How To Change Part Direction

The side part was never really dead, but it’s back in a big way.  Side saddle and butterfly fringes are great compliments to short hybrid cuts, mid-length lobs and longer layers.  It’s one the easiest ways to be on trend this season without having to do that much.  But how easy is it to change a part?  Top stylist Sam Villa, Co-founder and Chief Creative Officer of Sam Villa and Global Artistic Ambassador for Redken, explains how to train hair to switch directions.

“The middle part has been popular for so long that hair will tend to want to live there now, so you have to work to change your root direction, basically alter hair at the base, in order for it to fall to the side now,” explains Villa.

How To Change Part Direction

• Apply a mousse or lotion to wet hair at the base (roots).
• Use the hook of a comb to neatly carve out a side part.
• Use the fine teeth of the comb to smooth and reset the growth pattern by combing hair to the side while trailing with the nozzle of a blow dryer focusing heat and air at the root in the direction hair should fall.  For natural textures, apply product on wet hair, comb into place and let air dry or diffuse to dry.

A comb works better than a brush because it can reach further down the hair shaft and grab hair closer to the root.  The fine teeth also provide more tension for redirecting.

How long will it take to retrain hair for a solid side part?  It all depends on how often hair is shampooed.  Hair should stay in place if it does not get wet…and sooner or later it will fall into the new pattern automatically.

Suggested Tools and Products

• Sam Villa Signature Series Long Cutting Comb – has a hook and fine teeth.
• Sam Villa Professional Light Ionic Blow Dryer – comes with a rotating nozzle.
• Redken Root Lifter Volumizing Mousse

Credit: Hair/Sam Villa; Creative Director and Photographer/Teresa Romero; Model: Irena Kukh.

Sam Villa is Co-founder and Chief Creative Officer of the Sam Villa Company (Allvus, LLC), a leading education and styling tool company for the professional hair industry. He is also Global Artistic Ambassador for Redken 5^th Avenue, a L’Oreal brand. Villa is the 2021 NAHA Educator of the Year, Hair Awards USA Hall of Fame Inductee, 2021 AHP Icon Stylist Influencer of the Year, 2020 International Hairdressing Awards ‘International Hair Influencer of the Year,’ the 2017 NAHA Lifetime Achievement Award Winner, Intercoiffure America/Canada Member, Behind the Chair Stylist Choice Award Winner for Favorite Platform Artist and Educator (2012, 2011 and 2007) and Favorite Overall Educator of the Year (2015). His inspiring education and innovative ergonomic styling tools can be experienced on samvilla.com. The Sam Villa brand brings free digital education to everyone including hot tips and techniques, as well as access to livestreamed educational events. The company also offers professional tools for consumers so they can achieve salon-quality results at home with minimum effort.

Facebook: @SamVillaPros; Instagram: @SamVillaHair;  YouTube: @SamVillaHair;

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