I’m Lena, a salon stylist with over a decade behind the chair, and I’ve seen how a simple side part can change a look instantly. In this post I share seven side part hairstyles with photo examples and professional tips to help you find the best placement for your face shape and hair texture. Whether you have a bob, lob, long layers, fine strands, or thick waves, the side part can add lift, soften features, and create flattering movement. I’ll cover deep vs. soft side parts, how to adjust the angle for round, oval, or square faces, and quick at-home styling routines using a round brush, blow dryer, root-lifting mousse, and heat protectant. Use the seven images for inspiration and bring a screenshot to your next salon visit—I’ll tailor the cut and part to your lifestyle and maintenance preferences.
Textured Messy High Bun with Curtain Bangs and Face‑Framing Tendrils
This relaxed, textured high bun with curtain bangs suits straight to wavy hair in medium to long lengths and works well on fine to medium density. For coarser or very curly hair, smooth or loosen curls first for easier shaping. Styling technique: blow-dry with volume at the crown, backcomb lightly for lift, gather hair into a high pony and twist into a loose, messy bun, securing with elastics and bobby pins. Pull out soft face‑framing tendrils and shape curtain bangs with a round brush or small flat iron for a soft curve. Tools needed: blow dryer, round brush, tail comb, 1
Classic Voluminous Blowout Bob with Soft Face-Framing Waves
This polished shoulder-length blowout suits straight to wavy hair and works well on medium to thick textures; fine hair can achieve the same lift with layering and root-boosting products, while very coarse hair benefits from smoothing treatments or thinner long layers. Technique: start with towel-dried hair, apply heat protectant and a volumizing mousse at the roots. Use a round brush (1.5–2) and a blow dryer with a concentrator nozzle to lift roots and smooth the mid-lengths, directing ends under for that soft inward curl. For added shape, set the ends with a large-barrel curling iron or hot rollers, cool completely, then gently brush through for seamless waves. Tools needed: blow dryer with nozzle, large round brush, sectioning clips, large-barrel curling iron or hot rollers, paddle brush. Products required: heat protectant, volumizing mousse or root lift spray, light smoothing cream or serum, flexible-hold hairspray, dry shampoo for day-two volume. Difficulty: moderate — expect 30–45 minutes. Maintenance tips: request soft internal layers at the salon, trim every 6–8 weeks, refresh with dry shampoo and low-heat touch-ups, and sleep on a silk pillowcase to preserve shape.
Asymmetrical Deep-Side Part Side-Swept Lob with Tucked Undercut
This asymmetrical lob with a deep side part and one tucked/shortened side suits straight to slightly wavy hair and works best on fine-to-medium densities — thicker hair can be texturized by your stylist to reduce bulk. In-salon technique: create a precise deep side part, clipper or short scissor work to tuck and taper the shorter side, and cut the longer side into a blunt-to-textured lob with long face-framing layers. Styling technique at home: apply a heat protectant and root-lifting mousse to damp hair, blow-dry the long side with a round brush for volume while smoothing the tucked side with a paddle brush; finish by lightly flat-ironing the tucked side for sleekness and using a 1–1.25 curling iron on the long side to add loose waves. Tools needed: hairdryer, round brush, paddle brush, flat iron, 1 curling iron, clips, fine-tooth comb. Products: heat protectant, volumizing mousse or root spray, light pomade or smoothing cream, texturizing spray, medium-hold hairspray. Difficulty: intermediate — precise cutting requires a pro. Maintenance: trim every 6–8 weeks, use weekly deep-conditioning, refresh shape with dry shampoo, and sleep on silk to preserve style.
Asymmetrical Side‑Swept Pixie Bob — Textured Platinum Short Cut
This asymmetrical side‑swept pixie bob works best on fine to medium hair and straight to softly wavy textures; thick hair can also wear it but will need strategic thinning. The cut features cropped, tapered sides with a longer, layered top and sweeping fringe to create lift and face framing. In-salon technique: clipper or scissor taper the sides and back, overdirect the top sections toward the fringe, then point‑cut and use texturizing shears to remove bulk and add movement. Styling technique: towel dry, apply heat protectant and a root‑lift mousse, then blow‑dry with a round brush to build crown volume and smooth the sweep; use a small flat iron to define pieces if needed and finish by working a lightweight paste through ends for separation. Tools needed: clippers, scissors, texturizing shears, blow dryer with nozzle, round brush, 1 flat iron, tail comb. Products required: heat protectant, volumizing mousse or root spray, lightweight pomade/paste, flexible hairspray, and purple shampoo for platinum maintenance. Difficulty: moderate—precision cutting is required but daily styling is quick. Maintenance: trims every 4–6 weeks, color touch‑ups and weekly deep conditioning, use bond treatments after bleaching, and sleep on a silk pillowcase to reduce friction.
Deep Side-Part Hollywood Waves — Side-Swept Glamour for Long Hair
This polished deep side-part with soft Hollywood waves suits long to mid-length hair and works best on straight-to-wavy, medium-to-thick textures. Fine hair can also wear this look with volumizing mousse and root lift, while coarse hair benefits from a smoothing cream or light blow-dry serum to tame frizz.Before styling, apply a heat protectant and a light mousse at the roots. Create a defined deep side part and blow-dry smooth with a round or paddle brush. Use a 1¼–1½ curling iron or wand to form large barrel curls, wrapping sections away from the face; pin each curl to cool for longevity. Release and gently brush or finger-comb into soft S-waves, then tuck and secure the lesser side behind the ear with discreet pins. Finish with a medium-hold hairspray and a tiny dab of shine serum.Typical salon time: 25–45 minutes. Difficulty: moderate — requires practice to get consistent wave shapes. Maintenance: sleep on a silk pillowcase or loosely pin waves, refresh with dry shampoo at the roots, and touch up a few pieces with a curling iron as needed. Trim ends every 8–12 weeks to maintain healthy movement.
Vintage Finger Waves with Deep Side Part — Medium-Length Wavy Hair
This polished vintage finger-wave look suits medium-length to long hair with a natural wave or straight texture that can take heat. Best on medium to thick hair for body and hold; fine hair will need structure from mousse and root lift, while coarse hair benefits from a smoothing serum before styling. Technique: create a defined deep side part, apply a setting product, then form S-shaped waves by curling alternating sections with a 1 (25mm) curling or Marcel iron. Clip each curl into an S-shape to cool, then brush gently into smooth waves and set the curve with duckbill clips or finger-wave clips while styling. Tools: tail comb, 1 curling or Marcel iron, metal clips/duckbill clips, paddle or boar-bristle brush. Products: volumizing mousse or setting lotion, heat protectant, medium-hold hairspray, light shine serum. Difficulty: intermediate — requires precision with parting, tension and clip placement. Maintenance: sleep on a silk/satin pillow or re-pin waves overnight, refresh with a light mist of water/leave-in and re-sculpt with fingers, and avoid heavy brushing to preserve the wave pattern. Regular trims keep ends neat and waves defined.
Textured Pompadour Pixie Cut — Short Tapered Sides with Voluminous Top
This polished textured pompadour pixie is best for straight to gently wavy hair with medium-fine to medium thickness; it also suits oval, heart and square faces. The cut features short tapered sides and a longer top (approximately 2–4 inches) sculpted into a lifted quiff for height and movement. Styling technique: towel-dry then apply a root-lifting mousse or spray to the crown, blow-dry hair upward using a round brush or vent brush and a nozzle to concentrate airflow, backcomb lightly at the roots if extra lift is needed, then smooth the surface with fingers or a comb. Tools needed: blow dryer with nozzle, round brush or vent brush, tail comb, clips and optionally a flat iron for stubborn cowlicks. Products required: heat protectant, volumizing mousse or root spray, light pomade or styling clay for hold and separation, texturizing spray and a medium-to-strong hold hairspray; a shine serum is optional. Difficulty level: intermediate — takes 10–15 minutes daily. Maintenance tips: trim every 4–6 weeks to preserve shape, refresh with water and a dab of product between washes, avoid heavy conditioners at the roots to maintain lift, and use a light texturizer to revive volume on day two.
As a pro stylist, my top advice is to change your part gradually—shift it a finger-width at a time to re-train cowlicks and avoid stress on the hairline. Keep hair healthy with regular trims (8–12 weeks), a sulfate-free shampoo if you color, and a weekly deep-conditioning treatment. For styling, apply a root-lift or mousse to damp hair, blow-dry the part with a round brush for volume, and finish with a light texturizing spray or flexible-hold hairspray. Fine hair benefits from a deeper side part for lift; thick hair looks great with layers or a lob to reduce bulk. Use the seven images here as reference, and don’t hesitate to bring one to your next appointment—I’ll customize the angle, length, and layering so your side part flatters your face and fits your routine.