The most common way to say “hair” in French is les cheveux. But what if you're talking about a single strand of hair, body hair, or even your hairstyle? The French language has a specific word for almost every hairy situation! Whether you're getting a new haircut in Paris, describing a character in a book, or just want to expand your vocabulary, knowing the right word for "hair" is essential. Let's dive into the different ways to talk about hair in French!

1. The standard 'hair' (on your head) – les cheveux

The most common and standard way to say 'hair' in French—specifically the hair on your head—is les cheveux. One of the most important things for English speakers to remember is that this word is almost always used in its plural form.

Unlike in English where 'hair' is a singular mass noun, French treats it as a collection of individual strands. Therefore, you use the plural les cheveux to talk about all the hair on someone's head. The singular form, un cheveu, refers to a single, individual strand of hair.

When describing hair, the structure is different from English. You typically use the verb avoir (to have) followed by les cheveux and an adjective. For example, to say 'She has brown hair,' you would say Elle a les cheveux bruns. Notice that the adjective (bruns) must also be plural to agree with cheveux.

It is essential not to confuse les cheveux with les poils. While les cheveux refers exclusively to the hair on the human head, les poils refers to body hair (on arms, legs, etc.) and the fur or hair on an animal. Using the wrong word can lead to some awkward misunderstandings!

Many actions related to hair care use reflexive verbs. The common structure is se + [verb] + les cheveux. For example: se laver les cheveux (to wash one's hair), se brosser les cheveux (to brush one's hair), and se couper les cheveux (to get one's hair cut).

💡 * Elle a les cheveux longs et noirs.

• Oh non, j'ai trouvé un cheveu dans ma soupe !
• Il se lave les cheveux tous les matins.
• Tes cheveux ont l'air en pleine santé.
• Le coiffeur va me couper les cheveux demain.

The 'single strand of hair' – un cheveu

The 'single strand of hair' – un cheveu

One of the most common mistakes for English speakers is correctly referring to hair in French. The key is understanding the difference between a single strand and the collective whole. Un cheveu refers specifically to one, individual strand of hair.

When you want to talk about the hair on someone's head—as in, their hairstyle, color, or texture—you must use the plural form: les cheveux. Even though in English 'hair' is singular, in French, it's treated as a collection of individual strands, hence the plural.

Think about the context. Are you pointing out a single, stray hair? Use un cheveu. Are you describing a person's general appearance? Use les cheveux.

Saying Elle a un cheveu brun would mean she has a single brown hair on her, not that she is a brunette. The correct phrase would be Elle a **les cheveux** bruns.

This distinction is so important that it even appears in idioms. For example, s'arracher les cheveux means 'to tear one's hair out' in frustration, referring to all of it, not just one strand!

💡 * J'ai trouvé un cheveu dans ma soupe.

• Elle a les cheveux blonds et bouclés.
• Le coiffeur va me couper les cheveux demain.
• Il se peigne les cheveux tous les matins.
• Oh, tu as un cheveu sur ton épaule.

The 'head of hair' or 'mane' – la chevelure

When you want to talk about a person's hair in a more elegant, descriptive, or literary way, French offers the beautiful word la chevelure.

La chevelure is a singular, feminine noun that refers to the entire mass of hair on a person's head. It's the equivalent of saying 'a head of hair,' 'tresses,' or even 'mane' to emphasize its collective beauty and volume.

This term is distinct from the everyday word les cheveux (hair), which is always plural. You use les cheveux for common actions like washing or cutting hair (Je me brosse les cheveux), whereas la chevelure is used for description and admiration.

You will typically find la chevelure in literature, formal descriptions, compliments, or in advertising for hair products. It elevates the description from a simple physical trait to an object of beauty.

💡 * Elle a une magnifique chevelure blonde. (She has a magnificent head of blonde hair.)

• Le vent soufflait dans sa longue chevelure. (The wind was blowing in her long hair.)
• J'admire la chevelure rousse de cette actrice. (I admire that actress's red hair.)
• Un bon shampoing peut redonner vie à votre chevelure. (A good shampoo can bring your hair back to life.)

The 'body hair' – les poils

The French word for 'body hair' is les poils. It's a masculine plural noun used to refer to hair found anywhere on the body except for the head.

A common mistake for learners is confusing les poils with les cheveux. Remember this simple rule: les cheveux is exclusively for the hair on your scalp. For arms, legs, face (beard, mustache), or even animal fur, the correct word is les poils.

The singular form, un poil, means 'a single hair'. However, it's also very common in informal speech to mean 'a tiny bit' or 'a smidgen'. For instance, un poil trop cher means 'a tad too expensive'.

You will encounter les poils in discussions about grooming, such as s'épiler les poils (to wax/remove body hair), or in expressions like avoir les poils qui se hérissent (to have one's hair stand on end), which is a way to say you have goosebumps.

💡 * Mon chien perd beaucoup ses poils en été. (My dog sheds a lot of his fur in the summer.)

• Il se rase les poils de la barbe tous les matins. (He shaves his beard hair every morning.)
• Le pull est un poil trop grand pour moi. (The sweater is a tad too big for me.)
• J'ai froid, j'ai les poils qui se hérissent. (I'm cold, I have goosebumps.)

The 'hairstyle' or 'hairdo' – la coiffure

The 'hairstyle' or 'hairdo' – la coiffure

La coiffure is the standard French word for 'hairstyle' or 'hairdo.' It refers to the specific way a person's hair is cut, arranged, or styled.

This noun is directly related to the verb se coiffer, which means 'to do one's hair,' and the professionals who do it: a coiffeur (male hairdresser) or a coiffeuse (female hairdresser).

You can use la coiffure in any situation, whether you're complimenting a friend or talking about services at a hair salon (un salon de coiffure). It's a universally understood and neutral term.

As a feminine noun, la coiffure always takes feminine articles and adjectives. For example, you would say une nouvelle coiffure (a new hairstyle) or cette coiffure est magnifique (this hairstyle is magnificent).

💡 * J'aime beaucoup ta nouvelle coiffure ! (I really like your new hairstyle!)

• Elle a une coiffure très élégante pour la soirée. (She has a very elegant hairdo for the evening.)
• Je dois aller chez le coiffeur pour changer de coiffure. (I have to go to the hairdresser to get a new hairstyle.)
• Quelle coiffure est à la mode en ce moment ? (What hairstyle is in fashion right now?)

The 'fuzz' or 'downy hair' – le duvet

In French, the word le duvet might first make you think of your cozy bed, but it has several other meanings related to softness and fineness, much like the English words 'down' or 'fuzz'.

The most common association for English speakers is correct: un duvet can refer to a comforter or quilt, often filled with soft feathers. More precisely, le duvet refers to the down itself—the fine, soft feathers of a bird, which is used as stuffing for pillows, jackets, and bedding.

Beyond the bedroom, le duvet is the perfect word to describe the soft, fuzzy coating on certain fruits, like peaches (le duvet d'une pêche). It's also used to talk about the fine, downy hair on a person's body, especially the face—what English speakers often call 'peach fuzz.' This is a common term when discussing the first signs of a mustache on a young boy.

Remember that duvet is a masculine noun: le duvet. Whether you're talking about a cozy blanket, the fuzz on a peach, or the soft hair on your skin, this versatile word captures a sense of delicate softness.

💡 * En hiver, j'adore dormir sous un gros duvet bien chaud.

• Il faut enlever le duvet de la pêche avant de la manger.
• Mon fils adolescent commence à avoir un léger duvet au-dessus de la lèvre.
• Cette doudoune est remplie de duvet de canard pour une isolation optimale.

The 'bangs' or 'fringe' – la frange

The French word for 'bangs' or 'fringe' (the hairstyle) is la frange. It refers to the hair that is cut and styled to fall over the forehead.

La frange is a feminine noun. Therefore, you always use feminine articles and adjectives with it, such as une frange (a fringe) or ma frange (my fringe).

To talk about getting or having bangs, you can use verbs like avoir (to have), se faire (to get/to have done), or se couper (to cut one's own). For example, 'Elle a une frange' (She has bangs) or 'Je veux me faire une frange' (I want to get bangs).

💡 * Tu penses que la frange m'irait bien ? (Do you think bangs would suit me?)

• Elle a coupé sa frange elle-même et maintenant elle le regrette. (She cut her own bangs and now she regrets it.)
• J'aime beaucoup ta nouvelle coiffure avec cette frange droite. (I really like your new hairstyle with those straight bangs.)
• Mon coiffeur m'a suggéré une frange rideau. (My hairdresser suggested curtain bangs.)

The 'lock' or 'strand' of hair – la mèche

The 'lock' or 'strand' of hair – la mèche

The French word la mèche refers to a lock, strand, or tress of hair. It's a versatile term used to describe a distinct section of hair, whether it's a rebellious strand falling across your face or a styled lock.

A very common use for this word is in the context of hair coloring. The expression faire des mèches means 'to get highlights.' So, if you hear someone talking about their new mèches, they are likely referring to their highlighted hair.

Be aware that la mèche has other meanings, too! It can also mean the 'wick' of a candle or the 'bit' of a drill. Context is key to understanding which 'mèche' is being discussed.

💡 * Elle a une mèche rebelle qui lui tombe sur les yeux.

• Je vais chez le coiffeur pour me faire des mèches blondes.
• Le vent soulevait une mèche de ses cheveux.

1. The French Slang for 'Hair': Les Tifs

While the standard French word for hair is les cheveux, a very common slang term you'll frequently hear in casual conversation is les tifs. This word is part of French argot (slang) and is the informal equivalent of 'hair'.

Just like its formal counterpart les cheveux, les tifs is almost always used in the plural form when referring to the hair on someone's head. It's a familiar term, best reserved for informal situations with friends, family, or peers. You would avoid using it in a professional or formal context.

You can also encounter this slang in related expressions. A popular one is se faire les tifs, which is an informal way of saying 'to do one's hair' or 'to get a haircut'. For instance, instead of the standard Je vais me faire couper les cheveux, a person might say, Je vais me faire couper les tifs.

💡 * J'aime bien tes tifs, tu as un nouveau coiffeur ? (I like your hair, do you have a new hairdresser?)

• Il faut que je me lave les tifs avant de sortir ce soir. (I have to wash my hair before going out tonight.)
• Elle a des tifs magnifiques, longs et blonds. (She has magnificent hair, long and blonde.)
• Arrête de te plaindre de tes tifs, ils sont très bien ! (Stop complaining about your hair, it's perfectly fine!)

Are there other ways to say 'hair' in French?

Are there other ways to say “hair” in French?

Our list covers the most common and essential words for “hair” in French. But the language is also rich with more specific, technical, and even poetic terms you might encounter, especially in fashion, literature, or at the hairdresser (chez le coiffeur).

To discover more nuanced vocabulary, you can do an online search for “vocabulaire de la coiffure” (hairdressing vocabulary) or look up specific styles you're curious about.

When you find a new word, like ‘une mèche’ (a lock of hair) or ‘un épi’ (a cowlick), always check its definition and look for example sentences to understand how it’s used in context before trying it yourself.

As you engage with French media—watching movies, reading magazines, or listening to music—pay attention to how characters and descriptions refer to hair. You'll pick up a lot of natural-sounding vocabulary this way.

For an extensive list of hair-related terms, from cuts and colors to problems and products, the Larousse dictionary entry for ‘cheveu’ is a fantastic and reliable starting point.

I hope this guide has been helpful for describing hair en français. Let's end with a classic French expression that shows just how significant hair can be: Se faire des cheveux blancs (Literally: to give oneself white hairs), which means 'to worry a lot'.