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Side bangs are seemingly having a moment, and Kylie Jenner just made the case for their comeback. On Sep. 28, Jenner posted a photo to Instagram wearing her hair slicked back in a bun with a deep side part and a soft swoop of bangs framing her face. The style instantly sparked a wave of “Baddie Kylie is back” comments, reminding us of a time when the side bang was the ultimate cool-girl cut.
Like many people my age, I had side bangs for quite a few years back in middle school. I remember the day I got them like it was yesterday: upon arriving home from the hair salon with my mom, I went upstairs to my bedroom to take mirror selfies with my Motorola Razr. When I was finally over the style – and continually having to brush them out of my face – it took me years to grow them out, during which I pulled them back with bobby pins into another classic look: the infamous bump.
For the last decade, if you had asked me if I’d ever consider getting side-swept bangs again, I would have responded with a firm no, but from the looks of a handful of Hollywood’s hottest celebrities, they may be making a comeback after all. Kris Jenner, Megan Fox, and Megan Thee Stallion have all recently sported the retro hairstyle. Following the resurgence of the ’70s curtain bang, side bangs may just be the newest old haircut trend to make a return. Ariana Grande wore swoopy bangs at the 2025 VMAs, Pamela Anderson has long been known for her rounded take on the look, and this summer alone Angelina Jolie, Jenna Ortega, and Zoë Kravitz have all worn side bangs on the red carpet. With the curtain bang revival paving the way, it’s clear that side bangs are the next nostalgic haircut staging a comeback.
Image Source: Getty/Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic
It’s no surprise that the Y2K revival is partly to blame. Over the years, quite a few Y2K beauty trends make their way back to the mainstream: claw clips, pastel eyeshadow, lip gloss, french manicures, Juicy Tracksuits (that last one isn’t beauty-related, but it was worth a mention all the same). César DeLeön Ramîrez, celebrity hairstylist and Unite brand ambassador, previously told PS he could see “short bangs becoming a ‘swoop bang,’ bringing the side part back to center stage and replacing the center part.” Though the middle part is still dominating in the hair world right now, it’s only a matter of time before the trend shifts back to its slightly off-centered place and the bangs follow. When that happens, the question is: would you get side bangs again?
Jessica Harrington (she/her) is the section lead of Popsugar Beauty, where she oversees coverage around makeup, skin care, hair, tattoos, and more. With more than nine years of industry experience, she has interviewed countless celebrities, reported on hundreds of beauty trends, and swatched more lipsticks than she can count. Prior to PS, Jessica worked for publications such as Makeup.com, Skincare.com, and The Zoe Report.
