Over the past year, Gen Z has come out swinging against millennials, from poking fun at our skinny jeans (okay, fair enough) to mocking our proud “‘90s kid” proclamations (please, let us have this!). But perhaps the most devastating blow to us olds? The youths deeming side parts uncool.
Gen Z's stance on how to part your hair feels like an attack for a number of reasons, but let's start with the basics: It defies history, embracing individuality, playing up one's strong suits, or just changing things up because personal style is fluid. “It's ridiculous," says hairstylist Naeemah LaFond. “If you want middlepartsto be trending, just say that. Individuals shouldparttheir hair wherever they feel the most comfortable and beautiful. No onepartfits all.”
That being said, there are some basic parting tricks and techniques you can keep in mind as your hair and inclinations evolve over time. From factoring in your face shape to tailoring things to your texture and length, this is the pro's guide for how to part your hair in whatever way you so desire.
Play Up Your Facial Features
“The way you partyour hair helps to bring out certain features of the face,” explains hairstylist Anh Co Tran, co-owner of L.A.'s Ramirez | Tran Salon. For example, a deep side parting can flatter those with rounder faces while a center part can help bring out the cheekbones for those with heart-shaped faces. Where you want to bring focus and in how much definition can always change. “Differentpartscan really strengthen or soften different facial features,” emphasizes hairstylist Gregory Russell, the master behind Anya Taylor Joy's dramatic deep side part à la Veronica Lake at the Golden Globes. The way LaFond sees it, you can think about the way you part your hair the same way you do contouring your face. “Adding lines and shadows to your face in any way adjusts the symmetry and balance," explains LaFond. “Just as contouring does in makeup,partingand length does the same when it comes to hair. You can use partings to allow your hair to shadow and contour your face in a way that complements you the most.”
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Factor in Volume and Texture
“When people have limp hair, a tossed over look can really help to hold volume,” explains Russell. “If someone has very curly hair they may like tosideparttheir hair as a centerpartcould really make their hair fall into their face too much.” LaFond underlines that depending on your hair's thickness and texture, changing up your part can be as impactful as a new haircut. “With texture being naturally voluminous, as you shift yourpart, you also create and remove a significant amount of height," explains LaFond. “A simple change from a middlepartto asidepartcan look like you got a new haircut. The possibilities are endless.”
