The “bitchy little side bang” (or BLSB for short) has attitude. She’s bold, defiant and bratty in the complimentary, Charli XCX-anointed way. And by all accounts, she’s back – ready to dominate spring and summer mood boards like the early 2000s diva she is. Enter the signature hair flip.
Content creator Natalie Shine, who actually coined the BLSB during a trim back in January, says, “I’m constantly inspired by what I’ll call a ‘early 2000s hot suburban mom.’ Think Julie Cooper from The O.C., who Shine cites as a major reference. Like most beauty fans, she was craving a hair refresh to start 2026, and it’s no secret that nostalgic styles — such as side bangs and side parts — have surged in popularity lately. “The side bang was calling,” says Shine. And thus the BLSB was born.
Shine isn’t the only one jumping on the side-bang bandwagon. Over the past couple of months, swoopy side bangs have been embraced by everyone from celebs (see: Bella Hadid, Zoë Kravitz, Quenlin Blackwell) to designers (Sandy Liang, Tory Burch) to beauty insiders (makeup artist Lila Childs). As we head into warmer weather, top hairstylists only see the trend growing.
“We’re in a moment [where] huge waves of early 2000s nostalgia are coming back in full force,” explains celebrity hairstylist Sky Kim. “We see it happening in fashion, beauty and culture but what’s different now is that it’s more self-aware. If you want, campy. A BLSB is you plugged into the Y2K reference, and you probably have the low-rise jeans and frosty eye makeup to match.
But what distinguishes the BLSB from its early 2000s predecessor? “It’s shorter, a little piece-y and sits higher on the cheekbone or just at the brow, almost as if it’s been flicked into place,” says Kim. “It doesn’t attempt to hide in the rest of the haircut, which is what gives it attitude.” Plus, it’s loaded with fluffy volume, says celebrity hairstylist Chris McMillan. “It’s not as literal as it used to be,” he says. “Usually, Y2K side bangs were flat-ironed into submission and flopped lifelessly over the eye, but this year, the ‘bitchy little side bang’ is sexy and messy,” McMillan says. “It’s about a flirty, voluminous hairstyle.
Kim agrees – the days of uniform, tucked-in-side heavy fringe are long gone. “The version for 2026 keeps the reference but loses the stiffness – it’s lighter, airier. Also older bangs just had really chunky highlights and layers,” she says.
To keep your BLSB fresh and updated, but still nostalgic, she suggests prepping the bangs lightly with a blow-dry primer or touchable mousse (“Something that gives control without stiffness,” she says) and then blow-drying side to side with a small round brush. Shine separates her bangs into three sections and blow dries (a huge tip she learned from her stylist, Aurora, at Yves Durif Salon) to promote bounce. Finish with hair spray for that side-part hold, and a little oil to boost the shine (McMillan’s Glassy Smooth Hair Oil is a must) and you’re good to go.
One last tip? “Don’t over-blend and keep the bang at the right length,” says Kim. “Isolate the bang so it can have its moment. Traditional side bangs are softer, more romantic and long enough to melt into layers but the BLSB has enough personality to stand on its own. You would be committing a sin not to adopt the attitude.
