Get Rid of a Straight Parting

Short hairstyle with a parting for women
Photo: Giulio Fornasar/Shutterstock
Q: I've had this really stubborn straight part in my hair for as long as I can remember, and I'm getting tired of it. I'd love to be able to just run my hand through my hair and brush it back without that obvious line showing up. Is there a way to train my hair? What's the best approach to finally get rid of this parting for good?
 
A: You're definitely not alone in this struggle. Many people deal with persistent natural parts that seem impossible to get rid of. The good news is that with the right technique and some patience, you can train your hair to break free from that stubborn straight parting.
 
The most effective approach starts right in the shower. After you've shampooed and conditioned your hair, give it a thorough rinse with warm water, but here's the key: instead of letting your hair fall naturally as you rinse, immediately start disrupting that parting pattern. Use your fingers to push your hair in different directions while the water is still running through it. This is when your hair is most pliable and receptive to change.
 
Once you're out of the shower, the real work begins. Grab a blow dryer and set it to a low or medium heat setting. As you're blow drying, continuously finger comb your hair in the direction you want it to go. The trick is to keep moving your hair around, never letting it settle into that familiar parting pattern. Dry your hair to about 80 or 90 percent dry, then let it finish air drying naturally while you continue to run your fingers through it occasionally.
 
This process is going to require some serious commitment on your part. If your parting has been there for years, your hair has essentially developed a memory for that position. The hair follicles have gotten used to growing in that direction. Breaking this pattern typically takes anywhere from two to six weeks of consistent effort, depending on your hair type and how deep-set that parting is.
 
During this training period, you can experiment with different styling products that can help support your efforts. A lightweight mousse applied to damp hair can give you some extra hold without weighing your hair down. Root lift sprays are particularly useful because they add volume at the scalp level, which helps counteract your hair's tendency to fall into that old parting pattern.
 
The reality is that some natural parts are more stubborn than others. If you've been working at this for several weeks without much success, the issue might not be your haircut itself. This is where a professional consultation can make all the difference. Many salon professionals specialize in working with clients' natural hair patterns rather than against them. A skilled stylist can analyze your hair's growth patterns and natural tendencies to create a cut that either eliminates the problematic parting or makes it much easier to style around.
 
Sometimes the solution involves strategic layering that redistributes the weight of your hair, making it less likely to fall into that old parting pattern. Other times, it might mean adjusting the overall length or adding subtle texture through cutting techniques that give you more styling flexibility.
 
©Hairfinder.com
 
See also:
 
Basic parting techniques
 
Should a girl part her hair on the side or in the middle?
 
How long (after a buzzcut) will it take to make a part line down the middle of the head go away?