Moving a part two centimetres to one side changes a face more than most brides expect. A side part lifts volume on the heavy side, softens a strong forehead or a square jaw, and gives almost any style, up or down, a slight lean that reads as relaxed rather than rigid. It’s also one of the cheapest tweaks in my kit: no extra pins, no accessories, just a decision about where the line goes. The 25 styles below all start from that line, from low buns and sculpted waves to braids, and I’ve noted what each one asks of your hair and your venue.
How Deep Should Your Part Go?
Before I pick a style with a bride, I find where her hair naturally splits. I comb it straight back while damp, push it gently forward with my palm, and watch where it falls apart. That’s the natural part, and styles built on it last longer than ones fighting it.
From there, depth is a choice. A moderate side part sits roughly in line with the arch of the eyebrow and suits most faces. A deep part, closer to the outer corner of the brow, adds more drama and volume on the heavy side, and it’s what most of the looks below use. It can feel heavy on a round face, while on a long face it helps by adding width.
Training a New Part
If you want your part on a different side or deeper than usual, start wearing it that way two or three weeks before the wedding. Blow-dry the roots in the new direction each time. Hair has memory at the root, and a part that’s only a day old tends to flip back by the afternoon.
1. Side Part Low Bun for Brides
A deep side part with a low bun is the style I see requested most, and it earns that. The asymmetric front stops a low bun from looking plain, and the bun keeps the neck clear for a veil and statement earrings. I build a little lift at the crown with a light backcomb so the heavy side doesn’t lie flat against the head. With a satin gown, keep the bun smooth; with lace, a softer one sits better. A couple of curled tendrils on the light side balance the weight of the part.
2. Side Swept Loose Waves Wedding Hair
Waves swept over one shoulder are lovely with strapless and off-the-shoulder necklines because the bare side stays open. I curl in alternating directions so the waves don’t clump into one thick rope, then brush through once. The real issue is weight: on the side that carries all the hair, waves drop faster, so I set that side with more product and pin the curls to cool. Fine hair often needs help to look full here, and plenty of brides go boosted with extensions for the day. A small pin near the part catches the light without competing with the waves.
3. Deep Side Part Sleek Updo
Clean and graphic, this updo works with high necklines, structured shoulders and dresses that need nothing else going on. Getting the glassy finish takes a fine-tooth comb, a smoothing serum and patience, because one ridge from a brush stroke shows on camera. I always point out that a sleek style has nowhere to hide grown-out roots or a patchy colour, so time your colour appointment around ten days to two weeks before. It also leaves the back of your dress on full display.
4. Side Part Fishtail Braid Wedding Hair
Swept over one shoulder from a side part, a fishtail braid looks woven rather than plaited, and it pairs well with a draped veil. It needs reasonably long hair with not too many layers, because short ends poke out of the narrow weave. I braid it fairly tight, then pull the edges outward a little at a time to widen it. Tiny flowers or pearl pins can sit in the gaps. Garden and outdoor ceremonies suit it, and it’s comfortable to wear over a long day.
5. Side Part Half Up Half Down Bridal Style
Half up, half down is the answer when you can’t pick, and a side part makes it look less like a schoolgirl style. I gather the top section back softly and secure it with crossed pins, then curl the length. That secured section is also where a veil comb anchors best, which is why so many brides end up here. The downside: hair left down reacts to humidity and to your hands, so it won’t look the same at 10 p.m. as it did at noon. A small clip or a floral accent hides the join.
6. Side Part Low Ponytail Wedding Hair
People overlook the low ponytail, yet with a deep side part it’s one of the most modern options here. The hair is pulled to one side and falls over a shoulder. I wrap a small strand around the base to hide the elastic and pin it underneath. You can keep the crown smooth or wave the length. It suits minimal gowns and big earrings, and it’s quick in the chair, which matters on a busy morning with a large bridal party.
7. Side Part Vintage Hollywood Waves
Hollywood waves are a set, not a curl. I either pin-curl the hair or use an iron, let it cool completely, then brush it into continuous S-shaped waves and press the ridges with clips while I spray. The deep part matters: it gives the first wave somewhere to start. Pair it with a satin gown, red lips and a crystal clip for the full effect. It’s not suited to very layered hair, because the waves need unbroken lengths to connect.
8. Side Part Braided Crown Wedding Hair
A braided crown starting at a side part sits around the head like a halo, and it suits outdoor and garden weddings where you want the face kept clear. I loosen the braid gently once it’s pinned so it looks softer. Baby’s breath or small wildflowers can be tucked in, though fresh stems in hair have a shorter life than you’d think in summer heat. You can wear it with hair down or pinned up, and it leans toward whimsical romance without needing anything else.
9. Side Part Chignon Bridal Updo
The side chignon is folded rather than wound, sitting low and slightly off-centre for an asymmetric shape. With a deep side part, it looks less formal than a centred chignon. I usually leave a few tendrils at the face. It suits formal gowns and open necklines, and a crystal or pearl accent works on the outer side. Because the chignon is tucked and pinned, it’s one of the most secure styles in this list for dancing.
10. Side Part Waves With Veil
Placement is what makes a veil work with side-part waves. I set the comb just behind the crown and slightly toward the light side, so the veil doesn’t sit on top of the heaviest waves and flatten them. Cathedral veils need that anchor point most. Shorter veils are more forgiving. After the veil comes off, brush the waves gently with your fingers, not a brush, to keep their shape.
11. Side Part Messy Bun Wedding Hair
A messy bun with a side part looks relaxed, but it should be built with intent. I add texture spray, backcomb lightly, and secure the base firmly before pulling out pieces. Tendrils come from the hairline, not the bun itself, so the shape holds. It suits boho and outdoor weddings, flowy dresses and natural makeup. Fresh flowers or pearl pins tuck in easily because the texture grips them.
12. Side Part French Twist Updo
The French twist has been around for decades because it holds. Hair is swept to one side and tucked into a sleek vertical roll, then pinned along the seam where it can’t be seen. With a deep side part, the front looks softer than the classic version. I add a little height at the crown before the twist. It suits structured gowns and lasts through dinner and dancing with very little help.
13. Side Part Curly Wedding Hair
Natural curls and a deep side part look full and lively, and the part gives the curls a clear direction. The biggest mistake I see is brushing curls before the wedding, which breaks them up; I style curls wet with a defining cream and let them dry fully before touching them. Loose or tight, they can be worn down or pinned into a side-swept updo. Ask your stylist if they’re comfortable with your curl type, because curly hair needs a different technique from straight hair.
14. Side Part Twisted Updo Bridal Hair
Twists give texture with less time than braiding. I take small sections, twist each one, and pin them at the nape into a low, gathered shape, all spiralling the same way so they don’t unwind. A deep side part frames the face. Pearl pins or a crystal comb sit well in the gaps between twists. It suits both formal and semi-formal weddings and holds well through the day, as long as the pins follow the twist direction.
15. Side Part Beach Waves Wedding Hair
Beach waves look carefree, and they’re best at seaside ceremonies where a breeze would wreck a polished style anyway. I use a texturizing spray instead of heavy hairspray so the hair moves. Wear it down or swept over one shoulder, and add a fine hair vine if you want some sparkle. Salt air and humidity will loosen the waves, so I usually start them a bit tighter than the look you want at the ceremony.
16. Side Part Sleek Low Bun With Tendrils
A sleek low bun with a deep part and two tendrils manages to look polished and soft at once. I smooth the hair with a serum and a fine comb, then wrap the bun low at the nape. The tendrils are cut from the front hairline and curled with a small iron. Statement earrings complete it. Watch for tendrils on a humid day; they frizz before anything else, so I keep them shorter in summer.
17. Side Part Boho Braided Updo
Free-spirited and dreamy is how most brides describe this one when they bring me photos: loose braids woven into a soft gathered updo, with the side part giving it a slant. It suits gardens and forest venues. I pull pieces loose after pinning so it doesn’t look tight. Fresh flowers, greenery or pearl pins can be tucked in. Because braids bear the weight, it’s sturdier than it looks.
18. Side Part Long Straight Wedding Hair
Straight hair worn down with a deep side part is the simplest style here, and the hardest to fake. It only works on healthy lengths; split ends and breakage show on straight hair in a way they don’t on curls. I use a flat iron and a shine serum, then let the hair settle before the ceremony. A sparkling pin near the part adds some glamour. It suits minimal gowns and clean necklines.
19. Side Part Floral Crown Wedding Hair
Flowers sitting along a deep part look intentional rather than perched. I ask the florist to build the crown on a flexible wire base so it bends to the head instead of sitting on it like a ring, and to repeat a bloom or two from the bouquet. Fresh flowers out of water fade quickly in sun, so sturdy stems and a cool place until the last minute make a real difference. Mixing greenery in hides any gaps where the crown meets hair. Wear it with waves down or a soft updo.
20. Side Part Pinned Back Bridal Style
Pinning the front back from a side part keeps hair off your face while the length stays down. I pin the light side first and then the heavy side, crossing the pins underneath so the sections can’t slide forward when you look down. Decorative pins, pearls or crystal accents can hide the join. On very fine hair, I add a small backcombed cushion where the pins go so they have something to bite into. It works on straight or wavy hair and gives a veil an easy anchor.
21. Side Part Side Swept Updo
Sweeping everything to one side carries the asymmetry of the part all the way to the back. I build height at the crown first, because once the hair is gathered to the side, the top can look flat. A veil drapes nicely over the opposite, bare side. I’d suggest something else if your hair is very heavy and long: all that weight on one side of the head starts to feel uncomfortable by the evening. A comb or a few pearl pins finish it.
22. Side Part Curtain Bangs Wedding Hair
Curtain bangs falling from a side part soften the face without hiding it. If you already have them, side part curtain bangs are easy to work into almost any style here. The trick is a round brush and a bend away from the face, so they sit in two soft curves instead of hanging straight. Get them trimmed a week out rather than the day before; freshly cut bangs always sit shorter and stiffer than you expect. They go with waves, updos and veils alike.
23. Side Part Pearl Accented Updo
Pearls on a side-part updo add a soft shine, and I place them on the open side of the part where they won’t be lost in the volume. Scattered pins in small clusters look more natural than evenly spaced ones. Check the pearl shade against your gown: a stark white pearl next to ivory can look grey in photographs. Pearls are among the few accessories that suit both a vintage and a modern dress, so this pearl-accented style is an easy choice if you haven’t settled on a theme.
24. Side Part Textured Low Bun
Texture is what separates this low bun from the sleek one earlier. I tease the hair lightly at the root and through the lengths, then pin it loosely at the nape so it has some air inside. Loose pieces frame the face. Garden and semi-formal weddings suit it, and tucked flowers or pearl pins hold well because the texture grips them. It’s forgiving for hair that frizzes, since a bit of halo looks like part of the design.
25. Side Part Glam Waves With Hair Accessory
Glam waves with a statement accessory suit ballroom and formal evening weddings. I curl and set the waves, brush them into one smooth shape, and pin a crystal clip or jeweled comb near the part where it catches light. Add bold earrings to complete the look. Because the accessory is on the heavy side, it has to be anchored into crossed pins underneath, or the weight of the waves pulls it loose.
What Happens to a Side Part Over Ten Hours
A deep side part puts most of your hair on one side, and that weight works against you as the day goes on. Here’s what I watch for, and what I do about it.
- Flat roots. The heavy side drops first. I blow-dry the roots against the part, then flip the hair back over, so the roots stand up when they land.
- Scalp showing. Bright sunlight and camera flash both show the part line. A little root powder or matte eyeshadow in your hair colour, dabbed along the line, fixes it.
- The heavy side falling into your face. During speeches and dinner, it creeps forward. A hidden bobby pin behind the ear on that side solves it without changing the look.
- A veil pulling the part. If the veil comb sits on the heavy side, its weight drags the part flat. I anchor veils on the light side or just behind the crown.
Ask your stylist to leave you a small root powder and a few bobby pins in your colour. Touch-ups take seconds if you have the right things with you.
Settle the Part at Your Trial, Not on the Morning
Every style here starts with the same decision: which side, and how deep. Make that decision at your trial, not on the morning, and bring photos of your dress and earrings so your stylist can balance the weight against your neckline. Then wear the trial for a few hours to see how it settles. Once the part is right, everything else on this list is just a variation on it.
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