Styled Archives: When MENA Celebrities Swept Their Bangs to the Side

The 2000s had a recognisable beauty formula, and the side bang sat at its centre. Smoky eyes, glossy lips and heavily layered hair became the decade's unofficial uniform, with sweeping fringes appearing everywhere from music videos and magazine covers to red carpets and Ramadan premieres. Leaving the salon without one almost felt like missing the point.

Part of the side bang's appeal was its versatility. It worked just as well with dark, voluminous blow-dries as it did with platinum blonde hair or loose curls. Haifa Wehbe wore it to Cannes, Ruby gave it an edge, Nicole Saba paired it with one of the decade's most coveted shades of blonde, and Nancy Ajram carried the look well into the following decade.

Fashion rarely leaves its past behind for long. Ballet flats have returned, and low-rise jeans have found their way back into wardrobes despite years of resistance. The side bang may simply be waiting its turn. If trends continue to move in cycles, the middle part's dominance is unlikely to last forever, and the dramatic sweep that defined the 2000s may yet make another appearance.