Is The Gen-Z Middle Part Still Going Strong?

Gen Z has declared the middle part the It hairstyle of the moment, but are millennials ready to let go of the side part? Young TikTok creators have vehemently spoken out about the side part, justifying their love for the middle part by saying that the style is more universally flattering. Although the side part has reigned strong in beauty trends across the decades, Gen Z has relegated it to the level of skinny jeans, dismissing the style as yet another holdover from past eras of fashion that Millenials won't let go of, inciting a widespread debate on the internet between the generations. 

The argument began when TikTok creators like @glowyberd started posting videos with the declaration: "Prove me wrong, but I don't think there is a single person who looks better with a side part than they do with a middle part." This video went viral almost immediately, prompting users to try out the #middlepartchallenge and determine if they looked better with a middle part or a side part, which they decided through a side-by-side comparison. 

Some users instantaneously decided they preferred the middle part, but many were not pleased with their trendy new look. Posters argued that the middle part simply does not work with their hair, citing cowlicks, unruly baby hairs, or a lack of volume, but aficionados of the middle part quickly replied, telling the doubters that all they needed to do was train their hair. 

While fashion and beauty are ultimately about self-expression, there's no denying that trends, especially ones that have gone viral to this degree, have an influence on our personal tastes. Of course, there's no right or wrong way to style your hair, but Gen Z's widespread fascination with the middle part elicits curiosity into why younger generations are so obsessed with the style. 

The Cut theorizes that "Middle parts picked up a divisive reputation because in terms of math and such, they shine a spotlight on symmetry. They also put all of one’s face front and center with nowhere to hide. Gen Z is a generation that champions embracing flaws, like the under-eye bags you’re so quick to shun, so it’s no surprise it supports a part that proudly bares it all." On the other side of the aisle, Justine Marjan, a Los Angeles hairstylist interviewed by Allure pointed out the downsides of a middle part and said, "Middle parts are also much less forgiving. Something super-centered can make imperfections and asymmetries more apparent than a side part — and most of us do not have perfectly symmetrical features."

Whether you're on the side of millennials—telling teens on TikTok that they can pry your side part out of your cold, dead hands—or you're a Gen Z middle part truther, this beauty debate has lasted for years, and will likely see no conclusion anytime soon, although some of our favorite celebrity style icons have subtly weighed in on the debate, sporting sleek middle parts and deep side parts alike.

If you've tried out the #middlepartchallenge but need a second source on what style to sport this season, take inspiration from effortlessly stylish celebs like Sydney Sweeney, Laura Harrier, and Zendaya, who have rocked the side part with no shame, while Kaia Gerber, Ayo Edebiri, and Hunter Schafer are staunchly on the middle part side.