Side Hairstyles

Your hair's growth pattern pulls it toward its natural part, so you need to retrain it over about two weeks. Start with damp hair: apply a root-lifting spray at the new part line, then blow-dry in the new direction using a medium round brush, directing heat from roots to mid-length while pulling the hair over. Set the part with a targeted blast of lightweight hairspray from 8 inches away. A small dab of matte pomade worked into the roots along the part line helps stubborn cowlicks stay down.

It can, but plan carefully with your stylist. Shaving one side removes roughly 30% of your total hair volume, which fine hair can't always spare. The remaining longer section needs enough density to drape over and create clean contrast with the shaved area. If your hair is both fine and low-density, a disconnected undercut (cut to a #2-#3 guard rather than shaved clean) at the temple gives a similar edgy look without the dramatic volume loss.

Find your natural part by towel-drying your hair and shaking your head gently—let the hair fall without combing. Most people have a natural side part that their hair gravitates toward. If you're choosing deliberately, a common guideline: part on the left to showcase the right side of your face (the side most people notice first in face-to-face conversation, since we read left-to-right). A deep side part about 2 inches from the temple creates the strongest face-framing asymmetry and works for most face shapes.

A basic side French braid on yourself takes 10-15 minutes once you've practiced the over-under technique. A more intricate side braided updo with twisted rope sections, pinned loops, and decorative elements takes 25-40 minutes. For wedding or formal side hairstyles, professional styling runs 30-60 minutes and costs $60-$150 depending on complexity and your region. Side braids hold best on second-day or third-day hair that has natural texture and grip—freshly washed hair is too slippery and slides out of plaits within hours. Skip the wash the morning of your event and use a texturizing spray at the roots instead.

An undercut is the general term for any hairstyle where one or both sides are shaved or clippered very short while the top remains long. Specific variations include: the disconnected undercut (sharp contrast between long top and shaved sides with no blending), the undercut fade (shaved sides that gradually taper into the longer top), the side-shave or sidecut (only one side shaved, popular with women), and the mohawk (both sides shaved with a center strip). Men's versions typically use a #0-#1 guard on the sides.

Start with damp, towel-dried hair and apply a volumizing mousse from roots to mid-lengths. Create your side part using a tail comb, positioning it 1.5-2 inches from your temple. Blow-dry the larger section across and away from the part using a large round brush, directing the nozzle downward along the hair shaft for smoothness. For a sleek side-swept look, finish with a light serum and pin the hair behind the ear on the shorter side. For volume, backcomb the roots at the crown before sweeping.

Brush all your hair to one side, gathering it at a point behind your ear at whatever height you prefer—low and behind the ear is elegant, mid-height near the nape is classic. Twist the gathered ponytail into a rope, then coil it around itself to form the bun. Secure with 4-6 bobby pins inserted at different angles through the bun and into the base. For a polished side bun, smooth flyaways with a light-hold gel before pinning. For a messy, textured side bun, gently tug small pieces from the bun and loosen the hair at the crown after pinning.

Start with day-old hair sprayed with a light-hold texturizing spray. Create a deep side part and loosely curl all sections with a 1.25-inch barrel, letting each curl cool before touching it. Sweep all hair to your preferred side, leaving out two face-framing pieces at the temples. Gather the hair into a low side ponytail behind your ear, secure with a clear elastic, then twist and pin into a chignon or loose bun using U-pins for grip and bobby pins for stray pieces. Gently pull at the crown and the sides to create soft volume.