News
TrendsThe “Choppy Rachel Bob” Is the Most Flattering Winter Hair Trend—How to RecreateNatural hair15 Stylish Haircuts That Make Growing Out Your Hair Look ChicNatural hairNamibian Rasta sues gov’t after locs chopped in prisonTrendsAriana Grande’s Flipped Bob Is Fall’s Sweetest TrendNatural hairJa Morant Cuts Off Signature Locs, Reveals New HaircutNatural hairHGTV Star Leslie Davis' Natural Hair Color Is So Different From Her Signature Look (But Gorgeous)TrendsThe “Bombshell Blowout” Trend Has Entered the VillaTrendsColour Melting Is The Hair Technique To Know This WinterTrendsWhy Top Hair Stylists Are Crowning The ‘Flip Bob’ Summer’s Most Wearable Hair TrendTrendsThe Waterfall Bob Is the Polished Fall Haircut That Still Looks EffortlessTrendsThe “Choppy Rachel Bob” Is the Most Flattering Winter Hair Trend—How to RecreateNatural hair15 Stylish Haircuts That Make Growing Out Your Hair Look ChicNatural hairNamibian Rasta sues gov’t after locs chopped in prisonTrendsAriana Grande’s Flipped Bob Is Fall’s Sweetest TrendNatural hairJa Morant Cuts Off Signature Locs, Reveals New HaircutNatural hairHGTV Star Leslie Davis' Natural Hair Color Is So Different From Her Signature Look (But Gorgeous)TrendsThe “Bombshell Blowout” Trend Has Entered the VillaTrendsColour Melting Is The Hair Technique To Know This WinterTrendsWhy Top Hair Stylists Are Crowning The ‘Flip Bob’ Summer’s Most Wearable Hair TrendTrendsThe Waterfall Bob Is the Polished Fall Haircut That Still Looks Effortless
EveryHairstyle

Any hair

Styles that work on most hair. 84 hairstyles on EveryHairstyle so far.

Some hairstyles work on almost any hair: straight or coily, fine or thick. The ponytail, the bun, the braid, the buzz cut and the shaved head are found on every continent, which is part of why they are among the oldest and most common styles. They need little special skill, adapt to many lengths, and can be dressed up or kept simple.

Why they work

A ponytail and a bun only need enough length to gather, and the shape comes from the tie or the coil, not from the hair's texture. A three-strand braid can be made in straight, wavy or coily hair, though it looks different in each. Very short cuts such as the buzz cut and the crew cut, and the shaved head, take texture almost out of the picture. These styles are often the first that children learn.

One style, many looks

The same basic style can look very different on different hair. A bun can be sleek on straight hair or full and round on coily hair. A braid on fine straight hair is slim and smooth; on thick coily hair it is wide and textured. Buzz cuts show the shape of the head and the natural hairline. Stylists adjust tension and product to the hair, rather than changing the style itself.

Famous any hair hairstyles

PonytailGathered and tied on any hairBunA coil or knot on any textureBraidPlaits work on every hair typeBuzz cutA short clipper cutCrew cutA short cut for most hair

Still to be written: Head shaving.

Further reading

KindCutBraidUpdoPonytailLocsNaturalCurlsShavedFringeStyledWrappedAdorned
Worn byMostly womenMostly menAnyoneChildrenBrides and weddingsFaith and religious ordersUniform and workSubcultures and music
OrderBest knownA to ZOldest firstNewest firstBy length
🇮🇳 IndiaPunjabi paranda A multicoloured silk braid extension from Punjab.Adorned · Any hair WorldFrench braid A three-strand gathered plait from crown to nape.Braid · Any hair · 1871 WorldBraid Interlaced strands of hair used for style and social signalling.Braid · Any hair 🇪🇬 EgyptSidelock of youth Ancient Egyptian braided side hair worn by royal children.Braid · Any hair WorldPigtails Two symmetrical ponytails or braids worn on opposite sides of the head.Ponytail · Any hair 🇬🇧 United KingdomLovelock A single long braid worn over the left shoulder by 17th-century Europeans.Braid · Any hair · 1580 Sub-Saharan AfricaAfrican hair threading A traditional sub-Saharan African technique using thread to wrap and braid natural hair.Braid · Any hair Shuku 🇳🇬 NigeriaShuku A Yoruba braided updo where hair is gathered into a hump on top of the head.Braid · Any hair 🇷🇺 RussiaRussian braid A traditional long plait from Russia with historic marital meanings.Braid · Any hair Koroba 🇳🇬 NigeriaKoroba A Yoruba braid styled like an upside-down basketBraid · Any hair EuropeRoman hairstyles Ancient Roman hair fashions reflecting status and identityUpdo · Any hair Crochet braids WorldCrochet braids A protective hairstyle using a latch hook to attach synthetic hair to cornrows.Braid · Any hair

Photo credits on this page

The small pictures above come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences. Some are cropped to fit.

The weekly digest

Every Monday: the hairstyle of the day, new pages on EveryHairstyle, and the conferences and anniversaries of the week ahead.