Beauty Information



LifeHealthInsurance.ca

What Are Pigtails?


There really isn't a huge debate on this subject, but there are some differences of opinion. This article looks at some of the differing opinions related to pigtails hairstyle definition, attempts to find some middle ground (perhaps unsuccessfully), and closes with this author's own definition and description of the ideal pigtails.

A ponytail is when the hair is tied together into a bunch and hanging from the back of the head. Most would agree on that. But if that ponytail is braided, is it still a ponytail? Some say it is, others say that this is called a braid. The same question applies to pigtails, the most common term for the gathering of the hair into twin ponytails (one on either side of the head). Can pigtails be braided and still be called pigtails? Do the terms "braided pigtails" and "unbraided pigtails" make sense? Some argue that "braided pigtails" are just "braids" and not pigtails at all!

The Random House College Dictionary defines "pigtail" as "a braid of hair hanging down the back of the head." Huh? It refers to ONE pigtail hangs down the back of the head, and calls it a braid? Hmm, there's no mention of TWO pigtails at all! Something doesn't seem right here. The dictionary entry for "ponytail" matches the definition I gave above. So what's up with all this? Is the dictionary wrong? Are there multiple dialectal or regional terms for twin ponytails, hence the difficulty for a dictionary to properly address the word's definition? Has the definition been too fluid over time for the dictionary to pin it down? And why doesn't the definition include the phrase "the cutest hairstyle ever?"

The word pigtail is also a wire cabling term that applies to a particular method for terminating an electrical cable's braided shield. (There's that word "braid" again!) Another technical, and even more contemporary, use of the word pigtail is for some sort of wireless accessories for radios or cell phones, or something like that - I haven't completely figured this one out yet.

A few years ago, a survey was done in a college classroom regarding the term pigtails. The students pretty much agreed that pigtails are two ponytails, one on each side of the head, and that they cannot be braided. If they were braided, they were called braids. The class instructor, being of a different generation, had a different definition. He believed that pigtails specifically meant two braids and that two unbraided ponytails should actually be called doggie tails. My personal analysis of this "experiment" is simply this: The instructor must have been elderly, or nearly so, and possibly losing his memory, so who knows what his generation really called "twin ponytails." And doggie tails? There is no way I could ever adapt to using such a term. The word dog, or anything like it, can never be used to describe a woman with the playfulness, boldness, and/or superior self-esteem to wear her hair in pigtails. The students clearly had a much better handle on what pigtails are all about.

So, where does this leave us? There appears to be generational differences and possibly regional or dialectal differences contributing to the debate (if you'd call it that). So, I'll put it this way: Pigtails are two gatherings of hair hanging on the left and right sides of the head. They may be braided or unbraided. But I'll add my preferences here as well, because the way I see it, there's one right kind of pigtail. Pigtails are far more attractive when unbraided. They should be located on the sides of the head, maybe a little behind and above the ears. Pigtails that are too high on the head, too low, or too far around in back, just don't possess the true spirit of pigtails. And pigtails without this true spirit are simply unable to work their undeniable magic on the wearer and those around her.

Bob Decker is a pigtails hairstyle aficionado and one of the webmasters at http://www.PigtailDreams.com. The website tastefully honors "the cutest hairstyle ever."


MORE RESOURCES:

ABC News

3 Things Jessica didn't know about beauty
Metro.us (blog)
In “The Price of Beauty,” a new docu-reality series premiering Monday on VH1, Jessica Simpson and her best friends, CaCee Cobb and hairstylist Ken Paves, ...
Jessica Simpson weighs 'The Price of Beauty'Zap2it.com
Jessica Simpson launches "The Price of Beauty" on March 15: The link between ...Examiner.com
Deep beauty?Boston Globe
New York Daily News -MTV.com -Extra TV
all 291 news articles »



The Guardian

Backstage Beauty: Polished and Pretty at Louis Vuitton
Allure Magazine (blog)
As with his namesake collection in New York, designer Marc Jacobs once again went with pared-down beauty. Though as hairstylist Guido (who worked both the ...
Elle Macpherson returns to catwalk at 46hellomagazine.com
Backstage Beauty: Runway Models Go Real-SizeAllure Magazine (blog)

all 175 news articles »


A show of Chinese beauty, precision
StandardNet
Critics have lauded the show for its beauty, but some have raised concerns about political controversy. Shen Yun is affiliated with Falun Dafa, ...
NATO Official: Shen Yun 'Absolutely incredible'The Epoch Times
Piano Teacher: The Singers Don't Need AmplificationThe Epoch Times

all 32 news articles »


EFA theater to perform 'Beauty and the Beast'
Elmira Star-Gazette
The Elmira Free Academy Devil's Theater will present the stage version of the Disney classic, "Beauty and the Beast," at 7 pm Friday and Saturday and 2 pm ...
Belle of a storyThe Northern Echo

all 3 news articles »


Telegraph.co.uk

The Poop family DVD suggestions
San Francisco Chronicle
The Princess and the Frog: This wonderful film, coming on DVD and Blu-ray on Tuesday, was a return to Disney's "The Little Mermaid"/"Beauty and the Beast" ...
Disney wrings the pink out of 'Rapunzel'Los Angeles Times (blog)
The Princess and the Frog: Interview with the Directors Jon Musker and Ron ...Review St. Louis (blog)
The Real Reason Why Disney Changed 'Rapunzel' to 'Tangled'Cinematical (blog)
Salon -Ultimate Disney
all 59 news articles »


Indian Express

Scarlett Johansson willing to suffer for beauty
Indian Express
Hollywood star Scarlett Johansson says she is willing to suffer for beauty as she knows it's worth it in the end. Hollywood star Scarlett Johansson says she ...

and more »


DCist.com

America's Beauty in Black and White
NBC Washington
Ickes and Adams began the start of their friendship with a shared love for our country's beauty and a longing to preserve it for years to come. ...
Interior Unveils New Ansel Adams MuralsFavStocks (blog)

all 6 news articles »


Fort Worth Star Telegram

Cheap & Chic: Find beauty bargins at discount stores
Fort Worth Star Telegram
The Star-Telegram is pleased to provide this opportunity for you to share your thoughts and observations about news topics. We enjoy lively debate on the ...

and more »


BBC News

Beauty of Chilterns may be put at risk by fast rail link, say critics
The Guardian
Set within a fold in the Chiltern hills, in an area of outstanding natural beauty (AONB), strict green belt rules have maintained Wendover as a distinct ...
High-speed rail to 'cut through heart of Chilterns'Buckinghamshire Advertiser

all 15 news articles »

Google News

home | site map
© 2006