In this article
A zigzag hairstyle changes the path of your part rather than the length of your hair. Use a tail comb to make alternating diagonal sections, move the hair to either side, and secure it before the pieces fall back across the line. Loose hair, two braids, or a low ponytail can all show off the same pattern.
Decide how much of the zigzag you want to see. A few broad turns make a bolder line; smaller turns give a finer detail. I'd settle that before smoothing the roots. It's easier to follow a shape you've chosen than to keep correcting a part that never quite had a plan.
How to make a zigzag part in 5 steps
Set out a tail comb, a couple of sectioning clips, and whatever will hold the finished style. A small amount of styling product can help later; it doesn't need to go on before you know where the sections will sit.
Step 1: Detangle, then choose when to part
You don't have to wash your hair just to change its part. If you're styling after a wash, press out water with a soft towel or T-shirt. Use heat protectant as directed if you'll blow-dry. For straight hair, drying most of the way first can make it easier to move the roots and see a clean line.
For curls and coils, detangle gently while damp and conditioned, then make the part before drying if that's easier. Work through knots from the ends upward with a wide-tooth comb. The tail comb is for dividing hair that already moves freely, not for pulling through a tangle.
Step 2: Choose the position and size of the turns
Place the comb near the hairline where you want the first angle. Center it for an evenly divided look, or shift it toward one side for an asymmetric finish. Think about the destination, too: a half-up style only needs a part through the upper section, while paired braids may need it farther back.
Wider turns are easier to see among curls and give you fewer corners to tidy. Narrow ones add a small detail to a short cut. Try the first two turns and look in the mirror before making the rest.
Step 3: Separate the hair along each diagonal
Guide the tail through a short diagonal section, keeping the point off the skin. Lift the divided hair to either side with your fingers, then change direction for the next diagonal. Keep working backward until the line reaches the place you chose.
A loose piece that falls across a corner can hide the angle. Move that piece onto its side before drawing the next turn. Repeatedly tracing the whole line with the comb is more likely to catch hair than to make one corner clearer.
Step 4: Hold the sections while you style
Clip each side out of the way once the line is visible. For pigtails, gather one side without dragging the other across the part, secure it, then do the second. Check both bases before tightening anything.
For a half-up version, gather only the upper hair. A clip or small elastic should hold it comfortably; a sharp-looking part doesn't require tight roots.
Step 5: Finish along the line, not across it
Touch a little lightweight gel or cream onto flyaways if needed, then guide them into their own section. Brush away from the part rather than sweeping across the pattern you've just made.
If you're refining with a dryer, turn the airflow down and direct it along the hair on one side at a time. Keep the nozzle clear of the strands and use comfortable low heat. A light finishing product can help hold the arrangement, applied according to its label. Stop adjusting once the corners are visible and the hair sits where you want it.
8 zigzag hairstyle ideas
The part stays the common detail. The volume around it, where you gather the hair, and how much length you leave loose change the look.
1. Classic zigzag middle part
Leave the hair down and keep the line near the center, as in the cover photo. Straight lengths show each turn clearly; soft waves give it a gentler outline. Tuck one side behind an ear if you want to reveal the first few angles without pulling the whole style back.
2. Zigzag braided pigtails
Take the part toward the nape, then braid the hair on each side. Holding the divided hair in two separate groups keeps the line visible while you work. Use a second mirror for the back rather than guessing where the last turn went.
Two simple braids let the geometric center do most of the work. If you want a more involved version later, browse other braid styles and decide which detail you want to add. Loosen any root section that hurts or pulls.
3. Sleek zigzag side part
Move the zigzag off-center and smooth the lengths on either side. One side will carry more hair, so judge the balance from the front as well as from above. A small amount of product can settle the surface; adding more won't correct a section that has crossed the part.
4. Curly zigzag hairstyle
Make a few wider turns through the roots and let the curls keep their volume around them. Part while damp if that helps the hair separate, then leave the curl groups intact as they dry. Only the line needs definition. The rest doesn't need brushing flat to make it visible.
5. Zigzag half-up, half-down hair
Stop the part where the upper section will be gathered. Secure that section and leave the lower curls or lengths loose. This is useful when you like the front detail but don't want to redo the back of your hair.
For another variation, use half-up braids on the top section. Keep the part visible between them instead of braiding across it.
6. Zigzag low ponytail
Gather the hair at the nape after making the zigzag. Work on one side of the head at a time, following the hair toward the base so you don't sweep the angles away. For a more brushed finish, the steps for a smooth ponytail can help with the base; preserve your zigzag instead of changing it to a straight part.
7. Zigzag space buns
The rounded buns contrast with the angular line between them. Make two comfortable ponytail bases, then twist and pin each length around its own base. Small buns keep more attention on the part; fuller ones change the silhouette from the front. Their roots should feel comfortable when you turn your head.
8. Short hair with a zigzag part
Keep the pattern near the front or crown, where short pieces can move from one side to the other. A couple of defined turns can be enough on a bob. If a layer won't stay on its side, shorten the line or add a small clip rather than repeatedly combing it back into place.
What is a zigzag hairstyle?
The part travels left and right as it moves back from the hairline, instead of going straight toward the crown. You can place that line in the middle or off to one side. Angular partings also appear in scalp-based braid designs, like the pattern shown above; those involve more sections than a simple central zigzag.
It's a familiar detail in Y2K hairstyles, but you don't need the rest of the look to wear it. A small zigzag at the front of a bob is enough. With two ponytails or braids, extending the part farther back makes it part of the whole arrangement.
Dry the finish you want before fixing the part
Fine strands: Keep some lift beside the line
A heavy coating at the roots can flatten the shape around a neat part. Use styling product sparingly and, if blow-drying, lift the roots gently with your fingers or brush before making the line. Apply heat protectant as directed.
Once the zigzag is in place, lift only the area that needs volume. Raking a brush across the crown can erase several corners in one stroke. Fine hair describes strand thickness, so a dense head of fine hair can still need multiple drying sections.
Dense or long hair: Reach underneath first
Clip up the upper layers and dry from underneath, bringing down the next section when you're ready. Check the roots at the back rather than judging by the surface alone. Finish the crown before making the detailed part, unless your texture is easier to section damp.
Density and strand thickness aren't the same thing. More hair in a section can make it harder for the air to reach the middle; dividing that section is useful even when the individual strands are fine.
Curls and coils: Part first if it saves handling
With damp, detangled curls, move the roots into their sections, apply your styling product as directed, and arrange the curl groups. Then diffuse with gentle airflow and low heat, or let the hair air-dry.
Keep the diffuser from pressing hot air against the scalp, and move to another section as needed. If you use heat, apply heat protectant according to its label. Wait until the hair is dry before separating curls for more volume; repeated rearranging while damp can undo the grouping.
Which dryer features help with zigzag styling?
Parting on dry hair doesn't require a dryer. When you're already drying after a wash, compare the controls and attachment for that preparation, rather than looking for a tool that promises to create the part.
| Feature | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Adjustable airflow | Lower airflow helps prevent freshly separated sections from becoming tangled |
| Heat settings | Gentle temperatures offer more control around delicate roots and fine strands |
| Temperature regulation | Helps regulate output; settings, distance, movement, and exposure time still matter |
| Lightweight design | Makes it easier to maneuver around the crown and back of the head |
| Styling attachments | Concentrators support sleek finishes, while diffusers preserve curls |
| Ionic technology | Can help manage static and flyaways, although results vary |
| Maintenance and budget | An accessible filter and useful attachments matter more than features you rarely use |
Either a conventional or a high-speed dryer can cover the job. Strong airflow may be useful for drying, but a finished line needs control. Turn it down if it blows hair across the angles. Temperature regulation manages output; distance, movement, and the time spent on a section still matter.
Laifen Swift 4 for several styling finishes
The zigzag comes from the comb, not a special dryer. Laifen Swift 4 is relevant when you're preparing the rest of the hairstyle: its listed 407-gram body excludes the cord. Dry before fixing the part so a later blast doesn't scatter the little diagonal sections you've just placed.
The included nourishing nozzle is optional to use. I'd consider the controls and the attachment for your usual finish before adding that extra step. Ionic features are intended to reduce static, rather than guarantee a perfectly frizz-free part.
Laifen SE 2 for smoothing or diffusing
Laifen SE 2 has a temperature-indicator ring you can check at a glance. Keep that choice tied to the hair you're drying, whether the lengths are brushed or curly. The part can stay playful without adding a whole new wash-day routine.
Questions about zigzag hairstyles
Can you make a zigzag part without a comb?
Yes. Use your fingers to move alternating small sections to either side. The line will look softer than one drawn with a tail comb, which can suit a textured finish.
Should you make the part before or after drying?
Straight hair is often easier to move into a precise line when mostly dry. Curls and coils can be easier to section while damp and conditioned. Choose the point in the routine that lets the hair separate with less pulling.
How do you keep the zigzag from disappearing?
Clip the sides while you style and finish away from the line. If a few strands cover a corner, move those strands to their section instead of brushing across the whole crown. Use a little suitable holding product if needed.
Does it work on short or curly hair?
Both can wear it. Keep a short-hair version compact near the front. On curls, wider turns can show between the curl groups. You can change the size of the pattern without changing the texture around it.
How far back should the zigzag go?
As far as the style needs. Stop near the crown for loose hair or a half-up look. For paired braids or ponytails, you can continue toward the nape, using another mirror to see the section you're dividing.
Shop The Post
