Over 60 Words to Describe Your Ancestor's Hair
In previous posts, we've discussed the importance of writing about your ancestor's physical appearance and how to find details about their physique, if you don't have photos to aid your writing. Today, let's give you a quick list of adjectives that can help you describe your ancestor's hair color and style if perhaps you have a photo to draw inspiration from.
Hair color is the easiest to assess in color photographs. It's more challenging in black and white images. Pick the adjectives that best create a mental picture for you.
Hair texture is often overlooked but an essential aspect of describing hair. Be sure to use one of these words to narrow down what type of hair your ancestor had, or didn't have:
Finally, the style in which your ancestor wore their hair is the crowning glory of a physical description. Give these words a try:
What do you think? Will any of these words fit to describe the locks on your ancestor's head? Did I miss any words that you've used? Let me know in the comments.
The important thing to remember when describing you ancestor is to do your best to help paint a picture for your readers. If someone disagrees with your word choice, tell them to go write their own story!
What great words have you used to describe your ancestor? A few folks have shared so great words. Be sure to add yours in the comments section.
Further Reading - Describing Our Ancestors Series:
Finally, the style in which your ancestor wore their hair is the crowning glory of a physical description. Give these words a try:
What do you think? Will any of these words fit to describe the locks on your ancestor's head? Did I miss any words that you've used? Let me know in the comments.
The important thing to remember when describing you ancestor is to do your best to help paint a picture for your readers. If someone disagrees with your word choice, tell them to go write their own story!
What great words have you used to describe your ancestor? A few folks have shared so great words. Be sure to add yours in the comments section.
Further Reading - Describing Our Ancestors Series:
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| Photos on this page courtesy of Creative Commons contributor - simpleinsomnia |
Great cheat sheet. It is so important to make the description interesting to keep attention. Blue eyes, brown hair, 6ft tall is so boring. He was tall, barely over 6 feet, with blue-grey eyes that were surrounded with laugh lines, and had red unruly hair that forever popped up in a cowlick on top no matter how much grease he applied to his head. That is much more interesting to read.
ReplyDeleteEnjoyed your blog.
Ooh. You're good. Nicely done. I like the laugh lines addition.
DeleteA fascinating tutorial on how to describe more closely our ancestors’ appearance.
ReplyDeleteSo glad you liked it. I tried to add something a little interesting. Next week I'll describe another and stay and ill dhsre another characteristic.
DeleteHow about marcelled and shingled?
ReplyDeleteOooooo.. nice. I looked those up.
ReplyDeletehttps://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marcelling
Shingled is a great term for a cut similar to a bob. Wow. Great, fantastic words. Thanks
You're welcome!
ReplyDeleteMy mom always described her hair as black as coal, because in the sunlight it looked blue.
ReplyDeleteThat's amazing! It's not only a great description, but it is a personal account. Thanks for sharing.
DeleteGreat suggestions, Devon Noel! I always liked the way Nancy Drew was described as having "titian blonde" hair. That description has stuck with me for 40-some years, believe it or not! :-)
ReplyDeleteYep... and the younglings will remember the favorite scar of a dark haired boy with glasses from England.
DeleteAnd let's not forget the hair of the Baby Boomer generation. We let our freak flags fly!
ReplyDeleteI would never have thought up all those descriptive terms, so thank you for these aids in writing about our ancestors.
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome. Be sure to see the list on facial features and more on the coming weeks
ReplyDelete