Hair

Start with color and length, then show how it moves.

keeps her questions in her hair

has outlived three of her own endings

the weather follows her hair

grew her own night sky

never once stayed pinned

01Start with a plain color

black · brown · blond · red · gray · white · auburn · chestnut · silver · salt-and-pepper

Dark: jet, raven, ink-black, blue-black, espresso
Brown: chestnut, walnut, mink, toffee, mahogany, mousy
Red: auburn, copper, ginger, rust, strawberry-blond
Blond: honey, flaxen, ash, sandy, platinum, dishwater
Gray & white: silver, steel, iron-gray, snow-white, streaked with gray
Altered: dyed, faded pastel, bleach-brassy, roots showing, sun-streaked, ombré

Length: buzzed, cropped, chin-length, shoulder-grazing, mid-back, waist-length, shaved at the sides
Density: fine, thin, sparse, receding, thick, heavy, voluminous, a mass of hair

Straight: sleek, pin-straight, silky, glassy, limp
Wavy: loose waves, beachy, tousled, soft S-curves
Curly: springy ringlets, corkscrew curls, loose spirals, defined, frizzing at the edges
Coily: tight coils, springy, cloud-like, full, dense, halo-shaped
Mixed: straight at the crown, curling at the nape

glossy · lustrous · dull · brittle · flyaway · frizzy · dry · tangled · damp · matted · oil-slick shiny · freshly washed

Braids & twists: box braids, cornrows, fishtail braid, twists, crown braid
Locs & curls: locs, twist-out, wash-and-go
Cuts: buzz cut, fade, undercut, pixie, bob, shag, blunt fringe, long layers
Up-dos: topknot, low bun, high ponytail, chignon, a bun skewered with a pencil
Down & loose: tucked behind the ears, a curtain across one eye, tied back with ribbon

Hair in motion: swung with each step, whipped in the wind, clung damp to the neck, sprang back from the brush, stuck out in every direction
Hands in hair: raked fingers through it, tugged a lock, tucked a strand behind an ear, twisted it around a finger, flipped it over one shoulder

Light & nature: honey in sunlight, wheat, autumn leaves, flame, a raven's wing, midnight
Metals: copper, brass, silver, spun gold
Fabric: silk, wool, spun cotton, velvet

locks · strands · curls · coils · braids · tresses · waves · crown · fringe · ponytail · crop

Plain + modifier
“She had thick auburn hair that never stayed pinned.”
Texture
“His tight black coils sat high and full, catching the light like a halo.”
Movement
“Her braid swung against her back with each long step.”
Condition
“His hair hung limp and unwashed, a flat brown that matched the room.”
Gesture
“She twisted a gray lock around her finger while she waited for the verdict.”
Minimal
“The clerk had a neat silver crop.”

Be specific about texture. “Tight coils” or “loose waves” says more than “curly.”
Skip loaded shorthand. Avoid “nappy,” and avoid “exotic” for any texture or color.
Watch the animal and chaos words. “Wool,” “mane,” “bird's nest,” “unruly,” “untamed,” and “wild” can seem harmless, but they have a long history of being used to belittle Black and textured hair. Use precise words: coils, twists, defined curls, a full twist-out.
Show care, not struggle. Textured hair is often written as a problem to manage. Try ritual instead: a silk bonnet at night, wash day, fresh edges, a loctician appointment, cuffs added for a wedding.
No “good hair” hierarchy. Don't let straight hair stand for polish and coily hair stand for mess. Any texture can be neat, chaotic, or anything between, depending on the person.
Let hair reveal habit. A quick trim, a long-neglected dye job, or a messy bun tells us how a character lives.
Don't over-use color. Once per introduction is usually enough.