Hairstyle Definitions – Women

Most women want a hairstyle that fits their personality, complements their face and is relatively easy to manage. Finding just the right style that meets all these needs is not always easy. The help of a good stylist can shed some light on the best short, medium or long-hair style for you.

Most stylists take a traditional hairstyle and tweak it to fit modern trends or your specific needs. Nearly all hairstyles today are variations on the classics. Below is a list of basic hairstyles women have worn for ages.

• Afro: a rounded thick and curly hairstyle with African origins
• Beehive: hairstyle resembling a beehive where the hair is teased and piled on top of the head.
• Bob: short hairstyle where the hair is cut the same length; both short and mid-length bobs are common.
• Bouffant: hairstyle similar to a beehive where the hair is piled high on the head with some tresses hanging down on the sides.
• Braid: a hairstyle formed by braiding or twisting the hair, common for your girls.


• Chignon: an updo style where a roll or knot of hair is worn at the back of the neck.
• Crop or Pixie Cut: very short hair style where the hair is typically cut to the nape of the neck and around the ears.
• Marcel: a wavy, large curl hairstyle created by using a heated curling iron.
• Pageboy: a smooth hair style where the hair is cut short to just below the ears and curls under.
• Pompadour: for women, a hairstyle where the front hair is swept straight up from the forehead into a high, turned back roll.
• Ponytail: Pulling the hair back and tying it using a band or knot so that it hangs down in back of the head like a pony’s tail.
• Roach: a roll of hair brushed back from the forehead.
• Shag: hairstyle created by cutting hair in multiple layers that are shortest on top and longest on the bottom to create a messy, shaggy look.
• Wave: a hairdo often created using a brush and pomade that creates ripples in the hair.

Most any modern hairstyle is created based on one of these classic hairstyles. Ask your stylist how you can create a unique style for yourself by building on a classic.