It’s no secret that the different generations love to debate new cultural trends and norms. The latest topic that has sparked a rather fierce debate online concerns hair, and how you part it. Millennials are pro side part while Gen Z is staunchly for the middle part. Each side argues that their preferred way of parting their hair is more flattering and more achievable than the other. 

Where Did The Debate Start?

It's unknown who started the actual debate between middle and side parts. The first remnants of the debate appeared on TikTok in the summer of 2020. Before this, a large group of younger, popular TikTokers began sporting a middle part. Charli D’Amelio, Addison Rae, and Bella Poarch were just a few Gen Z influencers who were really responsible for pushing middle parts into the mainstream. This coincided very well with the rise of the e-girl aesthetic, a blend of emo, scene, and goth subcultures that further popularized the hairstyle. Side parts, who for a long time had enjoyed a grace period as the most fashionable and well-liked parting method suddenly had some stiff competition. This takes us to the summertime 2020 when news articles began to pick up on the style changes and declared the side part “dead” and “unfashionable”. This, obviously, caused some backlash among those who still wore and enjoyed the side part. While not exclusively millennials, the majority of people online who were staunchly defending the hairstyle were in that generation. Thus, two sides to the generational debate.

Reactionary Styles and the Fashion Cycle

An interesting part of this debate is both hairstyles are reactionary ones. A reactionary style is a style that is a direct response and challenging of norms. Middle parts for millennials are a tired, old, style worn by older women because when growing up, that style was prevalent. Thus parting the hair on the side became a reaction to the popular style of the day. As millennials began to get older and take over the young adult population, side parts moved more and more into the mainstream. This very much mirrors how middle parts came back into style. Gen Z kids grew up with side parts as the dominant style and thus have the same feeling as millennials, just for a different style. If the fashion cycle continues as normal, we will see a similar bridging into the mainstream.

All In Good Fun!

For the most part, this debate is being had all in good fun. People enjoy poking fun at people older/younger than they are. Wherever you fall, may you be Gen Z or millennial, the most important thing when it comes to parting your hair is doing it how you like it. However you part your hair, just make sure you enjoy it and love it. If it flatters your appearance, do it! Who cares about a silly debate…

— Arden