and shape while creating a prettier, more feminine finish to the hair,” says Carl. “It softens the overall look and works beautifully with the natural fall of the hair, making styles feel more effortless and romantic. A lot of my own clients love to experiment with side-partings too. I’ve styled side-parts on Kelly Rowland, Ariana Grande, Nicole Scherzinger, Ariana Madix and Maura Higgins, they all love trying a side part now and again,” he adds.
How to wear side-part hair
There's so many ways to personalise the style and make it work for you. Carl has shared his tips for keeping it feeling fresh.
“My favourite way to style a side parting is with a soft blow dry and gentle movement through the lengths nothing too stiff or overly set,” Carl says. “I love creating a loose bend with a round brush or a large barrel tong and then brushing it out for a lived in, finish. A light texturising spray like Color Wow Style on Steroids to give it that moveable bounce and natural finish is perfect,” he adds.
You can skip a rigid line and keep your parting flexible. “The side parting doesn’t always have to go straight from the front to the back. Try a diagonal side part instead starting from the middle of the eyebrow on one side and working diagonally back towards the crown. It creates a more natural, flattering shape and adds volume and lift without looking too forced or obvious,” says Carl. Or loosely flip and see where your parting falls for an effortless feel.
Here's some of our favourite ways to wear the side-parting in 2026.
