Definition

Noun: A small, shaped curl of hair, specifically a spiral or ringlet, that is arranged flat against the skin on either the forehead or the cheek as a decorative hairstyle.

Usage

This term is used to describe a specific, deliberate hairstyle element. It is a count noun (e.g., a kiss curl, two kiss curls). It is most commonly associated with vintage, glamorous, or period hairstyles.

Examples

• She styled a perfect kiss curl on her cheek for the 1920s-themed party.
• The actress's classic look was defined by the kiss curl on her forehead.
• He carefully fixed the kiss curl that had come loose during the dance.

Advanced Usage

• The phrase can be used metaphorically or descriptively in literature to evoke a sense of a bygone era or a coquettish style.
  • The portrait captured her youth, down to the mischievous kiss curl at her temple.

Variants and Related Words

• Spit curl: (noun) A synonymous, more informal term for a kiss curl, often implying it was shaped using saliva as a styling aid.
• Ringlet: (noun) A general term for a long spiral curl of hair, which may be worn loose and not necessarily plastered to the face.
• Curl: (noun) The general term for a piece of hair that forms a curved or spiral shape.

Synonyms

• Spit curl
• Ringlet (in this specific, styled context)
• Corkscrew curl (though this typically refers to a tighter, more three-dimensional spiral)

Antonyms

• Straight hair
• Frizz
• Unstyled hair

Related Idioms or Phrases

• To wear a kiss curl: This is the standard phrasing for having this hairstyle.
  • She chose to wear a kiss curl to complement her vintage dress.

Noun

1. a spiral curl plastered on the forehead or cheek