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Types of Hairstyles in English

Types of Hairstyles in English

International English Test Editorial Team·8 Jan 2024·3 min read

If you want to discuss hairstyles openly, it’s crucial to expand your hairstyle vocabulary. Here, we’ve compiled a variety of phrases featuring different hairstyle names.

The other day, I came up with a fantastic idea: to share with you the names of various hairstyles and types of hair in English.

This set of words will be extremely useful when you’re abroad and need to communicate your preferred hairstyle to a stylist. Additionally, when watching instructional videos on YouTube for different hairstyles, understanding specific English terms becomes crucial for finding the right content and comprehending instructions, doesn’t it?

Continue reading, and commit some new English words related to hair and hairstyles to memory. Most of these terms are applicable in both American English and British English.

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Types of Hair in English    

  •         blonde hair, light hair
  •         blonde
  •         brown hair
  •         brown-haired person
  •         grey hair, white hair
  •         red hair/ginger
  •        long hair
  •         short hair
  •         thick hair
  •         thinning hair
  •         receding hairline
  •         unmanageable hair, unruly hair
  •         curly hair
  •         kinky hair
  •         straight hair
  •         wavy hair
  •         wave
  •         sandy hair
  •         sandy girl
  •         auburn

Haircut and Hairstyle Names in English

For better organization, I’ve categorized the list into haircuts and hairstyles for both men and women.

For men:

  •         crew cut
  •         stubble
  •         moustache
  •         beard
  •         spiky (this is especially popular among those from Asian countries)
  •         shaved head/bald head/buzz cut
  •         flattop (at one time this was quite popular in the U.S.)
  •         goatee
  •         sideburn
  •         dreadlocks/dreads

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For women:

  •         bob
  •         layered hair
  •         pigtails (usually two)
  •         cornrows
  •         braids
  •         French braid
  •         braid
  •         bun
  •         French twist
  •         ponytail
  •         chignon
  •         perm

Various Hair Accessories

  •         hair band
  •         hairbrush
  •         hairdryer
  •         hairgrip, hair-slide (barrette – American name)
  •         hairnet
  •         hairpiece
  •         hairpin
  •         hairspray

English Verbs Related to Hair
– to cleanse, to wash hair
– to dye, to color, to tint hair
– to trim, to cut one’s hair
– to comb hair, to brush hair
– to tease hair, to backcomb hair
– to style, to set, to do, to braid hair

While this list includes several words, you may already be familiar with some and likely have heard the others. Enhance your English vocabulary, learn new words and phrases, and speak English confidently!

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Find out your A1 A2 B1 B2 C1 C2 level of English with our online test and receive your English certificate.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Red hair and ginger refer to the same natural reddish hair colour, so you can use either word interchangeably. Other colour terms covered include blonde or light hair, brown hair, grey or white hair, and auburn, which is a reddish-brown shade. Someone with brown hair can also be called a brown-haired person, and the word sandy describes a pale yellowish-brown tone.
These four words describe hair texture rather than colour. Straight hair has no curl, wavy hair has gentle loose waves, curly hair forms defined spirals, and kinky hair has very tight, small curls. You can also describe hair as thick, thinning, or unmanageable and unruly when it is hard to control. A receding hairline means the hair is moving back from the forehead.
Useful men's terms include crew cut, buzz cut, shaved head and bald head for short styles, plus flattop and spiky for shaped looks. For facial hair you can mention stubble, a moustache, a beard, a goatee or sideburns. Dreadlocks, often shortened to dreads, are rope-like sections of hair. Knowing these helps you explain exactly what you want abroad.
For women the post lists a bob, layered hair, pigtails which usually come in two, and a ponytail. Braided styles include braids, a French braid, cornrows and a single braid. For pinned-up looks you can ask for a bun, a chignon or a French twist, while a perm adds permanent curls. These names let you request a specific style clearly.
To clean hair you say to cleanse or to wash it. For colour you can say to dye, to colour or to tint. Cutting words include to trim and to cut. To arrange hair you can comb it, brush it, tease or backcomb it for volume, and to style, set, do or braid it. These verbs help you describe actions at the salon.
Most of the terms apply in both American and British English, which makes them safe to use almost anywhere. A few accessory names differ between regions. For example, the British words hairgrip and hair-slide are called a barrette in American English. Other accessories such as hair band, hairbrush, hairdryer, hairnet, hairpiece, hairpin and hairspray stay the same in both varieties.
International English Test

International English Test Editorial Team

ALTE Associate Member · UK English assessment provider · Est. 2023

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