Center parts are back in fashion, but they'll always be “bum parts” to me. My older sister always used to tease me and give me heaps when I was a kid wearing a center part- gibing me with digs like “Nice bum part loser.” But now they've got a new lease of life, apparently. I saw the news in the pages of one of the better hairstyling magazines around at the moment, Hair, June 09.
Here are some tips if you're thinking of trying a center part yourself:
- Center parts divide the face into two equal portions and typically create the illusion of length. For that reason hairstyles with center parts are a good choice for face shapes that could do with a little length- like round and square faces.
- If you have long straight hair and you'd like to wear it out with a center part but you don't want to look like Neil from The Young Ones (i.e. the “curtain hair effect”) then get some layers in your lengths.
- Center parts draw attention to the face so make the most out of the spotlight and emphasize your eyes with eyeshadow.
- If you're not sporting your natural hair color and you're keen for a ruler-straight center part then you're going to need regular touch-ups on your roots.
- Try playing with a mix of different textures for effect; for example a neat parting mixed with tousled lengths can look great.
- Speaking for myself, I think I've finally let go of my hang-ups about center parts and their similarity to bottoms (thanks to my sister ingraining that idea into my head), and although I will always call them “bum parts,” I'm ready to strap myself in and try a center part again.