Your hair can say a lot about the person you are. Whether you wear it in an updo with butterfly clips, half down with natural waves, or with frosted tips or a buzz cut, it can change your appearance drastically.
The most vital tip for wearing your hair however you want is knowing where to part it. Your hair part can alter the shape of your face and accentuate whatever you are hoping to portray.
Different Types of Hair Parting and How To Do Them
The world is full of different hair types, face shapes, jaw structures, and other features that go into making a person unique. In the same way, there are several options for parting your hair based on these qualities.
Middle Part
The middle part is one of the more common types because of how flattering it is for many different hairstyles.
As most of the parting names suggest, this separates your hair down the center of your head. Unless you have asymmetrical hair, the middle part divides it evenly and perfectly frames your face when it’s down.
Side Part
The side part is the most controversial because there is so much back and forth about whether it is still in style.
The reason for this is the placement of a side part. Side parts are far from the center of your head and line up near your eye. Depending on the style and shape of your face, it can be very flattering or not so.
Off-Center Part
An off-center part is only slightly to the left or right from where a middle part would be. If it’s too far over, and you may just have a side part, so the best way to know if you have an off-center part is to look in a mirror and see for yourself.
Hidden Part
Hair parts come naturally to your hair because they lie to whatever feels the most natural. Hidden hair parts are created when you manipulate your hair in a way that hides your scalp, essentially giving you no part.
There are several ways to have a hidden part. Hidden parts are created when you brush back your hair or zig-zag over your part with your hair to hide it. Some options help you decide which is best for you.
Things to Consider While Deciding Where to Part Your Hair
Knowing the different hair parts helps when deciding which one is the best for you, but there are several more things to consider before a decision.
Hair Parting According to Face Shape
Your face shape plays a heavy role in which hair part is the most flattering for you.
Round
The shape of your face is round if your forehead, cheekbones, and chin form a semi-even circle.
The best hair part for a round face is down the middle or far to the side. Framing your face can even out the roundness, or a side part make your face appear longer.
Square
An indicator that you have a square face shape is your jawline. If your jaw fans out, creating a more structured, almost pointy look, your face is square.
With a square face shape, you have a beautiful jawline. A side part can emphasize the sharpness and round it out a bit.
Oval
Oval face shapes are long but not too thin, creating more of a stretched-out, round face shape. These face shapes are common. They allow you the option to choose which part you want. They are versatile and make almost any part look amazing, so it comes down to what you like.
Oval face shapes likely go with a middle part because the hair frames the long face.
Diamond
Similar to how the jawline created the square shape, the cheekbones make the diamond shape. Prominent and wide cheekbones make your face a diamond shape.
Diamond face shapes are stunning paired with a side part for the same reason a square is. Cheekbones with diamond face shapes are prominent and lift your face. Covering them is the last thing you want to do.
Oblong
An oblong face is long and thin, but the biggest sign is a narrow hairline. This makes your face look less round, bringing the side of what would be an oval face shape to make it oblong.
An oblong face is so long that a middle part is the best option. The whole point of finding a hair part that compliments your shape isn’t to hide it but to embrace it, and oblong faces are beautiful.
Heart
Heart face shapes have a longer hairline that points down to a narrower chin. This rounds your face at the top to a more pointy bottom, creating the heart.
Heart face shape complements well with a side part, maybe some bangs as well to glide with the curve of your face and soften the point it eventually falls.
Pear
Like the shape of a pear, your hairline is slightly smaller than a square face shape, but your jawline is still prominent.
The ideal hair part of pear-shaped faces would be a side or middle part. A middle part can even out the shape, and a side part can lessen the width of the jaw.
Hair Type/Texture
Women have different types of hair textures. The way you part your hair can influence the structure and style of your hair.
Straight
Straight hair is the easiest hair texture to style. With knowing your face shape, the part that you believe will look best is attainable with straight hair texture.
Curly
Curly hair is usually more difficult to tame, depending on how coiled it is.
If your hair only has a slight curl, middle or side parts help them frame your face naturally. If your hair is curly with a lot of volume, off-center or hidden works best. Parts become difficult to maintain nicely if your hair is thick at the scalp.
Wavy
Wavy hair is similar to straight hair because it can go with a lot of parts depending on your face shape. Down the middle parts look great with wavy hair, even with volume. Hidden hair parts work with wavy hair to add volume.
Afro
You can part your coily hair any way you wish with some product and patience. To style your natural hair, however, hidden parts, off-center, and side parts work best for this texture.
Hair Length
Your hair length can alter your face the same way the texture can, so what length you choose is just as important.
Short
Short hair is beyond flattering with wavy hair and square face shapes, but it can also go with side parts and prominent bone structures. Refrain from short and straight hair with longer faces.
Medium
Medium hair can go well with any part. It is the perfect happy medium, so it is all about preference here.
Long
Long hair pairs beautifully with many face shapes and hair parts, but the best long hair parts are down the middle or off-center. Long hair frames your face well, especially with longer faces.
Choosing which way you wish to part your hair is crucial and can alter your face completely. Ultimately, which part you choose depends on what you like and how you feel. Your hair should make you happy and confident. That is all that matters.
FAQs
Larger foreheads typically accompany an oval or oblong face shape, so middle parts, with or without bangs, or side parts usually complement them very well.
Typically, any part besides a middle part will work with a widow’s peak if you are looking to cover it up.
Yes! Middle parts even out your face, which is what makes them so popular.
Yes, with some consistency and maybe some product, you can train your hair to part the way you want it. Training also requires patience, but your hair will eventually rest according to your part. However, depending on the texture and volume, it could take longer for some hairstyles.
Although there are recommendations for which parts are best suited to your face shape, hair texture, and hair length, it is ultimately up to you and what makes you feel confident.