hairdressing

hairdressing
/hair"dres'ing/, n.
1. the act or process of cutting, styling, or dressing hair.
2. the vocation or occupation of a hairdresser.
3. a style of arranging the hair; hairdo; coiffure.
4. a preparation, as tonic, oil, pomade, or the like, applied to the hair for increased manageability.
[1765-75; HAIR + DRESSING]

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      custom of cutting and arranging the hair, practiced by men and women from ancient times to the present. Early records indicate that the ancient Assyrians wore elaborate curly hair styles; by contrast, the ancient Egyptians, men and women alike, shaved their heads and wore wigs. Whether ornate or simple, hairdressing has been employed by very nearly every society. In 400 BC some Greek women dyed their hair; in the Roman period dying and bleaching were common. Japanese women used lacquer (a precursor of modern-day hair spray) to secure their elaborate coiffures. The wig has come in and gone out of vogue throughout history.

      Beginning with the crude curling iron used by women of ancient Rome in creating their elaborate hair styles, hairdressing came to be associated with a variety of technological accoutrements, ranging from simple combs and hairpins to hold the hair in place to complex electrical appliances for drying and grooming the hair and chemical processes to tint, wave, curl, straighten, and condition the hair. By the 20th century, hairdressing itself and the manufacture of materials and equipment had become an occupation and practical art of large proportions. See also barber; wig.

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Universalium. 2010.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • hairdressing — n. a toiletry for the hair. Syn: hairtonic, hair oil, hair grease. [WordNet 1.5] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • hairdressing — [[t]he͟ə(r)dresɪŋ[/t]] N UNCOUNT Hairdressing is the job or activity of cutting, colouring, and arranging people s hair. ...personal services such as hairdressing and dry cleaning... Gloria runs a hairdressing salon …   English dictionary

  • hairdressing — noun Hairdressing is used before these nouns: ↑business, ↑salon …   Collocations dictionary

  • hairdressing — hairdresser ► NOUN ▪ a person who cuts and styles hair. DERIVATIVES hairdressing noun …   English terms dictionary

  • hairdressing — noun Date: 1771 1. a. the action or process of washing, cutting, curling, or arranging the hair b. the occupation of a hairdresser 2. a preparation for grooming and styling the hair …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • hairdressing — noun The washing, colouring, cutting and styling of the hair; the art or trade of a hairdresser. See Also: hairdressed, hairdresser …   Wiktionary

  • hairdressing — n. cutting or styling of the hair …   English contemporary dictionary

  • hairdressing — See: hairdresser …   English dictionary

  • hairdressing — hair•dress•ing [[t]ˈhɛərˌdrɛs ɪŋ[/t]] n. 1) clo the act or process of cutting, styling, or dressing hair 2) clo the occupation of a hairdresser 3) clo a preparation, as an oil or pomade, for dressing or styling the hair • Etymology: 1765–75 …   From formal English to slang

  • hairdressing — /ˈhɛədrɛsɪŋ/ (say hairdresing) noun 1. the cutting, styling, tinting, and arranging of hair, especially women s hair. 2. the occupation of a hairdresser. 3. a tonic or preparation for the hair …  

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