There is no right or wrong way to part your hair. But why is Gen Z so obsessed with the middle part? A theory posed by The Cut is that the younger generation is more open to accepting flaws and they therefore feel less need to hide part of their face behind their hair.
And there's a reason why it's the internet's favorite. "The middle part is one of the most fashionable hair trends," Bergamy tells us. "It gives a more youthful look without looking childish." It tends to work best on faces that are more or less symmetrical, but can also help elongate shorter, wider face shapes.
"The middle part is definitely our favorite,” says celebrity hair stylist and salon owner Adel Chabbi. “It frames the face beautifully and helps to achieve an attractive oval shape.” Chabbi proclaims that the middle part is more youthful and has additional advantages like not showing the hairline as much.
According to millions of TikTokers, the definitive hairstyle of Gen Z is the middle part! Not a left-side part or right-side part, but a part straight down the middle. Generation Z has led many social movements in their short lifetime, but one of their biggest movements is embracing your flaws.
That takes us to late this summer, when parting discourse came to a head (sorry) on TikTok with the #MiddlePartChallenge, a trend that can be traced back to @Lady-Gleep, 23-year-old Glorianna Restrepo.
But Gen Zers are different from older generations, because they are the first consumers to have grown up wholly in the digital era. They're tech-savvy and mobile-first—and they have high standards for how they spend their time online.
We all tend to have a natural part that is part of the normal growth pattern of our hair, however you can easily switch up your part by knowing a few tricks.
Why it ages you: "As you age, gravity's effect can draw the face down; the center part draws attention to that pulled-down look," Dujic says. Do this instead: Part your hair a little further down the side of the hairline.
Brace yourself because the side part is back — and better than ever. A hairstyle once banished to remain in the realms of the mid-2010s, the side part is back (and chicer than ever) in 2022.
Gen Z's economic concerns stem from the fear of accruing debt, limited job opportunities and the difficulty of finding affordable housing. These concerns have been exacerbated by the financial insecurity many young people and their families have faced during the COVID-19 pandemic.
While 83 percent of people born between 1928 and 1945 (dubbed “the Silent Generation”) were married by age 37, researchers predict that Gen Z - born between 1997 and 2012 - are marrying far less.
(It's a whole thing.) The Gen Z argument is essentially that side parts are less flattering and make a person look older, so they're urging all millennials rocking side parts to do themselves a solid and reclaim their youth by achieving that elite scalp symmetry.
The Collins Dictionary define Generation Z as "members of the generation of people born between the mid-1990s and mid-2010s who are seen as confident users of new technology". The Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary defines Generation Z as "the generation of people born in the late 1990s and early 2000s."
Social media is a huge trend for this generation. Instagram, Snapchat, and TikTok are, by far, the most frequently used platforms. One-quarter of Gen Zers spend five hours or more per day on TikTok. TikTok continues to soar in popularity among members of Generation Z (8,800% in 5 years).
“Both options will always be in style, and both options are timeless,” Curtis says. “A middle part will complement the symmetry of your face shape as well as elongate the face, and a side part will soften your features.”
Recently, a controversial new style has upset Gen Z guys, bringing smiles while gaining popularity… So, would you dare the 2022 trendy men's haircut called “broccoli haircut”?
A highly connected world, climate change, a global pandemic that's impacting job security, and financial debt are some main causes of increased anxiety, stress, and depression among Gen Zers.
Inexplicably, the middle part was the hairstyle du jour of teen hearthrobs in the '90s.
A center part signifies balance, and people might see you as more trustworthy, honest, and polite. You're flexible. Similar to those with a center part, you're able to keep your cool even in the face of uncertain circumstances. You're seen as the easygoing member of your group of friends.
It's back and better than ever. It seems like just yesterday when TikTok declared the side part dead, but if Instagram is any indication, the style has definitely made a comeback. Side-part hairstyles have recently appeared on all of our favorite celebs, from the Kardashian-Jenner family to Megan Thee Stallion.
The general consensus seems to be that parting on one's left makes a person look competent and masculine, whereas parting on the right makes a person look warm and feminine. I learned about this while listening to one of my favorite podcasts, Radiolab (I'm a podcast junkie).
If you have a rounder face and want to create the illusion of slimmer, longer features, try a middle part. A middle part will equally cover the sides of your round face, making your face look thinner. Just changing your part to the middle can create a whole new look and face shape–why not give it a try?
For a middle part, brush your hair away from your face and let it fall naturally to the front. A little to the left or right of center is just fine. Now, here's how to make the switch stick. Every night before bed, dampen your hair at the roots, then part it where you want it and brush into place.
We do agree that if you have a really well-defined face, centre-parted hair can look fabulous on you! But with that, centre parting also adds years to your look, making you appear much more matured than you'd prefer.