The Men's Middle Part: 27 Trending Hairstyle Variations
The middle part is a modern men's hairstyle that involves parting layered hair down the center of the head to create an effortlessly stylish, balanced look with natural volume and flow. This iconic style often features shorter sides and longer layers on top that emphasize the fringe, providing the fullness needed to achieve an attractive, textured center part with curtains. The signature "curtain fringe" frames the face and works with various lengths, hair types and personal styles.
The middle part haircut offers a versatile, alluring choice for guys who want a trendy look with universal appeal and styling flexibility, from classy and professional to messy and edgy.
In this article, we'll explore some cool variations of popular middle part hairstyles for men that will refresh your look and allow you to pull off this fresh trend confidently.
Popular Men's Middle Part Hairstyles
Stylish Classic Middle Part
The classic middle part is a stylish and versatile aesthetic characterized by two equal flowing sections on either side of the face for a look that screams old-school cool. The style balances angular features and can be neatly combed, tousled or slicked back for professional settings. Sea salt spray adds volume and brings a lived-in feel, but blown-out waves are an excellent alternative for enhancing natural texture.
Short Middle Part
The short middle part is a trendy, low-maintenance men's hairstyle that removes weight but adds freshness by trimming the back and sides to create a clean, minimalist look. The shorter length exudes sophistication and naturally falls into place with a light styling cream to offer shape and control. Use a fine-tooth comb to sharpen the part and run it lightly through the top for a neat finish. Tapered sides provide a modern touch, while the free-flowing edges maintain a natural feel.
Long Middle Part
A long middle part is an alluring choice for guys featuring hair that falls to the shoulders or beyond, exuding a grungy, laid-back vibe with its surfer-inspired energy. Wear it loose to highlight natural volume, or tie it back in a man bun or ponytail for a cleaner look. The center part evenly distributes fullness, which balance out the weight of the longer hair. Regular trims and careful layering keep the style playful and packed with movement.
Middle Part with Taper Fade
The middle part looks striking with a taper fade, offering a gradual transition to the shorter lengths around the sides of the head for a fun, slightly piece-y appearance. The side part draws the eye upward to frame the face, while the subtle fade offers a slimming effect around the jawline. Work a gel through your strands for a high-shine finish, or keep it simple with a lightweight pomade to add subtle lift.
Sleek Middle Part with Short Sides
A sleek middle part with short sides enhances natural facial symmetry and structure for a professionally elegant look that suits most men. The sharp, cropped sides contrast with the longer top, letting you maintain a neat, polished look as your hair grows. Use a blow dryer and round brush to lift the roots and add light volume around the crown. Ask your barber for a tapered finish to create a seamless, eye-catching transition.
Flowing Center Part
A flowing center part lets longer strands fall around the face, creating a softer style perfect for laid-back guys. Light layering brings dimension to the hair and works equally well on straight, wavy or naturally curly locks. A small amount of texturizing cream or mousse is all you need to achieve a soft-touch flow without weighing the hair down.
Short Textured Middle Part with Low Fade
A short, textured middle part with a low fade blends a defined top with clean, tapered sides. The middle part adds symmetry, while a few loose strands create a dynamic finish around the front. Pair it with a retro goatee for contrast, and use styling cream on towel-dried hair to enhance texture. A small amount of hair powder adds volume and keeps the look fresh between washes.
Middle Parted Brush Back
The middle-parted brush back offers a classy, contemporary look with a symmetrical structure and built-in texture. Use a wide-tooth comb for relaxed volume on top to keep a streamlined silhouette intact. Start with damp hair, then apply a lightweight pomade or styling cream to the locks for an impressive hold without shine. Shape with your fingers for a casual vibe that'll still turn heads.
Parted Curtains
Parted curtains are a sexy and playful men's hairstyle that radiates retro energy with their graceful, floppy look, offering a soft frame for the eyes and jawline. This heavy fringe style is rarely blunt-cut and generally features layers that give the hair a light, airy feel, letting your texture shine through. Blow-drying with a round brush will smooth the locks and add light lift. Grab a texturizing spray to bring more shape without sacrificing flow.
Textured Middle Part Flow
A textured middle part flow gives off a youthful, devil-may-care vibe with its subtle movement, volume and tousled appearance. The hair naturally falls around the face, while the part defines the otherwise unshaped bulk of your hair. This style softens square-shaped faces and adds light structure to elongated, angular features.
Messy Middle Part
The messy middle part is effortlessly cool, embracing texture and natural flow to create a fun, laid-back style. Loosely parted and tousled, it offers volume and movement without feeling overdone. The middle part adds enough structure to balance the tousled finish, making it an easy, flattering option for men seeking a no-fuss cut.
Middle Part Flow with Long Curtains
The middle part flow is a charming hairstyle that strikes a handsome balance between edgy and elegant, giving off a clean but carefree energy bound to impress. The part cleanly cuts through the center and flows back along the sides with subtle layers to bring volume without heaviness. Blow-dry the hair with a diffuser to enhance waves from the roots or finger-comb with a lightweight styling cream for natural separation that looks easygoing.
Loose Curtains
Loose curtains channel a clean, relaxed look with a soft middle part and gently arched front pieces. This style delivers a classic blend of youthful charm and understated structure, with the short back and sides making this a flattering, office-appropriate pick. Matte styling cream will keep natural waves lightweight and touchable, maintaining handsome flow around the forehead without stiffness.
Cool Middle Part with Temp Fade
A middle part is an excellent choice for younger guys and works seamlessly with a temp fade and short, choppy layers for a fresh, modern look. The parting adds structure to the top, while light tapering on the sides and back keeps things clean. Use a heavier gel for a sleek finish, or tousle the top on casual days for a more undone vibe.
Textured Wavy Middle Part
A textured, wavy middle part is a minimalist, relaxed hairstyle that perfectly balances polish and effortlessness. The loose, gently tousled curls help frame the angles of the face and express an easy yet stylish vibe. Use a little sea salt spray or texturizing mousse to elevate your hair's natural wave and give it that laid-back, boho feel.
Two Block Middle Part
The two block middle part is a stylish men's hairstyle that combines trendy elements to create a cool look. As a popular Korean trend, this dapper cut pairs short, tapered sides with a long, loose top that allows the hair to fall around the eyes. The extra length gives the two block a layer of versatility; turning this style from runway to formal with a small amount of pomade or clay is straightforward.
Middle Part with Fade
A middle part with a fade is an eye-catching hybrid of traditional and modern styles. A sharp fade looks clean and defined, balancing the softer, more textured top. This cut works because of that contrast, so aim for layers and movement through the longer hair to play against the rigidity and shape of the fade.
Pulled Back Center Part with Short Sides
The pulled back center part with short sides is a classy, retro take. This style neatly pulls the hair from the face while maintaining a refined silhouette. The elegantly tapered sides blend into the longer textured top, shying away from the harshness of the undercut or edginess of the fade, creating a polished, uniform look that screams confidence. This example is perfect for gentlemen who want vintage charm with modern wearability.
Short Textured Center Part
The short textured center part is loose and tousled yet clean and cultivated, giving that perfect balance of control and charm. The hair on top is manageable but still provides enough length to show off your hair's natural movement. Use a medium-hold wax to hold it off your face and maintain that tight, structured shape while accentuating your waves or curls.
Messy Curly Middle Part
A messy, curly middle part projects a wild and carefree vibe while maintaining a sense of style and balance. The cut features irregular, voluminous curls that split to either side, framing your face and showing off the hair's natural bouncy texture. Use a curl cream in combination with a leave-in conditioner to achieve that messy, wet look.
Textured Middle Part with Undercut
The textured middle part contrasts with an undercut to dramatic effect. The clean, cropped undercut contours the look and draws attention upwards, while the longer top is free-flowing and natural. Loose waves or light curls shine here if they work for your hair, but any textured style works just as well.
Short Parted Curtains
Short, parted curtains are a masculine, sophisticated style for those seeking a versatile, low-maintenance approach. The soft waves accentuate the eyes and elongate the face while maintaining the flattering aesthetic of the classic middle part. Spritz some sea salt spray, blow dry the hair so it falls symmetrically and then use a medium-to-high hold, matte styling product to hold those curtains open.
Voluminous Parted Curtains
Voluminous parted curtains are a sculptured, striking choice for those blessed with thick hair. As a variation of the two block, this statement Asian men's hairstyle uses natural lift and texture to generate a understated, wavy middle part. Brush in a volumizing texture powder or sea salt spray to draw out as much body as possible, then style your curtains for a dramatic look.
Medium Parted Flow
A medium parted flow is a gentler, more natural approach to this hairstyle. The part is subtle, allowing the hair to effortlessly frame the face without conforming to a rigid structure. Cutting to a medium length and using sea salt spray with a texturizing pomade gives a carefree, beachy look that doesn't need much maintenance.
Middle Part with Mid Fade
The middle part with mid fade is a chiseled look that radiates masculinity while keeping a sense of individualism. Shaving your sides down to a skin fade around the temples accentuates the jawline and chiseling of the face, whereas the longer middle part allows some stylistic freedom. Comb the hair back with a wet gel for an old-school, gangster-inspired look, or let it fall loosely to let your hair's natural texture do the talking.
Long Curly Middle Part
The long, curly middle part is a sexy men's hairstyle that embraces the untamed drama of your curls. The tousled parting creates a loose, dynamic division but balances the look, providing a sense of rebellion and fun. The curly, long style cascades freely down to the neckline and exudes a rockstar-like youth and exuberance, making it perfect for surfers and teenage guys.
Attractive Long Flowing Middle Part
An effortlessly long, flowing middle part is a popular style for attractive guys who want to flatter their jawlines and cheekbones while deliberately showing off their lustrous locks. Past that, it's all about movement and volume. Long, textured hair projects free-spiritedness and virility, so enhance the full-bodied feel with a good misting of sea salt spray, bringing your natural waves or bends to the forefront.
What Is A Middle Part?
The middle part is a trendy hairstyle where the hair on top is split down the center of the head, allowing it to fall evenly on both sides of the face. Also known as the "curtain" haircut, the style is popular, charming and versatile but works best with longer straight, wavy and curly hair.
Middle-parted hairstyles are often textured, loose and slightly messy but can be polished and refined. For a shorter, low-maintenance variation, ask your barber for a taper or fade on the sides and back to complement the longer layers and heavy fringe.
How To Style A Middle Part
To style a middle part, start with clean, slightly damp hair, a texturizing sea salt spray, a matte styling clay, a comb and a blow dryer with a diffuser attachment.
For a step-by-step guide, follow these instructions to styling the perfect middle part hairstyle for men:
Step 1: Wash, Condition and Towel Dry
Use a moisturizing shampoo and conditioner to cleanse, hydrate and keep your hair healthy without stripping away its natural oils or drying it out. After, you'll want to gently towel dry your hair, leaving it slightly damp.
Step 2: Create The Middle Part
Brush your hair away from your face, parting it down the middle to loosely create the divide. A wide-tooth comb can be practical for a more polished look; otherwise, a brush or your fingers can provide a messy, wavy finish.
Step 3: Use A Sea Salt Spray For Natural Texture
Apply a texturizing sea salt spray evenly all over, and use your hands to scrunch the product into your hair, creating a healthy, natural look. This lightweight styling product enhances volume and flow while offering a softly tousled and live-in feel.
Step 4: Scrunch Dry with A Hair Dryer and Diffuser
Get the textured middle part hairstyle by gently scrunching your hair as you blow dry on low heat with a diffuser attachment. Start with the sides and back and work your way to the top, emphasizing the fringe that will be the foundation of your curtains.
Step 5: Apply A Styling Clay To Enhance Control and Texture
Use a small amount of styling clay to boost hold, shape and texture for a stylish finish. Warm up the product in your hands and apply by scrunching your hair with your fingers, starting at the roots and ending at the tips, achieving a messy, wavy look. To ensure it holds all day, emphasize the curtains and add more product as necessary.