The Plural of “Hairdo”: Grammar Rules, Usage, and Common Mistakes

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2. INTRODUCTION

The English language is full of fascinating words, and “hairdo” is one of the most colorful. A hairdo refers to a specific way of styling someone’s hair, whether for a special occasion or everyday appearance. From salons to movies, the word pops up in daily conversation and media, making it a practical vocabulary item for English learners.

Understanding the plural forms of English nouns is crucial, especially when dealing with words that end in “-o”. These nouns can sometimes be tricky, as some take -s, others -es, and a few have irregular patterns. Knowing how to correctly form the plural of “hairdo” (which is hairdos) is essential not only for accuracy in writing but also for clear, confident spoken communication.

This comprehensive article covers everything you need to know about the plural of “hairdo”: its definition, grammar rules, examples, advanced usage, and practice exercises. Whether you are an ESL/EFL learner, English teacher, student, writer, or editor, this guide will help you master the correct usage of “hairdos” and avoid common mistakes.

Table of Contents

3. DEFINITION SECTION

3.1. What Is a “Hairdo”?

A hairdo is a noun referring to a particular way in which a person’s hair is cut and arranged, especially a style that is elaborate, fashionable, or suited for a special occasion. According to the Oxford English Dictionary, a hairdo is: “a way in which a person’s hair is styled, especially a woman’s.”

Etymology: The word “hairdo” first appeared in American English in the early 20th century, formed from “hair” + “do” (as in “to do one’s hair”). It quickly became a popular term, especially in the beauty and fashion industries.

Countability: “Hairdo” is a countable noun, meaning you can have one hairdo, two hairdos, etc.

3.2. Grammatical Classification

Part of Speech: Noun (countable)

Singular: hairdo
Plural: hairdos

As a countable noun, “hairdo” can be used in both singular and plural forms.

3.3. Function and Usage Contexts

“Hairdo” is used in a variety of contexts, including:

  • Salons and beauty parlors: discussing hairstyles or booking appointments
  • Everyday conversation: complimenting or describing someone’s hair
  • Fashion and media: reporting on trends or celebrities
  • Instructions and advice: offering styling tips

Example sentences:

  • She wore a stunning hairdo for the wedding.
  • He admired her new hairdo.
  • That hairdo must have taken hours to create!
  • The magazine featured the season’s most popular hairdos.
  • The stylist specializes in creative hairdos for all occasions.

4. STRUCTURAL BREAKDOWN

4.1. Forming Plurals in English: General Overview

Most English nouns form their plurals by adding -s or -es to the singular:

  • Regular: cat → cats, book → books
  • Nouns ending in s, x, z, ch, sh: add -es (box → boxes, brush → brushes)

Nouns ending in “-o”: This group can be tricky. Some add -s (piano → pianos), others add -es (tomato → tomatoes), and a few accept both forms.

4.2. The Plural of “Hairdo”: The Rule

The correct plural of hairdo is hairdos.

Rule: For most modern or borrowed words ending in “-o” (especially compound nouns like “hairdo”), add -s (not -es).

Incorrect forms: *hairdoes, *hair-does are not accepted.

4.3. Table: Common Nouns Ending in “-o” and Their Plurals

Noun Plural Rule Used
hairdo hairdos add -s (compound noun)
photo photos add -s (shortened form)
piano pianos add -s
radio radios add -s
studio studios add -s
potato potatoes add -es
tomato tomatoes add -es
hero heroes add -es
echo echoes add -es
zero zeros / zeroes add -s (more common), -es (less common)

4.4. Pronunciation Notes

“Hairdo” is pronounced /ˈheə.duː/ (UK), /ˈher.duː/ (US).
“Hairdos” is pronounced /ˈheə.duːz/ (UK), /ˈher.duːz/ (US).

Note: The addition of -s does not change the stress or the basic pronunciation; only the final sound differs (/z/ in the plural).

4.5. Spelling and Hyphenation

The standard, correct spelling is hairdo (one word, no hyphen). “Hair-do” is rare and nonstandard. For the plural, add -s directly: hairdos.

Incorrect forms: hair-do’s, hair do’s, hair-does are not accepted in modern English.

5. TYPES OR CATEGORIES

5.1. Standard vs. Nonstandard Plural Forms

The standard plural is hairdos.

Nonstandard forms such as hairdoes, hair-does, hair-do’s are incorrect. They result from overgeneralizing rules for other “-o” nouns or applying possessive apostrophes mistakenly.

5.2. Compound Nouns and Their Plurals

Compound nouns like “hairdo” usually add -s to the end of the word. The pluralization pattern depends on the structure:

  • hairdo → hairdos (noun + do)
  • mother-in-law → mothers-in-law (pluralize the main noun)
  • passerby → passersby (pluralize the main noun)

Table 2: Compound Nouns and Their Plurals

Singular Plural Pluralization Rule
hairdo hairdos add -s to end
passerby passersby main noun pluralized
mother-in-law mothers-in-law main noun pluralized
runner-up runners-up main noun pluralized
editor-in-chief editors-in-chief main noun pluralized
checkout checkouts add -s to end
breakthrough breakthroughs add -s to end
workout workouts add -s to end
stepdaughter stepdaughters add -s to end
son-in-law sons-in-law main noun pluralized

5.3. Pluralization in Different English Variants

There is no difference between British and American English when it comes to the plural of “hairdo”—both use hairdos.

Historical/dialectal variants: “Hair-do” (with a hyphen) may be found in older texts, but “hairdo” is now standard.

6. EXAMPLES SECTION

6.1. Basic Singular vs. Plural Usage

Below are simple examples illustrating both the singular and plural forms of “hairdo.”

Table 3: Singular vs. Plural Usage
Singular Plural
This hairdo is very elegant. Those hairdos are very elegant.
Her hairdo looks amazing today. Their hairdos look amazing today.
The stylist created a new hairdo for her. The stylist created new hairdos for them.
Is this your natural hairdo? Are these your favorite hairdos?
My mother had a fancy hairdo at the party. My aunts all had fancy hairdos at the party.
That hairdo was popular in the 1960s. These hairdos were popular in the 1960s.
I like your hairdo. I like your hairdos in these photos.
Who styled your hairdo? Who styled your hairdos for the photoshoot?
My sister changed her hairdo. My sisters changed their hairdos.
Each hairdo takes time to perfect. All the hairdos take time to perfect.

6.2. Plural in Different Tenses and Structures

  • Present: She usually wears simple hairdos.
  • Past: They tried several hairdos before the event.
  • Future: Next week, we will experiment with new hairdos.
  • Question: Did you see their hairdos at the ceremony?
  • Negative: He doesn’t like fancy hairdos.
  • The magazine features the latest hairdos each month. (Present simple)
  • In the 1980s, outrageous hairdos were in style. (Past simple)
  • Will you try different hairdos for the show? (Future simple)
  • Have you ever seen such creative hairdos before? (Present perfect)
  • She hasn’t chosen any hairdos yet. (Present perfect negative)

6.3. Contextual Examples

“Hairdo” and “hairdos” are used in a variety of settings. Here are examples across different contexts:

Table 4: “Hairdos” in Different Contexts
Context Example Sentence
Everyday Conversation I love your hairdos! You always try something new.
Salon We offer a wide range of hairdos for weddings and proms.
Fashion Magazine This season’s hairdos are all about bold colors and volume.
Media/TV The celebrities arrived with extravagant hairdos on the red carpet.
Instructional Learn five quick hairdos you can do in five minutes.
Advertisement Try our new styling gel for long-lasting hairdos!
Literature The characters wore elaborate hairdos to the masquerade ball.
Social Media Check out these awesome hairdos from our latest photoshoot!
School Students presented posters about traditional hairdos around the world.
Historical Ancient Egyptian hairdos often included braids and decorative beads.

6.4. Advanced/Complex Sentences

  • While some people prefer simple hairdos, others enjoy experimenting with elaborate styles that require more time and effort.
  • All of her hairdos, whether curly or straight, reflected her vibrant personality.
  • Despite the rain, their hairdos remained intact thanks to the stylist’s expertise.
  • Many celebrities change their hairdos for each event to match their outfits.
  • If you want to try different hairdos, you should consult a professional stylist.
  • Because the twins have similar faces, their unique hairdos help people tell them apart.
  • Not only did she try several hairdos, but she also documented each one on her blog.
  • The competition required participants to create three distinct hairdos in one hour.
  • She admired the creativity behind the contestants’ hairdos, noting the intricate braids and vibrant colors.
  • With so many hairdos to choose from, it was difficult to pick just one for the dance.
Table 5: Plurals of Related Words
Singular Plural Pattern
hairdo hairdos add -s
haircut haircuts add -s
hairstyle hairstyles add -s
updo updos add -s
braid braids add -s
perm perms add -s
highlight highlights add -s
extension extensions add -s
bang bangs add -s
curl curls add -s

7. USAGE RULES

7.1. Rule for “Hairdo” and Similar Nouns

To form the plural of hairdo:

  1. Start with the singular: hairdo
  2. Add -s to the end: hairdos
  3. Do not add -es (as in “hairdoes”)

Why? Modern, borrowed, and compound “-o” ending nouns typically take -s. “Hairdo” is a compound noun and follows this pattern.

7.2. Nouns Ending in “-o”: When to Add “-s” vs. “-es”

General rule:

  • If the noun is a recent borrowing, compound, or abbreviation, add -s (e.g., “piano” → “pianos”)
  • If the noun is of Italian/Spanish/foreign origin, add -s (e.g., “taco” → “tacos”)
  • If the noun is older, native, or monosyllabic, especially after a consonant, add -es (e.g., “potato” → “potatoes”)
  • Some nouns accept both (e.g., “zero” → “zeros/zeroes”)
Table 6: “-o” Noun Pluralization Rules
Noun Plural Rule Type
photo photos abbreviation, add -s
studio studios foreign, add -s
hero heroes native, add -es
potato potatoes native, add -es
volcano volcanoes/volcanos both accepted
taco tacos foreign, add -s
memo memos abbreviation, add -s
echo echoes native, add -es
cargo cargos/cargoes both accepted
hairdo hairdos compound, add -s

7.3. Exceptions and Special Cases

Some “-o” ending nouns take -es because of their native English roots or long-standing tradition:

  • potato → potatoes
  • tomato → tomatoes
  • hero → heroes
  • echo → echoes

However, hairdo does not follow this pattern because it is a compound noun and relatively modern. Thus, “hairdos” is correct.

7.4. Plural Usage in Sentences

When using “hairdos” in sentences, remember:

  • Verb agreement: Use plural verbs (“The hairdos are beautiful.”)
  • Articles: Use “the,” “some,” “many,” or quantifiers before “hairdos” as appropriate.
  • Quantifiers: many, several, a few, some (e.g., “She tried several hairdos.”)

Example sentences:

  • Many hairdos look better with accessories.
  • Some hairdos require a lot of hairspray.
  • All the hairdos in the catalog are suitable for long hair.
  • How many hairdos did you try before choosing one?

8. COMMON MISTAKES

8.1. Incorrect Plurals: “Hairdoes,” “Hairdoes,” “Hair-does”

These forms are incorrect because:

  • “Hairdoes” and “hair-does” mistakenly apply the “-es” rule for some “-o” nouns.
  • “Hair-do’s” uses an apostrophe, which is reserved for possessives or contractions, not plurals.
Table 7: Incorrect vs. Correct Forms
Incorrect Correct Explanation
hairdoes hairdos Never add -es to “hairdo”; use -s.
hair-does hairdos Hyphens and -es are not used here.
hair-do’s hairdos Apostrophe is not used for plurals.
hair do’s hairdos No space or apostrophe needed.

8.2. Overgeneralization from Other “-o” Nouns

Learners sometimes apply “-es” to “hairdo” because of words like “potato” → “potatoes.”

  • Incorrect: She had three hairdoes.
  • Corrected: She had three hairdos.
  • Incorrect: All the hair-does at the party were creative.
  • Corrected: All the hairdos at the party were creative.

8.3. Hyphenation and Spacing Errors

Avoid forms like “hair-do’s,” “hair do’s,” or “hair-does.” The standard is “hairdos.”

Examples:

  • Incorrect: She showed me her favorite hair-do’s.
  • Correct: She showed me her favorite hairdos.

8.4. Usage Mix-Ups: Hairdo vs. Hairstyle vs. Haircut

Hairdo: A styled arrangement of hair, often for a special occasion.
Hairstyle: The general way hair is cut and styled.
Haircut: The act or result of cutting hair, especially the length.

  • Incorrect: She got a new hairdo (when meaning haircut).
  • Correction: She got a new haircut.
  • Incorrect: He tried many hairdos (when meaning hairstyles in general).
  • Correction: He tried many hairstyles.

9. PRACTICE EXERCISES

9.1. Fill-in-the-Blank Exercises

Fill in each blank with “hairdo” or “hairdos.”

  1. Jessica tried several new ________ for the competition.
  2. This ________ is inspired by 1950s fashion.
  3. The stylist is famous for creating unique ________.
  4. Which ________ do you like best?
  5. Her ________ was the talk of the party.
  6. Some ________ are easier to maintain than others.
  7. I want a ________ that lasts all day.
  8. They experimented with different ________ during the photoshoot.
  9. Each ________ requires a different set of products.
  10. That celebrity always has creative ________.

9.2. Correction Exercises

Identify and correct the errors in the pluralization of “hairdo.”

Table 8: Error, Correction, Explanation
Error Correction Explanation
She tried new hairdoes every week. She tried new hairdos every week. Use -s, not -es.
The stylist created several hair-does. The stylist created several hairdos. No hyphen or -es.
All the hair-do’s were beautiful. All the hairdos were beautiful. No apostrophe for plural.
I like your new hair does. I like your new hairdos. No space; one word.
Her hair-does are always neat. Her hairdos are always neat. No hyphen or -es.

9.3. Pluralization Identification

Select the correct plural form for each noun:

  1. photo: photos / photoes
  2. tomato: tomatos / tomatoes
  3. hero: heros / heroes
  4. studio: studios / studioes
  5. hairdo: hairdos / hairdoes
  6. echo: echos / echoes
  7. memo: memos / memo’s
  8. cargo: cargos / cargoes (both accepted)
  9. updo: updos / updoes
  10. potato: potatos / potatoes

9.4. Sentence Construction

Write your own sentences using “hairdo” (singular) and “hairdos” (plural).

  1. Singular: __________________________________________
  2. Plural: ____________________________________________
  3. Plural: ____________________________________________
  4. Singular: __________________________________________
  5. Plural: ____________________________________________

9.5. Matching Exercises

Match each singular noun to its correct plural form:

Singular Plural Options
hairdo a) hairdoes   b) hairdos   c) hair-do’s
potato a) potatos   b) potatoes   c) potatoes
studio a) studios   b) studioes   c) studio’s
hero a) heros   b) heroes   c) hero’s
updo a) updo’s   b) updos   c) updoes

9.6. Short Paragraph Exercise

Write a short paragraph (3-5 sentences) that includes at least three uses of “hairdos.”

9.7. Advanced Usage Challenge

Transform the sentence with “hairdo” into one with “hairdos,” adjusting verbs and articles as needed.

  1. The stylist created a beautiful hairdo.
  2. This hairdo is very difficult to maintain.
  3. Her hairdo was admired by everyone.
  4. My friend has a unique hairdo.
  5. The magazine features a new hairdo each month.

Answers and Explanations:

  • 9.1 Fill-in-the-Blank Answers:
    1. hairdos
    2. hairdo
    3. hairdos
    4. hairdo(s)
    5. hairdo
    6. hairdos
    7. hairdo
    8. hairdos
    9. hairdo
    10. hairdos
  • 9.3 Pluralization Identification Answers:
    1. photos
    2. tomatoes
    3. heroes
    4. studios
    5. hairdos
    6. echoes
    7. memos
    8. cargos/cargoes (both correct)
    9. updos
    10. potatoes
  • 9.5 Matching Answers:
    1. b) hairdos
    2. b) potatoes
    3. a) studios
    4. b) heroes
    5. b) updos
  • 9.7 Advanced Usage Challenge Sample Answers:
    1. The stylist created beautiful hairdos.
    2. These hairdos are very difficult to maintain.
    3. Her hairdos were admired by everyone.
    4. My friends have unique hairdos.
    5. The magazine features new hairdos each month.

10. ADVANCED TOPICS

10.1. Pluralization of Multi-word and Irregular Compounds

Compound nouns can be pluralized by:

  • Adding -s to the end (hairdo → hairdos, workout → workouts)
  • Pluralizing the main noun (mother-in-law → mothers-in-law, passerby → passersby)

Irregular compounds must be memorized (e.g., “attorney general” → “attorneys general”).

10.2. Noun Phrases and Plural Agreement

When “hairdos” is part of a longer noun phrase, make sure verbs and articles agree:

  • The hairdos on display were impressive.
  • All of her hairdos have a unique twist.

10.3. Style, Register, and Collocations

Hairdos is used in both formal and informal English, though “hairstyle” may sound more formal. Common collocations:

  • elaborate hairdos
  • creative hairdos
  • vintage hairdos
  • celebrity hairdos
  • hairdos for special occasions

With globalization and media influence, “-s” plurals for “-o” nouns (like “hairdos” and “photos”) are increasingly standard. Corpus analysis shows “hairdos” is far more common than any nonstandard variant.

10.5. Pluralization in Creative and Figurative Language

Writers often use “hairdos” in puns, jokes, or metaphors:

  • Her hairdos were works of art.
  • He has more hairdos than a chameleon has colors.
  • Those outrageous hairdos really turned heads!

11. FAQ SECTION

  1. What is the correct plural of “hairdo”?
    The correct plural is hairdos.
  2. Why isn’t the plural “hairdoes” or “hair-does”?
    Because “hairdo” is a compound noun and follows the pattern of adding -s for the plural, not -es.
  3. Are there any exceptions for pluralizing “hairdo”?
    No, “hairdos” is the only accepted plural.
  4. Can “hairdo” ever be used as an uncountable noun?
    No, “hairdo” is always countable (one hairdo, two hairdos).
  5. Is “hairdos” used differently in British and American English?
    No, both variants use “hairdos” as the plural.
  6. What are some common mistakes with the plural of “hairdo”?
    Mistakes include “hairdoes,” “hair-does,” “hair-do’s,” and “hair do’s.”
  7. How do you use “hairdos” in a sentence?
    Example: “The stylist created beautiful hairdos for the models.”
  8. What is the difference between “hairdo,” “hairstyle,” and “haircut”?
    “Hairdo” is a styled arrangement, “hairstyle” is a general term for hair arrangement, and “haircut” refers to the act/result of cutting hair.
  9. Are there other nouns like “hairdo” that form their plurals the same way?
    Yes, such as “photo” → “photos,” “studio” → “studios,” “updo” → “updos.”
  10. Can you use “hairdo” in the plural when talking about the same person?
    Yes, if referring to multiple different styles that person has worn (e.g., “She has had many hairdos over the years.”).
  11. Is “hairdos” acceptable in formal writing?
    Yes, it is standard and correct in all registers.
  12. How do you pronounce “hairdos”?
    /ˈheə.duːz/ (UK), /ˈher.duːz/ (US)

12. CONCLUSION

In summary, the plural of hairdo is hairdos. This follows the standard rule for modern or compound nouns ending in “-o”: simply add -s. Remember, forms like “hairdoes,” “hair-does,” and “hair-do’s” are incorrect and should be avoided.

Mastering pluralization, especially for nouns with irregular or confusing endings, is essential for both accuracy and fluency in English. By practicing and internalizing these patterns, learners can avoid common mistakes and use words like “hairdos” with confidence in any context.

For further mastery, continue exploring the pluralization of other English nouns, paying attention to exceptions and variations across different word types. Consistent practice and attention to detail will ensure your English remains both correct and polished.

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