Please don't shoot the messenger, but there's a good chance you've been parting your hair
wrong for a very, very long time.
Here's what you should have been doing!
The natural part
This one's easy.
Instead of over-analyzing your face shape in the mirror, just take a shower.
"This is a magical room.
Where does the water come from?"
Hairstylist Paul Warren told Refinery29,
"Comb back your wet hair with your fingers and then push forward with your palm at the
crown of your head."
According to the style guru, your hair will then "split where it naturally falls."
Pretty simple, right?
Trial and error
If you wanna try something different, your hair can be trained to do what you want.
Colorist and popular YouTuber Silvia Reis advises women to experiment, telling InStyle,
"It's easy to put back if you don't like it, and you can have a lot of fun with your look
without much risk."
But Reis does recommend paying attention to how the style highlights your features.
Arguably the best part of switching up your part is how easy it is to do.
Straight down the middle
While middle parts may be associated with youth, or even young children, women who rock
the style, look avant-garde and totally chic.
A great way to play up the middle part, according to Warren, is with long straight bangs framing
your face.
But we'll be honest with you, not everyone can pull off the middle part, no matter how
hard they try to rock it.
"So don't even act like you know what I'm talking about"
Reis told InStyle:
"It can be the least forgiving if there are any uneven areas on the face […] and on
long faces, it can exaggerate the shape."
Let your curls fly
If you're blessed with spirally tresses, you've undoubtedly spent a good chunk of time trying
to figure them out.
But while embracing your natural hair seems almost too easy, that's exactly what celeb
stylist Tommy Buckett recommends.
He told Allure,
"Let them fall wherever they go.
It looks more modern when they're messy anyway."
"I love it because it's just natural, and it's me and it's big"
But if you wanna try something different, there's a way.
Glamour reported that celeb stylist Jenny Cho recommends parting your hair while it's
wet to make your style last.
And comb your locks with leave-in conditioner, then apply your preferred curl cream.
The Hair Part Theory
Once upon a time in the late '90s, scientist John Walter and anthropologist Catherine Walter
came up with the Hair Part Theory.
And according to The Atlantic, the theory goes:
"The way a person parts [his or her] hair is related to many subconscious associations.
[…] Each hair part type initiates cycles of behavior toward, and response from, the
individual."
The theory suggests that a left part would enhance left brain processes, like logic.
And a right part would parallel right brain processes, like creativity.
The paper reported:
"Margaret Thatcher's left-side part supposedly enhanced her aura of strength and will."
"You've got lovely hair, but we need to do something with it to make it more important,
yes.
Give it more impact"
Life imitating a good hair day?
We're in!
Super fine to super fly
If you have fine hair, it's safe to say you've used volumizer in your lifetime.
But while there's no substitute for a good product, a deep side part can actually make
a huge difference.
Stylist Nathaniel Hawkins recommends beginning your part in line with the center of your
iris and then moving diagonally toward your crown, telling Allure,
"This allows you to have fullness on one side while still creating an even distribution
of hair."
"Do you have insurance when you burn her hair off or rip it out?
Why don't you just stay in your own area"
In addition to parting your hair to one side, blow-drying your hair across your head will
also add body.
Devin Graciano, founder and CEO of Use Me Hair, told Today,
"Think of this as blowing your hair in a comb-over from ear to ear, alternating sides."
You'll be channeling Cameron Diaz all the way, no wait, this Cameron Diaz.
The one that always works
There is one part that Reis says is "universally flattering" for every face shape and hair
type: the side part.
Reis told InStyle,
"If you have a stronger brow, part your hair to show that off as more of the face is exposed
on that side."
"The rules of hair care are simple and finite.
Any Cosmo girl would have known"
And, taking a page out of stylist Hawkins' book for fine hair, Reis says parting your
hair on the side, while also diagonally, gets you the effortless style you want while leaving
your hair evenly distributed.
Plus, it totally looks amazing on everyone.