The Millennial Side Swoop Was All Over the Golden Globes Red Carpet
Collage: Briana Rengifo; Source Images: Getty ImagesSave this storySave this story
Last night, a handful of Hollywood’s A-listers attended the Golden Globes in extravagant gowns, glitzy jewels, and glossy hairstyles. Little did they know that while they were walking the red carpet, their biggest critic—a sweatpants-clad beauty editor with her hair half done—was watching closely. I didn’t have that much to say because the stars really pulled out their best looks, especially in the hair category.
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As I enjoyed the red carpet from the comfort of my couch, I couldn’t help but feel a slight disturbance in my spirit that I couldn’t put my finger on. It started with Selena Gomez’s Old Hollywood-inspired bob. The softly finger-waved crop—deeply parted to one side—sat right above her jawline, as if it were held up solely by Gomez’s impeccable posture. Then Hailee Steinfeld walked the carpet with shiny side-parted waves that cascaded down one shoulder like a very expensive ribbon. Finally, Amanda Seyfried’s sculpted wavy side bangs confirmed the source of my discomfort: No matter the form, each swoopy, swirly hairstyle was accented with the millennial side part, which, against Gen Z’s best efforts, will never die.
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Don’t get me wrong, the girls ate down! But as a Gen Zer (actually, a Zellennial, if you will), I’m incredibly partial to a middle part. A side part will always look slightly off to me. Also, the parade of side parts at the Golden Globes made me realize that I don’t often see many of them in my day-to-day.
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The millennial side part emerged as a micro-trend from the event, driven largely by celebrities leaning into the Old Hollywood aesthetic. Many of these celebrities took their hairstyle inspo from Marilyn Monroe, Elizabeth Taylor, and Grace Kelly, from the late 1920s to the 1950s. “Tonight we went for ethereal, soft beauty with a hint of 1930s inspiration,” Renato Campora, the hairstylist who worked on Seyfried and Gomez for the Golden Globes, said in a press release. “It’s timeless, polished, and unmistakably golden.” The classic lure of Hollywood’s golden era simply can’t be escaped—and why should it? The glossy, structured waves and curls look elegant on just about anyone. I have to admit, I do see why the 30-and-over crowd is so taken with this type of hairstyle.
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Getty Images
As awards season continues, we anticipate even more Old Hollywood-inspired hairstyles in the form of swoops, swirls, waves, voluminous bobs, and curly pixies—so much so, you won’t be able to tell if you’re looking at a red carpet from 2026 or the late 1920s.
The hairstyles from last night may even signal a changing of the guard beyond red carpets. Last year, we saw lots of sleek middle-part styles, like the blepharoplasty bun; it was all about looking snatched. But if the Golden Globes were any indicator, 2026 may be the year we let our hair down—and throw it to the side. The vibe is less “Insta Baddie” and more “Regal Heiress,” which I’m all for. Is it enough to make me abandon my beloved middle part, though? Check back in with me after the Oscars.