Side-part queen, Miss Britney Spears, 2000.
By Katie May Ruscoe
In 2020 there was a cultural event so significant that it divided the internet and threatened yet another manufactured and highly generalised generational war to distract us from the structural inequalities that actually affect us all and prevent us from coming together to… wait where was I?
You might be thinking, 'yes, Covid-19' but I'm actually talking about the time Gen Z took to social media to viciously roast the side-part, aka the traditional Millennial hair parting of choice.
Lauren Conrad the OG (or should that be OC?) side-part inspo, in 2007.
Having a heart-shaped face and also being not simply a ‘regular’ millennial but a ‘cool’ (in my head) one, I was already firmly in camp centre-part.
Nevertheless, I still felt the hot sting of outrage on behalf of my generation. How dare these kids mock our hair while at the same time mining our Y2K aesthetic?
A sleek, deep and contemporary take on the side-part: Model Alex Consani at Fendi FW24.
This hairline divide was so powerful that, despite countless micro-trends and the comforting siren call of a studied off-centre parting, the middle has retained an absolute chokehold on blowdry routines.
But friends, the winds of change are again upon us. Over the past few months, the side-part has been finding its way onto red carpets and trend reports alike.
After the recent Oscars, there can be no more denying: the side-part IS back, honey. We over 30s need not quell our urges any longer.
Selena Gomez and Da’Vine Joy Randolph do their version of the side-part.
Look through pics of the awards and after-parties and you’ll see our gal the side-part showing out everywhere.
Selena Gomez paired one with an Old Hollywood bob. The true-to-name Da’Vine Joy Randolph went in hard with both a deep side-part and side fringe set-up (note that no less than Vogue has gone as far as calling the return of the swoop bang this year).
Blondes in side-parts have more fun: Gen Z celebrities Elle Fanning, and Lily-Rose Depp.
Elle Fanning came in hot with a truly 2010s combo of side-part and collarbone-kicking blowout. Zoomer icon Lily-Rose Depp had one, and even woman of the hour Mikey Madison couldn’t resist the gravitational pull of the comb, arriving at the Vanity Fair after-party with not just the best actress Oscar in hand but a lush side-part of head too.
Best actress winner Mikey Madison, and her side-part, at the Vanity Fair after-party.
Colleen senior stylist Sean Patrick Mahoney says the side-part provides a nice sense of balance to those with an oval, square or diamond shape face in particular, and that it lends itself especially well to event hair.
“If you’re going for a glam wave or an updo for an event, a side-parting can help with extra height and will also help soften the look.”
To perfect the side-part at home, he recommends starting with clean, towel-dried hair then using a comb or comb tail to make a clean line of where you want the part to begin.
Sean’s pro tip is to use your eyebrow as a depth guide. For a more subtle part, aim for between the centre or highest point, and for a deeper, more dramatic vibe, start from between the arch and the outer point of the brow.
As for those who’ve grown to love the middle-part and aren’t ready to let it go? That’s fine too! “Change isn’t for everyone,” Sean reassures. “It’s ok to have to have a signature look – don’t let the internet tell you otherwise!”
