Hairstyle Name Guide for Men and Women
12 looks Guide Updated 8 Oct 2026
Knowing the right hairstyle name makes it easy to get what you want from a barber or stylist. This guide lists the main types of hairstyle for men and women, with pictures, a one-line meaning for each, and simple steps to work out which hairstyle suits me or you.
Most bad haircuts happen because two people use different words for the same thing. A boy asks for a "short cut" and gets a buzz. A girl asks for "layers" and gets a step cut. Use the names and numbers below and you will get much closer to the photo in your head.
Each name links to a full gallery. Start with hairstyle for men or hairstyle for girls, or go back to the home page.
Hairstyle Names for Men with Pictures
These three haircut names for men come up most in Indian barber shops. Learn the name and you can ask for it with confidence.
- Hair
- Short, any type
- Best for
- Round, oval faces
- Upkeep
- Trim every 2 to 4 weeks
A fade goes from very short at the bottom to longer at the top. Mid fade starts at the temple.
Stylist note: Say mid fade, #0 to #3, and give the top length in centimetres.
- Hair
- Medium, thick
- Best for
- Round, square faces
- Upkeep
- Trim every 3 to 5 weeks
A quiff lifts the front hair up and back. It adds height and suits round faces.
Stylist note: Ask for 7 cm at the front, shorter at the crown, #2 sides.
- Hair
- Short, straight or wavy
- Best for
- Long, oval faces
- Upkeep
- Trim every 3 to 5 weeks
The French crop is short on top with a straight fringe. Low effort, good for big foreheads.
Stylist note: High fade at #1, 4 cm on top, short blunt fringe.
Boys Hairstyle Name Gallery: More Popular Cuts
These hairstyle names for boys come up often in college and on social feeds. Each one is very different from the back.
- Hair
- Medium-long, wavy
- Best for
- Oval, diamond faces
- Upkeep
- Trim every 4 to 5 weeks
A mullet is short at the sides and front with length left at the back. The modern one is softer and textured.
Stylist note: Ask for a low taper at #2, keep 10 cm at the nape, texture the top.
- Hair
- Short-medium, straight
- Best for
- Square, oval faces
- Upkeep
- Trim every 3 to 4 weeks
The side part combs the top to one side from a clean parting. It looks smart for school functions and office.
Stylist note: #3 taper, 6 cm on top, soft part on your natural side.
- Hair
- Very short, any type
- Best for
- Oval, square faces
- Upkeep
- Trim every 2 weeks
A buzz cut is one short clipper length all over. Zero styling and cool in summer.
Stylist note: Ask for #2 or #3 all over with a clean neckline.
Girls Hairstyle Name Gallery: Haircuts with Pictures for Ladies
These are hairstyle names with pictures for ladies who want a new cut. Each shape is clearest from the back.
- Hair
- Long, straight
- Best for
- Oval, round faces
- Upkeep
- Trim every 6 to 10 weeks
The U cut finishes in a soft rounded curve at the back. It keeps length and looks neat when open.
Stylist note: Ask the stylist for a rounded U line at the back with light layers.
- Hair
- Medium to long, any
- Best for
- Round, square faces
- Upkeep
- Trim every 6 to 8 weeks
The butterfly cut has short layers around the face and long ends. You get volume and keep your length.
Stylist note: Ask for short face-framing layers at the cheek and long outer layers.
- Hair
- Medium to long, thick
- Best for
- Oval, long faces
- Upkeep
- Trim every 6 to 8 weeks
A step cut shows clear levels from top to bottom. It adds movement to thick hair.
Stylist note: Ask for visible stepped layers, each step 5 to 7 cm apart.
Types of Hairstyle for Girls: Buns, Braids and Flowers
Not every hairstyle name is a haircut. These styling types work on any cut as long as your hair has some length.
- Hair
- Medium to long, any
- Best for
- Oval, heart faces
- Upkeep
- 4 min, 4 U-pins
A messy bun is loose and twisted with soft strands left out. Done in under five minutes.
Stylist note: Twist loosely at the nape, wrap, pin, pull a few strands out.
- Hair
- Long, straight or wavy
- Best for
- Oval, long faces
- Upkeep
- 10 min, 1 elastic
A fishtail braid uses two sections with thin crossed strands. It looks detailed but is easy once learnt.
Stylist note: Split in two, cross thin outer strands to the inside, tie the end.
- Hair
- Long, thick
- Best for
- All faces, festive
- Upkeep
- 20 min, gajra, 10 pins
A juda wrapped with a fresh jasmine gajra is the best-known festive hairstyle name in India.
Stylist note: Make a low bun, pin it firmly, wrap the gajra round it, pin every 3 cm.
Hairstyle Names for Men: Quick Table
| Name | What it means |
|---|---|
| Fade | Sides go from skin or very short to longer, low, mid or high. |
| Undercut | Short sides with no blend into a longer top. |
| Taper | A softer fade only at the sideburns and neckline. |
| Buzz cut | One clipper length all over. |
| Crew cut | Short sides, a bit longer on top, slightly longer at the front. |
| French crop | Short top pushed forward to a straight fringe. |
| Textured crop | A crop with choppy, messy texture on top. |
| Quiff | Front hair lifted up and back. |
| Pompadour | A taller, smoother quiff combed back. |
| Side part | Top combed to one side from a clear parting. |
| Slick back | Top combed straight back with shine. |
| Mullet | Short front and sides, long at the back. |
| Wolf cut | Shaggy layers with a choppy fringe and longer back. |
| Two block | Korean undercut with a longer top hanging over it. |
| Comma hair | Front fringe curled inward like a comma. |
See full galleries for fade and undercut, mullet and Korean cuts, plus clipper details for every men's cut in the hair cutting style catalogue.
Girls Hairstyle Names: Quick Table
| Name | What it means |
|---|---|
| U cut | Ends cut in a rounded U at the back. |
| V cut | Ends cut to a point in a V at the back. |
| Step cut | Clear layered levels from top to bottom. |
| Layer cut | Soft blended layers for movement. |
| Butterfly cut | Short face layers with long ends. |
| Bob and lob | Chin length and shoulder length straight cuts. |
| Juda | A bun, low or high, often with a gajra. |
| Choti | A braid; also called jadai or chotla in the south. |
| French braid | A braid that picks up hair from the scalp as it goes. |
| Fishtail braid | A two-section braid with thin crossed strands. |
| Half up | Top part tied or pinned, the rest left open. |
| Puff | Teased volume at the crown, pinned in place. |
For cuts, see the haircut for girls gallery. For styled looks, see bun and juda and braid and choti.
Which Hairstyle Suits Me? Face Shape and Hair Type
To know which hairstyle suits my face, pull your hair back and check the widest part of your face.
- Round: add height and length. Men: quiff, faux hawk. Women: long layers, side part, high bun.
- Oval: almost anything works. Pick by hair type.
- Square: soften the corners. Men: textured quiff. Women: butterfly cut, soft waves.
- Long: add width. Men: French crop. Women: curtain fringe, waves at the cheek.
- Heart and diamond: add fullness near the jaw or forehead with a fringe.
Hair type matters as much. Thick hair needs bulk removed, so fades, undercuts and step cuts work. Fine hair looks fuller with blunt ends and shorter lengths. Curly and wavy hair should keep length on top. Full guides: face shape for men and face shape for women.
Still asking what hairstyle suits me? Try the cheap test first. Pin or tie your hair into the rough shape at home and take a photo from the front and the side. Look at it the next morning with fresh eyes. You can also ask your barber or stylist to tell you your face shape before the cut, and pick one change at a time, such as length or fringe, not both.
How to Ask Your Barber or Stylist
At the barber: give the guard number for the sides, the fade height, the length on top and the neckline. Guard sizes run from #0 (about 0.5 mm) to #1 (3 mm), #2 (6 mm), #3 (10 mm) and #4 (13 mm). For height, a low fade sits just above the ear, a mid fade sits at the temple, and a high fade reaches the parietal ridge.
At the stylist: say the cut name, where the shortest layer should fall (chin, cheek or shoulder), and the shape at the back (U, V or straight). Show one photo from the front angle and one from the back. Say how long you spend on your hair each morning so the stylist cuts for your routine.
Upkeep, Trims and Styling Products
- Fades and short cuts: trim every 2 to 4 weeks.
- Crops and quiffs: every 3 to 5 weeks.
- Layered women's cuts: every 6 to 10 weeks.
Product types, in general terms: matte clay for texture with no shine, light wax for separation, cream for soft hold, pomade for slick shine, sea salt spray for loose waves and heat protectant spray before any straightener or curler. In humid weather use less product. Wash after heavy sweat or helmet use. Avoid tight pulls on fine hair. For hair fall, dandruff or bald patches, see a dermatologist.
A salon cut costs more when you add a senior stylist, a blow dry, treatments, extensions or a bridal trial.
Common hairstyle questions
Which hairstyle suits me male?
Check your face shape and hair type first. Round faces look best with short sides and height on top. Long faces need a fringe. Thick hair suits fades, and fine hair suits short crops.
How to know which hairstyle suits me without trying it?
Pull your hair back, look at your forehead, cheekbones and jaw, and see which is widest. Match that to the face shape list above. Then check if your hair is thick, fine, wavy or curly and pick a style made for it.
What are the most common hairstyle names for boys?
Fade, undercut, crew cut, buzz cut, French crop, quiff, side part, mullet and two block. Most barbers know all of these by name. Our boys hairstyle page has photos of each.
What are the main types of hairstyle for girls?
There are cuts and there are styles. Cuts include U cut, V cut, step cut, layer cut and butterfly cut. Styles include buns, braids, ponytails, half up looks and open hair.
What are the real flowers for hairstyle names used in India?
Jasmine (mogra or malli) is the most used, made into a gajra. Roses, kanakambaram and chrysanthemum (sevanthi) are also common. Fresh flowers go on buns and braids for weddings and pujas.
Which hairstyle suits my face if it is round?
For women, long layers, a deep side part or a high bun make the face look longer. For men, a quiff or pompadour with a mid fade works. Avoid rounded bowl shapes.
