Are you looking for the perfect words to describe hair for a story, essay or article you’re writing? With so many textures, styles, lengths, and colors, it can be difficult to find exactly the right terms. Use this extensive list of descriptive hair words to select precise language and improve the clarity in your writing.
Words to Describe Hair Texture
Hair texture relates to the circumference of individual hairs as well as the curl pattern and general state of the hair, with regards to how it looks and feels.
body | bouncy | bristly |
brittle | bushy | coarse |
crinkly | delicate | downy |
fine | flat | fluffy |
frizzy | fuzzy | glossy |
lank | limp | listless |
luxuriant | luxurious | medium |
nappy | no body | puffy |
rough | satiny | silky |
sleek | smooth | soft |
sticky | stiff | straight |
straw-like | supple | touchable |
velvety | wavy | wiry |
Terms for Hair Thickness
Hair thickness means the same thing as hair density. There are a number of terms for how thick a person’s hair is.
lush | scraggly | sparse |
stringy | thick | thin |
voluminous | wispy | wooly |
Terms for Different Hair Styles or Cuts
Properly describing how hair is cut or styled is critical in describing the appearance of a character in a story or the subject of a work of nonfiction.
afro | a-line | angled |
asymmetrical | bangs | beehive |
blunt | bob | bouffant |
bowl cut | braided | braids |
brushed back | bun | buzzed |
center part | chignon | chopped |
choppy | clipped | coils |
comb over | corkscrew curls | cornrows |
crew cut | curled | dreadlocks |
ducktail | emo | extensions |
face-framing | feathered | fishtail braid |
flat top | flyaway | french braids |
french twist | fringe | Jheri curl |
kinked | layered | long layers |
loose | military cut | mohawk |
mullet | natural | pageboy |
parted | pigtails | pin curls |
pixie | plaited | pompadour |
ponytail | Rasta | rat tail |
ratted | ringlets | shag |
shaved | side part | slicked down |
spiked | spiky | spirals |
springy | stacked | straightened |
swept back | swept to the side | swept up |
teased | topknot | trimmed |
twisted | undercut | up |
updo | waterfall braids | weave |
wedge | wings | wrapped |
Descriptive Words for Hair Length
Hair can vary greatly in length. Choosing the right descriptive word for hair length helps readers get a better picture of the character or person about whom you are writing.
cascading | chin length | close cropped |
cropped | ear length | flowing |
long | medium length | mid-back length |
neck length | short | shoulder length |
tailbone length | trailing | waist length |
Words for Hair Color or Tints
Since there are many hair colors in different tones, some natural and some not, it’s really important to choose the right descriptive word for hair color.
ash brown | auburn | black |
bleached blond | blonde | blue |
bluish | bottle blonde | brown |
brunette | burgundy | burnished |
chestnut | coppery | dark |
flaxen | ginger | golden blonde |
gray | green | honey |
jet black | light | mousy |
multi-colored | natural blonde | oil slick |
ombre | peroxide blonde | pink |
platinum | purple | rainbow |
raven | red | salt and pepper |
silver | strawberry blonde | streaked |
sun-kissed | sun-streaked | wheat blonde |
white | yellow | yellowing |
Words for Treated Hair
There are a number of treatments people can use to alter the appearance of their hair.
bleached | body wave | brassy |
colored | conditioned | deep conditioned |
dyed | frosted | highlighted |
highlights | lowlights | permed |
relaxed | smoothing | tinted |
Words to Describe Messy Hair
There are a number of ways to convey to readers that a person has messy hair. Whether the individual’s hair is messy due to a lack of care, general unruliness, or having been engaged in activity that caused it to become messy, choose the right word so readers will understand.
bad hair day | bedhead | clumpy |
disarray | disheveled | drooping |
knotted | matted | overgrown |
shaggy | snarled | tangled |
tousled | towheaded | uncombed |
uncontrollable | unkempt | unmanageable |
unruly | unstyled | untamed |
untidy | windblown | windswept |
Words to Describe Neatly Styled Hair
Some people take great pains to ensure their hair is the exact opposite of messy. Use these terms when you want to describe someone with neatly styled hair.
blown out | coiffed | coiffured |
done | neat | runway-ready |
tamed | tidy | well-groomed |
More Ways to Describe the Appearance of Hair
The categories listed above aren’t all inclusive when it comes to describing hair.
beautiful | brushed | classy |
clean | combed | damp |
dirty | dripping | dull |
elegant | enviable | fashionable |
filthy | gorgeous | greasy |
healthy | luscious | lustrous |
nourished | shiny | singed |
slick | soaked | squeaky clean |
stylish | sweaty | trendy |
vibrant | voluminous | wet |
Words to Describe Hair Problems
There are a number of different hair problems. If the person or character you are writing about has a visible issue with his or her hair, be sure to choose the best word to describe it.
alopecia | bald | balding |
bald patch | broken | damaged |
dandruff | dry | flaky |
fried | hair loss | lice |
needs a touch-up | nits | oily |
overly processed | pattern baldness | receding |
roots are showing | shedding | split ends |
thinning | thin on top | widow’s peak |
Terms for Hair Accessories
Thoroughly describing a person or character’s appearance may require giving some information about hair accessories the person is wearing. Choose the best term to describe any items placed in or on the individual’s hair.
ball cap | barrette | beret |
bobby pin | bow | butterfly clip |
chopsticks | elastic | feather |
flower | hair clip | hairpin |
hat | headband | headscarf |
kerchief | ribbon | scarf |
scrunchie | side comb | snap clip |
sweatband | tiara | tieback |
Names of Hair Tools
When you need to describe what someone uses to style their hair, be sure to accurately describe the type of tool the individual uses.
blow dryer | clippers | comb |
curling iron | diffuser | dryer |
duckbill clips | fine-tooth comb | flat iron |
hairbrush | hot rollers | rollers |
round brush | scissors | thinning shears |
Many Ways to Describe Hair
With so many ways to describe hair, you can definitely use related terms to help readers get a clearer picture of the individual you are writing about. Consider which descriptive terms provide the most relevant information when deciding which aspects of hair to describe. To further develop your descriptive skills, discover more descriptive words for appearance. From there, explore words that describe personality traits and combine what you have learned to write a character analysis.