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: