HENRI’s guide to a classic side part
The Classic Side Part: The stylist's guide to a sharp side part
The classic side part is the uniform of men's hairstyles. It has survived all trends and waves of fashion for one simple reason: It signals control, authority, and neatness. But getting a Side Part to sit sharply all day requires more than just running a comb through the hair.
It requires a geometric understanding of how your hair grows, and it requires the right hold. If the shape is forced with the wrong products, the result ends up stiff and unnatural.
Here is the stylist's guide on how a proper side part is cut in the salon, and how you style it at home.
The craftsmanship: Find your natural fall
The biggest mistake men make with a side part is forcing the hair in a direction it does not want to go. Hair has a natural "whorl" at the back of the crown that dictates which way the hair falls.
If you force the parting against this whorl, the hair will always try to rise during the day, and you will end up in a constant battle against your own hair strands. In the salon, the natural fall is therefore always located before the scissors are even put to use. The parting must be placed exactly where the hair naturally divides itself.
Length and proportions
A Side Part requires strong contrasts so as not to become clunky. The sides and the back of the neck must be cut tight – often with a scissors-over-comb technique or a light fade – to create a clean, square silhouette. The top needs enough length to be laid down flat, but it must simultaneously be thinned out slightly so the hair does not collapse under the weight of the styling product.
How to style a Side Part
A classic side part requires shine and control. Here, dry clay waxes are useless, as they make the hair matte and impossible to comb through.
Step-by-step styling
- Step 1: Start with towel-dried hair. Pomade is distributed most evenly when the hair still has a little moisture. Make sure to dry it lightly with the towel in the direction the hair should sit.
- Step 2: Draw the line. Use a fine comb to draw the parting. Draw the line from the forehead and straight back towards the crown, exactly where your natural fall is.
- Step 3: Lock the shape with pomade. Take a pea-sized amount of pomade. Warm it thoroughly in the palms of your hands and run it through the hair in the direction of the parting. Ensure the product gets all the way down to the roots.
- Step 4: The final finish. Use the comb to set the final shape. The pomade provides the classic shine and holds the hair in place without hardening like a cheap gel.
The rational product choice: Water-based pomade
In the old days, oil-based pomade was used, which was close to impossible to wash out of the hair. HENRI's Crystal Pomade is formulated differently. It is water-based. This means you get the polished, combed hold you need, but it can be washed straight out with clean water in the shower.
At the same time, it does not lock the hair in place. If your Side Part gets messed up during the day, simply use a slightly dampened comb or hand, after which the hairstyle is pulled back into shape.
Frequently asked questions about the side part
Does a Side Part work for thin hair?
Not optimally. The side part requires a certain hair density to create the distinct, sharp line. If you have a receding hairline or early hair loss on top, a classic Side Part will simply highlight the missing volume. Here, a shorter, textured hairstyle will be a stronger choice.
Should I get a hard part cut?
Some men prefer to have the parting line itself shaved into the hair with clippers to make it extra distinct. This gives an extremely sharp look here and now, but it requires a trip to the chair every 14 days when the stubble begins to grow out in the parting. A natural parting is almost always recommended, as it is more flexible and grows out better.
The classic cut
The side part is not a trend; it is a standard. But that assumes the foundation is cut correctly. Sit in the chair, and let the stylist find the line that matches your fall and your profile.