The most flattering hair part depends on your face shape, but generally, a deep side part softens features for rounder faces, a middle part elongates long faces and balances symmetrical ones, and oval faces can pull off any part; heart-shaped faces benefit from side parts to minimize forehead width, while diamond shapes suit side parts to soften angles. The goal is balance: a middle part creates symmetry, while a side part adds drama and volume, so experiment to see what highlights your best features.
A middle part often creates a more balanced look, flattering for oval and heart-shaped faces. Conversely, a side part can add volume and is great for those with round faces, giving an elongated appearance.
A middle part can create the illusion of a longer face while still bringing out the beauty of your natural facial structure. You can even try a zig-zag part down the middle for some volume. If you do opt for a side part, however, make it deep so that it can soften up your sharper features.
A deep side parting looks really feminine and it's especially great for fine hair as it creates an illusion of thickness. ' See Kate Winslet's hair, for a good example. It's also a sneaky way to enhance your features while drawing attention away from areas you don't like as much.
A center part gives a clean, youthful look and works well for symmetrical faces or to elongate wider shapes, but can accentuate asymmetry or make long faces look longer. Side parts are versatile and flattering for almost all face shapes—adding drama or balance depending on the depth and what you want to emphasize.
Shoulder-length hair (or longer) with layers
Forget what you thought about long hair past the age of 40—thick hair actually looks more youthful and polished when it falls shoulder-length or longer. Shorter hair has a tendency to expand at the ends, leaving you with an unflattering triangle effect.
The "7-day haircut rule" suggests that while a fresh haircut looks sharp, it often hits its peak and looks most natural, effortless, and "lived-in" around one week (7 days) after getting it, as the hair softens, settles, and blends better. It's a guideline for timing major events or understanding when your hair finds its sweet spot, allowing the initial starkness to fade into a more comfortable style, similar to breaking in new shoes.
We called it as a key beauty trend this season from the catwalks for spring summer 2025 and beyond: Saint Laurent's side parts were brought with serious business in both cropped forms and with flowing, shiny waves by hair stylist Duffy, paired with statement suits.
Three studies (total N = 3819) found that hair part does not alter appearance. The null results generalized to male and female models, smiling and neutral expressions, and hair parts flowing with or against the hair whorl. The popular belief that hair part alters one's appearance may either be a myth of underspecified.
A deep side part helps create angles that elongate the face and make it appear slimmer. Side-swept styles or curtain bangs paired with an off-center part can also soften facial features and add a flattering frame to the face.
While once the side-parting was seen as passé by Gen-Z's who dub it the "millennial hairstyle", stars off and on the red carpet, along with major catwalks, have proven that the side-parting is here to stay thanks to its easy and versatile nature.
“What hair type is the most attractive in the world?” has no single answer, because beauty standards are cultural and personal. What matters most is how healthy, cared-for, and confident your hair type allows you to feel.
The answer could be quite simple: social media, especially TikTok. The cut pinpoints the internet's fascination with the middle part to the summer of 2020 when a TikToker insisted that anyone can look good with their hair parted down the middle.
Many men love straight hair for its sleek look and glamorous, flowy vibe. Straight hair is smooth, silky, and super shiny, which definitely catches a lot of guys' eyes. Whether it's short or long, straight hair always seems to fall beautifully, which can give women a soft look that plenty of guys go crazy for.
The 2.25-inch hair rule is a popular guideline, developed by hairstylist John Frieda, to help determine if short hair suits you: place a pencil horizontally under your chin and a ruler vertically under your ear; if the measurement from your earlobe to the pencil intersection is less than 2.25 inches, short hair may be flattering, while over 2.25 inches suggests longer styles might be better, focusing on jawline angles.
The Most Flattering Hair Part for Your Face Shape
In fact, it all comes down to which one flatters your face shape. “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.”
The Hair Part Theory is the idea that the way you part your hair affects how others perceive you — and maybe even how you feel. It's not science (yet 👀), but it is fun. Think of it as style + psychology + ✨vibes✨. Left part = logic, masculinity, confidence, assertiveness.
To look younger, older women can choose cuts that add volume, frame the face with soft layers or bangs (like curtain, wispy, or side-swept), and incorporate movement, with popular styles including textured lobs, modern shags, face-framing pixies, or layered bobs that lift features and soften lines, rather than heavy, one-length styles. The key is to avoid harshness, add lift with volume around the crown/cheekbones, and embrace texture for a fresh, modern look.
In haircuts, numbers 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 refer to clipper guard sizes, which are plastic attachments that control hair length; the higher the number, the longer the hair. A #1 is about 1/8 inch, #2 is 1/4 inch, #3 is 3/8 inch, #4 is 1/2 inch, and #5 is 5/8 inch, with each number leaving progressively more hair for fades, buzz cuts, and other styles.
The Blunt Bob
Everyone was cutting their long hair into chin-length bobs this past year, and the trend isn't slowing down for the new year. “I love the classic one-length bob with no internal layering,” says Ballance. Sleek, structured, and clean, this haircut makes a bold statement and is super timeless.
Certain days, especially Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday are observed as inauspicious for grooming activities, and this belief is not random.
Yes, a $5 tip on a $20 haircut is good, as it's 25%, exceeding the standard 15-20% ($3-$4) and shows appreciation for good service, making it a generous gesture, especially if the service was excellent.
After a few days, your hair softens and begins to move in a way that complements the cut. Much like breaking in a new pair of shoes, your hair needs a little time to adapt, making the style look more natural and effortless.