The Most Difficult Hairstyle, Ranked

Voting rules: Choose the hairstyle you think is the most difficult!

Updated on Apr 26, 2024 06:24

Deciding on a new hairstyle can often feel like a daunting task, especially when aiming for more complex designs. Whether it's to stand out at a special event or to give your daily look a drastic change, the complexity of different hairstyles can vary greatly, influencing your choice. This is why understanding which styles are considered the hardest to achieve can be incredibly helpful. By participating in voting for the most challenging hairstyles, you contribute to building a resource that can guide others in making informed decisions. Through your votes, you help others gauge the time, skill, and effort needed for various hairstyles, ultimately assisting them in choosing styles that best fit their abilities and occasions.

What Is the Most Difficult Hairstyle?

1

42
votes
Michal Klajban · CC BY-SA 4.0

The beehive

Margaret Vinci Heldt

This hairstyle requires a lot of teasing, backcombing, and hairspray to create a voluminous beehive shape. It's difficult to achieve and maintain without professional help.
The beehive is a towering hairstyle that became popular in the 1960s. It is characterized by its rounded shape resembling a beehive or a cone. The hair is piled up high on the head and often styled with volume and teased to create the desired shape.

Height: Can reach up to 8 inches (20 cm) or more

Shape: Rounded and conical

Support: Usually created with the help of padding, such as ratting or hairpieces

Teasing: Hair is teased and backcombed to add volume

Hold: Hairspray and hairpins are essential for the style to hold its shape
2

15
votes
Byrddesigns at English Wikipedia · Public domain

The French twist

This classic hairstyle is elegant and timeless, but it requires a lot of twisting, pinning, and securing to get it just right. It's also difficult to do on your own without a lot of practice.
The French twist is a sophisticated hairstyle that involves twisting the hair into a compact, vertical roll at the back of the head. This elegant updo creates a timeless and glamorous look for various formal occasions.

Difficulty: Moderately difficult

Hair length: Medium to long hair

Hair type: Straight or slightly wavy hair

Tools required: Comb, hairpins, hair elastic, hairspray

Time required: Around 15-30 minutes
3

31
votes
The Mohawk

This bold and edgy hairstyle requires shaving the sides of the head and leaving a strip of hair in the middle. It's difficult to create and maintain, and it can be a challenge to find a stylist who can do it well.
The Mohawk is a hairstyle characterized by a shaved or closely trimmed sides of the head, while a strip of longer hair is left at the center, extending from the forehead to the nape of the neck.

Hair length: The center strip of hair is generally longer, and can range from a few inches to several inches in length.

Shaved sides: The sides of the head are either shaved or closely trimmed, creating a bold contrast with the longer hair in the center.

Hair styling: The longer central hair can be styled in various ways, such as standing straight up, spiked, or sculpted into intricate patterns.

Hair products: To achieve the desired look, hair gel, wax, or other styling products are often used to hold the central strip of hair upright and maintain its shape.

Cultural significance: The Mohawk hairstyle has been associated with subcultures, rebellion, and non-conformity, becoming a symbol of individuality and counterculture.
The Mohawk in other rankings
- Position 10 of 10 in Most popular haircut
4

15
votes
Rama · CC BY-SA 2.0 fr

The afro

This voluminous hairstyle is iconic and beautiful, but it requires a lot of maintenance and styling to keep it looking good. It can also be difficult to find products and tools that work well with natural hair textures.
The afro is a hairstyle characterized by natural and voluminous curly hair that stands out in a rounded shape from the head.

Volume: The afro is known for its significant volume, creating a full and rounded shape.

Natural Texture: The afro celebrates and embraces the natural texture and curliness of African hair.

Maintenance: Regular maintenance, such as proper washing, moisturizing, and careful styling, is essential to keep the afro looking its best.

Versatility: The afro can be styled in different sizes, shapes, and designs according to personal preference.

Cultural Significance: The afro has deep roots in African American culture and has been seen as a symbol of pride, identity, and political activism.
5

14
votes
The braided updo

This intricate hairstyle requires a lot of braiding, twisting, and pinning to create a beautiful updo. It's difficult to do on your own, and it can take hours to complete.
The braided updo is an intricate and stylish hairstyle that involves braiding sections of hair and then gathering them into an updo. It is a versatile and elegant option for both formal occasions and everyday wear.

Difficulty Level: High

Time Required: 60 minutes or more

Hair Type: Medium to long

Hair Texture: Straight or wavy

Braiding Technique: Multiple braiding techniques like French, Dutch, or fishtail
6

22
votes
www.GlynLowe.com from lisbon, Portugal · CC BY 2.0

The chignon

This elegant hairstyle is perfect for special occasions, but it requires a lot of twisting, pinning, and securing to create the perfect bun. It's also difficult to do on your own without a lot of practice.
The chignon is a classic updo hairstyle characterized by a low bun or knot at the nape of the neck. It is an elegant and sophisticated hairstyle that is often adorned with various accessories or decorative pins.

Difficulty: Moderate to high

Hair length: Medium to long

Hair type: Straight or slightly wavy

Hair texture: Fine to medium

Tools required: Bobby pins, hairpins, hair ties, comb, and hairspray
7

10
votes
Stilfehler · CC BY-SA 3.0

The fishtail braid

This beautiful braid requires a lot of skill and patience to create. It can be difficult to get the tension right and keep the braid looking neat and tidy.
The fishtail braid is a type of hairstyle that involves weaving two sections of hair together in a crisscross pattern, resembling the scales of a fish. It is a unique and intricate braiding technique that creates a stunning and complex look.

Difficulty Level: High

Hair Type Compatibility: Suitable for most hair types

Hair Length Compatibility: Works best with medium to long hair

Tools Required: Hair tie, comb, and hair spray (optional)

Time Required: Varies depending on hair length and skill level
8

5
votes
The updo with hair extensions

This hairstyle requires a lot of skill and experience to create. It can be challenging to blend the extensions with your natural hair and get them to stay in place.
The updo with hair extensions is a complex and time-consuming hairstyle that involves incorporating hair extensions to create an intricately styled updo. It is popular for special occasions and red carpet events, as it provides a glamorous and elaborate look.

Difficulty Level: Difficult

Skill Required: Advanced

Hair Type: Suitable for medium to long hair

Hair Texture: Can be done on straight, wavy, or curly hair

Tools Needed: Hair extensions, clips, bobby pins, hairspray, teasing comb, brush, and hair ties
9

11
votes

The dreadlocks

This hairstyle requires a lot of time and patience to create. It can take months to form and maintain the dreadlocks, and it can be difficult to find a stylist who specializes in this style.
10

10
votes
The shaved head

This bold and daring hairstyle requires a lot of confidence to pull off. It's also difficult to maintain and can be a challenge to find a stylist who can give you the perfect shave.
The shaved head is a hairstyle where all the hair on the person's head is completely shaved off, resulting in a bald appearance.

Ease of Maintenance: Low

Versatility: Limited

Availability: Widespread

Time Required for Styling: Very short

Hair Products Needed: None

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Discussion

Ranking factors for difficult hairstyle

Time required

Consider the amount of time needed to create and maintain the hairstyle. A complex style may require several hours initially, and frequent touch-ups and styling efforts to keep it looking fresh.
Skill level

Evaluate the level of skill and expertise required to achieve the desired hairstyle. Some styles may demand a professional hairstylist's touch, while others can be done at home with basic hairstyling skills.
Tools and products

Assess the number of tools and hair products needed to create and maintain the hairstyle. More challenging styles may necessitate the use of various hair appliances, styling products, and accessories.
Hair type

Take into account the hair type and texture, as some hairstyles may be more difficult to achieve with certain hair types (e.g., fine or curly hair).
Hair length

Consider the length of hair needed to accomplish the desired hairstyle. Some styles may be more challenging to create with shorter or longer hair.
Hair maintenance

Evaluate the level of maintenance required to keep the hairstyle looking its best. This may include daily styling, frequent hair treatments, or salon visits.
Versatility

Consider how versatile the hairstyle is, meaning its ability to work with various outfits, occasions, and stages of hair growth.
Durability

Assess how long the hairstyle will last between styling sessions, especially in various weather conditions, physical activities, and daily wear and tear.
Comfort

Take into account the level of comfort the hairstyle provides when worn, as more complex styles may cause discomfort or be difficult to keep in place throughout the day.
Personal style

Lastly, consider the individual's personal style preference and whether the hairstyle will complement their overall look and fashion sense. The difficulty of a hairstyle can also be subjective depending on the individual's comfort zone and skills in hairstyling.

About this ranking

This is a community-based ranking of the most difficult hairstyle. We do our best to provide fair voting, but it is not intended to be exhaustive. So if you notice something or hairstyle is missing, feel free to help improve the ranking!

Statistics

2751 views
179 votes
10 ranked items

Voting Rules

A participant may cast an up or down vote for each hairstyle once every 24 hours. The rank of each hairstyle is then calculated from the weighted sum of all up and down votes.

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Hairstyles

More information on most difficult hairstyle

Hairstyles have always been an integral part of our appearance, and they play a significant role in defining our personality. From the classic bob to the trendy pixie, there are countless hairstyles to choose from. However, some hairstyles are more challenging to create than others, requiring precision, skill, and patience. In this article, we'll explore some of the most difficult hairstyles to master and the reasons why they can be so tricky to achieve. Whether you're a professional stylist or someone who loves experimenting with their hair, this article will provide you with an insight into the most challenging hairstyles out there.