how to train your hair to go a certain way

You can absolutely “train” your hair to go a certain way, but it’s really about working with its natural growth pattern and using repetition, wet styling, and smart products over time.

What “hair training” really is

Your hair grows from follicles that point in specific directions (this creates cowlicks, swirls, and natural parts).

You can’t permanently change your hair’s texture or natural swirl without chemical treatments, but you can strongly encourage:

• Where your part sits
• Whether hair falls forward, backward, or to the side
• How flat or voluminous certain areas look

Stylists sometimes call this using your hair’s “memory”: repeated styling, especially from wet to dry, teaches strands a new default shape.

Step‑by‑step: how to train hair to go a certain way

Think in terms of 4 pillars: wet styling, tools, products, and consistency.

1. Start when hair is wet

Hair is most moldable when damp, right after washing.

1. Gently towel‑dry so it’s not dripping.
2. Create the part exactly where you want it (even if it feels “wrong” at first).
3. Comb or brush all sections firmly in the direction you want them to fall (forward, back, left, right).

4. Keep the new direction while it dries: no random flipping or tucking behind ears.

Do this every wash day so your follicles get the same “instruction” repeatedly.

2. Use blow‑drying strategically

Heat + direction is the fastest way to influence hair “memory.”

• Use a nozzle on your dryer to focus airflow.
• Aim the air in the direction you want hair to lie (for example, from front to back if you want a swept‑back style).

• Use:
  • A round brush for volume and a curved shape.
  • A flat brush/comb for sleeker, flatter results.
• Keep brushing in the same direction until hair is fully dry; hair that dries in place holds the pattern better.

For cowlicks or stubborn areas, blow‑dry against the grain first to loosen the pattern, then finish in your desired direction.

3. Lock the shape with product

Product doesn’t “train” hair alone, but it reinforces your new direction while hair learns.

• For sleek/back or to one side:
  • Light gel, pomade, or wax to hold hair in place.

• For natural movement but controlled direction:
  • Mousse or light cream on damp hair, then blow‑dry.
• For fine or slippery hair:
  • Texturizing spray or powder at the roots to add grip so hair doesn’t slide back to its old pattern.

Apply product while hair is damp, style into place, then let it set completely.

4. Use clips, bands, and overnight tricks

Mechanical “training” is underrated and very effective.

• Root clips:
  • After styling, clip sections at the roots in the direction you want them to fall until hair cools and dries completely.

• Headband or hat:
  • Wear it for a few hours with hair brushed the way you want (especially for training hair to go back).

• Towel wrap:
  • After showering, wrap a dry towel so your hairline and strands are held in your chosen direction until mostly dry.

• Overnight braids/rollers:
  • Braids or rollers placed with the hair pulled in the direction you want give both texture and directional memory without heat.

Training for common goals

A. Training hair to go back

You see this with slick‑back looks and swept‑back curls.

• Grow hair to a workable length—too short, and it will stick straight up.

• On damp hair:
  • Comb everything straight back.
  • Apply gel, pomade, or mousse through the lengths and roots.
  • Blow‑dry while brushing back with a round or paddle brush.

• Finish with a bit of wax or serum on top to smooth frizz and flyaways.

• For the first couple of weeks, wear a headband or cap now and then to keep hair pushed back while it “learns.”

B. Training a new part (center or side)

• Start with damp hair and draw your new part with a fine comb.
• Comb everything away from the part so your roots lie flat along the new line.
• Blow‑dry with the hair going away from the part, not across it.

• If your crown fights you, move the part slightly closer to your natural swirl instead of fighting it straight on.

At first, you may need a bit of mousse or light gel at the roots each day. Over several weeks of identical styling, the new part starts to feel “natural.”

C. Dealing with cowlicks and uneven sides

Cowlicks (especially at the front hairline or crown) are just follicles growing in a swirl.

To soften their effect:

• Wet and redirect:
  • Soak that specific area, then comb it into the shape and direction you want.
• Blow‑dry with tension:
  • Blow‑dry while pulling hair taut through a brush in the opposite direction of the cowlick, then lay it how you want.

• Clip it flat:
  • After drying, clip the cowlick down in place for 20–30 minutes to help set it.

• Adjust your cut:
  • A good stylist can add layers or change the length and part so the cowlick looks intentional instead of chaotic.

How long does it take?

There’s a bit of debate, but the pattern is:

• You’ll see temporary results immediately after styling.
• With consistent post‑wash styling, many people notice their hair starting to “default” closer to the new direction after a few weeks.

• True, long‑term habit happens as new hairs grow in and are guided a certain way from early on, which can take a few months.

Some pros will argue hair isn’t truly “trainable” in a biological sense, only styleable, but regular styling from wet to dry in the same direction absolutely makes daily styling easier over time.

What you can’t change by training

It’s important to set expectations so you’re not fighting against your hair’s limits. You cannot change:

• Natural curl pattern or straightness without chemical or heat treatments
• Natural color without dye
• Direction of follicle growth at the scalp level (the swirl itself)

But you can consistently manage:

• How visible a cowlick is
• Where your part usually sits
• Whether your hair tends to fall forward, back, or to one side

Think of it like gently convincing, not forcing.

Mini forum‑style perspectives

“After washing, when your hair is still wet, part the hair the way you want it… If you part your hair when it’s still wet, it’s more likely to stay that way.”

“Hair grows in a circle… If the swirl goes clockwise, parting hair on the left pushes it in the direction it grows… Parting on the right side gives lift and volume.”

These mirror what stylists and hair blogs recommend: respect the swirl, work with it, and repeat the same styling routine every time.

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Bottom note: Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.