Training Your Hair/Changing Your Part

Moving your part is a fun way to change around your look.  After 15+ years of parting my hair to the left, I decided it was time to change it up.  I'm not sure what exactly inspired me to do it, but I thought I'd try parting my hair down the middle to see how it looked on me.  Training my hair to part down the center has taken a lot of patience, but three months later, I think my hair has finally gotten the hang of it.  If you are looking for some tips on training your hair to part either on a different side or down the center, here are a few words of wisdom that may help you out.

Part It Right After You Shower
After you wash your hair and take it down from the towel, comb through it and immediately part it where you want it.  This will help your hair to dry in the right position.  You can use a rat tail comb to get an even part.  More often than not, I just use my pinky finger.

Direct The Heat From Your Blow Dryer
This is very important and is something I was doing wrong initially.  When you're trying to train your hair for a new part, DO NOT flip your head over to blow dry it!  Doing so makes it harder to get it to part back in the right spot and creates lots of flyaways at the front of your part.  Instead, point the nozzle of the dryer down and direct the heat downward from the front of the part.  Use your fingers to help smooth the hair down as you dry it.

Use Product To Tame Flyaways
I tried using hairspray, serum, and a few other products, but Big Sexy Hair's Big Boost styling cream is my favorite.  It provides light hold but is not shiny or heavy.  I found that the hairs at the front of my part wanted to go in every direction because it wasn't used to parting down the middle.  This stuff really helped to keep it under control.  Clear brow gel also works and is a great on-the-go solution since it's easy to keep in your purse.

Sleep With Bobby Pins
I got this very helpful tip from my hairdresser.  I would also keep them in my hair at home during the day or in the car (and I'd take them out before getting out of the car).  Not only does this help to direct the hair, but it also helps to keep the flyaways at bay.

Be Patient!
Successfully re-training your hair is not something that will happen overnight.  As I mentioned earlier, it took my hair about three months to learn the center part.  It requires extra maintenance, and you will also have more volume on one side than the other for a while.  But these little annoyances will all go away eventually, and it's worth it in the end.  I am loving my new center part and think I'll keep it for a long time.

I hope this was helpful, and please share your tips with me if you've changed your part!