How you part your hair is a surprisingly simple hair makeover that changes… well, everything.

Hair parts are one of those underrated, fly-under-the-radar ways to change your look: Just flick your hair the other way and you’ve accomplished an instant hair makeover, free of charge.

You can change your part to emphasize your fave features (while downplaying your not-so-favorite), not to mention take years off your face. But did you know you can also transform the look of your outfit?

“Your hair part can change everything about your look,” says Michael Duenas, celebrity hairstylist and founder of Hair Room Service. “You can go from business to party, carefree to fashionable with just the slightest change to your part.”

This simple hair makeover plays an important role with every outfit. If you want your outfit to make a specific statement or express your mood, your hair has to coincide:

A middle part is strong, yet simple. Perfect if you’re going for sleek and classic (a la Joni Mitchell), it opens up your face and exudes confidence. “Straight, middle-parted hair can also help avant garde outfits feel a bit more mainstream,” says beauty expert Alexis Wolfer, author of “The Recipe for Radiance: Discover Beauty’s Best-Kept Secrets In Your Kitchen.”

A side part is soft and flirty. “They’re much more reminiscent of a youthful, playful look,” says Duenas, not to mention the action of your hair falling in your eyes can be very seductive (Grrr, baby!). Side parts can also be sleek – for example, with a low ponytail – and convey a more modern look.

A dramatic side part is edgy. The simpler your outfit, the more dramatic your part should be. “It adds a bit of edge to any outfit, making even the simplest little black dress feel modern and new,” says Wolfer. It’s also a natural volumizer for every hair type.

A zigzag part is uber-casual. If you’re looking to dress down your work outfit for a night out with the girls, the zigzag part will become your new BFF. Use your fingers instead of a comb to make the part as haphazard as possible, as a precise zigzag will be counterproductive to your goal. (Bonus: In a pinch, it’s a great way to camouflage overgrown roots!).

No part or pushed back is sexy. It’s less intentional and more casual. (I’m, too sexy for my part…)

“Changing your part seems like such a small thing, but by doing so you can give off a completely different vibe – even while wearing the exact same outfit,” says Marco Berardini, celebrity hairstylist and founder of EVOLUTIONMAN.

The best part? (No pun intended.) It’s a hair makeover that’s fun, non-committal, and can be completed in under 30 seconds. If you don’t like how your new part looks, all it takes is one flip of your hair and BAM – you’re a whole new you.

When you’re in need of a hair makeover, do you switch up your part?

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Image: Marta Norgaard

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