Dramatic Side Bangs Are Trending Again - Here's How To Style Them

While you may prefer to live your life drama-free, there are times when a little excitement and scene-stealing is completely acceptable. Like with your hair — it's always okay to take things to the next level and create a mane look worthy of a second and even third glance. 

Enter the dramatic side bang. Not your average part-it-and-go style, these fringe maneuvers kiss the brows, follow your face curves, play peek-a-boo with lashes, and cause a collective, "Oh, that's cute," call-out. And it doesn't even matter if you've got baby bangs or curtain bangs, full fringe or just a wisp, or even technically no bangs at all, because side fringe can be created on just about any kind of cut or hair texture.

If you're ready to step into the spotlight and cause a little bit of mane drama, gather your styling tools, decide on whether you're a right side or left side kind of part-wielder, and get inspired.

You can create a temporary side bang on any cut with the right styling tools, but the right snip will give you deep-fringe drama on the daily. Bob silhouettes lend themselves especially well to the look, relying on mane shaping that extends from the roots down. An angled side part is the start of the whole vibe, with tresses cut to one length around the sides and back. In front, a few simple layers help to frame the face and allow for that side-sweeping fringe to curve easily around the cheekbones. 

After growing your hair out for years, you're reluctant to cut inches off just for a night of bangs. Luckily, you don't have to, and Hailee Steinfeld is the living, stylish proof you can create a faux side bang with the best curling iron. Part your hair on the side and craft it into long curls. For that fringe effect, pull out one section of hair right in the front, and twirl it away from the face. Incorporate the bottom of that curl into the length, but tweak the top into a gentle curve that greatly resembles a side bang.

Shaved on the sides and short in the back, but long and lush when it comes to the crown layers, this mane look is mostly dependent on some pretty dramatic side bangs when it comes to styling. Pump your tresses around the crown with a blow-dryer and round brush, pulling sections of hair in the front forward to star in the role of fringe. Using your fingers as the ultimate styling tool, coaxing the hair to the side and curving it around the brow in a dramatic sweep. Finish with a touch of hairspray to hold the look. 

One of the most popular, and most dramatic, side bangs comes in the form of a wave, which lends itself perfectly to tousled textures that "Game of Thrones" star Lena Headey wears oh-so beautifully. After scrunching or curling your waves into formation, guide a front section of tresses to float elegantly across the forehead. Using your fingers, arrange the locks to form a loose curve from part to temple. You can hold the look with a light misting of hairspray, or, if you need a little extra sparkle, feel free to tuck in a rhinestone bobby pin. 

Feathered hair has never gone completely out of style, emerging and transforming through the ages. In its current stage, the feathering is soft and blended, with just the right hint of volume — and it's the perfect accompaniment to side bangs. Working with a deep side part and jaw-grazing, face-framing layers, blow dry your tresses with a large round brush, lifting at the root and angling over the forehead to create a body-filled slope. Run a vent brush or fingertips through the layers to help with the final feathered texture.

If you can't imagine your face without a full set of fringe, you don't have to. Side bangs can also be full bangs, as in, only a peep of your forehead has to be visible. Just part your hair on the side, then blow dry as you usually would, styling your bangs to kiss the brows. Before you call it finished, though, use your fingers to gently sweep the straight fall of fringe into an angled edge leaning toward the side. Use a fine mist of hairspray to hold.

There's no better way to show off the perfect winged eyeliner than with a good side bang, and Selena Gomez has accomplished both. After blow-drying your hair straight and smooth, maybe even running a flat iron over the surface for extra sleekness, craft a side part that splits long, face-framing layers above one brow. Comb the hair across the front of the crown, ending with a hint of curve just in front of the ear. With side lengths gathered in a partial pull-back, the sleek bang grabs even more attention, as do those wings.  

Middle parts have always been your thing, and even though you find side bangs intriguing, you're not sure you're ready to go there. There's a look for you, too. Start with your usual middle part. Now, position your comb one inch to the left or right of your original part, and flip your hair over the center line. Ta-da, it's officially a side part, with a dramatic-looking bang that sweeps across the forehead. Call them curtain bangs (that are perfect for your face shape), but with one side a bit more open than the other.

You can't get more dramatic than a sculpted side bang, and Hilary Duff is all about the mane drama with her tress curve. Divide locks with a deep side part and smooth back in a tight bun, save for one thin tendril. Sweep that lone lock across the forehead in a waved pattern, using a touch of gel to sculpt the shape and keep it sleek. Proof that it only takes a tiny tendril to create a side bang, and create it with serious style.

Natural or birthed via a curling iron, all curls are worthy of a second-side glance. Pump up your born-with-it texture with a diffuser, or twist your hot tool until you have a head full of curls and curves. Part your hair on the side and work your fingertips through spirals until they fall just so across the forehead. The great thing about curls? The more they're tousled, the better they look, so feel free to casually flip the part to the other side at some point during the day.

The swoop bang is in its own category, and when you swoop from a deep side part, it adds the title of dramatic side bang to its already impressive portfolio of style. Requiring no shorter lengths than you already have (even if your hair flows well below shoulder level), it's the easiest of the faux fringe looks to create. Work with a sleek texture for maximum impact, and part tresses low on one side. Brush your hair across the crown, working an angle across the forehead in a smooth swoop. Do a behind-the-ear tuck, and you're done. 

Full bangs don't get to have all the fun; wispy fringe can get in on a side gig, too — even if you don't have a Cookie Monster straw. While Carrie Underwood sips away, her wispy fringe is creating all kinds of cute style vibes. Leaving just a few tendrils in front, you can clip most of your in the back, pulling it away from your face. Those front tendrils are lightly teased at the roots, then finger-combed to one side. If you've got extra length, tuck it behind the ear.

When your hair is so long the layers don't even start until well below your chin, your side bang looks a little different, but no less dramatic. After parting your hair on one side, style it smooth with a large round brush and blow-dryer, creating curves and swirls on the ends. To make the side bang, separate out one section of that chin layer, and use the brush and heat from the blow dryer to curve the ends outward in a soft, feathered texture.

If you're going to go edgy, you should go all the way, starting with a wet hair look like Kate Mara. Hair is actually dry but styled with gel or pomade to give it the descriptive wet-look moniker. With your hair parted on the side, clip in a dazzling pearl hair clip. As for the other side, up your mane game by creating a side fringe that's not entirely a fringe, but not not a fringe, either. Pull a few strands down, angle some toward the temple, and tousle, tousle, tousle.

Pixie cuts are edgy and cute at the same time, especially when paired with short baby bangs. You can sweep them all the way to the side to blend in with the rest of the cut's layers, or you pull them down for a bit of spotlight action. Using a touch of pomade on your fingertips, angle the fringe across your forehead in separated peaks that lean to one side. To define the action as an official side part, use a comb to create an angled line in crown layers on one side.