Young Blonde Pigtail Girl In Front Of The Mirror

In the context of hairstyles, the usage of the term pigtail shows considerable variation. According to most dictionaries, a pigtail is a braid of tightly woven hair. The name is based on the short, thin and kinked tail of a pig, referring to the way a short, tight braid may stand out from the scalp through asymmetric tension of the weave. However, the term may also apply to a single braid regardless of length or tension, focusing instead on the knobby texture of the overall structure.
Alternately, the plural term pigtails may be applied to a pair of two braids or ponytails on opposite sides of the head. The latter hairstyle is also known as bunches, especially in British English; the "pigtail" analogy for this usage appears to be based on the upright position of short ponytails when tightly secured against the scalp, or alternately to the vaguely helical shape of curly hair descending from a high ponytail.