Hair Glossary

The Big Chop

The act of chopping/cutting off all your relaxed hair at once. Typically done when you are transitioning from relaxed to natural in matter of minutes by chopping off damaged or chemically treated hair, leaving only your new natural hair growth.

Braid Out

A style accomplished by braiding the hair whilst wet or damp. It's the same technique as a normal braid except you start braiding with a teeny tiny section of hair at the front and keep borrowing hair to add to the braid as you go along. ... Doing a number of smaller braids makes for a faster drying time, the braids are unravelled once the hair is dry creating defined curls. The size of the curls varies depending on how big or small the braids are. Braid-outs give your hair more elongation, so if you don't like shrinkage, then braid-outs might be the choice for you. Braid-outs are typically known to be less frizzy than twist-outs.

Chemically Treated Hair

Hair that has been exposed to chemical-based products such as hair dyes, relaxers, perms, and keratin treatments.

Hair Care Recommendations

  • Sulfate-free Shampoos
  • Strengthening and Repairing Conditioners
  • Deep Treatments and Leave-In Moisturizers
  • Heat Protectant Serums

Co-Wash

A method of cleansing your hair by replacing your shampoo with just one product that can simultaneously do the job of shampoo (cleanse the hair) and that of conditioner (keep hair extra nourished and moisturized). Is the act of washing your hair solely with conditioner. If your hair is afro, mixed-textured, very curly or extremely dry.

Deep Conditioner

A moisturizing and repairing product used after shampooing or cleansing. Deep conditioners are meant to penetrate the hair follicles.

Hair Breakage

There are many reasons hair breakage occurs. Healthy hair depends on healthy scalp to keep the hair strand together. When these scales fall apart, your hair can get dry and eventually separate, leading to damage. This causes breakage, along with other symptoms, such as manipulation, over-processing, frizz and dryness. Hair breakage should not to be mistaken by shedding.

Hair Clumping

Combining the strands of your hair to become one bigger wave or curl. Often done when more definition is desired.

Hair Density

Is basically the quantity of hair growing on your head. Hair density is calculated by counting the hair growth in 1 per square inch area of the scalp. Density is classified as low, medium and high and has nothing to do with the hair's texture.

Hair Sealing

A term defined as the process in which you lock or “seal” moisture into the strands with an oil, butter and conditioner. If sealing your hair daily leaves you limp and greasy, then scale back a bit and try every other day, re-assess and scale back again if need be. This extra layer of protection slows the inevitable evaporation of moisture from your hair. Remember the purpose of sealing is to lock in the moisture from wash day. The act of sealing in moisture into your hair, particularly the ends, with a hair oil. Commonly done as part of the L.O.C. method.

Hair Shrinkage

Is a term used to describe the length retention of natural hair, experiences that decrease in length when your hair dries. Not only is it completely normal and a sign of healthy hair; it shows that your hair is properly moisturized and has good elasticity. We cannot change the natural sensation that is a key characteristic feature of curly hair.

Hair Slip

A term used to describe how slippery a conditioner or detangling product is. Products with more slip are best at preventing breakage when detangling.

Hair Stretching

Referring to the shrinkage, stretching is styling the hair to “elongate” the curls. This can be through braid outs and twist outs.

Hair Transitioning

Is a term used when you stops relaxing your hair and is making the transition from chemically treated hair to natural hair, is a simple process of growing out your natural texture before cutting off the processed or damaged ends.

  • Find your go-to transitioning style. ...
  • Detangle when hair is wet. ...
  • Keep your scalp clean. ...
  • Keep your hair moisturized. ...
  • Get used to deep conditioning.

Hair Care Recommendations

  • Strengthening Shampoos
  • Strengthening Conditioners and Treatments
  • Protein treatment
  • Heat Protectors for styling
  • Moisture and Reparative Treatment Oils
  • Use Co-wash

Heat Damage

Occurs when excessive heat is used on the hair. Heat damage can make straight hair appear dry and brittle. Heat damages the hair cortex and cuticle cells resulting in changing the original hair pattern and loss of hair elasticity. It can also exaggerate the appearance of split ends and make it harder for your hair to lie flat. To get your hair back to its glossiest, focus on restoring its natural proteins. Heat protectant and reduced heat styling will help to prevent further heat damage.

Layering vs. Cocktailing

Layering and cocktailing describes the way/order/method you apply your hair styling products to your hair. Layering products is when you apply one product on your hair and apply another over it. Cocktailing products is when you mix two or more products together before applying it to your hair.

Natural Hair

Refers to texture not colour. While dyes change the natural hair colour, they do not affect the texture drastically. If you wear weaves, extensions, wigs and your hair is natural underneath, meaning the hair growing out of your head has no chemicals at all, you have natural Hair that hasn’t been exposed to chemical straighteners including relaxers and texturizers. Natural hair has gained popularity in the black community in recent years, with women omitting harsh chemicals in favour of a more natural look.

Pineapple Hair

A style where the hair is worn in a high loose ponytail on top of your head as a crown. Frequently worn as a protective overnight style to preserve the curls.

Protective Hairstyle

A style that requires little to no manipulation. Protective styles keep the ends of your hair protected as they are tucked away reducing the amount of tensions and manipulation that can cause damage to the hair if exposed to the element. The most popular protective styles are: braids, weaves, wigs, buns, bantu knots and Two Strand Twist.

Bantu knot

A cute, flirty style traditionally sported by African woman of certain cultural groups and some women of African descent. However, these knots work well with just about all hair types. They are not actually knots! Instead, they are small, coiled buns secured against the side of the head.

Single Strand Knots

Can form when a curly hair strand grows out of the hair follicle and loops around itself or other hair strands. Small knots that feel like tiny beads along one hair strand. Single strand knots can result in breakage while styling or combing. Trying to untangle these tiny knots isn’t the easiest thing to do so many opt to trim them off or just simply leaving them alone.

Two Strand Twist Out

A style attained by two strand twisting the hair while wet or damp. The twists are untangled once the hair has dried and carefully separated creating tight ringlets, large curls, or even waves depending on how big or small the twist are. This can also be an overnight protective style.

Wash and Go

A style achieved during your wash day and after washing your hair. Where the hair is worn in its natural style after washing and you can apply leave in conditioner, hair oil or styling products to keep your hair moisturized during the day.

Hair Textures-according to Curl centric

  • Thready – This thready hair coarseness has a low sheen and a bright shine when the hair is stretched. This hair grain/texture has a low frizz and can easily be saturated. Even though this hair texture saturates easily, the water can dry out quite quickly.
  • Wiry – This hair texture lustrous appearance has very little shine and low frizz. When the hair surface is soaked, the water will globule up or bounce off the hair strands. This hair texture is quite difficult to get fully saturated.
  • Cottony – The cottony hair texture has a low sheen, a bright shine when the hair is stretched and is usually highly frizzy. The cottony texture absorbs water very quickly; however, it doesn’t get completely saturated or soaked very fast.
  • Spongy – The spongy hair texture is easily saturated, the hair absorbs water (like a sponge) and has a high gloss and low shine.
  • Silky – The silky texture has a low gloss and a bright high shine. The level of expected frizz varies significantly with this hair texture. Silky hair can easily be soaked