Hair Terminology - US, UK, NZ, Aus...

[chopandchange]

I've just seen someone asking, in another thread, what "bobbles" meant. I thought it would be both fun and informative to have a list of some common US hair terms used on this forum, and their UK equivalant. Maybe it could be a "sticky" because I often see people asking the same questions over and over again, along the lines of "what's the difference between a braid and a plait?" (answer: none! LOL)

I will put the ones I can think of here, in the way that I say them myself, but it will be interesting to hear how others say these words, to find out which ones are national, and which are regional and perhaps unique to where I grew up. If you wish to add to my research by telling me how you say these things in Australia, New Zealand, Canada, or wherever else you're from, feel free!

Edit: I am trying to add people's contributions to the list, but it's quite hard because there seem to be a lot of variations!

Edit again: This is all snowballing a bit beyond my expectations! I have given up putting official versions for each country in my list, since no two people from the same country seem to say things in the same way. Instead I am just going to list all the possible words for referring to each thing. I will post illustrations for each item ASAP, and maybe I will also post a poll asking"what do you call this?" for each item, to see what percentage of people use each word and where they're from! (It's getting really advanced now! LOL)

Hair elastic / ponytail holder / bobble / hair tie:

http://my.picresize.com/vault/SHPLZNS3IR.jpg

Braid / plait / pleat (both noun and verb):

http://my.picresize.com/vault/ISCZPKI1CM.jpg

Tease /rat / backcomb:

http://my.picresize.com/vault/DUNHGQSG7P.jpg

Ponytail / bunch:

http://my.picresize.com/vault/DE6WV4CJDR.jpg

Pigtails / bunches / piggy tails:

http://my.picresize.com/vault/9XPITPTESY.jpg

Two plaits / twin braids / piggy tails:

http://my.picresize.com/vault/LG2JN2O5ZO.jpg

Bobby pins / kirby grips / hair pins / hair grips:

http://my.picresize.com/vault/MC7L0W1X6L.jpg

Slide / barrette / clip:

http://my.picresize.com/vault/9IRJSNYGKP.jpg

Bangs / fringe:

http://my.picresize.com/vault/KZJQCHEGN2.jpg

Alice band / hairband / headband
Part / parting
Color / colour / dye (both noun and verb)

(It won't let me add any more pics now).

Can anyone think of any I've missed? :)

[aenflex]

Ha ha yeah, but not relevant to hair :)

[Dreams_in_Pink]

US bangs = UK fringe ;)

[little_cherry]

Many of the UK terminologies apply to the Down under Folk. :)

[KittyLost]

I'm from the UK and have never heard of a ponytail being called a bunch haha. Sometimes I have heard pigtails be called bunches but not very often, I thought bunch was american haha.

Otherwise ponytail and pigtails are the same in England as America.

[enfys]

I agree, a ponytail is a ponytail.

Bunches are unplaited ponytails each side of the head and if you plait them they become pigtails.

[luxepiggy]

US Tease or Rat = UK backcomb

[beez1717]

I think this should be posted as a sticky and we should update the names as we learn more. That way our international users could join in and understand what we are talking about. Does anyone agree with me?

[luxepiggy]

Also in the US, a hair pin is not the same as a bobby pin/kirby grip. Hair pin typically refers to something like this, at least in NYC and California:
http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff33/shoppingpiglet/DSC06122.jpg

[Dyefree]

Yup never heard a ponytail called a bunch :confused: ponytail is a ponytail ;)

[Capybara]

Here, in Canada, what we call bobbles are actually things like this: http://www.google.ca/imgres?imgurl=http://herecomestrouble.com.au/shop/images/Bobbles%2520-%2520Cherries.gif&imgrefurl=http://hctblog.wordpress.com/2007/05/&usg=__TU6MwbRTo8PZ4CqlsMTprxRbALs=&h=250&w=375&sz=15&hl=en&start=0&zoom=1&tbnid=GSlp-wbDZPAT4M:&tbnh=121&tbnw=161&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dhair%2Bbobbles%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26s a%3DN%26rls%3Dcom.microsoft:en-ca:IE-SearchBox%26rlz%3D1I7ADRA_en%26biw%3D1345%26bih%3D 517%26tbs%3Disch:1&um=1&itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=974&vpy=74&dur=742&hovh=183&hovw=275&tx=139&ty=109&ei=cr32TKbxK8KBlAe_s6nNBQ&oei=cr32TKbxK8KBlAe_s6nNBQ&esq=1&page=1&ndsp=24&ved=1t:429,r:6,s:0

Where they have plastic/wooden beads on them :)

[Toadstool]

I agree, a ponytail is a ponytail.

Bunches are unplaited ponytails each side of the head and if you plait them they become pigtails.
Perfectly put!

[enfys]

We had the French pleat/french twist conundrum a few days ago.

[luxepiggy]

Here, in Canada, what we call bobbles are actually things like this: http://www.google.ca/imgres?imgurl=http://herecomestrouble.com.au/shop/images/Bobbles%2520-%2520Cherries.gif&imgrefurl=http://hctblog.wordpress.com/2007/05/&usg=__TU6MwbRTo8PZ4CqlsMTprxRbALs=&h=250&w=375&sz=15&hl=en&start=0&zoom=1&tbnid=GSlp-wbDZPAT4M:&tbnh=121&tbnw=161&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dhair%2Bbobbles%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26s a%3DN%26rls%3Dcom.microsoft:en-ca:IE-SearchBox%26rlz%3D1I7ADRA_en%26biw%3D1345%26bih%3D 517%26tbs%3Disch:1&um=1&itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=974&vpy=74&dur=742&hovh=183&hovw=275&tx=139&ty=109&ei=cr32TKbxK8KBlAe_s6nNBQ&oei=cr32TKbxK8KBlAe_s6nNBQ&esq=1&page=1&ndsp=24&ved=1t:429,r:6,s:0

Where they have plastic/wooden beads on them :)

I've always known those to be bobble balls, unless they were square (or, bizarrely, any shape but round) in which case they are hair cubes (^(oo)^)v

Oh, and alice band = headband! I learned that one here on LHC~

[jojo]

unrelated to hair but I bought an exercise video years back which was American where the instructions where to; "tighten the fanny and walk across the floor on it" how the hell am I supposed to do that, then the penny dropped a fanny in America is a bum! over here its erm...well down there, where babys come from!!!

[chopandchange]

unrelated to hair but I bought an exercise video years back which was American where the instructions where to; "tighten the fanny and walk across the floor on it" how the hell am I supposed to do that, then the penny dropped a fanny in America is a bum! over here its erm...well down there, where babys come from!!!


LOL let's not go there...if we start talking about things not related to hair we'd be here all day!

[chopandchange]

US Tease or Rat = UK backcomb

Is rat a verb, then? Is it possible to say "I'm going to rat my hair?" as in, fluff it up backwards to add volume? If so, I'll put it in the list, but I always thought a rat was like a sort of padding that you put underneath the hair. :confused: But I don't speak American, so I'm probably completely wrong!

[luxepiggy]

Is rat a verb, then? Is it possible to say "I'm going to rat my hair?" as in, fluff it up backwards to add volume? If so, I'll put it in the list, but I always thought a rat was like a sort of padding that you put underneath the hair. :confused: But I don't speak American, so I'm probably completely wrong!

Yup - to achieve the classic 80's hairstyle you would rat your hair (^(oo)~)

[Fiordiligi]

What my mother always calls a "kirby grip", I would call a "hairgrip".

UK "parting" seems to be "part" for US folks.

[christine1989]

Hmm. I call an elastic a ponytail holder or just "hair thingie". I guess elastic is a better term though.

[Arya]

I'm from Canada and I've never heard of an alice band.
My understanding was that soft circular stretchy ones were 'head bands' and hard semi circles were 'hair bands' since they don't go all the way around your head.

[chelseamichelle]

I'm from Canada and I've never heard of an alice band.
My understanding was that soft circular stretchy ones were 'head bands' and hard semi circles were 'hair bands' since they don't go all the way around your head.

Yes, agreed!

[enfys]

I've heard alice bands, head bands and hair bands all being used to describe the same thing, but only a head band would go all the way around your head and be soft and stretchable

[Kamama]

I love how our common language is not always the same! Regional differences also fascinate me.

I have heard of Alice band, but always thought it would be UK associated. In this part of the South (US), we only had headbands. These might go around the head and be made of fabric or go partially around the head and be made from plastic or metal.

I grew up calling all hair elastics by the generic term "rubberband". (Of course, southerners do this a lot, like saying they are going to buy a Coke, but they really buy a Dr. Pepper!).

I agree about the difference in the US about hair pins and bobby pins. They are different in the south at least!

On further thought, I realize that my home region also frequently refers to any kind of decorative hair accessory as a "hair bow." A "hair bow" here does not have to actually have a bow (at least if you have puberty!).

Fun topic!

[Kamama]

I meant at least if you have reached puberty! Sorry:o

[Hana212]

US Hair elastic = UK bobble = AUS Hair tie
US Braid = UK plait = AUS Braid means french/dutch braid, plait is where you haven't incorporated extra hair into the pieces.. does that make sense?
US Tease / rat = UK backcomb = AUS Tease/Teasing
US Ponytail = UK bunch (I am outnumbered: most other Brits on here call it a ponytail so this must be regional) = AUS Ponytail
US Pigtails = UK bunches (or plaits, if they're plaited) = AUS Piggy tails (two pony tails on the sides of the head)
US Bobby pins = UK kirby grips (or hair pins) = AUS bobby pins
US Bangs = UK fringe = AUS fringe
US Alice band = UK hairband = AUS Headband
US Part = UK parting (noun) = AUS Part eg. middle part, side part


I am sure there are more.. :)

[MsBubbles]

unrelated to hair but I bought an exercise video years back which was American where the instructions where to; "tighten the fanny and walk across the floor on it"

Yes and that exercise is perfectly useless. Never did a thing for my bum or fanny.

Hair-related: I got into trouble here calling something a 'barrette'. I don't fully understand what a barrette is, exactly. I thought Americans used that term to describe anything that'll hold hair, such as a scrunchie or clip of some kind. I was told that barrettes can never be floppy.

Growing up in the UK I never heard the term Barrette. Unless it was somebody's surname. So maybe you could clear that up for me?

[david]

Just thought I would add another UK/Ireland point of view on the language barrier. :)


US Hair elastic = UK bobble
I always called them "hair elastics" too. Or hairties, ponytailers etc. I always thought of bobbles as the elastics with things on the end of them. But I have been asked if I had any spare bobbles on me when the person was referring to elastics. So I guess this one may be open to interpretation.


US Alice band = UK hairband
Once again. In the UK I have heard both being used. To my understanding an aliceband is the very thin plastic horseshoe shaped things. A hairband is the big decorative statement pieces or the fabric ones.



US Ponytail = UK bunch (I am outnumbered: most other Brits on here call it a ponytail so this must be regional)

Yep, like the other UK based people here a ponytail is simply a ponytail. Bunches are pigtails.



Growing up in the UK I never heard the term Barrette. Unless it was somebody's surname. So maybe you could clear that up for me?
I always called them barrettes or hair clips.

[enfys]

Yes and that exercise is perfectly useless. Never did a thing for my bum or fanny.

Hair-related: I got into trouble here calling something a 'barrette'. I don't fully understand what a barrette is, exactly. I thought Americans used that term to describe anything that'll hold hair, such as a scrunchie or clip of some kind. I was told that barrettes can never be floppy.

Growing up in the UK I never heard the term Barrette. Unless it was somebody's surname. So maybe you could clear that up for me?

I heard barrette used for the (I think they're called) French back clips, the type with the metal bits you squeeze so they pop open. Here, I've seen it refer to what I'd call slides, one piece with two holes that you slide a seperate stick through.
I'd call any miscellaneous clips "slides" before coming here, like those sleeper or sleepy or something clips.

Wow this is confusing.

ETA: I've never called them bobbles, always hairbands.
ETA2: That's probably why I would call an alice band that, not a hair band. I've never seen any hair bands/elastics actually sold under the name "bobbles" so I think that could count as a slang word?

[Kamama]

Hair-related: I got into trouble here calling something a 'barrette'. I don't fully understand what a barrette is, exactly. I thought Americans used that term to describe anything that'll hold hair, such as a scrunchie or clip of some kind. I was told that barrettes can never be floppy.

Growing up in the UK I never heard the term Barrette. Unless it was somebody's surname. So maybe you could clear that up for me?


Well, I can't speak for all Americans, but a barrette is used in my home region to refer to a hair accessory that snaps closed or has a stick that runs through it from side to side. I wonder if that is common to Americans or just southerners?

http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQMW67blUNok_XsyU00dgIghgPv_yRzJ sHK3iYJYjaG4I2Bw0cYlg

[Kamama]

common barrette in the South

http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcR9UKxDSSZycgdpFR5er0jduhJ2h6UNJ AswuTluQz3ASymn0oo06g

[Inchworm]

the exectice elastics are called "pokeys" here

[pepperminttea]

A friend's mother at school used to call ponytails and pigtails "bunches," she was from 'up north' (it was when I was quite young, so I've no memory of which particular accent) - no-one else I know calls them that.

I don't know if it's just me, but since being on LHC I seem to have picked up several of the US ones. Braid comes more readily to my tongue than plait, unless I'm talking about pastry not hair. And I tend to use 'hair band' to describe an elastic/bobble.
Is calling hair clips like this (http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6PdsPkQFSI0/SrcY97vLMsI/AAAAAAAABMI/Nfz-_CZIM8g/s320/hairclip.gif) 'hair slides' a Briticism? Or is that just me too? :o

[enfys]

Is calling hair clips like this (http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6PdsPkQFSI0/SrcY97vLMsI/AAAAAAAABMI/Nfz-_CZIM8g/s320/hairclip.gif) 'hair slides' a Briticism? Or is that just me too? :o

Not just you!

That's the type I was trying to describe that get called sleepers or something occassionally, but I hate Bing too much to try and find things when I'm on IE.

[joiekimochi]

Used by the older generation in Singapore and Malaysia = Lebbin

Lebbin is a corruption of the word "ribbon", and refers to ANY hair accessory. To tie hair up, the phrase "bang Lebbin" or "tie Lebbin" (bang = Chinese for "tie up") is used, whether you use a ribbon, elastic band, barrette, clip, hair stick etc.

[luxepiggy]

*snip*
Is calling hair clips like this (http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6PdsPkQFSI0/SrcY97vLMsI/AAAAAAAABMI/Nfz-_CZIM8g/s320/hairclip.gif) 'hair slides' a Briticism? Or is that just me too? :o

That, to me in the US, and to Goody (http://www.walgreens.com/store/c/goody-jalen-snap-clips/ID=prod6031334-product), is a snap clip or a contour clip.

[BrightEyes7]

I live in the US and I've never heard of a headband being called an aliceband. And I call elastics hair ties. And I'd say the term backcomb is used as much as tease, and I hardly hear rat being used.

I'm from southern California BTW

[kschr2004]

Well, I can't speak for all Americans, but a barrette is used in my home region to refer to a hair accessory that snaps closed or has a stick that runs through it from side to side. I wonder if that is common to Americans or just southerners?

http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQMW67blUNok_XsyU00dgIghgPv_yRzJ sHK3iYJYjaG4I2Bw0cYlg

I have heard the hair accessories with sticks in them referred to as 'Hair Slides' in the US (rather than the snap clips that are called hair slides in the UK):

http://www.franceluxe.com/c/france_luxe_slides/FranceLuxeSlides.html

[MNoelH]

Never heard of an alice band. Hair band is used for the hard plastic ones that are u-shaped (can't use these, they always pinch behind my ears horribly) and for the full circle ones (can't use these because they don't stay put).

I often use hair bands (the full circle ones) as my ponytail holder because the regular ones are too loose at two go throughs and too tight at three go throughs. I usually double the hair band once and then can pull my hair through three times comfortably.

Hair slides are the ones with sticks that slide through and a barrette has either a snap or a lip that the long part hooks under. These are really hard to describe.

Oops. I see that my profile doesn't say where I'm from. I hate when people say "here" like you already know where I'm from.


Houston, Texas, USA

[luxepiggy]

Yes and that exercise is perfectly useless. Never did a thing for my bum or fanny.

Hair-related: I got into trouble here calling something a 'barrette'. I don't fully understand what a barrette is, exactly. I thought Americans used that term to describe anything that'll hold hair, such as a scrunchie or clip of some kind. I was told that barrettes can never be floppy.

Growing up in the UK I never heard the term Barrette. Unless it was somebody's surname. So maybe you could clear that up for me?

This is true - in the USA, barrettes are always made of a hard material - either metal or plastic, generally - although they may have a floppy decoration, like a bow or ribbon or pouf, attached as decoration. The distinguishing feature of the barrette (vs. a bobby pin or a snap clip) is that it should have a hinge.

I would describe all of the following as barrettes:
http://www.thesodapopshop.net/catalog/24011_plastic_barrette_white_50mm.jpg
http://www.thenamegame.org/Products/4/1/101.gif
http://www.global-b2b-network.com/direct/dbimage/50258646/Ribbon_Barrette.jpg
http://www.traderscity.com/board/userpix43/28590-heart-shape-hair-clip-grip-bobby-pin-barrette-fs-861-1.jpg

[BrightEyes7]

common barrette in the South

http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcR9UKxDSSZycgdpFR5er0jduhJ2h6UNJ AswuTluQz3ASymn0oo06g

Barrette in California too!

Also another name for elastic/ hairtie is ponytail holder, I hear a lot of Americans call them that too

[luxepiggy]

Well, I can't speak for all Americans, but a barrette is used in my home region to refer to a hair accessory that snaps closed or has a stick that runs through it from side to side. I wonder if that is common to Americans or just southerners?

http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQMW67blUNok_XsyU00dgIghgPv_yRzJ sHK3iYJYjaG4I2Bw0cYlg

Hermès calls it a barrette (http://usa.hermes.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?firstLevelLeftCategoryName=BARRETTE S&catalogId=10052&categoryId=32951&parentCategoryId=58010&productId=28323&topCategoryId=127526&nbItem=0&langId=-1&docname=ShoppingArea%2FCatalogSection%2FProductSub section%2FProductDisplay.jsp&firstLeftCategoryId=127566&leftCategoryId=32951&firstLevelLeftCategoryId=32951&storeId=10202&ddkey=CategoryDisplay); outside of that context, everyone else I know calls that a hair slide or a ponytail cover (^(oo)^)v

[Aurantia]

This is true - in the USA, barrettes are always made of a hard material - either metal or plastic, generally - although they may have a floppy decoration, like a bow or ribbon or pouf, attached as decoration. The distinguishing feature of the barrette (vs. a bobby pin or a snap clip) is that it should have a hinge.

I would describe all of the following as barrettes:
http://www.thesodapopshop.net/catalog/24011_plastic_barrette_white_50mm.jpg
http://www.thenamegame.org/Products/4/1/101.gif
http://www.global-b2b-network.com/direct/dbimage/50258646/Ribbon_Barrette.jpg
http://www.traderscity.com/board/userpix43/28590-heart-shape-hair-clip-grip-bobby-pin-barrette-fs-861-1.jpg

This. Best description listed for barrettes in all parts of the US that I've lived in. I've never heard of a hair slide* being called a barrette before.

If it has a hinge and snaps together it's a barrette. :)

*hair slide being the US term for a leather piece with a wooden stick that slides through either side, as pictured directly above by Luxe; NOT the Brit term for little silver clips (which I would call barrettes!) LOL. Talk about confusing.

[Aurantia]

Barrette in California too!

Also another name for elastic/ hairtie is ponytail holder, I hear a lot of Americans call them that too

Another vote for "ponytail holder" and "hair thing" -- you'd think that "hair thing" would be more general, but if I ask any friend for one she'll immediately know what I'm talking about and hand me an elastic / hairtie / ponytail holder.

[Bucatini]

In US, a hairpin (the u-shaped thing, not a bobby pin) is also known as an Amish pin.

[MsBubbles]

This. Best description listed for barrettes in all parts of the US that I've lived in (grew up in Ohio, lived in Colorado, California & Oregon). I've never heard of a hair slide* being called a barrette before.

If it has a hinge and snaps together it's a barrette. :)
.

Good enough for me! so now all you in the UK who HAVE heard of barrettes, is that what you call them too, and we can strike this one off the list?

[MNoelH]

There are things I also call barrettes that are not hinged, but I can't find any pictures.

They're kind of v-shaped and at the closure, the shorter of the v (not decorated and usually metal) slides under the hair and then you pinch the pieces together and slide the shorter end under the u-shaped lip of the longer end.

[Laurenji]

MNoelH-I know what you mean. My mom always had a bunch of those, and I always called them "barrettes" along with the hinged clippy ones. They're more of a 70s thing, I think. (ETA: They're these ones (http://www.scunci.com/products.php?pcID=150&products_id=518). Sorry, bad picture, but it kind of gives an idea. No hinge.)

Also, I've never heard of "Alice Bands"--they're all "headbands" to me, whether they're hard or soft.

[chopandchange]

It's strange how most other Brits on here seem to say pigtails instead of bunches. Interesting how language evolves, and how Americanised our British speech is becoming.

If you google "hair bunches," loads of pages come up with reference to bunches being the British term for pigtails, Wikipedia included:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bunches

[StormVixen]

hair elastic = hair band , in the UK... bobbles are the ones with, well, bobbles... like an elastic with large beads on...

[milagro]

I think this should be posted as a sticky and we should update the names as we learn more. That way our international users could join in and understand what we are talking about. Does anyone agree with me?

I agree! It's the more helpful for us non-native Eng speakers.
:cheer:

[chopandchange]

Do Aussies "dye" or "color" their hair? Or do you have another word for it?

Am I wrong in thinking no one from New Zealand has chipped in yet?

[bumblebums]

Awesome thread!

I've got only one thing to contribute: in Pittsburgh (PA, USA), an elastic rubber band is called a gumband. A neat little dialectal difference.

The "bangs" thing killed me when I first found out about it. Fringe just makes so much more sense. I mean, rugs and scarves don't have "bangs", they have fringes, right? So why does the same thing on your head have a different and very silly name? Answer us this, Americans! :)

[milagro]

This is all highly educative :)


Awesome thread!

The "bangs" thing killed me when I first found out about it. Fringe just makes so much more sense. I mean, rugs and scarves don't have "bangs", they have fringes, right? So why does the same thing on your head have a different and very silly name? Answer us this, Americans! :)

I used to think bangs are big locks cut shorter than the mass, on both sides of the face. And fringe is something that falls down the forehead (unless it is pomaded/gelled/whatever to stiff and stands above :D).

Waiting for clarification, too!

[dropinthebucket]

US Hair elastic/ponytail holder = UK bobble = AUS hair tie
Canada - elastic or scrunchie
US Braid = UK plait = AUS braid (both noun and verb)
Canada - braid
US Tease/rat = UK backcomb = AUS tease
Canada - tease
US Ponytail = UK bunch/ponytail = AUS ponytail
Canada - ponytail
US Pigtails = UK bunches (or plaits, if they're plaited) = AUS piggy tails
Canada - pigtails
US Bobby pins = UK kirby grips (or hair pins) = AUS bobby pins
Canada - bobbypins
US Bangs = UK fringe = AUS fringe
Canada - bangs (a.k.a, annoying things everyone's trying to grow out! :)
US Alice band = UK hairband = AUS headband
Canada - headband, hairband
US Part = UK parting = AUS part (noun)
Canada - part
US Color = UK dye (both verb and noun)
Canada - dye, colour (verb); dye, haircolour (noun)

Canada - barrette; clip (the thin, snap metal ones, or the plastic ones for small girls that are sort of more like barrettes); claw clip or clip - (so, two things can be a "clip")

Can anyone think of any I've missed? :)[/quote]

[Milui Elenath]

Aus - I would say dye is more commonly used then colour, both as a noun and verb.

Also I always knew an english braid as a plait both as verb and noun only french or dutch braids were known as braids.

Bobbles are known to me as the kind that have beads while regular ties are usually referred to as just elastics.

I also knew barrettes as the metal clip kind and would call the other kind slides.

Amish pins - just know as hair pins, rollers - not curlers ;)

Of course this is just my experience :)

[Armelle]

Sorry... US (South) here too and have never heard of Alice bands before. We've always called them head bands.:confused:

Example: This plastic head band hurts my temples so I'm taking it off.

[luxepiggy]

What would everyone call these?

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff33/shoppingpiglet/01082010111-1.jpg

I used to use them all the time in junior high, and we referred to them as "butterfly clips"

[enfys]

What would everyone call these?

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff33/shoppingpiglet/01082010111-1.jpg

I used to use them all the time in junior high, and we referred to them as "butterfly clips"

Claw clips/jaw clips.

I've seen sellers on Etsy call slides (as in leather with two holes and a stick) barettes, as well as hearing it here in the UK.

I think this dictionary could benefit from illustrations and all the possible names listed underneath, with their location if possible.

I can't see an easier way to figure this out.

[Fiordiligi]

hair elastic = hair band , in the UK... bobbles are the ones with, well, bobbles... like an elastic with large beads on...

Yes, absolutely, I called plain ones just hair bands in the 80s, and it was only later that that term seemed to shift over to what was previously called an Alice band.

Can I please put in another plea for hairgrip to be one of the UK terms for bobby pin? Hairpins to me are definitely the U shaped ones.

I'm always a bit confused about clamps, claws and jaws. Are they all the same, do you think?

[Purdy Bear]

Oh my theres even mistakes in the explanations LOL!

An Alice Band is named after Alice in Wonderland I believe, and is a certain type of headband - the hard plastic ones. Are traditionally worn by the 'Sloan Rangers' or the very rich of Chelsea. Iv never called a head band a hair band.

http://www.glitz4girlz.com/hair-bands.html


Hair grips are not bobby pins - Hairgrips are straight on oneside with a wavy part on the other and close together:

http://www.coolblades.co.uk/waved-hair-grips-brown-blonde-or-black.html?utm_source=google&utm_medium=product&utm_campaign=Googlebase

Bobbles - are hair elastic bands (known as rubber bands in the Uk) with beads on the end or toggles:

http://www.lady2b.com/product/214/Heart-Shaped-Bobble-Hair-Bands.html

Bunches are ponytails by the ears - pigtails:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bunches

Hair Slide - is a barrette type thing where the snap the hair into a pony tail with it.

Hair nets - are those nylon netting things you put your hair into like the 1940s.

Plaits are braids, usually only associated with the English Braid.

A fringe is a bang (this always makes me giggle, just the thought of calling my hair after the sounds of an explosive just makes me laugh).

Fairy Tail ends I think is the same - the natural V of hair growth when not trimmed straight.

[Quahatundightu]

Hello, NZer here! My answers would be the same as the Aussie ones upthread, except I would say "pigtails" not "piggytails" I can't really think of any NZ-specific words, most of ours come from the UK.

Also I don't know if it's just me, but I always thought of a "fringe" as the straight across or sideswept hair just on your forehead, and "bangs" were the very short layers framing your face, but longer than a fringe. Maybe it's just how my group of friends adopted the American word?

[Kamama]

I loved reading everyone's input on "hair slides," or as I have known them "barrettes."

Hair slide makes a lot of sense as a name for those leather things with a stick running through them.

I still have one of those old 70s barrettes too--the kind with the wires that kind of hook onto the flat part. Wish I knew where it was. Hmm...may look around for it, it was pretty!

[*Aoife*]

In Ireland, elastics are bobbins or gogo's depending on where you live. Gogo's is usually used by older people (40+) from the west.

[Nae]

Makes me wonder if we call hair tangles different things?

Midwest USA here, when I was a kid and woke up with a big tangle my Mom would call it a "rat's nest" or, if it was smaller a "mouse's nest." (Could of just been my mom, she has been known to make up stuff before.) I have also heard it called "knots" or "rats."

I have also heard Faery knots for those times when one hair will knot with only one other hair. Usually at night, ACK, run!! I have faeries in my hair!!!! (This amuses me to no end.)

P.S. Up here by Lake Michigan I have never heard of an "Alice band."

[joiekimochi]

What would everyone call these?

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff33/shoppingpiglet/01082010111-1.jpg

I used to use them all the time in junior high, and we referred to them as "butterfly clips"

We call 'em butterfly clips for the tiny ones and shark clips for the big ones here in Singapore.

[luxepiggy]

We call 'em butterfly clips for the tiny ones and shark clips for the big ones here in Singapore.

Oh most interesting! So the name is dependent on the size? What if it's in between? :p


*snip*


Hair grips are not bobby pins - Hairgrips are straight on oneside with a wavy part on the other and close together:

http://www.coolblades.co.uk/waved-hair-grips-brown-blonde-or-black.html?utm_source=google&utm_medium=product&utm_campaign=Googlebase

*snip*

That picture, to me, is most definitely what I, and scünci (http://www.scunci.com/products.php?products_id=516), would call a bobby pin! Do you have a picture of what you consider to be a bobby pin please? (^(oo)^)

[Merlin]

It's strange how most other Brits on here seem to say pigtails instead of bunches. Interesting how language evolves, and how Americanised our British speech is becoming.



I don't think most girls would call them pigtails if they were chatting - though I can do some research on this for you all of course by asking around at work!

I suspect we call them 'pigtails' here because the colonials don't understand us when we say 'bunches' :p

[Purdy Bear]

On all the You Tube videos Iv seen from the US, they call these Bobby Pins:

http://sites.google.com/site/ficcares/home/hairpincomparison031610.jpg
Number 5, 8, 9 and 10.

Apologies if Im wrong about the name, I just go with the average LOL!

[Milui Elenath]

Hello, NZer here! My answers would be the same as the Aussie ones upthread, except I would say "pigtails" not "piggytails" snip

Yes as an Aussie most people I know say pigtails not piggytails but I've heard both so I just kept quiet on that one. :o


Makes me wonder if we call hair tangles different things? snip"

I had never heard of hair tangles as a term before LHC. Usually it was variations of the word knot - knotted hair, my hair is all knotty, knots in the hair etc. I'd have used tangled to describe a comb or brush being tangled in the hair -shudder:

[HoneyJubilee]

On all the You Tube videos Iv seen from the US, they call these Bobby Pins:

http://sites.google.com/site/ficcares/home/hairpincomparison031610.jpg
Number 5, 8, 9 and 10.

Apologies if Im wrong about the name, I just go with the average LOL!

Those are what I call hairpins, and the hair grips you linked earlier are what I call Bobby pins.

[freckles]

Before I came to LHC, I always referred to a "plait", but now I tend to use "braid", even in real life, to the confusion of my friends.

I always called "tangles" "tats" as a kid - I've got a massive tat in my hair, my hair is all tatty, have you got all the tats out, etc :)

[enfys]

Those are what I call hairpins, and the hair grips you linked earlier are what I call Bobby pins.

Agreed. A kirby grip/hair grip/bobby pin was made to told a bob out of the face; it needs to be thin and flat. An open pin would be no use.

I'm wondering how many of the words popping up are slang/colloquial words and how many are words you might see on a supermarket shelf be it in accessories or in a magazine.

For example, we call them hair toys on this site, but that's not even standard among long hair forums!

[chopandchange]

In Scotland a bobble is a bobble (what most of you would call a hair tie or elastic) whether it has round decorations on it or not. There are regional differences even within the UK, let alone different countries. In Scotland most people refer to plaits as pleats.

[BrightEyes7]

What would everyone call these?

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff33/shoppingpiglet/01082010111-1.jpg

I used to use them all the time in junior high, and we referred to them as "butterfly clips"

This is what I call a claw clip or just a hair clip.


Oh my theres even mistakes in the explanations LOL!

An Alice Band is named after Alice in Wonderland I believe, and is a certain type of headband - the hard plastic ones. Are traditionally worn by the 'Sloan Rangers' or the very rich of Chelsea. Iv never called a head band a hair band.

http://www.glitz4girlz.com/hair-bands.html


Hair grips are not bobby pins - Hairgrips are straight on oneside with a wavy part on the other and close together:

http://www.coolblades.co.uk/waved-hair-grips-brown-blonde-or-black.html?utm_source=google&utm_medium=product&utm_campaign=Googlebase



I've have seriously never in my life heard the term Alice Band and the fact it is being deemed an American term is concerning! I really don't think it is a term used anymore if it ever was.

And what you have pictured as hair grips ARE bobby pins. The wider ones that look similar but are rounded on the end are either hair pins or Amish pins here in the states.


Those are what I call hairpins, and the hair grips you linked earlier are what I call Bobby pins.

Yes! Those wider ones pictured , 5,8 and the other numbers in that pic with all the different hair accessories, are hair pins or Amish pins. The ones close together are bobby pins!

[princessp]

Part / parting
I've also heard this called a path in the US.

US words for tangles= snarls and very tangled hair might be referred to as a "rat's nest"


Hair elastic / ponytail holder / bobble / hair tie:
Another US name is hair band

[Tabitha]

A friend's mother at school used to call ponytails and pigtails "bunches," she was from 'up north' (it was when I was quite young, so I've no memory of which particular accent) - no-one else I know calls them that.

I don't know if it's just me, but since being on LHC I seem to have picked up several of the US ones. Braid comes more readily to my tongue than plait, unless I'm talking about pastry not hair. And I tend to use 'hair band' to describe an elastic/bobble.
Is calling hair clips like this (http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6PdsPkQFSI0/SrcY97vLMsI/AAAAAAAABMI/Nfz-_CZIM8g/s320/hairclip.gif) 'hair slides' a Briticism? Or is that just me too? :o
I had bunches when I was a little girl, 40 years ago! like twin pony tails (unbraided) they'd be called pigtails only if they were braided (or plaits). They were often fastened with "bobbles" - which were, as storm vixen says, very specifically covered hair elastics with twin plastic balls on the end.

What I called a hairslide is what USers call a barrette - in fact I'd never heard that word before coming to LHC. I don't know what you call those clippy things you link to - I don't remember them existing during my childhood, I wonder when they came into widespread use? We just had what USers call "bobby pins" but we called hair grips or Kirby grips.

I recognise the term Alice band (after the Tenniel drawings of Alice wearing one (http://www.tigtail.org/L_View/TIG/TVM/X3/library/pix/lookingglass_04b.jpg)) but consider it a little old-fashioned.