Hairstyle & Hairstyling Terms & Definitions

Hair school students learning hair cutting and styling — Hair school students - Photo: Getty Images via Canva

Bangs

Big Hair

Bob

Body

Cutting Line

Depilatory

Devilock

Double Process Color

Elasticity

Emollients

Follicle

Fringe Area

Gamine Haircut

Graduated Hair

Humectant

Melanin

Mullet

Natural

Non-comedogenic

Occipital Bone

Page Boy

Parietal Ridge

Part

Pixie Cut

Purdey (Purdy)

Rachel Hairstyle

Root Lift

Sebum

Shag

SPF

Stationary Guide

Taveling Guide

Wedge

What are bangs?

What bangs are - Hairstyle with bangs — Hairstyle with bangs - Photo: Latino Life via Canva

Bangs are the part of the hair cut and styled to hang on the forehead. It is also referred to as fringe. The bangs can be cut in a variety of styles and can be textured in many ways as well.

What is a bob?

What a bob haircut looks like - Photo: Image Source via Canva

The bob cut refers to any haircut that ends in a blunt line. Typically, a bob cut is shorter in length - between earlobe and chin length. It is a classic style (originating in the 1920s) that has many variations.

The bob hairstyle may be angled in any direction, and may or may not include bangs. Its defining feature is the clear clean line at the ends of the hair.

What is a cutting line?

What a hair cutting line is - Sample of a horizontal cutting line — Cutting a horizontal line - Photo: BananaStock via Canva

The term cutting line refers to the actual line along which the ends of the hair are cut. A vertical cutting line creates layers. The angle of the cutting line determines how close the layers look in the finished haircut.

What is a devilock?

What a devilock haircut looks like — Woman with a devilock haircut - Photo: Getty Images via Canva

The devilock haircut features short hair in the back and sides of the head with long hair in the front. This style can include very short tapered hair on the sides and back or slightly longer layered cutting, but will always be longer in the front.

What is the fringe area?

Where the fringe area of a haircut is — The fringe area of a haircut - Photo: Pixland via Canva

The fringe area is often referred to as the bangs. It is the area at the front of the head above the forehead. The fringe area usually extends no further than the outer corners of the eyes.

What is a mullet?

Mullet haircut for women — Young woman with a mullet - Photo: Getty Images via Canva

A hairstyle originating and made popular in the early 1980s, the mullet is a hairstyle where the hair on the top and sides of the head is cut in short layers and the back is left long.

The transition from short to long can be smoothly blended or very clearly defined. The lengths of the different areas can vary greatly, but will always clearly be longer in the back than on the top and sides.

What is the occipital bone?

Where the occipital bone is — Location of the occipital bone - Photo: Getty Images Signature via Canva

The occipital bone is the part of the skull where the neck joins the skull. It can be felt by placing your hand at the back of the head and feeling the joining point between the skull and neck. See also Anatomy of the Head.

What is the parietal ridge?

Where the parietal ridge of the head is — Location of the parietal ridge - Photo: Dean Drobot via Canva

The parietal ridge is the area of the skull where the bones of the head begin to curve toward the top. It is also the point at which completely straight hair begins to fall in a completely vertical direction. See also: Anatomy of the Head.

What is the part?

What the part of a hairstyle is — The parting of a hairstyle - Photo: Jupiterimages via Canva

The part is the point at which a hairstyle is divided and, generally, the hair moves in different directions. Most heads will have a natural part that is found by brushing the hair straight back from the face and allowing it to fall naturally.

What is a pixie cut?

Woman with a pixie cut - Photo: Hemera Technologies via Canva

The term pixie cut refers to a variety of short layered haircuts. It is also referred to as an 'elfin' cut. The pixie style is cut over the ears and may include wispy bangs. It also may or may not have longer hair on the top of the head. The defining feature of a pixie cut is close-cropped layers that frame the face and lie close on the sides and back of the head.

The style originated in the sixties with models like Twiggy, and actresses like Mia Farrow in 'Rosemary's Baby'. Stylist Vidal Sassoon is credited with popularizing the style in its early variations.

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