Welp, This 2006 Hair Trend Is Officially Back, Baby

“Most women look amazing with side bangs,“ declares Yepez. “The beauty of them is that they’re easily customizable [and because they’re longer than other bang styles], they’re also a safer bet, since you can push them to the side. They also grow out quickly, if you end up not loving them.” On that note...

You want to cut your side bangs to suit your face and hair type. For example, “If you have a rounder face, you could go for a wide bang that’s a bit longer” and “if you have really curly hair and you’re not up for blow drying or styling your bangs regularly, cut them on the longer side, so there’s weight to them,” says Yepez.

The common denominator here is a bit of length, so just communicate that to your stylist and you're golden.

As for how to make side bangs look more modern than when we wore them in the MySpace era? Make sure they’re not cut straight across or too blunt at the ends. "You want them to gradually go from short to long to really frame the face. I think that’s what makes them look cooler—when you have those longer, softer bits that can be swept aside,” says Yepez. She adds, “Even when you throw your hair up, it still looks pretty,” (as seen here on queen Meryl at the Academy Museum Gala).

To style your new side fringe at home, Yepez recommends spraying on a little leave-in conditioner to “protect and moisturize the hair and set the foundation for your style.” Then, use a round brush and blow dry them away from your face, not forward like you would with regular bangs. Finally, if you want them to stay put throughout the day, mist them down with hairspray before heading out.