bowl cut

noun

variants or less commonly bowl-cut

ˈbōl-ˌkət 

or bowlcut

plural bowl cuts also bowl-cuts or bowlcuts

: a usually short hairstyle in which the hair is cut the same or similar length around the head's circumference

The bowl cut has been around forever, because it was an easy cut for the home barber to replicate. The bowl cut received its name because a home barber could place a bowl on the head … and cut around the bottom of the bowl.

—Mark Olson

The bowl cut … is ideal for those who have curly natural hair or are growing out a curly perm.

—Corynne Corbett

Word History

First Known Use

1890, in the meaning defined above