Definition

Noun: A small, cylindrical curl of hair created by winding a dampened section of hair around a finger and then securing the resulting coil flat against the head with a hairpin, bobby pin, or clip until it dries.

Usage

A "pin curl" is a specific technique for setting hair into curls without heat. The term refers to both the process and the individual curl that results from it. It is commonly used in the context of vintage hairstyles, traditional hair setting methods, and some modern heat-free curling routines.

Examples

• She set her hair in pin curls before bed to achieve voluminous waves in the morning.
• The hairstylist created tight pin curls along the hairline for a classic 1940s look.
• For a heat-free option, try making pin curls on damp hair and letting them dry naturally.

Advanced Usage

• The term is often used in the plural form "pin curls" to describe a full head of hair set using this method.
• It can be part of compound nouns describing related items, such as "pin curl clip" or "pin curl technique," but the core term "pin curl" itself remains a noun.

Variants and Related Words

• Roller curl: A curl made using a hair roller instead of pinned flat.
• Rag curl: A curl made by winding damp hair around a strip of cloth.
• Bobby pin: (noun) A flat, hinged hairpin, often used to secure a pin curl.

Synonyms

• Setter curl: A general term for a curl created with a setting tool or method.
• Wet set curl: A curl formed by setting damp hair and allowing it to dry in place.

Related Phrases

• To set one's hair in pin curls: The action of creating pin curls.
  • Example: My grandmother taught me how to set my hair in pin curls.
• To take down pin curls: The action of removing the pins after the hair has dried.
  • Example: After taking down the pin curls, she brushed her hair into soft waves.

Noun

1. a curl of hair made by dampening a strand of hair and curling it and holding the curl with a clip or bobby pin