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EveryHairstyle

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

Shingle bobSharp lines suit straight hairHime cutLong straight hair with a blunt fringePageboyStraight hair turned under at the endsLobA long, straight bobQueueA braided tail of straight hair

Further reading

KindCutBraidUpdoPonytailLocsNaturalCurlsShavedFringeStyledWrappedAdorned
Worn byMostly womenMostly menAnyoneChildrenBrides and weddingsFaith and religious ordersUniform and workSubcultures and music
OrderBest knownA to ZOldest firstNewest firstBy length
Dread perming WorldDread perming A chemical treatment to create or maintain dreadlocks quickly.Styled · Straight hair 🇺🇸 United StatesFinger wave S-shaped waves set by hand with comb and gelStyled · Straight hair · 1920 WorldFeathered hair Layered style brushed back to resemble bird feathersCut · Straight hair · 1970 🇺🇸 United StatesThe Rachel Voluminous layered cut popularised by FriendsCut · Straight hair · 1995 WorldLayered hair A cut using varied lengths for volume and shapeCut · Straight hair Jellyfish haircut WorldJellyfish haircut A two-tiered style with a short top layer and long lower sections resembling tentacles.Cut · Straight hair · 2023 Hush cut 🇰🇷 South KoreaHush cut A soft, layered haircut from South Korea designed for natural movement and easy styling.Cut · Straight hair · 2023 🇺🇸 United StatesMohawk A haircut with shaved sides and a central strip of upright hair.Cut · Straight hair · 1970

Photo credits on this page

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

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