Side Part Hair Trend 2026 — How Celebrities Brought Back the Most Divisive Hairstyle in History
The side part hair trend 2026 is officially back — and it is bigger, better, and more sophisticated than its noughties predecessor. After years of the centre parting dominating every red carpet, Instagram feed, and salon booking list, celebrities at the 2026 Oscars and Golden Globes delivered a clear message: the side parting is having its most elegant revival yet.
For anyone following best celebrity hairstyles 2026, the side part comeback 2026 is the trend to understand — because it is not a simple nostalgic throwback. It is a complete reinvention of a classic that works for every face shape, every hair length, and every occasion.
The Side Part Comeback 2026 — How It Started
The side part hair trend 2026 began building momentum in January when multiple celebrities wore deep side partings to the 83rd Golden Globe Awards. But it was the 2026 Oscars in March that confirmed the side part comeback 2026 as one of the defining celebrity hairstyles 2026 of the year.
Senior stylist Chloe Pasi of NYC THE TEAM hair salon captured the moment perfectly: “Yes, it’s official, side parts are back in style. After a good five-year hiatus, we are seeing many celebrities and brands bring back the side part in appearances and ad campaigns.”
Hair experts attribute the side part comeback of 2026 to a broader shift away from the clean girl aesthetic that dominated the early 2020s. “We’re in a moment where huge waves of early 2000s nostalgia are coming back in full swing,” explained celebrity hairstylist Sky Kim. “People are starting to grow bored with the same look and want to make some more bold decisions with their style.”
Celebrity Side Part 2026 — The Oscars Red Carpet Moments
The 2026 Oscars delivered the most comprehensive showcase of the side part hair trend 2026 seen on any single red carpet this year. Multiple A-listers made the celebrity side part 2026 statement simultaneously — transforming the trend from a quiet revival into a full-scale red carpet moment.
Kate Hudson — The Old Hollywood Wave
Kate Hudson’s Oscars 2026 side parting was one of the most classic and instantly recognizable interpretations of the trend. Styled by Renato Campora using ghd tools, her Kate Hudson side part Oscars 2026 look featured a deep parting with softly glossy Old Hollywood waves that perfectly complemented her Giorgio Armani Privé crystal gown. The combination of Kate Hudson’s side part at the Oscars 2026 and her metallic evening look was one of the most photographed complete beauty and fashion moments of the entire ceremony.
Emma Stone — The Soft Textured Approach
Emma Stone’s interpretation of the side part hair trend 2026 took a more contemporary direction. Wearing her softly textured auburn bob with a sweeping Emma Stone side parting at the Oscars 2026, styled by Mara Roszak using the ghd Chronos Curve Grand Tong, the look added a subtle vintage quality without going full Old Hollywood. Her Emma Stone side parting Oscars 2026 approach demonstrates how the trend works equally beautifully with shorter cuts as with long waves.
Priyanka Chopra Jonas — The Glossy Glamour Version
Priyanka Chopra Jonas brought high-gloss Hollywood glamour to the side part hair trend 2026 at the Oscars, wearing a deep Priyanka Chopra Jonas side part 2026 in polished Old Hollywood waves that made her look feel simultaneously timeless and completely current.
Gwyneth Paltrow — The Understated Approach
Gwyneth Paltrow chose the most minimal interpretation of the side part hair trend 2026 — a sleek, side-swept style that felt “understated but polished” alongside her ivory silk Giorgio Armani Privé gown. Her version of the celebrity side part 2026 was the clearest expression of how the trend works within the quiet luxury aesthetic.
Celebrity Side Part 2026 — The Golden Globes Moments
The side part comeback 2026 story actually began at the January 2026 Golden Globe Awards, where two significant celebrity side part 2026 moments established the trend’s return.
Selena Gomez — The Full Marilyn Moment
Selena Gomez brought the most dramatic interpretation of the side part hair trend 2026 to the Golden Globes, wearing a full-on Marilyn Monroe-inspired look with her Selena Gomez deep side part Golden Globes styled into finger curls. It was her shortest bob to date — and the Selena Gomez deep side part Golden Globes choice was described by multiple hair editors as the most iconic individual celebrity side part 2026 moment of the awards season.
Ayo Edebiri — The Vintage Volume
Ayo Edebiri’s interpretation of the celebrity side part 2026 at the Golden Globes was described as having an “Old Hollywood feel” — her bob given volume at the roots with a subtle flick at the ends, completed by the deep Ayo Edebiri side part Golden Globes 2026 and under-curled bangs. The combination perfectly complemented her elegant Chanel LBD and established her as one of the strongest advocates for the side part hair trend 2026 in Hollywood right now.
The Noughties Side Parting Revival — What Makes 2026 Different
The most important thing to understand about the side part hair trend 2026 is how it differs from the noughties side parting that Gen Z famously declared “cancelled” in the early 2020s.
The noughties side parting revival 2026 is not a straight reproduction of the Y2K original — it is a refined, evolved version that strips away the era-specific stiffness while keeping the sophistication.
Celebrity hairstylist Sky Kim explains: “The 2026 version keeps the reference but strips away the stiffness — it’s lighter, airier. Also, older bangs just came with really chunky highlights and layers.”
The centre parting versus side parting 2026 debate that dominated social media conversations in 2025 has now been resolved in the most elegant way possible — both have their place, and the 2026 approach is about choosing the right parting for the specific look rather than declaring one universally superior.
How to Wear the Side Part Hair Trend 2026
For anyone wanting to adopt the celebrity side part in 2026, here is a complete guide to wearing it correctly for your hair type and face shape:
For long hair, the deep side parting how to style approach for long hair is the most classic and versatile. Create a parting approximately 2-3cm from one side of the head and allow the hair to sweep naturally across the forehead. Style with a large barrel tong for vintage Old Hollywood waves side part effect, or wear straight and sleek for a more modern interpretation. The Kate Hudson side part Oscars 2026 approach works beautifully here.
For Medium Length Hair, medium–length hair works perfectly with the side part hair trend 2026, styled into soft waves or a polished blow-dry. The Emma Stone side parting Oscars 2026 approach — textured, soft, and slightly undone — is the ideal reference for this length.
For Short Hair Short hair and the celebrity side part 2026 create one of the most striking combinations. Ayo Edebiri side part Golden Globes 2026 and the Selena Gomez deep side part Golden Globes demonstrate how the trend works as well with bobs and short cuts as with long hair. The key is creating volume at the roots on the heavier side to prevent the look from appearing flat.
For Every Face Shape The deep side parting how to style principle applies universally — the deeper the parting, the more dramatic the visual effect. A gentle side part softens and elongates. A deep side part creates strong structure and definition. Both work within the side part hair trend 2026.
2026 Hair Trend Forecast — What Comes Next
The side-part hair trend 2026 sits within a broader celebrity hairstyles 2026 landscape that hair experts describe as a return to intention and individuality after years of safe, centre-parted uniformity.
Other significant best celebrity hairstyles 2026 trends emerging alongside the side part comeback 2026 include the deep side bang trend — beloved by Bella Hadid, Zoë Kravitz, and Emma Chamberlain — the vintage bob with finger curls, the tousled parting that falls between centre and side, and the curtain fringe popularized by Dakota Johnson.
Together, they suggest a 2026 hair trend landscape defined by personal expression, vintage reference, and the confident rejection of the single universal “correct” hairstyle that dominated the early part of this decade.
