What does coiffeur mean?
A coiffeur is a professional hairdresser—someone whose trade is cutting, arranging, and styling hair—and the word typically implies a degree of artistry or prestige beyond an ordinary haircut. Borrowed directly from French, where 'coiffer' means to dress the hair, it entered English as a fashionable alternative to plainer native terms such as 'hairdresser' or 'barber'. Calling someone a coiffeur often signals that they work in an elegant salon, serve a well-heeled clientele, or are known for creative styling. The word is most at home in formal writing, fashion journalism, and social commentary, where its French origin lends a touch of sophistication—or, sometimes, gentle satire of pretension. A related noun, 'coiffure', denotes the hairstyle itself rather than the person who creates it. Though never among the most common English words for the occupation, 'coiffeur' remains useful precisely because of that nuance: it evokes craft, glamour, and continental style in a way 'haircutter' simply cannot.
nounA person whose profession is cutting, dressing, and styling hair; a hairdresser, especially one considered fashionable or skilled.
- A professional hairdresser or hairstylist, especially one regarded as skilled or fashionable.
"She flew to Paris twice a year just to visit her favourite coiffeur on Rue Saint-Honoré."
"Her coiffeur persuaded her to try a shorter cut for the summer."
"Before the awards ceremony, the actress spent the morning with her trusted coiffeur."
Standard plural; like many French loanwords fully naturalized in English, it takes a regular English plural.
"The city's most sought-after coiffeurs were all booked weeks in advance."
Borrowed straight from French, 'coiffeur' lets English speakers say 'hairdresser' while quietly implying a salon with better lighting and higher prices.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of coiffeur
The word comes from French, where a coiffeur is literally 'one who dresses the hair', formed from the verb coiffer ('to do someone's hair'), which derives from coife, meaning a cap or hood-like headdress. That noun traces back through medieval French to Late Latin cofea, a covering for the head. The same root gave English both 'coif' (a close-fitting cap) and 'coiffure' (a style of dressing the hair), making these the word's closest cognates.
Related word forms
How coiffeur is actually used
The word carries a slightly formal, upscale, or Gallic connotation; it suggests a high-end stylist rather than an ordinary barber. In American English it is less common than 'hairstylist' and can sound deliberately chic or affected. Traditionally applied to men in the trade, though modern usage applies to any gender.
Easily confused with coiffeur
A coiffeur is the person who styles hair, while a coiffure is the hairstyle itself.