Side Part – the Classic Side Part

The side part is an elegant men’s hairstyle with a clearly defined parting. It is one of the timeless classics of men’s hairstyling and can be worn in both traditional and modern ways.

The longer hair on top is parted on one side and then combed across and slightly backwards. Pomade provides control, definition, and the desired shine. Depending on the styling, the side part can look particularly sleek and formal or slightly more relaxed and natural.

Thanks to its versatile shape, the side part is suitable for elegant everyday hairstyles, classic business looks, and traditional barbershop styles.

History of the Side Part

The side part has been one of the defining men’s hairstyles since the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Particularly between the 1920s and 1950s, it represented a well-groomed, elegant appearance.

Film stars, businessmen, and gentlemen wore their hair with a neatly defined parting and a sleek, often shiny surface. Classic oil-based pomade held the hairstyle in place without hardening completely and allowed it to be recombed at any time.

Today, the side part is worn both in its traditional form with longer, neatly combed sides and in modern variations with a taper, fade, or hard part.

Typical Characteristics of a Side Part

clearly visible side parting
hair on top combed across and slightly backwards
neatly laid or swept-back sides
clean lines and well-groomed contours
flexible hold
natural to high shine, depending on the variation

The parting should follow the hair’s natural growth direction as closely as possible. This makes the hairstyle easier to shape and helps it stay reliably in place.

Where Should the Side Parting Be Placed?

The natural parting can often be found where the hair separates into two directions on its own when combed back. The highest point of the outer eyebrow arch can provide additional guidance.

First comb slightly damp hair completely backwards. Then observe where it naturally separates on one side. This line is usually the best choice for a balanced side part that is easy to style.

Tip: A parting that runs strongly against the natural growth direction requires more hold and often needs to be prepared with a blow-dryer and brush.

What Hair Length Does a Side Part Require?

A classic side part can be styled with relatively short hair on top. For a clearly defined shape combed across and backwards, the hair on top should generally be at least around five to eight centimetres long.

The following are helpful:

hair on top that is long enough to create a visible parting line
a slightly longer front section for volume and shape
neatly cut sides or sides that can be combed back
a haircut that follows the natural growth direction

With longer hair on top, the side part can be worn with more volume and swept further back. Shorter hair, by contrast, creates a compact, particularly precise, and low-maintenance variation.

Which Hair Types Are Suitable for a Side Part?

Hair Type	Suitability	Recommendation
Straight Hair	very suitable	use a medium-firm pomade for clean lines and flexible hold
Fine Hair	very suitable	use only a small amount of product and pre-shape with a blow-dryer for more volume
Thick or Dense Hair	suitable	use a firm pomade for reliable control
Wavy Hair	suitable with appropriate preparation	smooth the waves or incorporate them into the hairstyle as relaxed texture
Curly Hair	suitable with appropriate preparation	pre-shape with a blow-dryer and brush or preserve the natural texture

Which Pomade Is Suitable for a Side Part?

For many side-part hairstyles, a medium-firm pomade is the best starting point. It provides enough control for a clearly defined parting while remaining flexible and easy to work with.

The required firmness depends mainly on hair thickness, density, and the desired shape. Fine or easily manageable hair often works well with a soft to medium-firm pomade. Thick or unruly hair usually requires a firm variety.

Type of Pomade	Result	Special Feature
Oil-Based Pomade	classic, flexible, and usually shiny	remains recombable and is particularly suitable for traditional looks
Water-Based Pomade	precise, neat, and firm	often hardens and is usually easy to wash out
UWB Pomade	flexible with a natural to shiny finish	combines recombability with generally easier washability

For a traditional side part, the pomade can have medium to high shine. Modern variations, by contrast, can also be styled with a pomade that has a natural or matte finish.

How to Style a Side Part – Step by Step

Step 1 – Prepare the Hair

First comb through the hair completely. Depending on the desired result, pomade can be worked into dry or slightly damp hair.

Dry Hair: usually provides more hold, volume, and texture as well as a more matte finish.
Slightly Damp Hair: makes the pomade easier to distribute and creates a smoother, often shinier finish.

If the hair on top needs more volume or grows strongly in the wrong direction, it can first be pre-shaped with hair tonic or a prestyler and a blow-dryer.

Step 2 – Find the Natural Parting

First comb the hair on top completely backwards. Then find the point where the hair naturally separates. Use the fine teeth of the comb to create a clear line there.

Carefully divide the hair into a larger top section and a smaller side section. The parting should run backwards from the front hairline in an even line.

Step 3 – Scoop Out and Distribute the Pomade

Start by scooping out only a small amount of pomade. Rub the product thoroughly between your palms and fingers until it is soft and evenly distributed.

Start with a small amount of pomade and work in additional small portions if necessary. Too much product can weigh down fine hair in particular and reduce its volume.

Step 4 – Work the Pomade into the Hair

Start by working the pomade into the hair from the back of the head towards the front. Distribute the product evenly from roots to ends, rather than applying it only to the visible surface of the hair.

Then run your hands through the hair from front to back. Make sure that the sides and the sections of hair immediately beside the parting also receive enough product.

Step 5 – Redefine the Parting

After working in the pomade, redefine the parting with the fine teeth of the comb. This creates a clear and precise dividing line.

Comb the smaller section of hair down to the side or diagonally backwards. Guide the longer hair on top to the opposite side and slightly backwards.

Step 6 – Shape the Hair on Top

First comb the hair on top across and backwards using the wide teeth. For a flat and particularly elegant shape, guide the comb close to the head.

If the side part should have more volume, lift the front section slightly while combing. The hair can also be directed this way with a blow-dryer and brush before applying the pomade.

Step 7 – Refine the Contours and Finish

Carefully smooth the surface of the hair with the fine teeth of the comb. Refine the parting, arrange individual strands, and finish the sides neatly.

Flyaway hairs can be laid down with a very small additional amount of pomade. Avoid using so much product that the entire hairstyle looks unnecessarily heavy or flat.

Tip: Begin with the wide teeth to pre-shape the hairstyle, then use the fine teeth for the parting, contours, and a precise finish.

Flat or Voluminous Side Part?

Flat, Classic Side Part

For a sleek hairstyle that lies close to the head, work the pomade into slightly damp hair. Comb the hair on top across and backwards without lifting it significantly. A soft to medium-firm, shiny pomade enhances the classic look.

Side Part with Volume

For more volume, first pre-shape the slightly damp hair upwards to the side and then backwards using a blow-dryer and brush. Work the pomade sparingly into the dry hair so that the prepared height is preserved.

The front section can be lifted slightly while combing. This creates a voluminous side part that can flow smoothly into a low pompadour.

Side Part Variations

Classic Side Part: a clear parting line, longer sides, and a sleek, shiny finish.
Business Side Part: a compact, well-groomed shape with natural to medium shine.
Side Part with Volume: the front section is lifted and shaped across and backwards.
Side-Part Pompadour: the side part is combined with a clearly raised and curved front section.
Modern Side Part: shorter sides with a taper or fade and a more natural or matte finish.
Hard Part: the barber cuts or shaves the parting line into the hair as a narrow line.
Relaxed Side Part: less strictly combed and with visible natural hair texture.

Natural Parting or Hard Part?

With a classic side part, the parting is created simply by running a comb along the natural dividing line. This variation looks traditional and can be adjusted flexibly.

With a hard part, the barber visibly emphasises the parting line using clippers or a razor. This makes the parting look particularly sharp and modern, but it must be trimmed regularly.

Note: A hard part should be created professionally by a barber. An incorrectly positioned line can run against the natural growth direction and is difficult to correct while growing out.

Common Styling Mistakes

placing the parting in an unnatural position
working strongly against the growth direction without pre-shaping the hair with a blow-dryer
using too much pomade at once
distributing the product only over the surface of the hair
applying the pomade mainly at the front hairline
choosing a pomade that is too soft for thick or unruly hair
weighing down fine hair with too much product
not continuing the parting neatly towards the back
removing all the volume by applying too much pressure with the comb

The best result is achieved when the parting follows the growth direction, the pomade is applied in several small portions, and the hairstyle is roughly pre-shaped first.

Restyling a Side Part During the Day

Oil-based pomades and many UWB pomades remain flexible. The parting and shape can therefore be refreshed with a comb during the day. A little water or hair tonic can help make the pomade more manageable again.

Classic water-based pomades often harden. The hair should be slightly dampened before recombing, as combing through it while dry can break up the firm hold.

You can find more information about pomade, how to use it, and classic men’s hairstyles in the Pomade Academy.