curlpaper: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very low / ArchaicHistorical / Obsolete / Niche (hair styling history)
Quick answer
What does “curlpaper” mean?
A thin piece of paper, often in a twist or strip, used historically for curling hair.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A thin piece of paper, often in a twist or strip, used historically for curling hair.
Any strip of paper used to form a tight roll, historically for preparing tobacco, wicks, or other small items, or as a fanciful name for scraps of paper.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant modern regional difference; term is equally archaic in both varieties.
Connotations
Evokes 18th–19th century hairstyling, pre-electric hair rollers.
Frequency
Extremely rare in contemporary use. Might appear in historical novels or costume/historical hair styling contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “curlpaper” in a Sentence
[use + curlpaper + to + verb][wrap + hair + in + curlpaper]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “curlpaper” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- She would curlpaper her hair before the ball.
- I spent the evening curlpapering.
American English
- She would put her hair up in curlpapers.
adjective
British English
- The curlpaper method was tedious.
- She had a curlpaper hairstyle.
American English
- The curlpaper technique is described in the diary.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Found in historical texts or papers on fashion/costume history.
Everyday
Virtually never used. A modern speaker might say 'I used to make rollers out of paper strips'.
Technical
Specific term in historical hair styling or theatrical/wig-making contexts.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “curlpaper”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “curlpaper”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “curlpaper”
- Using it to refer to modern perm rods or electric curlers.
- Thinking it is a type of stationery (like wrapping paper).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is an archaic term. Modern equivalents are plastic or foam hair rollers, electric curling irons, or velcro rollers.
Historically, it could be used verbally (e.g., 'to curlpaper one's hair'), but this usage is now obsolete.
They were typically thin, disposable strips of paper, sometimes dampened, that hair was wound around.
Yes. A rag curl uses a soft cloth strip, while a curlpaper specifically uses a strip of paper. Both are historical heatless curling methods.
A thin piece of paper, often in a twist or strip, used historically for curling hair.
Curlpaper is usually historical / obsolete / niche (hair styling history) in register.
Curlpaper: in British English it is pronounced /ˈkɜːlˌpeɪpə/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈkɝːlˌpeɪpɚ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of CURLing hair with a PAPER strip – a CURLPAPER.
Conceptual Metaphor
TOOL FOR SHAPING (paper as a moulding instrument for hair).
Practice
Quiz
What is a 'curlpaper' most accurately described as?