Curl Talk: Texture Lingo

Hill Creek Pictures Curlies will relax in your chair when they feel they’re being understood! Learn the language with these texture terms.

2a, 2b, 2c, 3a, 3b, 3c, 4a, 4b, 4c: Hair type classification system

2nd day hair: Hair that looks good enough the day after styling that it can just be misted with water or have a little product added to revive and refresh its style

Baggy: A plastic shopping bag or shower cap to cover the hair overnight after moisturizing it

Big chop: Cutting off all chemically treated hair

Braid-n-curl: To braid the hair and roll the ends on rods or flexis

Canopy: The top layer of hair, which is exposed to the elements and most prone to frizzing

CG: Curly Girl Method for taking care of curly hair as described by author Lorraine Massey in the book Curly Girl

Clarify: Remove build-up from the hair

Clumping: The process of gathering strands of hair together to form bigger, chunkier curls

Cones: Silicones, the ingredients in hair care products that are not water-soluble and must be removed with shampoo in order to avoid buildup, which can result in dry hair and breakage

Co-Wash: Using conditioner rather than shampoo to wash the hair

Crunch: The stiff texture left by some gels when they dry

DT or DC: Deep Treatment or Deep Conditioner that is applied to the hair for an extended period of time, along with a heat source to aid penetration

EO: Essential Oil

Holy Grail: Products that are “tried and true”

No-poo: A curly who co-washes and shuns cones and other heavy or oily products that require shampooing to remove

Pineapple: Hair gathered into a loose ponytail at the top of the head to protect curls while sleeping on a satin pillowcase in order to have great 2nd day hair by simply removing the pony and shaking out the preserved curls

Plopping: Drying the hair with a T-shirt, terrycloth towel or paper towel to drasti­cally reduce drying time

Pre-pooing: Applying a treatment prior to shampooing consisting of oils and/or conditioners, with a heat source to aid penetration

Product junkie: A client who buys any and all hair care products, forever on a mission to find the next best formula

Sealing: A method of keeping moisture in the hair, specifically on the ends, that follows application of a water-based moisturizer with a butter or oil

Shrinkage: Shortening of length due to curl tightness

Slip: Describes a product’s degree of slipperiness and effectiveness in detan­gling; the more slip, the better the prod­uct will coat the hair to aid in detangling

SLS: Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, a harsh ingredient in some shampoos that curlies try to avoid

TNC (Twist-n-curl): To twist the hair and roll the ends on rods or flexis

Transitioning: The period of time since the client’s last relaxer

TWA: Teeny Weeny Afro

Twist out: Twisting two strands before air drying or sitting under a dryer, and then separating the twists and styling

Wash and go: Styling the hair by co-washing, adding a gel or cream and drying with a diffuser or letting the hair air-dry