What is a Bouffant cap?

A bouffant, or beehive, is a hairstyle which involves piling the hair on top of the head and puffing it out, creating a very distinctive and eye-catching look. This style was very popular in 17th century Europe, and it experienced a brief resurgence in the 1960s. Once one has seen a bouffant, the style is quite unforgettable, and as anyone who has tried to create one knows, the style is very challenging to create and to maintain.

Jackie Kennedy commonly styled her hair in a bouffant.

The word “bouffant” comes from the French bouffer, “to puff.” While this style certainly does involve puffing, the look is a bit more complicated. The longer the hair, the better, as a general rule, as long hair can be curled and layered to create a complex stacked knot on the head, with strategically placed loose strands to soften the look.

There are a number of ways to style a beehive, depending on the length of the hair and the exact look desired. In all cases, the hairstyle requires a lot of hair gel or hairspray to keep the hair stiff, ensuring the hair will hold its shape through the day. As a result, the texture of hair styled in a bouffant can be decidedly unpleasant, and if the style gets wet, the results can be disastrous.