Natural Hair Terminology
Natural Hair: Free from Chemicals
Co-Wash: Wash without shampoo usually with conditioner
Sulfates: Detergent in most shampoo that can strip hair of natural oils.
SLS: Sodium Laurel Sulfate (same as above)
ACV aka Apple Cider Vinegar rinse: Washing hair with vinegar to cleanse and condition
Low-Poo: Shampoo with less sulfates
No-Poo: Shampoo with no sulfates, Hair cleanser
Sister Twists: 2-strand twists achieved by twisting two pieces of a small section of hair around each other
Creamy Crack: Relaxer; aka "perm", chemicals used to straighten hair
Transitioning: Growing out natural roots while maintaining relaxed ends to avoid a drastic hair cut.
Flat Iron: Using a heated tool to straighten hair.
Cornrows: Hair that is braided against the head to make patterns
Afro: hair picked out into a round shape around the head
Box braids: Plats or simple braids where the root is parted into small boxes and braided.
Kinky: Tightly Curled Hair
Hair Type: Used to classify what type of curls you have. see HAIR TYPE CHART
Another good hair typing reference: http://www.naturallycurly.com/hair-types
Alopecia: Loss of hair
Lye: A chemical straightening treatment commonly used to relax hair
Palm Rolling: used in dreading the hair. A technique used to smooth out the shaft of a loc by rolling it, with or without product, between the palms of the hands.
Dusting: Dusting is trimming about a quarter inch off your ends. It's less than a usual professional trim...it's just enough to get the split ends off.
Hair lengths:
APL - arm pit length
BSL - bra strap length
EVOO- extra virgin olive oil
EO- essential oil
TWA- teeny weeny afro
BAA- big a$$ afro
BC-big chop
Pre-con- Pre-conditioning treatment
BSS- beauty supply store
Sealing-applying product to ends small sections at a time ensuring complete coverage
Baggy-applying moisture and covering w/ shower cap for desired amt of time
twistout-individual or flat twists for a spiral curl pattern and stretching benefits
braidout-individual or cornrows for a crinkly pattern and stretching benefits
shealoe- shea butter and aloe blend
interlock- process of tightening new growth of locs
