Strähne

Strähne is a German noun with two principal meanings. It can denote a strand or lock of hair or fur—a thin, elongated piece that may lie as a single strand or form a small tuft. It can also refer to a stripe or streak: a narrow line of color, light, or material that runs along a surface or through a pattern. The plural Strähnen covers multiple strands or streaks.

In hairstyling and cosmetics, Strähnen usually refer to color-treated strands that are lighter or darker than the surrounding hair to create depth and dimension. The practice is commonly known as highlighting and can be achieved by foiling, cap techniques, or freehand methods such as balayage. Phrases like Haarsträhnen färben (to color hair strands) or Strähnchen setzen (to place subtle highlights) are widely used.

In textiles and other materials, Strähne can describe a strand of yarn or fiber within a fabric, or a decorative stripe in a design. More generally, it can denote any thin linear mark or division on a surface, such as a light streak in wood grain or a colored line in painting.

Overall, Strähne conveys the idea of a slender, linear element that stands out from a larger whole, whether as a physical strand of hair or fiber, or as a visual stripe or highlight in various contexts. Verwandte Begriffe sind Haarsträhne und Strähnchen.