Cast your mind back to 2014: your rose gold iPhone 5s pops open with a tap of your thumb (once the scepticism waned, touch ID was quite nifty, right?), and you're faced with a pick n’ mix of bevel-shaped apps, in all their retro glory. The days when Instagram’s logo was a vintage polaroid camera; Vine and Tumblr the non-negotiables.
A hodgepodge of skinny jeans, Carrie Bradshaw-esque pedal pushers, and Sky Ferreira with her deep side-parting littered your timeline. Now, we’d wince at the thought of having to cast a vignette filter over our Instagram posts. That said, there are things that have made a triumphant comeback: capri pants, skinny jeans, and now yes, the side-parting.
Perennial hair muse Hailey Bieber returned to the 2025 Met Gala with a statement side parting by A-list hairstylist Bryce Scarlett, who, armed with an arsenal of Kerasilk Taming Balms and hair oils, gave her hair some French-girl zhuzh.
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She’s not the only one. Lizzo, model Precious Lee, and Kylie Jenner followed suit with deep parts on the Met Steps on Monday evening. Elsewhere, Opus star Ayo Edebiri wore the skewed-do recently in New York while Bella Hadid is no stranger to nonchalantly tossing her hair to the side.
Why It’s Time To Try The 2025 Side-Part Hairstyle
2025’s side part is a far cry from the vision-obscuring Ashlee Simpson sideswept bangs of the 2010s. ‘Back then, the look was sharp and deeply defined and often slicked down, flat to the head, and sometimes paired with heavy side-swept bangs,’ seasoned hairstylist Tom Smith tells ELLE.
‘This time around, it’s softer and more wearable with a bit more volume. Whether it's just off centre or far over to one side, it’s definitely a more effortless kind of asymmetry, especially when paired with natural texture.’
The fash-pack did it best back in April at Chanel’s 2026 Cruise presentation, where lead hair stylist, Anthony Turner, made it known that a Chanel woman is equal parts grit and glam, her side-part starting at the arch of her brow, trailing across her sunglass-clad face. At Dior, wispy tendrils keep the dramatic side-part feeling romantic.
Smith continues: ‘Things are softening and relaxing and at the same time, glamorous looks are more popular and so the side-part has returned as a way to add effortless personality, softness and volume. While trends will always ebb and flow, the side-part’s versatility means it never really disappears, it just adapts.’
Caspar Finch, stylist at Hershesons salon, Fitzrovia, agrees. ‘The side-part is back because it’s incredibly versatile and flattering: it can soften the face, add volume, and bring a fresh feel to your overall look,’ he shares. ‘Plus, as we move away from ultra-polished styles and lean into more natural, lived-in textures, the side-part fits perfectly into that mood.’
How To Create The Modern Side-Parting Hairstyle
According to Finch, the key to a chic side-part is to work with your natural hair texture, not against it.
For Afro hair, Finch recommends using a tail comb or your fingers to gently part the hair where you want it (following the arch of the brow often works beautifully). To smooth the shape, apply a little of our Almost Everything Cream for definition and hydration, and let the natural volume do the rest.
‘With curls, the side-part is all about placement — flip the hair over when it’s damp, apply a styling cream to define curls, and let it air dry or diffuse,’ explains Finch. ‘Avoid over-combing so you keep the curl pattern intact.’
Those with wavy lengths should work with the natural bend of your waves, shares Smith. ‘A relaxed side-parting often works better than a strict sharp one. A deep side-part enhances movement and gives an undone glamour,’ he says. On straighter strands, use your fingers rather than parting with a comb for a ‘relaxed effect’.
A side-part also creates the illusion of volume, ideal if you’re struggling with thin hair. ‘Flip the hair to the heavier side and lightly backcomb the roots underneath if you want more lift,’ suggests Smith. ‘Tucking the smaller side of the hair behind your ear helps bunch it together and this can dramatically improve the look of fullness - it’s one of my favourite thin hair tricks.’
ELLE Edit: Side-Parting Essentials
You can also use this styling tip to add balance to thick hair as it helps to distribute bulk and add symmetry. ‘Use a lightweight styling cream or oil to help direct the hair, while maintaining shine and control,’ says Smith. ‘Rather than parting it straight back on the side, consider [a parting that is] diagonally back from the side of your forehead towards the middle of your crown, which will help maintain balance.
As for deciding where and which side to part the hair, Smith says it’s mostly down to preference. Shake it out, go with the flow. See you on the flip side.
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![jodie turner smith new bob met gala new york, new york may 05: jodie turner smith attends the 2025 met gala celebrating superfine: tailoring black style at metropolitan museum of art on may 05, 2025 in new york city. (photo by dimitrios kambouris/getty images for the met museum/vogue)](https://cdn.statically.io/img/hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod/images/gettyimages-2213610212-688772f19e73e.jpg?crop=0.500xw:0.750xh;0.257xw,0.0204xh&resize=360:* "Jodie Turner-Smith new bob The 2025 Met Gala Celebrating "Superfine: Tailoring Black Style" - Arrivals")
