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The Side Bang Is Back—Styling Tips From the Pros

2014 is calling and you should pick up.

Beauty trends, like most things, have a way of going in and out of style quickly. While most trends we think are out of style for good tend to reappear sooner than anticipated (I’m looking at you, low-rise jeans), certain styles seem to live in a constant trend penitentiary, deemed to never see the sun again. In that holding space: the side part, “on fleek” bold-glamor brows, the cut crease and pretty much anything considered popular from 2014 to 2016.

Just months ago, I would’ve roped the side bang into that liminal trend space, so you could imagine my surprise when a comment on my TikTok told me I would look good with a side bang. I was aghast—had I traveled back in time? But since then, I’ve seen the once-viral bang style trickling back into my social media feeds, leading me to make a bold prediction, yet one I stand by: the side bang is coming back. If you want to get ahead of the trend, here’s what the experts say about cutting and styling a side bang.

Featured Experts

• Raven Hurtado is a hairstylist at Maxine Salon in Chicago
• Olya Iudina is a hairstylist at IGK NYC
• Paul Labrecque is the creative director, master stylist and colorist with Paul Labrecque Salon and Skincare Spa

What haircuts suit the side bang best?

Like any bang style, the first thing to consider is what base haircut suits the up-and-coming bang look best. According to Labrecque, long layers and bob-shaped haircuts are great options for catering to a side bang. Hurtado agrees, adding that “Side bangs look good with long layered haircuts, bob cuts and long bobs that are collar bone length,” noting that “Side bangs give these styles more flare and personality—it’s trendy and also low maintenance.” Even Kim Kardashian has been spotted experimenting with the style, Hurtado notes, as seen at the opening of her SKIMS flagship in NYC (pictured above).

How do you style side bangs?

As someone with curtain bangs who has previously experimented with full and side bangs, I can attest that an expert-approved styling regimen is key for maintaining bangs, even with the low-maintenance side bang. “When I want bangs to lay well so they are soft on the forehead, I blow them out with a Medium Boar Bristle Brush ($49) from my signature Paul Labrecque Brush Line to the opposite side first,” Labrecque explains. “Then, I angle the brush on a diagonal and bring the bangs back to the side where they belong. This is the easiest way to take away cowlicks and it results in a smooth finish.”

Don’t fret if you’re struggling to adjust to styling your side bangs. Ludina assures that there is a learning curve. “Whenever it comes to styling bangs, it is quite [a] delicate moment that requires some practice and experimenting. I like using a little bit of Redken Full Volume Mousse ($27) on the bangs first, [and] then using a medium or small round brush, I recommend blow-drying bangs on the side and away from [the] face. You can finish off with a medium hold hairspray, too, to help your side bang stay in place.”