hairdo

American  

[hair-doo] / ˈhɛərˌdu /

noun

plural

hairdos

1. the style in which a person's hair is cut, arranged, and worn; coiffure.

2. the hair itself, especially when newly or elaborately arranged.

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hairdo British  

/ ˈhɛəˌduː /

noun

1. the arrangement of a person's hair, esp after styling and setting

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Etymology

Origin of hairdo

First recorded in 1920–25; hair + do ¹

Explanation

A hairdo is what a stylist gives you when he cuts and styles your hair. You might go to the salon to get a fancy hairdo before your cousin's wedding. Hairdo is an informal word for "hairstyle." It's the way your hair is cut, dried, and arranged on your head, especially if there's some effort put into it. The way your hair looks when you roll out of bed in the morning isn't a hairdo, and pulling it back into a ponytail or covering it with a bandanna isn't a hairdo either. The elaborate beehive piled five inches high on your grandma's head? Now that's a hairdo.

Example Sentences

"If I saw that face without the hairdo and pearls, would never guess who it was meant to be," another said.

From BBC • Feb. 6, 2026

Never mind that it was said to have been dreamed up by kids at a soda fountain that Short frequented and referred mainly to her upswept hairdo.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 23, 2026

On the catwalk and in his own life, Valentino exuded luxury down to the last detail of his immaculate hairdo and caramel tan, often photographed with multiple pug dogs at his side.

From Barron's • Jan. 19, 2026

Actually, he arrived at Flushing Meadows with no hairdo — as in no hair at all, aside from some teeny, tiny specks on his head that come to a widow’s peak.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 26, 2025

“No, she just wanted to tell me she was sorry about what happened. That girl in Dr. Schmidt’s the other day, with the cat’s ears hairdo? I forget her name.”

From "Burning Blue" by Paul Griffin

Related Words

• haircut
• hairstyle