Straight hair
Hair that falls flat without a wave. 36 hairstyles on EveryHairstyle so far.
Straight hair grows without a wave or curl and falls flat from root to tip. It is the most common hair type in East Asia and is widespread in many other regions. Because light reflects off its smooth surface it tends to look shiny, and because it shows every cutting line it suits precise, graphic cuts. It can be slippery, so braids and updos may need extra grip.
What suits straight hair
Blunt cuts look sharp on straight hair, which is why the bob, the pageboy and the hime cut are so closely tied to it. Long, one-length straight hair is admired in many cultures, from Japan and Korea to the long plaits of South India. Straight hair holds a sleek ponytail and a smooth chignon well, though fine straight hair can lie flat, so stylists use layers or a blow-dry for lift.
Adding texture
Straight hair can be given waves and curls with heated tongs, rollers, braid-outs or a perm. The digital perm, developed in Japan, is popular in East Asia for adding soft curls. Without some texture, braids and buns can slip, so stylists may backcomb a little, use dry shampoo or texture spray, or braid slightly damp hair. Straight hair also shows oil sooner, because scalp oil travels down it easily.
Famous straight hair hairstyles
Further reading
🇯🇵 JapanChonmage
Traditional Japanese topknot worn by men, historically by samurai and now by sumo wrestlers.Updo · Straight hair · 1603
🇺🇸 United StatesCrew cut
A short, graduated men's haircut with upright top hair.Cut · Thick hair · 1920
WorldComb over
A hairstyle for balding men that uses long hair to cover thinning areas.Styled · Straight hair
🇬🇧 United KingdomPageboy
Straight hair hanging below the ear with an inward turn.Cut · Straight hair · 1950
🇩🇪 GermanySuebian knot
A historical male bun worn by the Suebi and other Germanic tribes to signal status and identity.Updo · Straight hair
🇺🇸 United States and 1 moreDucktail
A 1950s men's cut with a central rear parting.Cut · Straight hair · 1950
🇯🇵 JapanPunch perm
Tightly curled Japanese male hairstyle from the 1960s.Curls · Straight hair · 1960
WorldWings
A layered cut where side hair flips out like wings.Cut · Wavy hair · 1830
WorldBig hair
A hairstyle style defined by large volume and significant space around the head.Styled · Curly hair · 1960
🇫🇷 France and 1 moreFrench crop
Short men's cut with faded sides and a blunt fringe.Cut · Straight hair · 1920
🇬🇧 United Kingdom and 2 moreMop-top
A bowl-shaped cut with a straight fringe, popularised by the Beatles.Cut · Straight hair · 1963
🇺🇸 United StatesSlicked-back hair
A flat, glossy style combed straight back from the forehead.Styled · Straight hair · 1920
🇰🇷 South KoreaTwo-block haircut
Long textured top with short tapered sidesCut · Straight hair
🇺🇸 United StatesMohawk
A haircut with shaved sides and a central strip of upright hair.Cut · Straight hair · 1970
🇺🇸 United States and 1 moreDucktail
A 1950s men's cut with a central rear parting.Cut · Straight hair · 1950
Photo credits on this page
The small pictures above come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences. Some are cropped to fit.
- Hime cut: kxz Chen, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Comb over: Erin A. Kirk-Cuomo, Public domain, source
- Queue: Lai Afong, Public domain, source
- Suebian knot: Bullenwächter, CC BY 3.0, source
- Crew cut: greginhollywood, CC BY 2.0, source
- Pageboy: Jacometto Veneziano, Public domain, source
- Lob: Eva Rinaldi, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Ducktail: Rockbillyboogie, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Wings: Sepideh (Sepi), CC BY 2.0, source
- Big hair: Photo by Alan Light, CC BY 2.0, source
- Punch perm: Mike, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Chonmage: not listed, Public domain, source
- Shingle bob: Evolvingthinker, CC BY 2.0, source
- Mohawk: Godmodeking, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Ducktail: Oceanaris, CC BY 2.0, source