Different Ways to Part Your Hair & Getting the Perfect Part

Looking for a low-maintenance update to your hairstyle? Before you snip or color your strands, try switching up your part. A new part is an easy way to restyle a grown-out cut instantly transforming your look. Plus, switching your part is good for your hair: the longer you wear the same part, the more you wear the hair down in that area, causing potential breakage and hair loss. If you've had the same part for years and want to change it up, we’ve got the lowdown on the best hair parts for every face shape.

Read on for the best part for your face shape.

The ideal hair parts for a round face are straight down the middle or a deep side part. Both give the illusion of length, creating symmetry around the face. If your face shape is round, try a deep side or middle part.

An oval face shape is the easiest to style for, so if you’ve got an oval face you can pull off any part. Deep side, middle, side swept — all work well with an oval shape. Play around with your part and mix things up with a new style everyday!

If you have a heart-shaped face, try a deep side part. This will break up a pointy chin line, which is often the case with a heart-shaped face. A deep side part will give the illusion of softer cheekbones.

A soft, side swept part with bangs adds softness to a square face shape. But don’t make the part too deep. This accentuates the sharpness of a square face. Just enough skin on your forehead and allow your bangs to offset your angular features.

The tools you use mean everything when it comes to getting the perfect part. With the right tools, even short hair cuts can change up their parts. The following tools are your must-have options for parting your hair.

The perfect part starts by combing your hair back with a wide tooth comb. It works on any hair type to detangle without pulling or damaging strands. Plus, using a wide tooth comb across your scalp acts as a massage, boosting circulation and leading to healthier hair follicles and stronger hair.

A tail comb is what you’ll use to slice through your strands and create a precise part. Using the tail end of the comb, part your hair from the forehead all the way to the crown, which is the highest part of the scalp. This gives balance to the hair.

To support your strands staying in the direction, you’ll want to really flatten the new part with the Davines styling product of your choice. If you have short hair, or your part is stubborn, our forming pomade allows you to rework your hair, without any sticky or greasy residue. Use a few clips or bobby pins in addition, to encourage your strands to stay in place. If you have dry or damaged hair, run our replenishing cream over your ends to deeply moisturize them for a simple, neatly parted hairstyle. All Davines formulas are free of harmful toxins and made from natural ingredients. Our products are made with renewable energy and packaging that minimizes the environmental impact. Our hair care isn’t just good for your hair, it’s good for the planet.

It takes some training to alter your hair’s natural part. But this hair hack can help. Wash your hair before bed and follow with a detoxifying mud hair mask to eliminate impurities from your hair and scalp. After the mask, on clean, slightly wet hair, create your new part. Then pull all of your hair back into a hair tie and sleep on it. Do this nightly — minus the mask, which you can rotate in weekly — until you've trained your hair.

Comb your hair back with the wide tooth comb, and use the tail comb to create your part down the middle. Trace a line from the bridge of your nose upward with the tail to make sure it's centered. Comb any stubborn sides of your hair down and work your product into the follicles. Secure stubborn pieces with a few hair clips or bobby pins. For extra hold, use a paddle brush to create tension on one side of your hair. Aim a blow-dryer at your scalp on a low heat setting and pull it away every five to 10 seconds and repeat on the other side of your hair. 

A good guideline for creating a deep side part is the arch of your eyebrow. Take your tail comb and trace it from the arch, upward into the hairline. Comb it down, and work your product into the follicles. Use clips to prevent the deep part from separating and use a paddle brush to create tension on one side of your hair. Aim a blow-dryer at your scalp on a low heat setting and pull it away every five to 10 seconds and repeat on the other side of your hair.

Choose a side to part your hair. Take a tail comb and slice it through the hair, aiming for the crown of your head. Don't aim at the opposite corner. This creates an imbalance of volume on the top of your head. Instead, aim toward the center of the crown for more natural volume on top. Air-dry by clipping down the sides or style as usual.

Men’s parted hairstyles and haircuts have been popular since the early 1900’s and they’re not going anywhere anytime soon. In fact, the side part haircut is one of the few men's hairstyles that has survived the test of time. Why has it lasted so long? Probably because it’s such a versatile hairstyle. It works in both casual and formal situations, and it’s just as ideal a cut to rock at a corporate job as it is a creative one, and it doesn’t take much effort to style. As its name implies, a parted haircut relies on a side part. The top and sides are cut to give it an all-around timeless style for short, neat look. Parted hairstyles work best with thicker hair, but they’re possible to style on finer hair, with some clips and our pomade or dry wax. Like the comb over and other short cuts, parted hairstyles look best on square and oval face shapes. If you’re ready to change up your ‘do, talk to your stylist about the best parted hairstyle for you.

by Jaclyn LaBadia, featured contributor