The Middle Part Hairstyle: Men's Curtains Guide

The middle part — also called curtains, eboy hair, or simply a centre part — is one of those styles that looks effortless precisely because it is. Hair grown to 4–6 inches on top, parted at the crown down the centre, and swept to either side so it falls past the temples and frames the face. No height, no volume manipulation, no architectural fade required. The look has 90s roots (the curtains style was everywhere in the Britpop and grunge era) and came back through social media into mainstream men's barbering, where it now sits as one of the most requested medium-length styles for younger men. The key is growing enough length, picking the right part position for your face, and understanding that very little product is actually needed to wear it well.

What makes a middle part work

Three things determine whether a middle part looks intentional or just like hair that hasn't been styled:

1. Length: The curtains effect depends on the hair being long enough to fall past the temples and form two panels that frame the sides of the face. At 4 inches, you're at the minimum — just enough to sweep to the sides. At 5–6 inches, the hair sits more naturally and sweeps more fully. Under 3.5 inches, it tends to flick out sideways rather than draping properly.
2. The part line: Dead centre works for oval and oblong faces. If your face is slightly asymmetrical or you have a strong jaw, a near-centre part (shifted 3–5mm from the absolute centre) often looks more natural without anyone being able to identify why.
3. Hair texture: Straight (type 1) and lightly wavy (type 2a–2b) hair holds the curtains shape most easily. Wavy hair adds movement, which can look excellent. Tightly curly hair will spring away from the part rather than draping — a different approach is needed for type 3 and 4 hair.

The 90s curtains vs. the modern middle part

The 90s curtains look typically used a heavy, often slightly wavy length that touched the chin or collar — longer than most modern versions. Today's middle part is usually kept shorter (4–6 inches, landing at or just below the cheekbones rather than the jaw or neck), giving it a cleaner, less dated silhouette. The fringe element of the modern version is also often more defined — a soft forward section that falls toward the eyes when the hair isn't swept back — closer to a curtain fringe than the full, heavy centre part of the original.

For more on this specific fringe variation and how it integrates into a full style, see the men's fringe guide.

Middle part vs. side part vs. two-block

The two-block cut is the K-pop influenced version of the same medium-length concept, with a hard disconnect between the longer top and the very short or shaved sides. The side part uses the same length range but shifts the part off-centre, which suits a wider range of face shapes and is more conservative in professional settings.

How to style a middle part

1. Wash and towel-dry hair so it's damp but not dripping.
2. Use a fine-tooth comb or the edge of a wide-tooth comb to find and set the centre part. Run it from the crown forward to the hairline in one clean line.
3. Apply a very small amount of low-hold cream or lightweight pomade — a fingertip's worth. Too much product makes the curtains stiff and shiny rather than natural-looking.
4. Comb or brush each side away from the part, sweeping the hair toward the temples and letting it fall naturally.
5. Allow to air-dry for the most natural finish. If you use a dryer, use a medium heat setting and a round brush to guide each side away from the part as it dries.
6. Once dry, do not re-comb — the slight movement and any natural texture that appears is part of the look.

Growing the length for a middle part

The awkward phase between a short crop and a functional middle part is roughly 2–4 inches — long enough to be unruly, not long enough to sweep properly. The easiest way through it is to keep the sides neat (a low taper or low fade, refreshed every 4–5 weeks) while letting the top grow without cutting. At around 3.5 inches, the fringe begins to reach the point where it can be directed to the side. At 4–4.5 inches, it genuinely starts to sit as a curtains style. Combing it into the parted position every day from the 3-inch mark onwards trains the growth direction early.

For more on managing the grow-out process, the how to grow hair faster guide covers the practical side — nutrition, trimming frequency, and what actually matters.