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