what is wash and wear style

I think "wash and wear" means that it doesn't require styling to "look good."  So, no mousse, gel, hairspray, curling/straightening irons, blow-dryers, etc.  Typically blunt cut, few or no layers; could be long, medium, or short.

The problem with the term wash & wear is people just think they don't need to do anything to their hair other than wash it and go. Do you ever remember a point in your life when you never had to condition or maintain your hair, comb it, throw product in it or spend the money on maintenence and have it trimmed? People sometimes think perms are wash & wear and they anything but. After 3 days the person with the perm hasn't done anything or conditioned it it looks like they stuck their head in a light socket. Hair needs to be maintained with product, conditioned and taken care of especially if you do any chemical services to your hair.

There are haircuts that are less maintenence than other haircuts and obviously the shorter the cut the less drying time, etc but if you really want a simple wash and wear haircut then a brush cut is about the only cut I'd call wash & wear.

I personally hate it when a person comes into my salon and says I want a wash and wear cut because I think their expectations are that they don't hafta do anything to it and that's simply not the case.