Natural for men, usually works well for them. Perceived as popular, successful, strong, traditional. Can be out of touch with the feminine side of themselves. Examples: John Wayne, Tom Brokaw, John F. Kennedy, Edward M. Kennedy

Usually ok, especially for women interested in making it in business and politics. Perceived as intelligent, in-charge, reliable. Can sometimes be perceived as too “masculine", and/or can create difficulties with fulfilling traditionally feminine roles. Examples: Hillary Clinton, Margaret Thatcher, Christine Todd Whitman

Usually unnatural for men. Can create an uncomfortable image; can cause social shunning, sometimes leading to unusual or eccentric behavior. Perceived as atypical, open, radical. Can work ok if the man is very confident, attractive, or striving to be respected in a non-traditional male role. Examples: Al Gore, Rush Limbaugh, Robert F. Kennedy, Charlie Rose, Tom Snyder

Natural for women. Usually works ok. Perceived as very feminine, gentle, caring. Can cause problems of not being taken seriously. Examples: Martha Stewart, Jane Pauley, Betsy McCaughey Ross, Geraldine Ferraro

Natural for men and women. Perceived as balanced, trustworthy and wise. Can lack the flair associated with the other types. Examples: U.S. Presidents 1-9, Joseph P. Kennedy II, Sean Connery

A highly illustrative place to observe hair parting and perceived personal attributes is in film and television characters. Consistently, directors, casting agents and hair stylists appear to be choosing a left or a right part for characters that exhibit the characteristics identified with the left and right sides of the brain, and a center part, no hair part or baldness for those characters who have balanced personalities. Perhaps these decision-makers in the media are simply a little more aware or more intuitive than most people are of appearance choices and immediate character appraisal. However, the reasons for the choices have never been publicly articulated, and are likely made unconsciously. The types of characters that most frequently have right hair parts in film and television are those portraying scholarly/scientific men (highly focused experts, not socially apt), gay men (“femaleness", openness), men as single parents (acting as both father and mother), villains (untrustworthy, evil) and mentally disturbed characters (isolated, shunned). The most striking example and perhaps the most illustrative of The Hair Part Theory, is that when Christopher Reeve played Clark Kent, his hair was parted on the right. As Superman, his hair was parted on the left.