The rise of the side parting: the hairstyle looking very 2023
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The rise of the side parting: the hairstyle looking very 2023
Ever since the millennial-staple side-parted hairstyle was coined passé by Gen Z in viral videos, people of all ages have been fighting back, nothing that a detail so personal as one's parting shouldn't be reduced to a trend. That said, as is the way with counterculture, the side parting is now having a renaissance.
Tom Smith, trend forecaster and hairstylist, tells Bazaar: "Side partings have been growing in popularity once more and leading the way have been various celebrities throughout fashion week and awards season." Often coupled with sleek styles that are either swept up and sharp, or styled down and sleek, the side parting has featured on many a red carpet this year already. "When coupled with a wave, a side parting can really evoke Hollywood glamour," he adds, "but a lot of what we're seeing more recently is a sleeker, less voluminous option".
Smith feels there's another reason that the side part looks very 2023. "Right now there is a real desire for more angular-looking faces – 'snatched' cheekbones and tight jawlines are becoming more talked about and are a focus of make-up artists and aesthetic practitioners. Wearing a sleek side parting is a great way for one's hairstyle to contribute to a sharper, more contoured appearance, by adding more angles and height to the face. A middle parting can often show off a symmetrical face and accentuate the eyes and lips, while a side parting will draw attention to other diagonal lines such as the contour of the cheekbone and jawline." This aligns with why we are seeing side partings paired with sleek up-styles this season, as well as flatter, more modern interpretations of glamorous waves on the red carpet right now.
"Most people will suit a side parting more on one side than the other," Smith reveals, "so it's a good idea to try out a side parting on either side of your face to see which is more flattering for you –it is rare to have a totally symmetrical face and so a side parting can be a great way to show off your best side."
Below, see 15 elegant ways to style a side parting, if you're looking for inspiration:
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1) Kaia Gerber
Sleek but bodied, Kaia Gerber demonstrates a chic way to wear a side-parted down-do.
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2) Cate Blanchett
Queen of the side parting, Cate Blanchett often experiments with asymmetric styles. This bob with 'flippy ends' is a directional take on it.
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3) Ella Mai
Ella Mai looks impossibly elegant with her side-parted crop crafted into high-shine finger waves with curly laid edges.
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4) Sydney Sweeney
Sydney Sweeney's side-parted high bun is a modern take on ballerina beauty.
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5) Olivia Palermo
Ever the early adopter of trends, Olivia Palermo nails the modern wet look texture trend styled with a low side parting.
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6) Madelyn Cline
Oozing screen siren glamour, Madelyn Cline's nod to the past with this side parted, brushed-out wavey hairstyle looks very now.
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7) Selena Gomez
The currentness of Selena Gomez's hairstyle is all in the detail: the loose ends at the base of her tight knot, and the precise side parting at the front.
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8) Zendaya
Hairstyle icon Zendaya has been seen sporting a side parting with both her longer hair and her new bob. And if it's good enough for her...
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9) Tessa Thompson
Tessa Thompson's experimental beauty offers endless inspiration. Case in point – this side-parted low copper ponytail with loose flat waves falling from her temples.
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10) Maude Apatow
Debuting a bob at the Harper's Bazaar Women of the Year Awards, Maude Apatow chose to style it in a sharp side parting with flicked out ends.
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11) Anya Taylor Joy
Anya Taylor Joy constantly switches her parting, but we love this version featuring a twist detail that nods to the Noughties.
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12) Bella Hadid
The poster girl for the 'snatched' aesthetic Smith speaks of, Bella Hadid often wears her hair tightly styled, and when side parted like this it enhanced her angles.
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13) Julia Garner
Side partings look oh-so-chic with short hair, as Julia Garner demonstrates. Her crop, with a piecey fringe, remains voluminous without looking dated thanks to the asymmetry.
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14) Penelope Cruz
A timeless look from beauty icon Penelope Cruz, this side-parted smooth blow-dry is perfect for those who want a softer take on the style.
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15) Simone Ashley
Here's another sleek up-do idea from Simone Ashley. Her jumbo bun is styled in a clean side part with flattering height at one side.
David M. Benett - Getty Images