The quiff is a hairstyle that combines the 1950s pompadour hairstyle, the 50s flattop, and sometimes a mohawk. The etymology of the word is uncertain but may derive from the French word "coiffe" which can mean either a hairstyle or, going further back, the mail knights wore over their heads and under their helmets. The hairstyle was a staple in the British 'Teddy Boy' movement, but became popular again in Europe in the early 1980s with early psychobilly acts including The Meteors, Demented Are Go, and others. For a while, DJ and TV presenter Mark Lamarr was a famous proponent of the quiff.
The hairstyle, although prominent in the 80s, faded into obscurity except among ardent 80s culture fans. The quiff saw a revival in the late 90s, due to the advent of the French crop, a modern version of the quiff, and continues through today.
The Japanese Punch perm, a favorite among Yakuza and Bōsōzoku (biker gang) members, bears a strong similarity to this hairstyle.
Notable quiffs
- Elvis Presley, music icon
- Morrissey, British singer formerly of The Smiths, well-known for his trademark quiff
- Mark Kermode, film critic famed for his '50s style quiff
- Brian Setzer of the group Stray Cats
- Joe Strummer of The Clash
- Tintin, classic comic book character
- Ken Barlow, fictional character on the British soap opera Coronation Street, played by William Roache
- Martin Fry of ABC, famous for his unique quiff
- Mikey Way, bassist of My Chemical Romance
- Rob Schneider from Saturday Night Live
- Dom Joly, comedian
- Biff Tannen, Back to the Future
- Itamar Franco, former Brazilian president
- Greg William Foster, McCain sponger and dedicated follower of fashion.
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Last updated on Thursday October 09, 2008 at 20:45:50 PDT (GMT -0700)
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