Man, that’s a bad, confusing title. Let me clarify:
I have always had my hair parted on the left side of my head. A month or so ago, I shaved my head. The hair is now growing back, and it is long enough now that it is showing a definite tendency toward going the same direction. Thus, when it is long enough to actually comb, it seems I will be all but required to part it on the same side as before.
So my question is, has years of combing my hair one direction “trained” my follicles to point that direction? (Or, I suppose, is my hair parted this way BECAUSE that’s the way my follicles point? It’s been this way since my mother combed my hair, so I don’t exactly remember.) Would it be possible to switch directions?
Interesting question. I remember when I was about six, a barber asked me on which side of my head I wanted to part my hair. Not that I’ve done exhaustive studies, but it seems most people part their hair on the left. I can’t remember the last time I saw someone with his hair parted on the right.
So is it a physical thing, as you suggest it could be? Is it because most people are right-handed? Is it cultural (i.e., “That’s how we’ve always done it.”)?
My understanding is that the hair growth pattern is genetically determined. I remember reading years ago that most people have a form of whorl pattern centered on the top back of the head. I parted my hair on the right for years, but when I went to much shorter hair the natural direction of growth had nothing to do with where I had parted it before.
Oh, and I parted it on the right because everyone else parted on the left, but I’m left-handed. I assumed “everyone else” was right-handed and that that was the basis for their parting on the left.
I part mine on the right because it’s always felt more natural. I can part it in the middle and it works well too. I’ve watched with interest as my 1 1/2 year old’s hair has grown in, to see the direction of growth. It seems to grow forward, as my Mom said my hair did when I was a kid. It’s still always in my eyes no matter how I part it.
Hair on top and front tend to grow forward and towards one side slightly - most noticable by observing the crown (where one would get a cow’s lick…like Alfalfa) to see the pattern of hair as it grows in.
People tend to part their hair in the direction it grows…it’ll lay flattest this way. Least fuss required.
People who get fancier cuts or desire “height” and some volume comb the hair against the direction in grows. This creates a curve in the hair as it goes against it’s direction. That’s why slicked back hair that lays flat needs alot of gook to hold it down, whereas a forward comb job with backs needs no gook at all (like a little kid with bangs…just grows and goes that way)
Check out people with hair combed back w/out gook and it’ll have some height, a la Elvis. Some spray will keep the boost without weighing it down.
"training’ ones hair is temporary and not follicle related…just hair shaft-related in that you creased the hair shaft (somewhat). When that shaft is gone, it’s back to genetics.