Why not? If you have a unique hairstyle and want to market it, you can register it with the patent and trademark office. A hairstyle is a human creation, and like most creations, it can be an asset, and in this case, it is intellectual property. If you get a trademark, other people will have to get your permission just to copy it. However, you will first need to officially file it with the patent and trademark office and pay the official fees and do the necessary paperwork for filing. Of course, a trademark needs a name, so you will have to find one, as unique as possible, so that the trademark office has no reason to reject it. But for all intents and purposes, the trademark is a means to prevent others from using the same idea and form, whether for their own or commercial purposes.
However, whether you will be allowed to register a trademark will depend on the trademark office, but there is a high chance that it will be allowed. Now, for a trademark to be allowed, its shape must be unique, something that can stand out from the crowd, so that people can identify it as different from the norm. Just like company logos, your particular hair style should be reproducible, and it should also be identifiable by name. For business purposes, the shape and name will be easily identified so that others can communicate with others about it.
A hairstyle does not only have to consist of hair, but it is also possible to weave it with other elements, such as hair bands and bracelets. In fact, you can give it a unique look with a whole range of hair accessories or something you design yourself. And remember, if it’s new and no one else has it, you can archive it and make it yours. After which you can market it and license it to other salons to recreate that particular hairstyle. Of course, you’ll need to make it so desirable that others will want to copy it and pay you a fee for doing it.
And on second thought, perhaps those people who had been promoting fashion shows should have applied for trademarks for all the girls who had sported unique hairstyles as part of the fashion presentations!
But what if someone copies it without paying you for the idea? Well, getting a trademark is one thing, enforcing it is another thing entirely! The liability is that you will have to report any form of infringement and initiate legal action yourself! But even if you don’t get a penny for the idea and assuming the particular hairstyle becomes a hit, having people talk about it will inevitably increase the value of your idea and your business brand. If it is a buzz, you will benefit many times over. Also, that trademark doesn’t need to be associated with just a hairstyle, as you can use it for other things as well, provided of course you also register it under other categories of items with the trademark office. The opportunity is limitless as we are not only talking about humans but others like pets and anything that needs a unique dressing!