We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Hair

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What is a Quiff?

By Matt Brady
Updated: May 21, 2024
Views: 11,873
Share

The quiff — pronounced "kwif" — is a hairstyle that features any kind of prominently styled forelock. The classic variation of this hairstyle is a blend of the pompadour and flattop, where the hair is slicked back on both sides, while the hair above the forehead is sculpted upwards into a poof. While more popular during the 1950s, variations on the quiff can still be seen in hairstyles today.

Sported by such icons as Elvis Presley and James Dean, the quiff became popular in the United States during the 1950s. The style quickly became an integral part of a young generation of men and women seeking a sharp break from their parents' values and traditions. As a result, the hairdo became synonymous with the burgeoning culture of rock 'n' roll, so much so that when American music crossed the Atlantic and began influencing young musicians in Great Britain, the look went with it. Pictures of the Beatles in their earliest stages show the young musicians sporting classic quiff hairstyles.

In America, wearers of the quiff aptly came to be known as "greasers," due to the style's greasy look and application. The moniker provided the inspiration behind the title to the popular movie and play, Grease. In Britain, those who donned the quiff hairstyle were often referred to as "teddy boys." Like their American counterparts, teddy boys were indelibly associated with a culture of sex, drugs, and rock 'n' roll.

By the 1990s, the classic hair quiff was all but extinct as a popular hairstyle, primarily existing in the world of retro parties and Elvis look-alike contests. Other variations of the quiff hairstyle continued to be fashionable, however. It became common for women to pull their bangs back with a hair clip to create a poof, and men continued to wear quiffs in the styles of faux hawks and shorter cuts featuring upturned bangs.

To style a classic quiff, large amounts of hair product such as hairspray, pomade, and mousse are needed, as are a comb and blow dryer. The hair is dampened and mousse applied throughout. While blow drying, the hair is then combed up and back. Once the hair is completely dry and an up-and-backward direction has been achieved, the sides are combed back and the top up, using a generous amount of product to hold it in place. To add volume, some teasing of the bangs or forelock may be necessary.

If the hair is slicked back with a prominent poof in the front, the classic quiff has been achieved. Once the basic structure is formed, the wearer should feel free to style it according to his or her preference. There really are no rules as to how one has to style the quiff, so long as the forelocks remain in an upturned and prominent display.

Share
BeautyAnswered is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
Discussion Comments
Share
https://www.beautyanswered.com/what-is-a-quiff.htm
Copy this link
BeautyAnswered, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

BeautyAnswered, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.