description of black hair creative writing

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description of black hair creative writing

400+ Words to Describe Hair: A Word List for Writers

(Discover even more words in The Writer’s Body Lexicon .)

Why Should You Worry About Your Characters’ Hair?

Audrey Hepburn said, “The beauty of a woman is not in the clothes she wears, the figure that she carries, or the way she combs her hair.”

Audrey was right, but people still judge others and make snap assessments based on appearance. Hair reveals personality and lifestyle. Along with the eyes and prominent facial features, it makes a huge impact. I suspect it’s part of the reason somebody coined the phrase bad hair day.

Capitalize on that in your writing.

Does your protagonist have blonde hair with dark roots? Maybe she’s a hard-working businesswoman with no time to make a salon appointment; or perhaps she’s a harried mother who can’t afford a dye job because of a financial crisis in the family.

An affluent hotel magnate could flaunt a perfectly styled toupee, every strand in place. A homeless person’s mane might be unkempt, with patchy straggles that smell like mold or trash.

Match the hair to each character’s persona. The way people maintain or ignore their hair provides clues about their life.

From some of the word lists that follow, I created three short paragraphs.

Dionne’s gunmetal ponytail flowed behind her while she sprinted after her prey — me. I crouched behind the trash bin, holding my breath , as she swished so close I could smell the death in her hair.

What do you see? Perhaps a cold-blooded assassin or serial killer? Now contrast with another paragraph.

Helena’s voluminous champagne curls cascaded over white shoulders, wafting a delicate aroma of honeysuckle into the sitting room as she swished in my direction.

Another woman, perhaps affluent, in a long dress. This could work for the heroine in a Victorian novel.

Eddie’s pumpkin-orange hair bounced as he waddled toward me. The sickening stench of cigar smoke wafted from what I quickly realized was a poorly constructed toupee.

Did you envision a chubby man who chain-smokes cigars?

Judicious use of descriptors can augment a piece. However, beware of stacked modifiers . Consider these two paragraphs.

Bill’s balding, scraggly, dandruff-flecked salt-and-pepper hair barely covered his scalp, which reflected the fluorescent lights and made him look decades older than his professed age of thirty years.

All the commas in the description scream too much . Let’s try rewording it.

The fluorescent lights reflected off Bill’s scalp, which peeked through scraggly salt-and-pepper hair flecked with dandruff. Thirty years old? What a liar. He had to be at least fifty.

Same man, same basic description. Better phrasing. Although salt-and-pepper is cliché.

B to D balding, beautiful , bleached, bouncy, bristly, broken, brushed, buoyant, burnished, burnt, bushy, cascading, clean, clipped, clumpy, coarse, coiffed, combed, cropped, curly, damaged, damp, delicate, dirty, dull, dyed

F to P feathery, fine, flat, flowing, fluffy, frizzy, fuzzy, gelled, gleaming, glossy, greasy, groomed, heavy, highlighted, kinked, ironed, lacquered, limp, luscious, moussed, nappy, nubby, patchy, permed, plush, polished, puffy

S scorched, scraggly, severe, shaggy, shimmery, shiny, short, shoulder-length, silky, singed, slicked-back, slimy, sparse, spiky, springy, stiff, straggly, straight, straightened, streaked, sweaty

T to W teased, thick, thin, trimmed, uneven, unkempt, untamed, velvety, voluminous, wavy, wet, windswept, wild, wiry, wispy

Hair is usually a combination of a base color with highlights and lowlights that appear different in light or shadow. Study people on the street and in shopping malls. Visit YouTube. Scrutinize the offerings in a wig shop.

Some colors are considered cliché. Whenever you’re in doubt, click over to Google.

For instance, try the following searches, leaving the phrases in quotes for accuracy. The figures in parentheses are the number of results I received as I wrote this post.

“bleached blond” (1,010,000)

“champagne blond” (641,000)

“wheat blond” (348,000)

“bottle blond” (277,000)

“sun-kissed blond” (834,000)

“electric blond” (29,800)

Considering the frequency of each phrase, electric blond would be a more suitable choice than bleached blond.

Note: Although blond can describe the hair of either males or females, many writers prefer blond for males and blond e for females. Likewise with the hair or fur of gender-identified pets and animals.

Better than direct replacements, however, try exploiting the following suggestions as kernels, and brainstorm new color descriptions.

Blond/blonde amber, ash, blanched, bleached, bottle, brassy, bronze, champagne, dirty, electric, flaxen, frosted, gilded, ginger, golden, honey, peroxide, platinum, sand, straw, strawberry, sunkissed, Trump blond/e, wheat

Brown almond, caramel, chestnut, chocolate, cinnamon, dun, espresso, fawn, mahogany, mocha, mouse, nut, russet, sienna, taffy, tawny, umber

Black anthracite, charcoal, coal, crow, ebony, ink, jet black, midnight, obsidian, onyx, pitch, raven, sable, soot, tar

Grey/gray ash, charcoal, dove, graphite, gunmetal, iron, pewter, salt-and-pepper, shark, silver, slate, steel, tweed grey, wolf-grey, zinc-grey

Red auburn, brick, burgundy, candy, carrot, copper, crimson, fire red, fire-engine red, flame, flaming, ginger, maple-leaf red, pepper red, pumpkin, roan, rouge, rust, rusty, sorrel, titian, tomato

White angel, chalk, eggshell, foam, frost, gardenia, ghost, ivory, lily, lotus, paper, porcelain, Samoyed, sheet, skeleton, snow, starch, sugar, talc, wedding veil

See also 1000+ Ways to Describe Colors .

Styles and Cuts

A bowl cut imparts an instant image. Can you think of other everyday objects that would do the same?

Revise. Innovate. Invent.

A and B afro, beehive, Bettie Paige, Bieber cut, blunt cut, bob cut, bouffant, bowl cut, braided, brush cut, bun, burr, butch cut, buzz cut

C Caesar cut, chignon, chonmage, comb over, conk, cornrows, crew cut, cropped, crown braid, Croydon facelift, curtained

D to F devilock, dice bob, Dido flip, dreadlocks, ducktail, emo, Eton crop, extensions, fade, fallera, feathered, finger wave, fishtail braid, flattop, flipped, French braid, French twist, frosted tips, full crown

G to M G.I. cut, half crown, Harvard clip, hime cut, hi-top fade, induction cut, Ivy League, Jheri curl, layered, liberty spike, marcel waves, military cut, mod cut, mop-top, mullet

O and P odango, oseledets, pageboy, parted in the middle, payot, pigtails, pinned up, pixie cut, plaited, pompadour, ponytail, Princeton cut, psychobilly wedge, puffball, punk

Q to W queue, quaff, rattail, razor cut, recon, shag, shape-up, shingle bob, side parted, spiked, surfer hair, taper, tied back, tonsure, topknot, undercut, updo, wings

Hair damaged by over-perming won’t sway; it might ruffle, snarl, or tangle. Short hair could fluff, frizz, or spike. Curls might bounce, coil, or twist. Try the words here as starters for alternative suggestions from your favorite thesauruses.

B to R bounce, cascade, coil, curl, drape, drip, dangle, draggle, drift, droop, flap, flow, fluff, frizz, flutter, glide, knot, pour, puff, ripple, ruffle

S to W slap, slop, smother, snag, snarl, spike, spill, spiral, spring, stick, straggle, stream, sway, swing, tangle, trail, twist, unravel, wave, whirl, wiggle

Hair absorbs scent from the environment. House painters, garage mechanics, busy mothers, and hairstylists could smell of paint, grease, sour milk, or perm chemicals. You can often show readers a protagonist’s occupation without using a single word of tell.

Start with these ideas and analyze your characters’ environment for others.

A to C ammonia, antiseptic, apples, an ashtray, a bakery, bar vomit, beer, blackberries, bleach, car exhaust, cheap perfume, cigarettes, cigars, citrus, cotton candy

D to J death, decomposition, a forest, fresh-cut grass, a garage, gardenias, grease, gunpowder, honeydew melons, honeysuckle, a hospital, jasmine

L to S lavender, lemon cleaner, lilac, magnolia, mint, mold, moss, outdoors, paint, peaches, perm chemicals, pine, raspberries, roses, smoke, sour milk, sweat

Frequent Repetitions of Hair Will Annoy Readers

What about replacing it with nouns from this list?

B to W bristles, cap, cascades, coils, cloud, corona, corkscrew curls, fall, hairpiece, halo, mane, mass, mop, ribbons, ringlets, river, rope, snakes, spikes, spirals, sheet, spill, straw, stubble, tendrils, torrent, toupee, tresses, tufts, waterfall, weave, wig

Props to Augment Your Descriptions

Think of people you’ve met. What did you notice about their hair? What do you know about your own? Try these props.

dandruff, flakes, flecks, lice, nits
hair transplant, hair plugs
fringe, bangs
receding hairline, high forehead, sideburns
split ends, humidity frizz, bald spot, alopecia
itchy scalp, burning scalp, hives in hairline
hairpins, barrettes, tiebacks, elastics, headbands
feathers, flowers, garlands, bows, ribbons
hats, berets, caps, kerchiefs, scarves, crowns, tiaras, fontanges

Now can you explain Lily Tomlin’s quote about hair? “If truth is beauty, how come no one has their hair done in the library?”

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12 thoughts on “ 400+ Words to Describe Hair: A Word List for Writers ”

Please help me with this; describing a long luscious braid.

Well, Mahnoor, that would depend on context.

A long braid could be tight or loose, messy or neat, flyaway or smooth …

Does your character respond impulsively? Maybe make the braid flyaway and swinging.

Is your character priggish? The braid could be neat and secured by several elastics or bows.

The possibilities are many.

Thanks for stopping by, and stay safe!

Kathy, this is my attempt at describing hair. A tad unconventional possibly: “To tell the truth, Tulip didn’t feel exactly qualified for the post of beautiful maiden right now. After her tortuous trek through the Swamp, getting scratched by thorns, caked in mud, covered in evil, stinky, sticky slime, perhaps she wasn’t as attractive as she might have been. Worst of all, she could feel some creepy-crawling thing had taken up residence in her hair. She didn’t like to think what her once-beautiful hair looked like now. Probably like it had been dragged through a hedge backwards. The toad was thinking along similar lines. His idea of a beautiful maiden fitted the traditional view. Modern thinking had not reached as far as the Swamp. He had been expecting her to turn up a supreme vision of loveliness in a pretty dress, looking fresh and clean, and smelling of roses. She’d have long, shiny black hair, an ample bosom and, most important, full, red, luscious lips especially designed, with one kiss, to rid unfortunate creatures like him of witches’ curses. The sight of this mud imp, however, was a bit of a shock. He wasn’t thinking her hair looked as though it had been dragged through a hedge backwards; rather it looked more like the hedge it had just been dragged backwards through!”

I love it, Peter. A touch of the familiar with a twist of humor. Or maybe the prince-turned-toad is a Brit? It’s humour then. 🙂

Thanks for stopping by!

thanks! I’m writing a book about alienation and being ‘nomal’ and this has really helped.

Great to hear from you, Lu. Good luck with your book!

Thank you for sharing with us this very helpful post! I’m a romance writer working on my next book, looking for new ways to describe hair. And I found the perfect resource here! Kindest regards Jackie

Thanks, Jackie.

Best of luck with your next book!

It really helped me do my descriptive Essay

Thanks, Lusanda!

I’m looking forward to your book of all of these!

Thanks, David. It should be released by the end of the month if all goes well.

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The Do’s of Writing People of Color: Describe Your Characters

Diversity makes stories better, plain and simple. This year, we’ve partnered with the good folks at Writing With Color to get some advice on how to write stories populated with people of all racial and ethnic backgrounds. In the third part of her “Do’s of Writing People of Color” sub-series, founder Colette Aburime goes over how to describe characters of color in your writing:

One key to strong representation is making the race of your characters undisputedly clear. So clue your readers in! Not only is it nice for People of Color to read descriptions of themselves as awesome everyday people, but there’s a consequence to being vague: Most readers will assume the characters are white.

Society ensures we view white people as the default. That default human is probably also straight, cis, able-bodied, etc. until proven otherwise. This way of thinking won’t dissolve overnight.

When describing your characters

Make their races clear early on once they’re introduced.
Sprinkle in a few more reminders throughout the story.

Ways to show race:

Physical descriptions - You can describe hair, skin tone, and facial features to create a picture for readers. It isn’t foolproof, though. For example, dark brown skin and curly hair may point to a Person of Color, sure, but not an exact race or ethnicity. It’s wise to pair physical details with other means.
Culture - Cultural elements can seamlessly indicate race. They’re already part of your character’s identity, so it’s bound to come up! Think family names, clothing, holidays, traditions, language, food, heirlooms…
Social issues - What social issues directly affect the character? What about relatives in other countries? Even a national disaster could show background, like a hurricane affecting your character’s family in Mexico.
Activities - The character could be involved or have met someone through a PoC-specific organization. Think student unions, activism, local businesses Facebook groups, professional meet-ups…
Cover art - If your book cover features your characters, I urge you to make sure they look the part. Even if you have little say in the final product, remind your publisher of their races and ask they take care to be accurate. Say no to white-washed book covers!
Say it in story - Don’t be afraid to just state it. I highly recommend doing so at some point in the story. There’s many ways to work in a mention. Create a situation that makes sense to the story. See these examples:
“The woman turned to face me. She was Black, I think, with a short coily afro and a dimple in her smile that took my breath away.”
“It felt awkward, being the only woman in the room, let alone an Indian woman.”
“I was born of a Korean mother and a German father.”
Say it outside the pages - These days allow more interaction between authors and their readers. Use social media or a webpage to share character profiles, your celebrity dream cast, share commissioned art, and clarify questions.

Use one or more of these methods. At the least, I recommend a combination of physical descriptions and outright stating race whenever the story allows.

Characters of Color in Fantasy

Alternative or fantasy settings may have different concepts of race. Perhaps there’s no word for human ethnicities or countries. Never fear—racial coding is here! Racial coding means providing hints that your character is the equivalent of a human race. You can use physical, cultural and geographical parallels to help readers make a conclusion.

Now, go forth and describe your characters. We wanna see them!

Words to Describe Hair

writingwithcolor :

This began as a guide to describing Afro/curly hair but of course, I got carried away. From look and texture of hair, colors and various styles, this guide serves as a thesaurus of sorts for hair, as well as pointers for use in your writing. Culturally Significant Hair Coverings: Know the meaning behind head wear and why it’s worn, when and by whom , such as a Native Nation’s headdress, before bestowing a character with it. Head Coverings Resources: More on various head coverings . See here for more Islamic Veils . See here for more on the Nigerian gele . See here on African American Headwraps . View our hijab and headscarves tags for discussion on these topics. Afro – Curly – Straightened There are many varieties of braids, twists & Afro hair styles; have some more! African/Black Hair: Natural, Braids and Locks African Hair: Braiding Styles 10 African Types Describing Black (Afro) hair: Appropriative Hairstyles: Keep in mind that Afro styles should be kept to those in the African Diaspora, such as dreadlocks , cornrows + certain and many braided styles. Tread carefully describing Afro hair as “wild” “unkempt” “untamed” or any words implying it’s unclean or requires controlling. “Nappy” and “wooly” are generally words to stay away from, the first having heavy negative connotations for many and the latter, though used in the Holy Bible, is generally not acceptable anymore and comes off as dehumanizing due to Animal connotations. There are mixed feelings on calling Black hair “kinky.” I’m personally not opposed to the word in itself and usage depends on the person’s race (I’m more comfortable with a Black person using it vs. a Non-Black person) as well as their tone and context (if it’s used in a neutral or positive tone vs. negatively/with disdain). Get feedback on your usage, or simply forgo it. See our tags “Black Hair” and “Natural Hair” for more discussion on describing Black hair. Texture – Look – Styles Hair Colors and Style Writing Tips & Things to Keep in Mind: Combination Words: Try combining words to illustrate look of hair. A character with springy coils that dance across her shoulders with every movement, the man with thick silvery hair slicked back into a ponytail… Mind Perspective: Depending on POV, a character might not know exactly what cornrows or a coiffure style is, at least in name, and it might make more sense if they described the hairdo instead. More defining terms might come from a more knowing source or the wearer themselves. One book I read described a girl’s afro puff as “thick hair pulled up into a cute, curly, poufy thing on top of her head and tied with a yellow ribbon.” POC & Hair Colors: People of Color’s hair comes in all shades and textures. There are Black people with naturally blond and loosely-textured to straight hair, East Asian people with red hair, and so on. Keep that in mind when coding characters if you tend to rely on hair color alone to denote a character is white vs. a Person of Color. Related Tropes: There are tropes and discussion related to People of Color, colored hair, and light-colored hair and features. Check out these posts on the topic: The East Asian Women + Colored Hair Trope – Black Characters & “Wild” Hair Colors – POC w/ Supernatural Colorful Features. – ‘Uncommon’ Features & POC Characters ~Mod Colette

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Master List of Physical Description for Writers

man with mustache and slight beard | MASTER LIST OF PHYSICAL DESCRIPTIONS #master lists for writers free ebook #master lists for writers bryn donovan pdf #character description #how to describe a character's appearance #physical adjectives #character physical description generator #distinguishing features for characters #describing facial features

I created this list of ways to describe people

because physical description, when done well, helps the readers see characters in their minds. But sometimes when you’re in the middle of writing, it can be hard to think of physical adjectives and distinguishing features for characters. I find that describing facial features can be especially tricky!

This long list of physical characteristics is kind of like a character description generator, and it’ll help you when you’re trying to think of how to describe a character’s appearance.

Young woman with pensive expression and long brown hair. "Master List of Physical Descriptions for Writers - pin or bookmark for future reference!"

Eyes – General

For all the words about describing facial features, I’m focusing more on physical descriptions rather than emotional expressions, though there’s a little crossover! You can also check out my long list of facial expressions.

heavy-lidded

fringed with long lashes

with sweeping eyelashes

with thick eyelashes

By the way, this post on how to describe (and not describe) the eyes of an Asian character is really great. Check it out.

Eyes – Color

Brown is the most common eye color by far. Green is quite rare.

chocolate brown

cocoa brown

coffee brown

sienna brown

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cornflower blue

Arctic blue

glacial blue

crystal blue

electric blue

slate blue / slate gray

storm blue / storm gray

silver / silver gray

concrete gray

gunmetal gray

Skin – Color

Josh Roby made a great chart of skin tones and descriptor words, and I got a lot of these words from him. You can get that here .

The quote from N.K. Jemisin interested me: “I get really tired of seeing African-descended characters described in terms of the goods that drove, and still drive, the slave trade—coffee, chocolate, brown sugar. There’s some weird psychosocial baggage attached to that.”

cream / creamy

rose / rosy

Skin – General

Some of these are better for the face, and some are better for other parts of the body.

translucent

luminescent

with large pores

weather-beaten

Face – Structure

heart-shaped

high forehead

broad forehead

prominent brow ridge

protruding brow bone

sharp cheekbones

high cheekbones

angular cheekbones

hollow cheeks

jutting chin

pointed chin

receding chin

double chin

dimple in chin

visible Adam’s apple

People don’t write much about noses, but they can be distinguishing features for characters!

Cupid’s bow

straight teeth

gap between teeth

gleaming white teeth

Facial Hair (or lack thereof)

clean-shaven

smooth-shaven

mutton-chop sideburns

a few days’ growth of beard

five o’ clock shadow

Hair – General

I threw a few hairstyles in here, though not many.

shoulder-length

neatly combed

slicked down / slicked back

buzzed / buzz cut

widow’s peak

Hair – Color

There are some repeats here from the eye color section!

salt and pepper

charcoal gray

brown sugar

5,000 Writing Prompts book. Get inspired. Stay inspired. Get the book.

tawny brown

toffee brown

Titian-haired

strawberry blonde

butterscotch

sandy blond

fair-haired

Body Type – General

average height

barrel-chested

heavy / heavy-set

pot-bellied

full-figured

leggy / long-legged

broad-shouldered

sloping shoulders

stubby fingers

long fingers

ragged nails

grimy fingernails

ink-stained

This list and many more are in my book Master Lists for Writers: Thesauruses, Plot Ideas, Character Traits, Names, and More . Check it out if you’re interested!

Master Lists for Writers by Bryn Donovan #master lists for writers free pdf #master lists for writers free ebook #master lists for writers free kindle

And if you don’t want to miss future writing posts, follow the blog, if you aren’t already — there’s a place to sign up on the lefthand side of the blog. Thanks for stopping by, and happy writing!

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How to Describe Hair in Writing: Tips, Examples & Techniques

By Happy Sharer

Introduction

Writing effective descriptions of hair can be challenging, but it is an important skill to master if you want to write vivid, captivating stories that draw readers into the world you’ve created. Whether you’re describing a character’s hair or the setting of your story, it’s essential that you know how to accurately portray this important element. In this article, we’ll explore several tips and techniques to help you describe hair in writing with clarity and precision.

Using Sensory Language

When describing hair, it’s important to use words that evoke the senses. This will help readers get a clear image of what you’re trying to portray. For example, when describing curly hair, you could say “it was tightly coiled like a spring” or “it cascaded down her back in gentle waves.” You could also use words such as “silky” or “lustrous” to evoke a feeling of smoothness and shine. Additionally, you could incorporate sound and smell into your descriptions by saying things like “the wind made her hair rustle like a field of grass” or “her hair smelled of freshly cut lemons.”

Comparing Hair to Elements in Nature

Nature is full of wonderful elements that can be used to effectively describe hair. To find the best comparisons, think about the texture, color, and movement of the hair you’re trying to portray. For instance, if you’re describing dark, straight hair, you could say “it was as black as a raven’s wing” or “it hung like a curtain of midnight.” You could also use elements from the sea to describe wavy hair, such as “it crashed against her shoulders like a stormy ocean” or “it shone like the sun on a ripple of waves.”

Focusing on Texture and Color

Texture and color are two of the most important aspects of hair that need to be accurately portrayed in writing. When it comes to texture, there are many different types, such as curly, wavy, straight, coarse, fine, and more. Make sure to use specific words that clearly convey the texture you’re trying to describe. For example, you could say “her hair was a wild tangle of curls” or “it was as soft and silky as a feather.” When it comes to color, try to use words that accurately describe the hue. For instance, you could say “it was a deep mahogany brown” or “it was a bright, fiery red.”

Incorporating Metaphors and Similes

Metaphors and similes can be incredibly effective when describing hair. They provide readers with a vivid image of what you’re trying to portray. For instance, if you’re describing long, blonde hair, you could say “it was a river of golden silk” or “it cascaded down her back like a waterfall.” To make your metaphors and similes even more effective, you could use elements from nature, such as “it shone like the sun on a field of wheat” or “it was as wild and untamed as a thunderstorm.”

Utilizing Personification

Personifying hair can help make your descriptions even more vivid and captivating. To do this, you could give the hair its own personality or characteristics. For example, you could say “her hair was rebellious and unruly” or “it seemed to have a mind of its own.” You could also use words such as “playful” or “mischievous” to give the hair a unique personality. Additionally, you could use verbs such as “dancing” or “twirling” to give the impression that the hair is alive and has a life of its own.

Describing the Way It Moves

The way hair moves is an important aspect of hair that needs to be accurately described in writing. To do this, you could use words such as “swirling” or “undulating” to give the impression of movement. You could also use words such as “billowing” or “flowing” to evoke a sense of gracefulness. Additionally, you could use phrases such as “it swayed in the breeze” or “it blew in the wind” to give the impression that the hair is being moved by an outside force.

Describing hair in writing can be a challenge, but with the right techniques, you can create vivid, captivating descriptions that draw readers into your story. By using sensory language, nature comparisons, metaphors and similes, personification, and descriptions of movement, you can accurately portray any type of hair. With practice and patience, you’ll be able to craft beautiful descriptions that bring your stories to life.

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Hi, I'm Happy Sharer and I love sharing interesting and useful knowledge with others. I have a passion for learning and enjoy explaining complex concepts in a simple way.

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19,903 quotes, descriptions and writing prompts, 4,965 themes

Hair - quotes and descriptions to inspire creative writing

Blonde girl
blonde hair
blonde v brunettes
Brown hair boy
chestnut hair
cutting hair
Long loose hair
story writing help

Gentle hair that tumbled in such rich autumnal hues, was the restful visual poetry of my soul, for that is how she was upon the day we fell in love.

If the origins of her hair were the black heavens, if the divine universe were woven into such buoyant threads and placed upon her head, it would explain so very much.

Hair sits in neat yet wild waves upon her dreaming head, for beneath it all is an ocean of creative conjuring.

Her hair was as black as the most pure of velvety nights.

The soft curls fell in cinnamon swirls to a face that was as sweet as a white chocolate button.

His hair moved in the wind as if it felt the need to add an exclamation point to his cuteness.

His hair was curls as jubilant as any storm-whipped sea.

When the grey roots of mama's hair began to show, she took to wearing a vibrant headscarf. She looked beautiful every day, the breeze billowing the ends of the long silk as if they were the ribbons of a kite.

Sarah's hair moved much as soft beach grass in the wind, back and forth, revealing and hiding the gold of her eyes.

One hand scrunched into that tumble of hair, those curls that defied rules and gravity with equal contempt. As she pondered, that great brain of hers solving problems that had defied geniuses for all our age and more, she'd never been more beautiful... my philosopher...

If a beam of light could weave itself into a strand, that was her hair; I always felt it glowed from within rather than relying on the sunshine. It was as if the universe had conjured her matter in a ripple of laughter - as if all she was composed of was a sort of musical and loving happiness.

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Tricks for Describing a Character’s Appearance (With Examples)

Introducing a new character to your story can be difficult. There’s a lot that goes into it, and to make matters worse, you only have one chance to give readers a good (and memorable) first impression of that character. One of the ways you can do this is by giving them a distinct appearance, but many writers tend to fall short of describing appearance well.

We’ve all heard the same cookie-cutter descriptions for characters a million times before. Golden hair, a heart-shaped face, a chiseled body, piercing eyes, yadda yadda… The problem with these descriptions is that they’re bland, they’re cliché, and they don’t really help your characters stand out.

However, if you break from clichés, you can create uniquely vivid descriptions that will give your characters life. There are endless ways you can describe characters, and I’m not going to walk you through how I would describe every single possible human feature (or humanoid, animal, alien, etc). For one thing, that would take too long, but for another thing, descriptions are based on more than just the character’s physical appearance—their personality plays a part too.

Tips for Describing a Character’s Appearance in a Story

There are a number of things to keep in mind when describing a character’s appearance. Here are just a few general tips before we dive into some more specific techniques for describing different parts of a character’s appearance.

Don’t Make Everyone a Supermodel

This is probably one of the most (if not the most) important things to remember when describing a character. You should never objectively describe your characters as flawless. Humans aren’t perfect, so if you describe your characters like perfect little supermodels, they just won’t feel authentic. Worse still, they won’t stand out from the protagonists of every single young adult novel out there. You need to make them distinct, and to do that, you need to give your characters flaws . And I mean real flaws, not fake flaws that are actually just endearing traits packaged like flaws.

Don’t Dump Everything Out at Once

Describing your characters is important, but you need to be able to keep it concise. No one wants to read a 7-page summary of every detail of a character’s appearance. You can go in-depth, sure, but don’t put your readers through a word-avalanche just for them to figure out what the character looks like.

Remember, you can reveal more about the characters over time. When you introduce a character for the first time, you should focus on the things a person would naturally notice first, such as their face, hair, clothing, voice, and general energy. You can further elaborate on their appearance later when it is relevant, and describe their gait, posture, temperament, and more.

There is one exception here I want to highlight. If you are telling a story from the first-person perspective, and you want to illustrate a character’s obsession with another person, hyper-fixating on the details can be a good way to show this. It can make the character seem creepy , and it can foreshadow the protagonist doing something bad to the person they are obsessing over.

Don’t Sell Them Short

Opposite to the point above, you shouldn’t make your introductions too short. To some extent, it can be good to leave some parts of the character’s appearance up to the reader’s imagination. However, you should give them something to help them visualize the characters in the beginning. Otherwise, if you later reveal that the character has dark hair, all the readers that imagined them with light hair might have a difficult time accepting that.

Descriptions are important, and they help to include a reader in the narrative. Like a well-described setting, vivid characters can help immerse readers into the world and make them part of the story.

Use Their Personality

A character’s personality can have a large impact on how they are perceived, and therefore should alter the words you use to describe them. Two characters might have similar features, but based on their personality, you would describe them differently.

For example, two characters might both be tall, but one would be described as “awkward and long” while the other is “towering.” In this case, the characters’ levels of confidence impact how they are perceived. For another example, think about two characters who both have light skin. You could describe one as looking like “porcelain” and describe the other one as “pasty,” depending on their other traits. Those two descriptions create very different perceptions from each other.

Use the Point of View

If the character in question is being described from the first-person perspective of another character, then the protagonist’s opinions should sneak into the description. Your protagonist probably isn’t going to objectively evaluate the other person—they’re likely to rely on stereotypes, biases, and things they have heard from others about the character they’re looking at. Rely on that to make the description fit into the story more organically.

Here are some examples:

She had no right to have such a disarming smile.
His expression was empty—just like his head.
His dark, tangled hair reminded me of a swamp.
She didn’t even wear any makeup! But even more frustratingly, she didn’t really need it.
They looked divine… like I wasn’t even worthy to look upon them.
He looked like the type of person to stare at his own reflection before getting in the shower.
They were short and stocky, but they could still probably beat me in a fight.

Remember, your protagonist can make speculative judgments about the character they’re looking at. You’re telling the story as they experience it, so their judgments are part of the narrative!

“…he was greeted by the barista—a young teen who had not yet matured enough to be handsome. Once his soft cheeks hollowed and his jaw squared, and the childish optimism fled his eyes, then he would have the chance to smolder. That crooked smile would win over many hearts in the blink of an eye, but not just yet.” – excerpt from a draft

Keep the Description Balanced

A good rule of thumb when describing characters (or anything else really) is to create a balance of concrete details and flowery imagery. You should alternate between those two, as well as general and more specific details, to make the description flow more naturally, and to make it more interesting to read.

Imagine reading a description like:

“His hair was red and curly. His eyes were large and green. He had freckles, but they weren’t that noticeable. He was tall but very thin.”

That’s so dry, and it’s not fun to read. Compare that to a description that varies how the information is provided:

“His hair was like a massive red bush surrounding two wide, green eyes. Freckles faintly dotted his cheeks, but they were only really visible in the sunshine. His long, lanky body and large hair made him look a bit like a big red lollipop—which was only heightened by his tendency to blush often.”

Wasn’t that a lot more fun to read? Not only does it make the character description more interesting, but it also influences a reader’s perception of what the character is like. Certain words help readers to gauge what kind of person this character is. The first example gives no indication of personality, but the second one uses words like “sunshine” and “lollipop” to associate the character with lively, happy things. Additionally, using words like “lanky” and “blush” suggests that the character is awkward or shy, saving you the time of having to spell that out for readers.

Give them Something Special

One helpful thing that I’ve learned over the years is that you should give your main character some distinctive feature that sets them apart from the other characters around them. Diverse descriptions are great, but it never hurts to make your main character a little more unique. This could be something like a distinctive scar, a tattoo, a weird eye color, a patch of silver or white hair, a missing or extra finger, a birthmark, or something else along those lines. That can make them stand out more, and it can be a really clear indicator that they are special.

Although your story won’t suffer if you don’t give your main character a distinct feature like this, it is usually a good bet—especially if you think your story could ever conceivably be adapted into a visual medium, like a comic, animation, or film. That character could become iconic. People may just see your character somewhere and that alone could motivate them to read or watch the whole story. As another plus, it could give you a cool opportunity for your story’s cover.

How to Describe a Character’s Face

When describing a character’s face, the easiest way to do that is to first break the face down into its essential parts: the eyes, the mouth, the nose, and the facial structure.

So let’s start with the eyes since they are the focal point of the face. Stay away from the descriptions you’ve heard a million times, like “piercing” or “doe-eyed.” The eyes are the window to the soul, and they can tell a reader a lot about a character. Instead of “piercing,” try “icy” or “sharp,” and instead of “doe-eyed,” try “wide,” “innocent,” or “full of wonder/awe.” The goal is to describe the character in a unique way to make it more interesting to read, while still creating a vivid image of that character.

You can describe the shape, color, and depth of a character’s eyes, but you should be careful not to rely on insensitive generalizations. For example, instead of “Asian” eyes, use “almond-shaped” or “mono-lid.” Not all Asian people have mono-lids, so simply using the word “Asian” to describe the character’s eyes doesn’t actually narrow down what they look like.

That goes for all the other features of the face, too. Though it is true that some features are more prominent in certain races, nothing is inherent. You shouldn’t rely on the character’s race or ethnic background alone to be the basis of your description. Saying that a character is Japanese or Jamaican without giving other details doesn’t do any more for the character’s description than saying they are European or white. Doing this only encourages your readers to stereotype your characters, even if that wasn’t your intention.

With that said, don’t get too caught up in describing every detail of a character’s face. Give the most important information, such as the eyes, face shape, scars, and other notable details or imperfections, then move on. If a character has an exaggerated feature, such as a large nose or bushy eyebrows, then that’s important to mention too.

How to Describe a Character’s Hair

There are lots of different types of hair colors, textures, thicknesses, and shines, so try not to make all your characters have the same kind of hair—unless they’re related or part of a small, isolated community, of course. Hair can be curly and blond, sleek and black, coily and auburn, and even dyed wild colors. Making your characters’ hair more distinct will make them easier for readers to visualize, especially if you introduce many characters at one time.

Beyond the basics, you can use words to describe a character’s hair that reflects who they are as a person. For example, describing a character’s hair as springy or bouncy could indicate the character is upbeat and moves excitedly. Slick, greasy, or wispy hair could suggest an untrustworthy or sneaky character. The words you use to describe the character’s hair will be subliminally applied to the character themself.

How to Describe a Character’s Clothes

Clothing is an important element of self-expression, and what your character decides to wear can reflect a lot about them. However, unlike with the character’s face, you should not spend a lot of time describing their outfit. For one thing, they’re probably going to change their outfit at some point in the story—likely more than once. Secondly, readers just won’t care unless you give them a good reason to.

If you want to describe what your character is wearing, make sure to keep it short. If it’s just a simple way of helping the reader visualize the character’s style, present the information objectively and in only a paragraph or two, such as:

“She wore short-shorts and a denim jacket, and pink thigh-high socks that she had to keep pulling up because they always slipped down to her knees. Her tennis-shoes were white and bulky, as was the belt bag she wore off to one side. This free, laidback style was completed by the two messy buns her faded purple hair was pulled up into.”

However, there are a few times in which you can use clothing to explore more complex ideas in the story. For example:

An article of clothing might have special significance to a character. It could have been handed down from a relative, it could be a favorite shirt, or it could be meaningful in other ways. That would merit drawing more attention to it.
An article of clothing might have special significance to the story. This could be a type of ceremonial outfit, a piece of magical armor, or something along those lines. That would require a more thorough in-depth description of the item.
An article of clothing may be unfamiliar to most of your readers, such as a specific cultural outfit or an unusual costume, in which case a descriptive explanation could help illustrate what it looks like.
A particular outfit could draw attention to a character, such as an attractive or surprising outfit, that could merit taking more time to describe it (and explain why it garners the character extra attention).

How to Describe a Character’s Body

Describing a character’s body is fairly straightforward. Like with many other aspects of a character’s appearance, there are a few methods you can use to approach describing their body. You could take the objective approach, which would do just fine in most cases, or you could toy with your readers’ perceptions.

I’ll start out with a word of caution. Too many times, I’ve seen unrealistic descriptions of characters’ bodies. Whether it’s a waist that’s impossibly thin or muscles like a bodybuilder on a teenager, people tend to push the boundaries of what the human body is even capable of. You need to keep your characters within the limits of what’s actually possible, unless you have a good reason for doing otherwise (genetically modified supersoldier, not actually human at all, etc).

Now, as with some other aspects of the character’s appearance, you can get away with a simple, objective description, like “tall and muscular” or “short and curvy.” Honestly, that’s usually all you’ll need to do. However, bodies are commonly associated with physical attractiveness, and if attraction is the point of your description, you need to take a different approach.

Writing about attraction is tough (which is why I go more in-depth about how to write about attraction in my other article, Romance 101: How to Write Characters Falling in Love ). You’ll want to highlight the positives of the character’s body—the elements of them that have caught your protagonist’s attention. Whether it’s biceps, legs, or a large chest, you’ll want to describe it in detail, as well as highlight what it is about them that has the protagonist so interested. Here’s an example:

“He was tall and sturdy, and even in this relaxed environment, his pose held power. The way his shirt stretched taut around his shoulders when he shifted snagged and held my attention—I couldn’t help but stare. Did he pick that shirt on purpose? He had to know the thin fabric clung close to his body, showing off every rippling muscle underneath…”

How to Describe a Character’s Posture and Body Language

Body language is an often overlooked element of describing a character, but you should give it some thought even if you don’t intend to draw a lot of attention to it in the story. How does your character stand? How do they emote? Do they gesture when they speak? Do they fidget? Try to envision what they look like when they are waiting, actively engaged in a passionate conversation, and when they are uncomfortable.

People move in different ways, even if they aren’t thinking about it. Come up with a list of movements and behaviors that are typical for the character, and utilize those movements to make dull scenes and conversations more interesting. Instead of just dialogue, you can give readers more to imagine as your character shifts their weight, runs their hand through their hair, or twists the hem of their shirt. This can also help to establish the tone of the conversation.

A person’s body, personality, and mood will all influence how they move. If you establish a baseline for how the character stands and behaves when they are in a neutral mindset, this will help you keep them consistent over time by casually mentioning their body language throughout the story. As a bonus, it can also help you tip readers off if you want them to notice that something is bothering the character. If you have established that a character is pretty relaxed in most situations, readers will instantly notice if they exhibit anxious body language even if you don’t draw a lot of attention to it.

For more tips and tricks on writing about body language, be sure to check out Writing Body Language: Bringing Your Characters to Life next!

How to Describe an Attractive Character

Describing an attractive character isn’t all that different from describing any other character. You still shouldn’t make them flawless, but you can put off mentioning their more negative qualities until later—especially if another character is looking at them through rose-colored glasses .

One recommendation that I have for describing a character who is supposed to be extremely attractive is to keep their description vague. Beauty is subjective, so each reader is going to have a different idea of what “attractive” means. By all means, describe the basics of their appearance, such as hair color, eye color, skin tone, and whatnot, but don’t dive deep into the shape of their features. This will leave a little bit up to the reader’s imagination, and they will fill in the gaps in the character’s description with the traits that they find most attractive.

Another helpful tip is to utilize the reactions of background characters to establish that the character is, in fact, attractive. Other people staring at the character or nudging and whispering to each other about them would help your reader understand that the character is good-looking, and alter their mental image of them accordingly.

The Importance of Creating Vivid Visual Descriptions for your Characters

Creating vivid visual descriptions for your characters is incredibly important for a number of reasons. For one thing, being able to imagine the characters will help draw your readers into the story and immerse them in the world. Additionally, by giving your characters more distinct appearances, they will stand out more from each other, and from characters in other stories. The more complex and interesting the character, the more likely they are to stick in a reader’s mind for years after they finish reading the story.

Good luck with writing your descriptions! I know you’ll write something great.

Words to Describe Hair

Photo credits: Alex Nemo Hanse

This began as a guide to describing Afro / curly hair but of course, I got carried away. From look and texture of hair, colors and various styles, this guide serves as a thesaurus of sorts for hair, as well as pointers for use in your writing.

Please check under the read more for an accessible version of these lists

Culturally Significant Hair Coverings:

Know the meaning behind head wear and why it's worn, when and by whom , such as a Native Nation’s headdress, before bestowing a character with it.

Head Coverings Resources:

More on various head coverings .
See here for more Islamic Veils .
See here for more on the Nigerian gele .
See here on African American Headwraps .
View our hijab and headscarves tags for discussion on these topics.

Afro - Curly - Straightened

There are many varieties of braids, twists & Afro hair styles; have some more!

African/Black Hair: Natural, Braids and Locks
African Hair: Braiding Styles 10 African Types

Describing Black (Afro) hair:

Appropriative Hairstyles: Keep in mind that Afro styles should be kept to those in the African Diaspora, such as locs or locks , cornrows + certain and many braided styles.
“Locs” or “Locks” is more favored over “dreadlocks” for many people.
Tread carefully describing Afro hair as "wild" "unkempt" "untamed" or any words implying it’s unclean or requires controlling.
“Nappy” and “wooly” are generally words to stay away from, the first having heavy negative connotations for many and the latter, though used in the Holy Bible, is generally not acceptable anymore and comes off as dehumanizing due to animal connotations.
There are mixed feelings on calling Black hair “kinky.” I'm personally not opposed to the word in itself and usage depends on the person's race (I'm more comfortable with a Black person using it vs. a Non-Black person) as well as their tone and context (if it's used in a neutral or positive tone vs. negatively/with disdain). Get feedback on your usage, or simply forgo it.
See our tags "Black Hair" and "Natural Hair" for more discussion on describing Black hair.

Texture - Look - Styles

Hair Colors and Style

Writing Tips & Things to Keep in Mind:

Combination Words: Try combining words to illustrate look of hair. A character with springy coils that dance across her shoulders with every movement, the man with thick silvery hair slicked back into a ponytail...
Mind Perspective: Depending on POV, a character might not know exactly what cornrows or a coiffure style is, at least in name, and it might make more sense if they described the hairdo instead. More defining terms might come from a more knowing source or the wearer themselves. One book I read described a girl's afro puff as "thick hair pulled up into a cute, curly, poufy thing on top of her head and tied with a yellow ribbon."
POC & Hair Colors: People of Color's hair comes in all shades and textures. There are Black people with naturally blond and loosely-textured to straight hair, East Asian people with red hair, and so on. Keep that in mind when coding characters if you tend to rely on hair color alone to denote a character is white vs. a Person of Color.
Related Tropes: There are tropes and discussion related to People of Color, colored hair, and light-colored hair and features.
Check out these posts on the topic: The East Asian Women + Colored Hair Trope - Black Characters & “Wild” Hair Colors - POC w/ Supernatural Colorful Features. - ‘Uncommon’ Features & POC Characters

~Mod Colette

Read more for accessible versions of the lists:

@ writingwithcolor / writingwithcolor.tumblr.com

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How to describe hair in writing to readers [2023].

Describing hair in words is not easy for a reader without a picture.

Phrases for Hair Movement

You must find great phrases to convey a person's hair movement and hairstyle to a reader. It can also be related to the activity, whether natural hair movement or movement due to dancing.

Some phrases to describe hair movement are:

Flowing in the wind
Breezing in the air
Blown on the wind
Moving fluidly
Featherweight
The wind running through hair
Spectacular
Swinging side-by-side
Lightweight

Phrases for Beautiful Hair

To describe beautiful hair requires positive phrases and adjectives and should be used with other words on hair texture and length for readers to visualize.

Some phrases to describe beautiful hair are

Silky smooth
Alluring wavy hair
Magnificant
Lovely Tresses

Phrases for Hair Colors

For describing hair color, one tip is to look at hair dye colors for ideas too.

How to describe hair color in writing

Light Golden Brown
Umber Brown
Ebony Brown
Raven Brown
Snowy White
Silver Gray Hair
Bleach White
Ombre Purple
Chestnut Red
Crimson Red
Mahogany Red

You should also be familiar with the different textures of the hair and different styles of hair.

What you should keep in mind is that when using the adjectives to describe the hair, you should not overdo it, just make sure that you are giving enough description of the hair for the purpose of the writing.

You can do research about the phrases that can be used in the description of the color or the texture and the style of the hair, using the specific phrases that are understandable in the world of beauty is very important. You should also note the colors of the hair, they are different.

Tips used in writing hair descriptions

Combination of words

You should know well how to combine different phrases to give a detailed description of the hair you are trying to describe.

A combination of different phrases is able to give a reader a full description of the hair, for example, using a description like; ‘braided black hair’ or 'straight hair' will let a person knows more about the black hair.

Find the work that has been done

If you just can’t describe hair well it is advisable that you check out the descriptions that have been done to see how things are done.

The hairstyle could be dreadlocks on African American hair, natural afro Hair common in black women, cute hairstyles with short hair, box braids, crochet braids, pixie cut, plaited, ponytail, permed hair, French braids, Dutch braids (read our posts on the different in French and Dutch braids and history of European braids ).

How to describe hair texture

There are very many textures that you need to check out because you will need to know every before attempting to describe any, you should check on the thickness of the hair, check on the density, and determine how the hair is curly. There are three types of texture that you will have to dwell on in your descriptions; these are the thick texture, the medium texture, and the fine texture.

Thick texture - this is the kind of hair that has all the layers of hair, if you make a description as thick then the hair is really a lot of the head. The hair holds water for a long time compared to other textures
Medium texture - the hair might not be as thick as the first texture but it has just enough to cover the head well, it has two layers unlike the thick texture, The hair is lighter then the thick texture, this means that it can be changed into many styles.
Fine texture - the hair has only one layer, this means it is very light; it is very delicate just like that one of a young child, this hair cannot be able to stand straight on the head. It can have a problem with using many products.

How to describe the smell of hair

Describing smell can be difficult for a reader to relate because unless you get the right words to describe the smell.

A good way is to use food like honey, refreshing cucumber which is infused in shampoo.

Observe the smell, then you will need to find the right description words to able to describe, check out for better adjectives and nouns that can fit the description. You should note that only accurate descriptions will communicate the intended message.

How to describe curly hair

Here are some ways you can describe curly hair:

Her curly hair cascaded down her shoulders in tight, glossy ringlets.
His voluminous, corkscrew curls gave him a distinctive and charming look.
She had shoulder-length hair with loose, beachy curls that framed her face beautifully.
The little girl's adorable face was accentuated by her bouncy, golden curls.
His thick, curly mane seemed to have a life of its own, adding to his charismatic personality.
Despite the slight frizz, her long, S-shaped curls added a touch of elegance to her appearance.
The natural shine of her coiled curls gave her hair a lustrous and healthy look.

Hope you find this guide useful for your writing ideas.

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How to Describe Hairstyles in Writing

By Isobel Coughlan

Do you need some help in describing the hairstyle of a character in your story? In this post, we explain how to describe hairstyles in writing using the following 10 words.

1. Extravagant

Something that’s impressive , elaborate, or costs a lot of money.

“The young girl looked into the salon and admired the extravagant hairstyles. She wished she could have her hair professionally styled.”

“Your hair is looking rather extravagant this morning. Did you take inspiration from the latest fashion show?”

How it Adds Description

“Extravagant” shows that the character’s hair is elaborate and detailed, and therefore, it might impress other characters in the book. An “extravagant” hairstyle might have more volume, lots of color, or many accessories. Sometimes, “extravagant” hairstyles might cost a lot, and this may frustrate the character who has to pay for the service.

2. Conventional

Something that’s normal or ordinary .

“John’s hair was always conventional . Many thought he was a square for ignoring the trends, but he wasn’t comfortable with taking risks.

“Penelope secretly wished her daughter would opt for conventional hairstyles. But she had to admit, there was a strange charm to her neon yellow mohawk.”

Not all hairstyles are dramatic or unique, and you can show a character plays it safe with their locks via “conventional.” Characters with “conventional” hairstyles might follow the rules and avoid making controversial statements. They could also value tradition, and therefore, they don’t try out any modern hair trends.

3. Flammable

Something that catches fire or burns easily.

“Do you need any more hairspray, Ella? Your hair is positively flammable !”

“Wendy had to steer clear of the smokers outside of the club due to her flammable hair.”

If a character’s hairstyle uses a lot of hairspray, it’s more likely to catch fire . In pop culture, it’s common to call these kinds of styles “flammable.” This shows they’re at risk of burning, but it also portrays how much time and effort has gone into styling it via hairspray. Characters with “flammable” hair might value style over comfort, which shows they care what others think of them.

Something that might shock or anger others.

“Andrew stocked up on bleach, dye, and scissors. He was ready to create the most daring hairstyle in the world.”

“The woman looked around the room at the young students. Each had a daring hairstyle, and she wondered how they all persuaded their parents to approve the cut.”

Hairstyles that are deliberately shocking can be called “daring.” For example, this could include bright colors, shaved patterns, or experimental cuts. Sometimes, a “daring” hairstyle will even anger a more conservative character, as it doesn’t fit within their traditional worldview.

5. Minimalist

A style that takes inspiration from minimalism and uses simple elements.

“The boy wanted his life to be simple and straightforward, so he opted for a minimalist haircut.”

“Verity’s blunt bob was endearingly minimalist . Not many people could pull off such a simple hairstyle.”

You can show a character has a very simple hairstyle via the adjective “minimalist.” This shows that the cut is very simple or doesn’t include over-the-top details. A “minimalist” cut doesn’t mean they’re boring, though. It can be a style statement that illustrates their commitment to being fashionable without effort.

6. Feminine

Something that had qualities associated with women .

“Grace tied an ornate bow onto her head to complement her feminine haircut. She instantly felt silly and longed to cut it all off.”

“Billy’s long, hippy locks made everyone stare. Some even called his hair feminine , but he knew he was channeling the rock legends of the past.”

The adjective “feminine” can show your reader that the hairstyle in question mimics qualities typically associated with womanhood. This could be because it’s long or delicately styled. Some characters might embrace the “feminine” style. In contrast, others might be uncomfortable with it, especially if they don’t resonate with womanhood.

Hair that looks shiny, smooth, and healthy .

“The TV showed images of dancing girls and their sleek hairstyles. This enraged Jenny, even though she knew their hair didn’t really look like that.”

“Maintaining sleek hair was Beth’s only life goal. Every morning, she woke up, brushed her tresses fifty times, and generously applied argan oil.”

“Sleek” describes hairstyles that are very healthy and shiny, which further implies that the character either takes care of their hair or uses expensive products to keep it looking smooth. Other characters might be jealous of someone with a “sleek” hairstyle, as they may secretly wish their hair looked better.

Something that is very firm and doesn’t bend.

“Hailey, you’ve gone overboard with the gel again! Your hairstyle’s so stiff that it’s not even moving with the wind!”

“The makeup artist made sure the actor’s hairstyle was stiff enough to withstand the on-set wind machine.”

If a hairstyle has lots of products in it (e.g., gel, mousse, or hairspray), it becomes hard or “stiff.” “Stiff” hairstyles are great if you want to keep everything in place, but they don’t always look good. Therefore, a character with “stiff” hair might be unhappy with their look, and others might laugh at their failed hairstyle.

Hair that’s very tightly curled or unruly .

“Sam wanted to leave the salon with beachy curls, but instead, she was left with a rushed and frizzy hairstyle.”

“We need to get out of the humidity now. My hairstyle has turned frizzy !”

When a hairstyle becomes “frizzy,” it means the style is either losing shape or becoming curlier than planned. This can happen due to humidity, time, or lack of product. A character will probably become annoyed or upset when this happens, as “frizzy” hair isn’t usually in fashion.

10. Voluminous

Something that’s extremely large .

“Every day, Simon backcombed his hair until it reached his trademark voluminous style.”

“As the old man walked down the street, he couldn’t help but notice the kids were all wearing their locks in voluminous hairstyles.”

“Voluminous” shows that the fictional hairstyle is very tall or wide to the point that it stands out from the rest. If a character chooses to wear a “voluminous” style, they might like attention and look different. This may also imply that they’re confident, as they’re not scared of being different.

Writers in the Storm

A blog about writing.

A Comprehensive Guide To Writing About Hair

The most popular post here at WITS is a very early post from Sharla Rae on writing descriptively about hair. This post is so amazing, we pulled it up from the archives and buffed it up a bit for you. What's included? Everything from basic descriptions and colors to word choices and hairstyle names. and descriptions.

Let's have a hair party!

A few basic do's and don't's.

The #1 thing about hair descriptions is Do Not overuse them. You do not want to be known as "hair girl "or "hair boy!"

#2 on the essential List: Hair descriptions are a part of the character so make them work harder by using them to describe the person “inside,” not just what the person looks like outside.

A tomboy might have a very short, non-nonsense haircut. Then again, she might hide long tresses under a ball cap, because secretly she’d like to be noticed as the girl she really is.
A man who works as an executive might conform to a short, and very tailored look. Or, he wears expensive suits but he wears his hair a little too long because on the weekends he caters to his passion and joins his buddies for motorcycle road trips.

Alternative Generic Names For Head Hair

Coiffure	Locks	Strands
Curls	Mane	Tresses
Down	Mop	Tufts
Fringe	Ringlets	Wig
Fuzz	Shock	Wool

Descriptive Hair Phrases

Bangs obscured her eyes like a sheepdog Flaked with snowy dandruff Bleached, bottle baby Braid like a thick black rope Bundled at the nape Bun resembled a cow patty Cascading down her back Chemically damaged Coiled in a top-knot Crowning glory Curls foamed luxuriously Tendrils danced on the breeze Disheveled Downy hair sprinkled her arms Dramatic widow’s peak Elaborately dressed with ribbons Electrified Kewpie curls Smelled like burnt chicken feathers Snow drifts of dandruff Veiled her expression with Greased into a ducktail Flaming locks fluttered to the floor Fluffy Frizz job, bad perm Glossy locks lifted on the wind Grew like a thatch of straw on a roof Grizzled, gray hair Hair drooped around pale cheeks Hair like Rapunzel Hairy as a dog Hung like a dark river Kinky perm Knotted Left unbound to tumble Like a clown wig, artificial red, plastic shine and fuzzy Like a thatched roof Like she put her finger in a light socket Limp and lifeless Long, shaggy hippy look Lustrous as onyx stone Marcelled into fingerwaves Matted to the scalp Perm fried Prematurely gray Puffed like a bubble around her head Ragged bangs Rat’s nest Ringlets Shock of hair stood straight up Slapped her face like wet worms Sleek and chic Smooth honey dripped over her shoulders Spiky Mohawk style of a punk rocker Spilled out of the hat Spread like feathers on a pillow Standing on end Stiff in front like a cockatoo Straight as a wire Streaked, highlighted Stuck to her sweaty nape Tangled mane Tousled pixie Two-toned dye job Unconquered curls sprang loose Unruly swirl Old-lady blue rinsed hair Vibrant color and shine Wet with sweat White Pigeon Wings at temples Wispy ringlets Wondered what rubble lay beneath that mess Wreathed her face

Hair Texture Phrases

Baby fuzz Bleached hair like mushy wet works Blue feather hair of old lady Bristle top Broom chopped Cat-fur fine Cotton candy hair, fine Cottony Dandelion fuzz Down Gummy Horsetail coarse Moldy hay Short-cropped and stiff Soft and lush Soft curls and waves Yellow straw

Descriptive Hair Color Words & Phrases

Coal	Jet	Obsidian
Crow's wing	Indian Ink	Onyx
Ebony	Midnight	Raven

Grays and Whites

Battleship gray, dull gray	Maltese gray (blue gray)	Smoke
Blue dandelion fuzz	Mineral	Snowy white
Blue rinse gray	Mousy (gray)	Swan's wing
Faded glory	Pewter	Steel
Flint	Salt and Pepper	Wood ashes
Grizzled (gray)	Shale
Gunmetal	Silver cloud

Amber (reddish)	Dirt
Ash brown	Fudge cycle
Auburn (reddish)	Glazed ginger
Baked Clay	Maple Sugar
Bison	Mink
Brunette	Mousy
Burnished	Muddy
Camel	Nutmeg
Caramel	Pecan
Chestnut	Rawhide, dark reddish
Cinnamon	Root beer
Clove	Russet
Dark beer	Tobacco
Dark Earth	Tortoise Shell
Dark toffee	Walnut

Auburn	Carrot top	Garish
Berry	Cinnabar	Orange
Brassy	Clown wig red	Russet
Brightest	Cognac	Scarlet
Burgundy	Dull brick	Strawberry
Burnished Copper	Flame	Wine

Here is a wonderful link, shared with us by Erin Michelle (see comment below) from Writing With Color: Describing Natural Hair .

Professional Hair Color Descriptions

Ash blond -- Lacks red or gold highlights (verges on green tones); light mousy blond, medium and dark blond, dishwater, beige

Ash brown -- Browns lacking warm/red tones tones; light mousy brown, medium and dark brown

Black -- Different shades of black vary according to the amount of highlighting or pigmentation shadings present in the hair; black lacking all highlighting will be duller, ash shade; black containing a lot of red may appear as deep burgundy

Red -- Warm shades; berry, russet, strawberry (red-blonde), rusty orange, wine, carrot top, etc.

Towhead -- Whitish blond; usually an ash blond lacking warm tones but not always

Warm blond -- Blond with touch of gold and red; whiskey, wheat, honey, strawberry, brassy, golden etc.

Warm brown -- Brunette, dark or light brown that contains red or gold tones; varies from light to nearly black; reddish brown, chestnut, dark amber, auburn etc.

Hair Styles Modern And Historical

It’s impossible to name all the hairstyles but the selection here should be a good start. Many listed here also are known by other names.

[See of some these hairstyles here .]

Afro -- Unisex style borrowed from African-Americans; short and very curly, forming a bowl shaped profile; a pick is used to pull the hair away from the head and shape it

Asymmetric -- Hair is cut long on side of the head and short on the other.

Bedhead -- Popularized in 1990s by starlet Meg Ryan; short to mid-length shaggy cut worn jelled or moussed in tossed fashion

Beehive -- A 60’s French twist coiled at the back of the head and rising above it to form a cone shape (see upsweep)

Bob -- Introduced in 1915 this short cropped hair style was popular during the 1920’s; also called the shingle bob, the shingle, the Eaton crop. It is often cropped at the jawline and aligned close to the face.

Bouffant -- Puffy hair style’ hair is backcombed or ratted then barely smoothed, resulting in a bubble affect

Bowl -- Most commonly worn by young boys. The bang area cut straight cross the forehead as if measured by turning a bowl upside down on the head. The top layers are longer and cut along the this bowl line around the head.

Braid -- Plaited hair

Bubble -- 60’s hairstyle, short to mid-length, ratted/backcombed to appear like a football helmet or bubble surrounding the head

Butch/flattop/crewcut -- A man’s style; usually cut with electric shears; very short and stands on end at the front of the head and his shaved close to the head on the sides; sometimes called a GI cut.

Buzz - Modern slang for a hair shaved close to the head

Chignon -- Bun, usually at the nape or top of head; topknot

Conk -- African-American textured hair that is straightened

Cornrows -- Small tightly braided rows of hair that hug the scalp

Duck tail -- 50’s style worn by girls and boys alike; hair on either side of nape combed toward the center of the head; reminiscent of Elvis Presley, Fabian, Doris Day, Debbie Reynolds etc.

Farrah Fawcett -- Long layered hair flipped or feathered back off the face with a bang that feathers or rolls off the face as well; made popular by the TV star of the same name; late 70’s and early 80’s

Finger waved -- Usually short haircut in which a stylist uses lotion and her fingers to create deep waves that circle the head. Popular in the 1920s and 30s.

Flip -- Feminine hair style of the 50’s and 60’s; long hair usually shoulder length turned up at the ends, sometimes in a roll.

Fontange -- Worn 1690’s to 1710; a towering fountain of frills and complex, lacy intertwining shaped around a wire frame and considered the height of fashion; nicknamed by disdaining men, the “tower and the comet”

French twist/seam -- Hair swept back from both sides the head (front to back) and rolled down the center of the head into a roll or tucked to make a seam

Fringe -- Curly bangs worn in the 1880’s; in 1900’s worn straight; alternate name for bangs

Kiss curls -- Seen immediately after Civil War; ringlets of curls on the cheeks or forehead

London Cut -- Short female cut popular during the 1960s and early 70s. The hair was cut over the ears, leaving a fringe in front of the ears, often brushed toward the face or straight down. The nape hair was cut along the hairline like a boys but more rounded instead of squared off like a man’s neckline.

Mohawk -- Shaved head with a strip of hair growth down the center of the head from forehead to the nape

Pads -- Late 1830’s long coiled curls over the ears (looked like ear muffs); at the back of the head they were called a Grecian knot or psyche knot

Pageboy -- Introduced in late 1930s early 40’s; long, hair turned under, usually just touching the shoulders

Pigtails -- Same as pony tail only the hair is parted down middle and each section is cinched into its own tail above or below the ear

Pixie -- Female short cut; feathered around profile of face and onto cheek, short at the nape line; usually with full bang and combed forward onto face; also called an Italian cut; permed version called a poodle cut

Pompadour -- Style of wearing the hair high over the forehead usually in some type of rolled affect; in 1940’s women used rats (nylon mash) to roll the hair off the forehead and puff it; a version of this also worn during the 1700’s and early 1800’s by most and women; name comes from a lady of this era called Madame Pompadour

Ponytail -- Hair gathered together and cinched with a rubber band or barrette to make a tail at the back of the head; worn high or low; worn low it’s sometimes called a George (referring to George Washington) or a Paul Revere

Poodle cut -- Short, curly haircut

Powdered hair/wigs -- Unisex style worn from about 1760’s to 1820; after 1740 men were wearing shorter, simpler wigs and began to powder their own hair

Punk -- Usually short on top and styled with lotion to stand up off the head; often a mohawk fashion from forehead to nape; sometimes dyed bright neon colors of pink, purple, blue, orange etc.

Queue -- Pigtail, esp. that of a Chinese. (Chinese queue was braided) Men of Colonial America wore these as well, usually tied back with a ribbon and in some cases men wore a periwig styled with a queue

Roach -- Hair brushed into a roll

Sausage curl -- Long tube-like coils of hair; popular in early 1800’s; in the early 1970’s these were piled on top of the head in a cluster, esp. for formal dress for teens.

Shag -- Like a pixie, only long at the nape. Lengths vary from short to long layered cut; popular during the early 70’s

Skin heads -- Group of radical racist youths, men and women alike, who shaved their heads

Spaniel’s curls -- Late 1840’s into the 50’s; long thick curls worn by the ear (as worn by Elizabeth Barrette Browning)

Spit curls -- First seen in 1831; flat curls on women in front of the ear

Tonsure -- Shaven part of a monk or cleric’s head

Updo/upsweep -- Generic term for long hair styled high on top of head; hair might petaled (layered curls), barrel curled, arranged in a chignon, backcombed into a beehive or styled in French roll etc.

Wedge cut -- Also called Dorothy Hamill cut; short cut worn mostly by women; sides feathered off the face, back cut longer from the drown to the occipital bone, where its layered into a wedge; nape is trimmed close the head and short; a late ‘70’s and early 80’s style.

Do you see anything missing from this list? Are there modern styles we need to add? How do you decide what kind of hair to give your characters?

* * * * * *

Sharla Rae passed away earlier this year, but she (and her amazing lists) live on at WITS. She published four amazing historical romances. The latest, How To Fell a Timberman , is available on Amazon .

You can read more about her here .

13 comments on “A Comprehensive Guide To Writing About Hair”

This is too, too perfect for me because one of the questions in the reader's guide at the end of my forthcoming novel QUEEN OF THE OWLS is about how HAIR is used to convey different aspects of what it means to be a woman!! The protagonist changes her hair to symbolize a change she wants to make in her life. Her less-tightly-wound sister is always letting her hair fall, effortlessly, to her shoulders. And so on. (You'll just have to read the book to know more.) As women, hair matters to us; we say something about who we are, through our hair choices. So this is a cool dictionary! Thank you!!

How cool, Barbara! That's sounds like a great story.

What a great post! So incredibly thorough. The only thing I can think to add is black hair that has a blue sheen to it.

I find the descriptive hair phrases particularly helpful.

Yes, Sharla was amazing at this. This post is a summary of 17 pages from her "magic notebooks."

This is a great list! I want to point out one spelling error in the descriptive phrases. "Cupie" curls are actually "Kewpie" curls. Kewpie dolls were very popular in the early to mid 20th century. Spell check probably won't catch that.

Excellent catch, Belinda! I made the change. 🙂

Great idea, but this post was pretty exclusionary of POC har descriptors and I think it was neglectful to leave this out of the conversation (I'm a while lady, but I pay attention to this stuff).

Just for example -- there's a difference between dreadlocks (not even on this list) and locs, with an important distinction:

"With the trans-Atlantic slave trade in full force during the 1600-1800s, Africans brought to America (and other places around the globe) were unable to perform their normal hair grooming practices, and so arrived looking unkempt. After traveling months on ships with no hygiene available, hair appeared matted and locked. It's said that slave owners referred to the "dreadful" sight of the captives, thus the term "dreadlocks" and its negative association." ( https://www.byrdie.com/locs-or-locks-400267 )

Hair and the description of hair is such a huge part of the black community in particular, and has so many connotations for other non-white cultures as well, it was remiss to not include at least some links for white writers to explore, ESPECIALLY if you ever plan to write a POC character.

This post is a great place to start: https://writingwithcolor.tumblr.com/post/94390338957/describing-natural-hair

Erin, I appreciate you taking the time to leave this thoughtful comment and point out this oversight. I've added that excellent link to Writing With Color into the post. Although many of these descriptors apply to hair from any ethnic background, the post did not pay special attention to hair from persons of color. Thank you for speaking up!

It should be noted that these descriptors come from Sharla Rae's personal notebook and she tended to write early American historicals with a focus on Norwegians and Texans.

Thanks so much for visiting us here at Writers In the Storm.

Erin, I thought you might enjoy this book a friend of mine wrote for her daughter, Ava. It speaks about African-American hair in a very unique way. (Her daughter attends school in an Orange County district that is predominantly of Asian and Middle Eastern descent and Caucasian.)

https://www.amazon.com/Have-Make-Curly-Hair-Straight/dp/154306681X

Better than Thesaurus.com!!

Thanks, Karen! And things just got even more comprehensive some some great links in the comments. 🙂

spiral curls, popular in the 80s, but some of us have that in our natural curly hair

I think you're missing the mullet.

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Physical Attribute Entry: Hair

March 9, 2013 by BECCA PUGLISI

Physical description of a character can be difficult to convey—too much will slow the pace or feel ‘list-like’, while too little will not allow readers to form a clear mental image. If a reader cannot imagine what your character looks like, they may have trouble connecting with them on a personal level, or caring about their plight. One way to balance the showing and telling of physical description is to showcase a few details that really help ‘tell the story’ about who your character is and what they’ve been through up to this point. Think about what makes them different and interesting. Can a unique feature, clothing choice or way they carry themselves help to hint at their personality? Also, consider how they move their body. Using movement will naturally show a character’s physical characteristics, keep the pace flowing and help to convey their emotions. Descriptors : curly, ringleted, straight, kinky, wavy, wild, lank, blunt, tame, bushy, frizzy, silky, long, short, flowing, buzzed, cropped, chopped, coifed, styled, gelled, loose, flat, shiny, dull, bouncy, thin, thick, wiry, dyed, streaked, layered…

Things Hair Does (and other words/phrases to describe those actions)

Flip : toss, jerk, flick, shake,
Blow (in the wind) : float, flutter, sail, waft, fly, skim, whip, tear, thrash, twirl, buffet, lash, shimmy, sway, slap, flap

Key Emotions and Related Hair Gestures:

Though hair doesn’t do much on its own, people often touch their hair to indicate certain emotions. When nervous or feeling insecure, people do pretty much anything with their hair, such as touching, patting, twisting, pulling, compulsively braiding/unbraiding, pulling, jerking, and finger-combing their locks.
At times of high anxiety or stress.. .

Clichés to Avoid : Bleached blondes that are dumb or gullible; sexy, sassy redheads; lice as a sign of dirty hair…

HINT: When describing any part of the body, try to use cues that show the reader more than just a physical description. Make your descriptions do double duty. Example: I tried not to stare at the matriarch’s hair but didn’t quite succeed. It was the color of rich loam without a hint of white—a glossy shade that inspired both envy and debate among the village women. My mother liked to say that no one Bentri’s age kept such hair naturally .

BONUS TIP: The Color, Texture, and Shape Thesaurus might help you find a fresh take on some of the descriptors listed above!

Describe your character’s features in a way that reveals more than just a physical description. Show what he looks like while also reinforcing his personality and emotional state, thereby doing more with less.

Need concrete examples of how to describe your character in a compelling, magnetic way? Good news! This thesaurus has been integrated into our online library at One Stop For Writers . There, you can find help with metaphors and similes , as well as the best ways to describe your character using movement. The entire Physical Feature collection is cross-referenced and linked for easy navigation. If you’re interested in seeing a free sampling of the updated Physical Feature Thesaurus and our other descriptive collections, head on over and register at One Stop!

Becca Puglisi is an international speaker, writing coach, and bestselling author of The Emotion Thesaurus and its sequels. Her books are available in five languages, are sourced by US universities, and are used by novelists, screenwriters, editors, and psychologists around the world. She is passionate about learning and sharing her knowledge with others through her Writers Helping Writers blog and via One Stop For Writers —a powerhouse online library created to help writers elevate their storytelling.

Reader Interactions

November 6, 2013 at 9:44 pm

I used to chew my hair. I liked the crunchy texture.

March 10, 2013 at 6:01 pm

Great one Becca–there is so much we do with our hair–it really is a way of expressing who we are!

March 10, 2013 at 3:26 am

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March 9, 2013 at 4:55 pm

Cynthia, you’re right. That’s a point I hadn’t considered, which would bring the percentage of redheads higher. Even considering that, though, I stand by my opinion that there are far more redheads in literature than are represented in the general population :).

March 9, 2013 at 3:27 pm

Nice. This is the kind of thing I try to work on with on edit pass.

March 9, 2013 at 1:34 pm

Always find these posts very useful. Thank you=)

March 9, 2013 at 1:12 pm

My character does tons of stuff with her hair. How much is too much!Trying to figure it out. It is definitely her tic. Great post.

March 9, 2013 at 11:33 am

Are red heads really that rare? That makes me feel special 🙂 Stereotypes aside I think certain hair colors DO give impressions. I gave each of my characters their hair and eye color for a reason. My heroine has big brown eyes, because I wanted them to capture, and be all-encompassing. Her honey-blonde hair too, was meant to give an impression of softness.

March 9, 2013 at 10:21 am

My cheerful counter to the 2% statistic is that it doesn’t seem to consider that not all redheads have been that way since birth.

There was an MFA class at Vermont College that had a half dozen redheads.

Many of my friends are redheads. How many of them are natural? I’d never ask. But if you’re scanning the general U.S. populace…

March 9, 2013 at 10:20 am

Good stuff. Keep ’em coming:)

March 9, 2013 at 9:25 am

Thanks for sharing your tips.

March 9, 2013 at 8:07 am

Excellent, as always.

March 9, 2013 at 6:14 am

Great one!!

March 9, 2013 at 5:58 am

This comment has been removed by the author.

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Writing with Color: Words for Skin Tone

A blog dedicated to writing and resources centered on racial & ethnic diversity.

Reviews (3)

How do you describe the color of someone’s skin? This page is all about that. “This final portion focuses on describing skin tone, with photo and passage examples provided throughout. I hope to cover everything from the use of straight-forward description to the more creatively-inclined.” (I wanted to give a URL but this insists on inlining the content)

Recent Reviews

Very useful reference. Skin color is something I typically have trouble with.

Like TVTropes, Springhole, and Wikipedia, an author could spend hours following one link (Black Panther Fanfic Writing) to the next (Bad to have a Disabled Love Interest?) and the next (Baby Banks in an Infertile World, Eugenics and Racism) into the wee hours of the morning, only this one is tailored specifically to people who want their fiction to have as much positive impact as possible on the real people who are reading their stories in the real world.

Love this! I had it bookmarked a few years ago on my old computer, then lost it. Thanks for posting it. I've used this as a reference in many of my novels over the years. It's incredibly helpful in coming up with creative ways to describe characters.

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This subreddit is dedicated to those of us who are writing in the fantasy genre.

Need help with describing a female black character's hair. Not sure on the correct words as well as how to look after it.

Okay so she's a princess and I've really imagined her as the type of girl who wear flower crowns and flowers tucked into her hair. Very much bubbly femme lesbian lady.

She has like a big afro, one of those really lovely fluffy looking ones.

But since she's in a fantasy setting, so I'd like some advice on how she'd keep it healthy with natural products (since my world doesn't have much science) as well as styles to keep it out of her eyes at times. Also the correct vocab if possible.

She has a working name, which is Cassandra but I'm not sold on it, so name suggestions are also welcome!!

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Words to describe hair.

writingwithcolor :

This began as a guide to describing Afro/curly hair but of course, I got carried away. From look and texture of hair, colors and various styles, this guide serves as a thesaurus of sorts for hair, as well as pointers for use in your writing. Culturally Significant Hair Coverings: Know the meaning behind head wear and why it’s worn, when and by whom , such as a Native Nation’s headdress, before bestowing a character with it. Head Coverings Resources: More on various head coverings . See here for more Islamic Veils . See here for more on the Nigerian gele . See here on African American Headwraps . View our hijab and headscarves tags for discussion on these topics. Afro - Curly - Straightened There are many varieties of braids, twists & Afro hair styles; have some more! African/Black Hair: Natural, Braids and Locks African Hair: Braiding Styles 10 African Types Describing Black (Afro) hair: Appropriative Hairstyles: Keep in mind that Afro styles should be kept to those in the African Diaspora, such as dreadlocks , cornrows + certain and many braided styles. Tread carefully describing Afro hair as “wild” “unkempt” “untamed” or any words implying it’s unclean or requires controlling. “Nappy” and “wooly” are generally words to stay away from, the first having heavy negative connotations for many and the latter, though used in the Holy Bible, is generally not acceptable anymore and comes off as dehumanizing due to Animal connotations. There are mixed feelings on calling Black hair “kinky.” I’m personally not opposed to the word in itself and usage depends on the person’s race (I’m more comfortable with a Black person using it vs. a Non-Black person) as well as their tone and context (if it’s used in a neutral or positive tone vs. negatively/with disdain). Get feedback on your usage, or simply forgo it. See our tags “Black Hair” and “Natural Hair” for more discussion on describing Black hair. Texture - Look - Styles Hair Colors and Style Writing Tips & Things to Keep in Mind: Combination Words: Try combing words to illustrate look of hair. A character with springy coils that dance across her shoulders with every movement, the man with thick silvery hair slicked back into a ponytail… Mind Perspective: Depending on POV, a character might not know exactly what cornrows or a coiffure style is, at least in name, and it might make more sense if they described the hairdo instead. More defining terms might come from a more knowing source or the wearer themselves. One book I read described a girl’s afro puff as “thick hair pulled up into a cute, curly, poufy thing on top of her head and tied with a yellow ribbon.” POC & Hair Colors: People of Color’s hair comes in all shades and textures. There are Black people with naturally blond and loosely-textured to straight hair, East Asian people with red hair, and so on. Keep that in mind when coding characters if you tend to rely on hair color alone to denote a character is white vs. a Person of Color. Related Tropes: There are tropes and discussion related to People of Color, colored hair, and light-colored hair and features. Check out these posts on the topic: The East Asian Women + Colored Hair Trope - Black Characters & “Wild” Hair Colors - POC w/ Supernatural Colorful Features. - ‘Uncommon’ Features & POC Characters ~Mod Colette

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40 Most Commonly Used Words to Describe Hair Cuts, Texture and Colors

By: Author Hiuyan Lam

Posted on Last updated: October 20, 2023

Categories Vocabulary Boosters

40 Most Commonly Used Words to Describe Hair Cuts, Texture and Colors

By using words to describe hair, you can say a lot about a person. The texture of your hair, for example, can indicate where you come from, or your ethnicity.

The color says something about your personality, as well as your age. You can also use words to describe hair to speculate about a person’s health!

In this blog post, we will discuss 40 of the most commonly used words to describe hair based on colors, cuts and textures. Whether you’re looking for a new style to try or just want to find the right words to describe your unique look, this list is sure to help! So, grab a cup of coffee and get ready to explore the world of hair!

18 words to describe hair styles that are common around the world

Chances are, you’ve tried at least 3 of these hairstyles before. With this many options to choose from, you should never be bored with your hair. Hairstyles come in and out of style every few years, but these are somehow always trendy. Here are 18 words to describe hair styles around the world:

fashionable woman long hair ponytail hairstyle pulling sweater

12 words to describe hair texture or appearance

Hair texture comes in four types: Type 1 is straight, type 2 is wavy, type 3 is curly and type 4 is coily. Each type describes the shape of the strands and how they feel. They are largely influenced by ethnicity. Type 1 to 2 is generally seen in Caucasian, Asian and Pacific people groups, while type 3 to 4 is generally seen in African and mixed-race groups. Appearance on the other hand is all about what it looks like, whether kempt or unkempt, moisturized or dry, short or long, etc. Here are some words to describe hair based on its texture and appearance:

portrait beautiful woman smooth gloss long hair

20 of the Best Words to Describe a Storm in Writing

damaged hair beautiful sad young woman touching hair

30 of the Best Words to Describe Smell in Your Writing

10 words to describe the popular hair colors around the world

Hair dyeing has been around for a very long time, but this is the first time in our short history that we’ve had so many colors and shades to choose from. Dyeing techniques have improved so much that people can have multiple colors in their hair at once! Use these words to describe a popular hair color:

Warm color tone

Warm color tones are those in the red, yellow and orange family. Red, honey blonde and ginger are some of the most trendy warm hair colors today.

Cool color tone

Cool color tones are those in the blue, green and indigo/violet family. The most popular cool-toned hair dyes are shades of blue, green and purple.

30 of the Best Words to Describe Lips in Your Novel

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Neutral color tone

Neutral tones are those that lack vibrant color and don’t fall into the warm or cool color range. This includes black, brown, white, gray, cream, etc. Jet black, platinum blonde, brown/brunette and silver are the most popular hair dye colors that fit into this category.

portrait beautiful young brunette woman long low light

The hairstyle you choose can make or break your entire look. It’s always better to choose one that enhances your features rather than drown them out. But that doesn’t mean you should be afraid to experiment and have fun with it. After all, your hair says a lot about you. Use these words to describe hair when talking about the different styles, colors, textures and appearances.

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Literary English

Describing Hair Styles, Texture, and Hair Color in English

Describing different hair styles in english .

Describing different hairstyles in English involves mentioning the length, texture, and specific style or cut. Here are some common hair styles.

Women arrange their hair in such a way that hairs are divided into three parts and weaved together smoothly till end, also known as plait.

Example: Women braid their hair every morning.

Sometime women arrange their hair in such a way that hair are gathered at back of head often held with ribbon and letting them hang down freely.

Example: Jane and Rocky wear their hair pulled back in a ponytail.

Hair that is parted down the middle and tied with ribbon or braided into two ponytails on either side.

Example: Henry sketched a queen with pigtails.

A bob, also known as a bob cut, is a haircut with short- to medium-length, in which the hair is formally cut straight around the head around jaw-level, often with a fringe or bangs.

Example: My wife loves bob cutting.

A long curl of hair made with curling iron; also known as princess curls or corkscrew curls

Example: She was looking pretty with golden ringlets.

A style in which hair are braided into cornrows section arranged in multiple rows.

Example: Popular cornrow style in America is braided ponytails.

A length of natural or artificial hair that is fixed to one’s natural hairs for extending the length or thickness of hairs.

Example: Javaria put extensions to her short hairs.

A women’s hairstyle where the hair is pulled into a knot of hair on top or back of head and wrapped like a coil shaped like a bun.

Example: Asian women usually use bun hair style while doing home chorus.

(A bun in which hair are not knitted in a fine way but casually and carelessly twisted in a bun)

Example: Alia was in a hurry so she made a messy bun and went out in a while.

A style where a strand of hair grows in a tiny spring-like, corkscrew shape. it is often referred to as “thick”, “bushy”, or “woolly”.

Example: Jam was wearing an artificial afro.

Bouffant describes a style characterized by smooth hair that is heightened and raised on top of head and usually covering the ears or hanging down on the sides.

Example: Her ash-blonde hair was worn bouffant, and her red lipstick made her appearance like a clown of a circus.

A style in which hair are parted down the middle and gathered into two balanced bundles, like ponytails, falling down near the ears ( bunches are also called pigtails, twintails or angel wings.

Example: My daughter was looking like a doll in bunches.

The front section of a person’s hair cut short and worn over the forehead.

Example: Sofia has short hair with bangs.

Feathered hair

A style with the hair grown long on both sides normally covering the ears or down to the shoulders and left unlayered with either a side or a centre parting.

Example: Her look in ash-blond feathered hair was hilarious.

French braid

French braid includes three divisions of hairs that are braided jointly starting from the crown of the head to the nape of the neck, often described as braided backward.

Example: Girls love French braid in wedding parties.

Fringe (bangs)

A hairstyle where hairs are combed down to the front of the head and cut on forehead above the eyebrows.

Example: A blushing girl with black thick hair and fringe was looking much pretty.

A haircut of men usually where the hair flips outward, like wings.

Example: Baby was looking cute in mod cut.

A mid-length haircut style with a fringe (bangs) that brushes over the forehead, at back up to collar length, with the ears partly covered by the hair.

Example: Mop-top hairstyle is famous among European countries.

A hairstyle with short wispy hairs with or without a shaggy fringe (bangs) depending on style.

Example: An old woman with grey hair and pixie hair cut was waving at me.

Slicked-back

A style where hairs are combed back, away from the forehead and back towards neck collar, then held in place with a hairstyling product.

Example: Men usually comb their hair slicked back.

A hair style in which hairs are twisted or pulled up at the top or back of head, often requested by brides for their wedding day.

Example: Girls make updo on wedding parties.

A buzz cut is a form of short hairstyles usually cut with electric clippers. Buzz cut styles include the crew cut, flattop and butch cut.

Example: In summer, people have buzz cut normally.

A style where hairs are combed from one part of the head to another part often to cover up a bald spot or forehead.

Example: Donald Trump is known as having a double comb-over, in two directions.

Describing Hair Color

Describing hair color in English involves mentioning the specific shade and any unique characteristics. Here are some common terms and examples:

Black : (very dark color resembling coal)
Gray : ( hairs that have lightened to a grayish color; usually associated with age)
Silver : (grayish-white color)
Chestnut-brown : (reddish-brown color)
Blonde : (very light brown color, low levels of the dark pigment)
Honey-blond : ( blend of dark and warm blonde with light brown hair)
Golden-blond : (a color with golden and honey shades)
Ash-blond : ( Ash blonde color is a shade of blonde with a gray tint to make an ash color)
Strawberry-blond : ( color that is a blend of warm blonde shade and light red)
Brunette (women)/ Brunet (men): (dark shades with brown hair)
Brown : (hair of normal brown color)
Auburn : (shades of color in red color)
Red : (ginger hair; a typically red color)
Salt-and-pepper : ( hair of a mix blend of a person’s natural hair (black color) along with gray color and it is associated with age

Texture or appearance of hair:

Wavy : (curved back and forth, appearance hair like water waves curving slightly)
Curly : (coiled or spiral-shaped, a bit log hair having curls)
Kinky : (hair with tight curls, alternate words for kinky are: crisp, frizzy , and nappy)
Fuzzy : (untidy mass of tight curls)
Untamed : (not combed or dressed)
Stiff : (rigid and firm; difficult to comb or dress)
Cropped : (shorted hair that are trimmed)
Buzzed : (trimmed with electric clipper, too short hair)
Straight : (hair without any bend or curls, smooth hair)
Spiky : (all hair sticking upward like spikes out from the head)
Trimmed : (cutting of hair to make them short)
Tamed : (combed or dressed)
Cascading : (long hair falling down to shoulders)
Parted: (hair divided into sections with a comb or brush)
Wiry : (stiff hairs)
Bushy : (thick and full hair those are difficult to comb)
Coarse : hair with rough and hard texture and difficult to manage)
Surfer : (a tousled hairstyle)
Scraggly : (untidy and not clean or healthy)
Fine : (smooth and soft hair with good texture)
Baby-fine : (soft, silky and smooth hair like a baby)
Thin : (hair with a small diameter)
Balding : (less density of hair or no hair on head because of hair fall)
Bald spot : (spot on head with no hairs on it)
Receding : (gradual loss or fall of hair at the front of the head)
Dyed : ( hair that are colored , hair with artificial color)
Bleached : (discolored hair by chemicals, to color hair white or skin color to make them less visible)
Highlighted : ( it is partial coloring based on shades to make the hair more colorful)
Streaked : (Hair colored in contrast instead of highlighting base color)

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IMAGES

Ways To Describe Black Hair In Writing
Ways To Describe Black Hair In Writing
Describing Black Hair in Creative Writing
Pin by Shiela Wing on Writing prompts
Writing With Color
Describing Black Hair in Creative Writing

COMMENTS

333 Creative Words to Describe Hair in Writing
Finding the perfect words to describe hair doesn't have to be difficult. Check out these creative words to add flair to your writing when explaining hair.
Black hair
There is something about an afro that is so beautiful and bold. I love black hair, especially in tousled springs. It's a sort of visual joy reaching upward to the heavens. It is confidence and strength. By Angela Abraham, @daisydescriptionari, April 22, 2019 * . Into her inky hair she weaves vivid colours that change with each passing day.
Writing About Hair: Descriptions
Russet. Scarlet. Strawberry. Wine. Professional Hair Color Descriptions. Ash blond -- Lacks red or gold highlights (verges on green tones); light mousy blond, medium and dark blond, dishwater, beige. Ash brown -- Browns lacking warm/red tones tones; light mousy brown, medium and dark brown.
How Can I Describe African American hair properly?
No description of the character's hair can stand in isolation from the other descriptions of the character: they all have to push in the same direction for any of it to stick. The OP's question, arguably, is unanswerable in fiction: a catalogue of hairstyles might use objective/literal description but in fiction this hair is always somebody's hair.
400+ Words to Describe Hair: A Word List for Writers
Note: Although blond can describe the hair of either males or females, many writers prefer blond for males and blonde for females. Likewise with the hair or fur of gender-identified pets and animals. Better than direct replacements, however, try exploiting the following suggestions as kernels, and brainstorm new color descriptions.
The Do's of Writing People of Color: Describe Your Characters
Physical descriptions - You can describe hair, skin tone, and facial features to create a picture for readers. It isn't foolproof, though. For example, dark brown skin and curly hair may point to a Person of Color, sure, but not an exact race or ethnicity. It's wise to pair physical details with other means.
Words to Describe Hair
Writing Tips & Things to Keep in Mind: Combination Words: Try combining words to illustrate look of hair.A character with springy coils that dance across her shoulders with every movement, the man with thick silvery hair slicked back into a ponytail…; Mind Perspective: Depending on POV, a character might not know exactly what cornrows or a coiffure style is, at least in name, and it might ...
Master List of Physical Description for Writers
For all the words about describing facial features, I'm focusing more on physical descriptions rather than emotional expressions, though there's a little crossover! You can also check out my long list of facial expressions. large. small. narrow. sharp. squinty. round. wide-set.
How to Describe Hair in Writing: Tips, Examples & Techniques
The way hair moves is an important aspect of hair that needs to be accurately described in writing. To do this, you could use words such as "swirling" or "undulating" to give the impression of movement. You could also use words such as "billowing" or "flowing" to evoke a sense of gracefulness. Additionally, you could use phrases ...
Hair
Hair. - quotes and descriptions to inspire creative writing. Gentle hair that tumbled in such rich autumnal hues, was the restful visual poetry of my soul, for that is how she was upon the day we fell in love. By Angela Abraham, @daisydescriptionari, February 25, 2021 . If the origins of her hair were the black heavens, if the divine universe ...
Tricks for Describing a Character's Appearance (With Examples)
1.5 Use the Point of View. 1.6 Keep the Description Balanced. 1.7 Give them Something Special. 2 How to Describe a Character's Face. 3 How to Describe a Character's Hair. 4 How to Describe a Character's Clothes. 5 How to Describe a Character's Body. 6 How to Describe a Character's Posture and Body Language.
Words to Describe Hair
Describing Black (Afro) hair: Appropriative Hairstyles: Keep in mind that Afro styles should be kept to those in the African Diaspora, such as locs or locks, cornrows + certain and many braided styles. "Locs" or "Locks" is more favored over "dreadlocks" for many people. Tread carefully describing Afro hair as "wild" "unkempt ...
How To Describe Hair In Writing To Readers [2023]
There are three types of texture that you will have to dwell on in your descriptions; these are the thick texture, the medium texture, and the fine texture. Thick texture- this is the kind of hair that has all the layers of hair, if you make a description as thick then the hair is really a lot of the head.
How to Describe Hairstyles in Writing
How it Adds Description "Sleek" describes hairstyles that are very healthy and shiny, which further implies that the character either takes care of their hair or uses expensive products to keep it looking smooth. Other characters might be jealous of someone with a "sleek" hairstyle, as they may secretly wish their hair looked better. 8 ...
A Comprehensive Guide To Writing About Hair
Here is a wonderful link, shared with us by Erin Michelle (see comment below) from Writing With Color: Describing Natural Hair. Professional Hair Color Descriptions. Ash blond -- Lacks red or gold highlights (verges on green tones); light mousy blond, medium and dark blond, dishwater, beige Ash brown -- Browns lacking warm/red tones tones; light mousy brown, medium and dark brown
Physical Attribute Entry: Hair
HINT: When describing any part of the body, try to use cues that show the reader more than just a physical description.Make your descriptions do double duty. Example: I tried not to stare at the matriarch's hair but didn't quite succeed.It was the color of rich loam without a hint of white—a glossy shade that inspired both envy and debate among the village women.
Writing with Color: Words for Skin Tone
Like TVTropes, Springhole, and Wikipedia, an author could spend hours following one link (Black Panther Fanfic Writing) to the next (Bad to have a Disabled Love Interest?) and the next (Baby Banks in an Infertile World, Eugenics and Racism) into the wee hours of the morning, only this one is tailored specifically to people who want their fiction to have as much positive impact as possible on ...
I need help coming up with descriptors for black hair and dark brown
I would look at the context and how you want the character to be portrayed and add that to the description. "Her Hair, soft and dark like black velvet." for an older woman or "Shining brown eyes like a child's teddy bear." for a young girl. "His hair was dark like a worn leather jacket." or "His hair was black like asphalt in a dark alley."
Need help with describing a female black character's hair. Not ...
First off, it's certainly not the only community out there, but r/naturalhair might be a good place to peruse the way black women talk about their own hair.. Now, I'm white, so take what I say with a grain of salt. But I do a lot of reading about curly hair care which has some commonality across races/hair textures (though is definitely not 100% the same).
Reference For Writers, Words to Describe Hair
POC & Hair Colors: People of Color's hair comes in all shades and textures. There are Black people with naturally blond and loosely-textured to straight hair, East Asian people with red hair, and so on. Keep that in mind when coding characters if you tend to rely on hair color alone to denote a character is white vs. a Person of Color.
Describing Black Hair in Writing: Tips and Techniques
Learn how to effectively describe black hair in your writing with these helpful tips and techniques. Capture the beauty and uniqueness of black hair in your characters and bring your story to life.
40 Most Commonly Used Words to Describe Hair Cuts, Texture ...
Here are 18 words to describe hair styles around the world: 01 Ponytail. A traditional ponytail is a style where the hair is brushed back and tied towards the back of the head. Low ponytails are tied closer to the nape, while high ponytails are tied at the top of the head. This is a common style for both the young and old, especially people who ...
Describing Hair Styles, Texture, and Hair Color in English
Brunette (women)/ Brunet (men): (dark shades with brown hair) Brown: (hair of normal brown color) Auburn: (shades of color in red color) Red: (ginger hair; a typically red color) Salt-and-pepper: (hair of a mix blend of a person's natural hair (black color) along with gray color and it is associated with age.

KathySteinemann.com: Free Resources for Writers

400+ Words to Describe Hair: A Word List for Writers

Why Should You Worry About Your Characters’ Hair?

Styles and Cuts

Frequent Repetitions of Hair Will Annoy Readers

Props to Augment Your Descriptions

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How to Describe Hair in Writing: Tips, Examples & Techniques

By Happy Sharer

Introduction

Using Sensory Language

Comparing Hair to Elements in Nature

Focusing on Texture and Color

Incorporating Metaphors and Similes

Utilizing Personification

Describing the Way It Moves

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Tricks for Describing a Character’s Appearance (With Examples)

Tips for Describing a Character’s Appearance in a Story

Don’t Make Everyone a Supermodel

Don’t Dump Everything Out at Once

Don’t Sell Them Short

Use Their Personality

Use the Point of View

Keep the Description Balanced

Give them Something Special

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How to Describe a Character’s Body

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Words to Describe Hair

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Phrases for Hair Movement

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Phrases for Hair Colors

How to Describe Hairstyles in Writing

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How it Adds Description

2. Conventional

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A Comprehensive Guide To Writing About Hair

A few basic do's and don't's.

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