How often do you have to refresh a hard part?

Some hard parts need to be redrawn every one to two weeks while others can last for up to four weeks without a follow-up visit to the barber. Upkeep will depend on a few factors: the width of your hard part (thicker parts will be more noticeable growing in than finer ones), the accompanying hairstyle (some parts organically blend into certain hairstyles when growing out), and your personal preference on how clean and crisp you want your hard part to appear.

Do I need to go to the barber to get a hard part or can I do it myself?

Since a hard part requires precision cutting all the way to the scalp, it's recommended to see a skilled barber rather than attempting to DIY at home.

How should you style your hair with a hard part?

If you have some length on top, you can comb your hair over to the opposite side of your hard part or tousle to create texture. Using a gel or pomade will help to hold your style in place and add volume, texture, and/or shine. If you've got short hair, your hard part will elevate your cut on its own.

16 Hard Part Haircuts That Are as Versatile as They Are Cool

There are so many types of haircuts to choose from if you have short hair. For starters, there are pompadours and quiffs, but there are also a handful of high and low fade styles to choose from. We love this ride range of traditionally men's haircuts, but few are as sharp as hard part haircuts.

This type of cut is done by having your barber shave a clean, defined part known as the hard part. They stand apart from other types of hairstyles as they demand a certain preciseness to achieve that sharp, fresh look. Typically, a hard part is shaved by your barber with a safety razor blade or an electric shaver. It requires a certain degree of upkeep, but with the right technique it can also grow out seamlessly. Regardless, having a hard part cut makes any haircut look like a hairstyle, no matter how long or short your hair is.

Similar to a fresh fade, hard part cuts look intentional, stylish, and modern. Below, two professional barbers share their thoughts on the variety of hard part cuts and how to best achieve them. Keep scrolling to see how some of your favorite celebrities, from David Beckham and Drake to Nick Jonas and Cristiano Ronaldo, style their cuts to inspire your next trip to the barber shop.

Meet the Expert

Alex Brenard is a barber at Blind Barber Philadelphia.
Jessica Ortiz is a celebrity groomer and stylist whose clients include Rami Malek, Timothée Chalamet, and Darren Criss.

Keep scrolling for 20 hard part haircuts to inspire your next trip to the barber.

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Classic Fade

A hard part and a fade make a great team. "The crispness of the edge-up naturally fading into the part creates a softness around the face, and can help soften an uneven hairline," says Ortiz of Nick Jonas's look.

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Gentleman's Cut

Salt-and-pepper facial hair adds interest to this sleek 'do. "A hard part creates a very 'slick' look," says Brenard of Idris Elba's super-short look.

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High and Tight

hard part haircut — Anthony Harvey/Getty Images

Not all hard parts need to be redrawn every week. Some of them grow out neatly and allow the hairstyle to take on new forms, while other hard part haircuts might need routine weekly or biweekly maintenance. According to Brenard, Cristiano Ronaldo's style lasts a while between cuts since the clippers bring all the short hair up high, just below the part.

Byrdie Tip

When deciding what hard part is right for you, ask your barber about upkeep so that you can anticipate how frequently you will need to come in for them to clean it up.

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Wavy Hard Part

Contrasting textures and a boost of volume at the roots play out nicely in this look. "The subtle hard part enhances the less conservative faded sides," Brenard says of this cut. "But then there are texture, waves, and length up top, which all look good as long as a strong-hold product is used to keep things under control." Try BluMaan Monarch Matte Paste to get the look.

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Short Side Part

While a DIY hard part may be tempting, some styles are left best to the pros. "The crisp lines around the temple accentuate the hard part nicely," Brenard says. "This shows some expert-level use of a straight razor." Apply a light coat of hair balm to keep strays in check while enhancing the hair’s texture.

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Pompadour

A hard part gives the 1950s pompadour a modern makeover, as seen on Maluma. "If you are leaving length on top like this, I advise keeping the width of the hard part thin," says Brenard. "There is a nice balance created between the skin taper and low tight fade."

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Undercut

A hard part is a quick and easy way to add a little something extra to your 'do. "Since the fade doesn’t get down close to the skin, and Sergio Ramos has a heavy head of hair up top, the hard part is the star of this cut," Brenard points out. "That’s something to be conscious of when committing to a hard part with dark hair and no kind of skin fade... the hard part will absolutely be the most noticeable thing on your head."

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Mirrored

A hard part might sound tough but that doesn't mean you can't have fun with it. "This is a really creative approach to a hard part, in that it’s paired with a design line," says Brenard of Jason Derulo's look. "They sort of mirror each other. Beware though—this kind of a cut will require some high maintenance regular upkeep to stay looking fresh."

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Short Hard Part

When growing out a haircut, you want to avoid that awkward stage—and a hard part can help. "Refreshing a hard side part can help extend a haircut that started as a skin fade as it grows out," Ortiz says. "This sharp, short hard part can be achieved by an experienced barber using a razor." Just look to Ryan Reynolds as an example.

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Geometric Designs

For the bold and creative, hard part cuts with geometric designs offer a next level approach to grooming. To take it a step further, take a cue from J. Balvin's book and dye each section a complementary shade to add even more dimension to the look.

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Curvy Part

Here's a part that creates a nice illusion around the head and gives Drake's hairstyle a creative twist.

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Modern Greaser

More subtle than the 1950s greaser 'do, Bad Bunny's contemporary take replaces volume with a hard part to create interest. "This natural hard part curves slightly with the head and enhances the softness of the haircut," Ortiz says.

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Kennedy Cut

If you have thick hair or at least a full head of hair, this classic style may be for you. "[David Beckham] took a very traditional cut and updated it with a shaved-in hard part," says Brenard. It's preppy with a side of edge.

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High Fade

If you have a round- or oval-shaped face, consider a hard part to sharpen your features. "This hard part really accentuates the hairline, creating a really uniform frame around the face," says Ortiz of Jamie Foxx's style. "The crispness of these lines creates angles that can enhance the bone structure."

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Long and Asymmetrical

Ortiz says that Justin Timberlake's longer cut will require a little more styling. "Use a low-shine, high-hold pomade to hold the slicked-back hair, add texture, and achieve a malleable finish."

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Quiff

A hard part gives Adam Levine's classic quiff a bold finish. "This style looks like it was blown out following the part to create a little volume on either side," says Ortiz. "To keep the volume and texture achieved, I would use a spray wax to give the hair shine and natural texture.

FAQ

How often do you have to refresh a hard part?

Some hard parts need to be redrawn every one to two weeks while others can last for up to four weeks without a follow-up visit to the barber. Upkeep will depend on a few factors: the width of your hard part (thicker parts will be more noticeable growing in than finer ones), the accompanying hairstyle (some parts organically blend into certain hairstyles when growing out), and your personal preference on how clean and crisp you want your hard part to appear.
Do I need to go to the barber to get a hard part or can I do it myself?

Since a hard part requires precision cutting all the way to the scalp, it's recommended to see a skilled barber rather than attempting to DIY at home.
How should you style your hair with a hard part?

If you have some length on top, you can comb your hair over to the opposite side of your hard part or tousle to create texture. Using a gel or pomade will help to hold your style in place and add volume, texture, and/or shine. If you've got short hair, your hard part will elevate your cut on its own.

31 Men's Haircuts That Are Longer On the Top and Shorter On the Sides