Meaning & use
a Jheri curl
Last updated
UK/ə ˈdʒeri kɜːl/
US/ə ˈdʒeri kɜːrl/
Meaning
nouncountable
A hairstyle, popular in the 1980s, in which curly hair is made very soft, shiny, and loosely curled with special chemicals.
Grammar: Countable: you can say 'a Jheri curl' or 'Jheri curls'.
Patterns
- have a Jheri curl
- get a Jheri curl
- wear a Jheri curl
In the 1980s, many singers and actors had a Jheri curl.
He decided to get a Jheri curl for the retro party.
Her Jheri curl looked shiny under the stage lights.
Word forms
| plural | Jheri curls |
|---|
Common combinations
- have a Jheri curl
- He had a Jheri curl in his old photos.
- get a Jheri curl
- She got a Jheri curl for the film role.
- Jheri curl hairstyle
- The Jheri curl hairstyle was everywhere in the 80s.
- wear a Jheri curl
- He wore a Jheri curl with pride.
Synonyms and how they differ
- curly perm
- A more general term for chemically curled hair; 'Jheri curl' is a specific 1980s style.
- afro
- A natural, rounded hairstyle; a Jheri curl is chemically treated and shinier.
Word family
- Jheri proper noun
- The brand name and surname of the hairdresser associated with the style.
Commonly confused: a Jheri curl or jerry curl?
a Jheri curl vs jerry curl
A common misspelling; the correct spelling is 'Jheri curl' with 'Jh'.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'Jheri curl' correctly?
Choose one answer.
A Jheri curl is a hairstyle, so it is on the head. The other options place it in impossible locations.
Make it your own
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