Livre d'Or

If having a centre parting is your thing then you should stick to it
Well, it's not so much that it's my thing, I'm not especially attached to it. It's just that I'm used to that style, and it makes it easier to put my hair up while keeping it neat.

unless you want to try different things, of course, in which case go for it
I don't particularly want to change my image, I quite liked it the way it was. But I think there's something to be said for looking like a 26-year-old professional woman, rather than a 16-year-old confused whether she's supposed to be a tomboy or an ultra-girlie romantic. Also, I can see the hairdresser's point that it does actually suit me better with the flickover rather than the centre parting.

My severe hair cut came when I was 20 (the change was from knee- to shoulder-length)
Wow, that really is severe! I'm seriously impressed you went through with that.