HAIR in sign language

ASL sign for HAIR
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ASL sign for HAIR

How do you sign 'hair' in American Sign Language?

Definition: Any of the fine threadlike strands growing from the skin of humans, mammals, and some other animals.

Pronunciation (sign description): Dominant "F" hands, with the tips of forefinger and thumb near the head side, shakes few times (twice in general). The palm generally faces the side.

Phrases for 'hair'

Meaning: long hair. You can specify the length of the hair but adjusting the length/movement of the sign. For very long hair, incorporate the mouth morpheme "loo" with the sign.

Vocabulary

Related signs: What type is your hair? FRIZZY (hair), CURLY, STRAIGHT (classifier). How would you like your hair to be styled? braid (hair), hair coloring, hair highlighting. Maybe a little HAIRCUT. Cut a lock of hair.

What color is your hair? BRUNETTE (glossed as BROWN+HAIR), BLONDE, GRAY-HAIRED. For red-haired, black hair, etc. use two signs, such as BLACK+HAIR, RED+HAIR, etc.

Deaf Studies

Mary Ann Davis
Image source: Hutchings Museum and Institute.

Mary Ann Davis (1822-1892), one of the pioneers in early Lehi, is an English-born American Deaf woman. "She went to the Utah School for the Deaf in Salt Lake City. She made beautiful art and ornaments mostly out of human hair. Her hair art is on display at the Hutchings Museum and Institute." -- Hutchings Museum and Institute

Usage/Grammar

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Written ASL

[Note: ASL writing is not an official standard. This sign language writing remains in a state of open space to allow room for experiment, evolution, and improvement.]

ASL written for HAIR

Written ASL digit for "HAIR" contributed by Jolanta in the ASLwrite community, 2018.

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