Olivia Rodrigo, Taylor Swift and Kylie Jenner are bringing the side part back… a dermatologist explains why switching your look is a good thing for hair health

Celebrities like Taylor Swift, Kylie Jenner and Olivia Rodrigo are embracing the hairstyle that – up until recently – was considered uncool.

Aside from fitting in with style icons, it turns out the hair flip may actually be good for you.

Dr Elizabeth Geddes-Bruce, a Texas-based dermatologist, said changing your style can strengthen hair and make it less susceptible to breakage.

She explained: ‘If you put your hair the same way all the time, then certain hairs are probably going to be subjected to repeat trauma.

‘So if you always put your hair in the middle, then you’re probably going to always be flat-ironing those hairs more or it’s going to receive the most heat from your hair dryer — and those kind of things can lead to more breakage of the hair shaft.’

Taylor Swift’s typical parting is a side part, but she has been seen with a center part in her naturally wavy hair a handful of times

Olivia Rodrigo changes up her parting frequently, switching between a side and center part

Switching it up absolutely can improve your hair health,’ Dr Geddes-Bruce told CBS News.

The dermatologist said that by alternating back and forth between a center and side part, ‘you’re giving those hairs a chance to sort of rest and not get broken or subjected to as much trauma… you’re definitely minimizing the repeated exposure of those irritating agents to those same hairs.’

Switching your parting position won’t have an effect on how the hair grows, however.

But it can help protect from sun damage. If you keep your hair in the same hairstyle every day, ‘that one area of your scalp is constantly exposed to the sun’s UV rays and oxidative stress,’ Stephanie Sey, an Afro hair specialist and expert trichologist for Nizoral, told Glamour.

‘Changing up your parting will help prevent the skin on your scalp from burning, Anabel Kingsley, brand president and consultant trichologist at Philip Kingsley, also told Glamour.

To reap the maximum benefits, you should change your hair part every couple of days, she added.

But you don’t need to make extreme changes to reap the benefits.

Ms Sey said: ‘Even by changing your parting moderately by a few millimeters will help, and wearing different hair styles will also reduce the tension on your scalp.’

However, if you are wearing your hair back in a very tight bun or up do, it could be detrimental to your scalp, experts have warned.

Traction alopecia is hair loss due to extreme pulling or traction on the hair.

It can prevent hair regrowth by triggering permanent damage to hair follicles.

The strain on the hair follicle can cause it to stretch to a point where the hair falls out.

Alopecia is a general term for hair loss, while traction alopecia is a specific type caused by constant pulling.

Hairstyles, such as cornrows, braids, tight buns and ponytails, dreadlocks and extensions, could result in hair loss.

If addressed before the condition becomes severe, the damages of traction alopecia can be reversed with time and no further strain on the follicles.

However, if the follicles are too damaged, no hair will grow back in the certain areas and hair transplants may be the only option to restore growth.