In the age of middle-part hair division, are side-part tresses the real enemy? It’s time we dig deep and investigate
It’s quite expected that early aught favorites like ballet flats, washed denim eyeshadows, and lip liners are anticipated for a comeback. However, they’re not the only ghosts from the past that are poised for a contemporary revival. Take the Miu Miu Autumn/Winter 2022, for example. In the campaign, Emily Ratajkowski and Sydney Sweeney hinted at the return of side-part tresses. It wasn’t long after when Kim Kardashian, Gigi Hadid, and Hailey Bieber fronted the beauty headlines with their take on the look. And from there, the millennial hairstyle found a new life in the new era.
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The second time’s a charm
The return of side-part tresses is amusingly cyclical. In fact, it circled back for the second time around. The hairstyle goes way back to the 1900s with old-school icons like Josephine Baker and Veronica Lake popularizing the look. It’s the pièce de résistance of any vintage beauty until the age of middle parting took over. Eventually, side-part tresses ushered at the beginning of the century and slowly took a back seat in the age of social media. And with that, we couldn’t help but wonder—is the hairstyle destined to live the same plot again? Only time can tell.
The right part
Hair division unnecessarily became a long debate. In 2021, a heated discourse began in #beautytok as Glorianna Restrepo punctuated in her now-viral video that no single person looks better with a side part than they do a middle part. It’s a given that there is no right or wrong answer, which only reflects the fact that there is no one-size-fits-all style. Truth is, both styles can peacefully coexist with each other—no unnecessary exits are needed.
The best fit
Side-partings are incredibly versatile. And like fringes, the category offers numerous iterations to complement any face shape, length, and texture. It adds character to any hairstyle, too, and even Miley Cyrus is taking part in the comeback. In this photo, her deep side part look evokes a modern take on soft grunge. It can also be elevated by pairing the hair division with soft waves for an old Hollywood glam appeal.
A healthy switch
While it’s known that it’s important to find the right style that complements our face shape the most, it is actually recommended to switch your partings every once in a while. Committing to a single hair division causes stress to the area, which leads to thinning and breakage. A shift can help the roots to stand upright and breathe.
