pompadour

The pompadour is a hairstyle in which the hair is swept upward and back from the forehead, creating height at the front and a smooth, brushed-back silhouette at the sides. It can be worn by both men and women, with variations in volume, length, and styling.

The name derives from Madame de Pompadour, Jeanne-Antoinette Poisson, a favored mistress of Louis XV in 18th-century France. The distinctive front fullness and back-swept crown became associated with her era, and later styles borrowed the name for similar looks.

In men's fashion, the pompadour typically features a tall crown achieved by backcombing or lifting the hair, with the sides either slicked down or cut shorter in an undercut. It is commonly held in place with pomade, wax, or gel and finished with hairspray. Variations range from a pronounced quiff to a more subtle elevation, and the look has been adapted to different hair lengths and textures.

Women's versions emphasize volume at the front, sometimes forming a pouf or bump while the remainder of the hair is arranged into an updo or smooth back. Achieving the style often involves padding, curling, and styling products, along with tools such as a blow dryer, brushes, and pins to shape and secure the design.

Culturally, the pompadour has appeared across periods—an aristocratic silhouette in the 18th century and a symbol of youth and rebellion in mid-20th-century popular culture. It remains a versatile motif in fashion, regularly reinterpreted in contemporary styling.