Hair Salon Glossary Terms
Learn about common hair salon terms below. View hair extension terms
Table of Contents
A
Accent Color – A sharp, intense colour used as a contrast or pick-up for a colour scheme. It is used to add excitement to an overall effect.
Acid Mantle – The combination of sweat and sebum that provides the skin’s protective coating.
Acid Perm – An acid perm produces permanent hair waves with curls that are actually softer than an alkaline perm. It also has a pH from 6.5 to 8.0.
Activator – A chemical ingredient that is specifically added to hair bleach to speed up the action of the bleach without unnecessarily damaging the hair.
Aerating – Cutting vertically into the hair, with a technique that mimics backcombing, to remove bulk.
Afro Hair – Hair terminology referring to a hairstyle made up of a mass of very tight curls surrounding the head.
AirTouch Balayage – A highlighting technique that uses a blow dryer to separate hair instead of teasing.
A-Line Bob – A type of bob that is longer in the front then it is in the back, resembling a capital “A.”
Alkaline Perm – A chemical based permanent waving product that has a pH from 7.5 to 9.5. Stronger than acid perms, alkaline perms are designed to produce tight, firm, springy curls rather than the looser curls produced by acid perms.
All-Over Color – A single-process color applied from roots to ends for a uniform shade.
Alopecia – Loss of hair, especially from the head, which either happens naturally or is caused by disease.
Alpha Hydroxy Acid – Known as AHA, these solutions are used as exfoliates and can help reduce ingrown hairs and improve the look of the skin.
Amino Acid – A chemical substance found in plants and animals – the building blocks of hair.
Ammonia – The main ingredient found in hair color that opens the cuticle, allowing color molecules to enter.
Ammonium Thioglycolate – aka “Perm Salt.” This is a chemical compound (C2H7NO2S) that works by swelling the hair and breaking down disulfide bonds, rendering the hair as “permable.”
Anagen Cycle – The active stage in the hair growth cycle.
Anagen – The growing phase of the hair growth cycle. Typically, this phase lasts around 7 years in a healthy person.
Angle – A cut that follows the angle of the jaw line when the head is tipped forward. Also know as an A-line cut.
Anti-Frizz Treatment – A treatment designed to smooth the hair and reduce frizz.
Ash Tone – A cool-toned color with hints of blue, violet, or green to neutralize warmth.
Asymmetrical – When the hair is not the same length throughout the haircut. For example, in an asymmetrical bob, hair is longer on one side than the other. The difference can be drastic or subtle.
B
Babylights – Ultra-fine, delicate highlights designed to mimic the natural highlights seen in children’s hair.
Backcombing / Backbrushing – Also know as “teasing” the hair. Volume is created with a comb or a brush by pushing the hair down towards the scalp.
Balance – A design principle in hairstyling that refers to the aesthetic placement and arrangement of elements.
Balayage – Hair that is a certain color on the bottom (usually a lighter color) that gradually fades into a different color around the roots.
Bangs – The layer of hair present at the top of the face to about eyebrow level. Not everybody has bangs, and they can be styled in many different ways.
Barbicide – Brand name of the blue liquid sanitizer used to disinfect all hair styling salon tools.
Basic Shade – A natural or neutral colour applied to the hair.
Beach Waves – Hair that is wavy with a windblown, tousled look, often created by applying a saltwater-based spray and then curled with a curling iron from the mid-lengths down.
Big Chop – A term often used in the transition from chemically treated to natural hair. It involves cutting off all (or most) of the processed hair to start fresh with natural texture.
Bi-Lateral Haircut – See Mullet.
Bixie – A blend of a bob and a pixie, usually short around the ears and nape, with layered fullness on top.
Bleach – Bleach, for hair, works by raising the hair cuticle, going into the hair and dispersing color molecules, which lightens the hair. If done correctly, it shouldn’t cause too much damage.
Blending – The process of blending one line of the haircut to the other line by usually cutting out the hair between both lines.
Blonde Hair – Is not as visible and harder to treat. Lasers have limited effects on blonde hair because of its lack of pigment, and it is difficult to see against the skin.
Blonde Toning – The process of using toner to remove brassiness and refine blonde shades.
Blow-Dry Bar – A salon that specializes in professional blowout services.
Blowout – A service performed at various salons where the hair is washed, blow-dried and styled with hot tools. It is different from just blow-drying your hair; there is much more attention to detail and the style should last 3-5 days.
Blunt Cut – When the scissors are held horizontal to the comb, cutting all hair the same length.
Bob – The Bob was the classic look of the 50s and 60s; the style was short and straight but blow-dried and curled under.
Body – The volume or springiness of hair. See Volume.
Bonding – The process of attaching hair wefts to hair with adhesive.
Botanical – Refers to a product containing plants or ingredients that is made from plants.
Braid – Where strands of hair are weaved together. On the scalp braiding is used to form a base or track to sew on a commercial weft – this is the cornrow technique. Off the scalp braiding is used for traditional braiding styles.
Brassy – This hair terminology refers to unwanted golden or orange tones in hair.
Brazilian Blowout – A semi-permanent hair treatment that smooths and straightens hair. It’s similar to a keratin treatment, but uses a different solution and technique. See Keratin Straightening.
Brittle Hair – Hair that is dry, fragile, and prone to breakage.
Bronde – A blend of brown and blonde hair color, creating a natural-looking tone.
Bulb – The root of a hair, so named because it’s wider at the base.
Buzz-Cut – A haircut in which the entire head is shaved with clippers.
C
Caesar Cut – A short haircut in which the top hair is styled forward and there is a little fringe around the face.
Canities – The scientific name for grey hair.
Capillaries – Tiny hair-like blood vessels, some of which carry nutrients to the hair growth matrix.
Catagen – The resting phase of the hair growth cycle.
Chelating – Chelating shampoo is similar to clarifying shampoo. It works by binding to minerals and metals and removing them from the hair. This is good for removing hard-water buildup or chlorine.
Chemical Haircut – Hair that has been processed so many times by bleach, color or perms that it has broken off.
Chignon – This is a popular hairstyle; there are many different ways to wear a chignon but it is typically a knot or coil of hair worn on the back of the head. It is a popular choice for formal events.
Choppy Haircut – This is hair terminology for a very textured haircut, in which all the different pieces are different lengths. It is often created with a razor.
Chunking – A method of highlighting the hair in which the highlights are very thick and unblended.
Cicatricial Alopecia – This is baldness due to scarring – follicles are absent in scar tissue.
Clarifier – A clarifying shampoo is slightly stronger than an everyday shampoo and is designed to remove products, hard water or chlorine residue that have built-up over time. These types of shampoos usually have a higher pH level and therefore should not be used regularly as they may dry out the hair and scalp.
Clip-In Hair Extensions – Real or synthetic hair that has clips sewn to the top of the weft so they can temporarily add length and/or volume to the hair.
Clipper-Over-Comb – This is a hair cutting technique in which the hair needed to be cut is pulled out with the comb and then the clipper is ran over the comb, cutting the hair.
Clippers – Electric machines used to cut hair.
Club Hair – A non-living hair in the last phase of the growth cycle, that has detached from the hair follicle and is waiting to be shed.
Coarse – A classification for stronger, thicker types of hair.
Collagen – A protein that holds all connective tissue together under the skin. Collagen is sometimes damaged by plucking or electrolysis which can lead to dimpling on the skin. Collagen, from a plant, is also used to fill in scars and augment lips, often with temporary results.
Color Blocking – A bold coloring technique that creates strong contrast between sections.
Color Correction – The process of fixing unwanted tones or previous color mistakes in the hair, often requiring multiple steps.
Color Melting – A method of blending multiple shades seamlessly for a natural gradient.
Color Rinse – A temporary or semi-permanent color used to refresh or enhance hair color.
Comb-Over – A trendy haircut made popular by Cristiano Ronaldo, in which the hair is parted to one side and combed completely over. There is usually a line carved into the hair with clippers where the hair is parted.
Conditioner – A creamy hair product used after shampooing – moisturizes and detangles the hair.
Congenital – A condition that is hereditary. As an example, excess hair often runs in the family.
Consultation – The consultation is a very important part of the hair service. It is at the beginning of a service, where the stylist discusses what the client is looking to achieve. A client has the chance to communicate what they like/don’t like and the stylist has the chance to tell them their opinion. It is the key to a successful service.
Cool Blonde – A blonde shade with cool undertones like platinum or icy blonde.
Cornrow – Tight braids that are on the scalp.
Cortex – The body of hair, consisting of 90% of the weight. This is where the color molecules are found.
Couture Cut – A couture cut is a high-fashion cut which is totally exclusive and specifically tailored to your lifestyle and wardrobe.
Cowlick – A cowlick is an area of hair where the hair grows in the opposite direction from the rest of the hair. It is hard to get them to lay down in most cases.
Crew Cut – A short, tapered haircut in which the hair is extremely short on the top of the head and graduates to longer hair in the front.
Crimping iron set – This technique results in an angular and rhymical wave pattern.
Crop – Originally the word crop was an alternative to haircut, without any specific meaning to the style of the cut. However it has come to be a description of hair that is cut very short with the hair hugging the head.
Cross-Check – Cross-checking a haircut is the final step to make sure everything is even. If you used vertical subsections in the haircut, cross-check it with horizontal subsections.
Crown Braid – A crown braid consists of a single braid wrapped around the head.
Crown Highlights – Highlights focused on the top of the head for added brightness.
Crown – The area on top of the head.
Curtain Bangs – Bangs parted down the middle or slightly off-center, framing the face on both sides.
Curved Follicles – A relatively rare condition which makes certain hair removal methods more difficult and can lead to ingrown hairs.
Cushing Syndrome – A disease caused by a tumour on the adrenal gland which can cause excess hair growth.
Cushion – A “doughnut” or tubular shaped form that is added to the hairstyle for volume or to support a chignon or bun.
Cuticles – The hair cuticles form a protective layer which covers the shaft of the hair. If your hair is coloured or bleached they can spread out, split or become bloated due to over processing.
Cutting-In – The term used to describe getting a ’haircut’ and having your new hairpiece styled for the first time when you first receive it. It involves a simple haircut and blending in of the hairpiece with your existing hair.
D
Dandruff – A condition caused by excessive cell production causing the scalp to flake.
Decolorizer – A chemical product, typically containing bleach, used to remove artificial hair color from the hair. See Bleach.
Deep Conditioner – Extra strong conditioner that sits on the hair for at least a few minutes. It will add protein, moisture, and vitamins to help repair dry, damaged hair.
Deep Penetrating Treatment – A conditioner of greater intensity which usually contains protein, vitamins and moisture to help dry, damaged hair.
Demi-Permanent Color – A color that deposits pigment without fully penetrating the cuticle, lasting longer than semi-permanent but shorter than permanent color.
Density – Refers to the number of hair strands per square inch of the scalp.
Depilate – Removal of hair on the surface of the skin. Examples include shaving or the use of depilatory creams.
Depilatories – Substances used to dissolve hair above the skin’s surface.
Depth – The lightness/darkness of a color.
Dermal Papilla – The dermal papilla is situated at the base of the hair follicle. The dermal papilla contains nerves and blood vessels which supply glucose for energy and amino acids to make keratin. A tiny bulge at the root of the hair believed to be one of the primary targets in permanent hair removal.
Dermal Sheath – The lining around the hair.
Dermatitis – Atopic Dermatitis is also known as Eczema. Contact Dermatitis is an inflammation of the skin caused by direct contact with an irritating substance.
Dermis – The deepest layers of the skin where blood vessels, lymph channels, nerve endings, sweat glands, sebaceous glands, fat cells, hair follicles and muscles are located. The dermis varies in thickness over different sites of the body.
Detangling Spray – A leave-in product that helps prevent knots and tangles.
Deva Cut – A cutting method specifically designed for curly hair. Each curl is cut individually to maintain its unique shape and spring.
Developer – Peroxide that is added to any permanent or demi-permanent hair color or bleach. It works by lifting the cuticle and allowing the color to enter the hair.
Diffuser – A Diffuser is an adapter you put on the end of your hairdryer; it’s generally circular with a number of pins sticking out from it. The diffuser spreads out the air flow from your hairdryer so you don’t get the full force of the air, meaning a gentler drying process.
Diffuser – An attachment for a blow-dryer that disperses the air flow and distributes it over a larger area of hair. These are commonly used with curly hair since the air flow won’t disturb the natural flow of the curls.
Dimension – This is hair terminology referring to the illusion of depth and space created by the contrast of different colors.
Dimensional color – Color that adds dimension to the hair, such as highlights or balayage.
Dip-Dye – A bold color application where the ends are dipped in a different color.
Disconnected – When main parts of the haircut are not connected by a seamless line. There should be a distinct difference between the two sections.
Distorted Hair Follicles – A relatively rare condition in which the follicle is not straight. This condition can make waxing and electrolysis more difficult and can lead to ingrown hairs. It can be successfully treated using pulsed light.
Double Process Color – Involves two separate steps—often bleaching/lightening the hair first, then depositing the desired color (e.g., platinum blonde).
Dreadlocks – A hairstyle in which the hair naturally, or through manipulation, is encouraged to become matted and form a cylindrical, rope-like pattern. Dreadlocks may take several months to well over a year to form and are considered a permanent style. In order to remove dreadlocks, one must cut them.
Dry-Cutting – Dry cutting is usually a performed after the hair has already been washed, cut, dried and styled, but can also be used as a primary method of hair cutting. Since hair reacts a lot differently wet than dry, it allows you to focus a lot more on detail and how the hair will actually lay when it has been styled.
Dusting – Cutting the bare minimum off the tips of the hair to clean up the haircut, without making it look freshly cut.
E
Edge Control – A gel or pomade used to smooth and lay down edges or baby hairs.
Edger – Also known as trimmer, a hair-trimming tool used to create precise lines and details in haircuts and facial hair .See Trimmer.
Edgy – Trendy, non-conventional hair.
Effilating – A thinning technique used to remove bulk and add texture.
Elasticity – The hair’s ability to stretch without breaking and then return to its original shape.
Electrolysis – In hair removal, it is the practice of epilation with electrified needles. Electrolysis was originally the name for hair removal with direct current only (also called galvanic), although the term is generally applied to all three forms of epilation with an electrified needle.
Emphasis – Where the eye is drawn to. Can be created with color, cuts or styles.
Enhancer – A product or treatment that boosts color vibrancy and shine.
Epilation – The removal of hair below the skin’s surface (as opposed to depilation). Epilation methods include plucking, waxing, electrolysis and laser.
Essential Fatty Acids (EFA) – EFA preserves the resilience and flexibility of your hair. It’s common for hair products to contain natural or synthetic EFA’s like cetyl alcohol.
E-Thermal Straightening – A high-end thermal straightening process for long-lasting smoothness.
Extensions – Pieces of real or synthetic hair that is attached close to the scalp to make hair appear longer and/or more voluminous.
F
Face-Framing Highlights – Lighter pieces around the face to brighten and enhance features.
Face-Framing – Shorter layers around the face that tend to curl under the chin and frame the face.
Fade – A very short haircut that is extremely short (sometimes completely bald) on the sides and gradually fades into the longer hair on top.
Fashion Shade – A basic hair colour with an added tone.
Faux Hawk – A Mohawk type haircut that blends down into a regular men’s haircut.
Feather Razor Cut – A soft, airy haircut using a razor for texture.
Feathering – Feathering is a cutting technique hairdressers use to take hard lines out of the hair – by cutting into the hair softer lines are created.
Filler – Used to even out hair before a coloring service.
Finishing Spray – A hairspray with medium hold used on a finished style to maintain its shape.
Flexi-Rods – Foam hair rollers used to create heatless curls.
Flip-In Extensions – A temporary style where a transparent wire holds the extension across the crown, easily applied or removed without clips or adhesive.
Fluid Hair Painting – The method of painting hair color on the hair, while the client is reclined and their hair is fanned out on a table.
Fly-Away Hair – Thin, fine hairs that have been statically charged and will not lay with the rest of the hair.
Foilayage or Foilyage– A hybrid of foiling and balayage—color is hand-painted but wrapped in foils to achieve a brighter, more lifted result while keeping a natural blend look.
Foiling – A method of highlighting hair in which parts of the hair are sectioned into foils and color is applied. The foil allows you to only color certain pieces of the hair.
Foils – A term used to describe highlighting/lowlighting. Foil highlights is the process of using foils to separate strands of hair which will be lightened from strands of hair which will remain its natural or different colour.
Follicle Sheath – Protects the hair during its growth stage.
Follicle – The hair follicle houses the root of the hair.
Follicular Hair Transplants – One of the latest techniques for conducting hair transplants where surgeons harvest hair from another part of the body where it naturally grows.
Folliculitis – A common disorder characterized by inflammation of the hair follicle – also known as Pseudofolliculitis Barbae (PFB) or Tinea Barbae.
Freckles – Small clumps of coagulated melanin.
Freezing Spray – Heavy-hold hairspray meant to keep hair in place.
French Bob – A chin-length bob with bangs, often styled wavy or tousled for a classic, chic look.
Fringe – Politically correct hair terminology for “bangs.”
Frizz Control – A category of treatments and products that reduce frizz and humidity-related hair issues.
Frosting – Highlights performed by pulling small sections of hair through a cap and applying bleach. The result is very fine, blended highlights, usually very light in color.
Fusion – The process of attaching small pieces of human hair with a special adhesive and a thermal gun. This is a hair to hair process, no tracks are required. This method allows for free movement of the hair extensions.
G
Glass Hair – A high-shine, ultra-sleek style with polished, blunt ends that give hair a reflective, almost “glass-like” appearance.
Glaze – A semi-permanent product that adds shine to the hair.
Gloss – Shine overlay on the hair. Can be created temporarily with hair products or a clear hair color.
Glossing Treatment – A shine-boosting, semi-permanent color treatment.
Golden Blonde – A warm-toned blonde shade with gold hues.
Gradient Color – A color technique that blends shades seamlessly.
Graduation – When hair “graduates” from short to long. Typically this refers to the back of a bob or face-framing.
Gray Blending – A method of blending gray hair naturally with highlights or lowlights.
Grey Hair – Hair that has naturally lost all pigment.
Guide – The first initial line in the haircut, that will be followed through the rest of the haircut. An example is if you dropped the first subsection of hair, cut it to the length you wanted, and then cut every other subsection to that same length.
H
Hair Botox – A deep conditioning treatment that smooths, strengthens, and repairs hair.
Hair Dusting – A method of trimming only the split ends without affecting length.
Hair Extensions – The process of adding real or synthetic hair to natural hair, either by braiding it in, fusing it, bonding it or with the use of clip-ins, to make hair appear to be longer and/or fuller.
Hair Gloss Treatment – A demi- or semi-permanent treatment that adds shine and can adjust tone without further lifting the hair.
Hair Growth Cycle – The life of a strand of hair goes through three different phases: Anagen (the growing phase), Catagen (the resting phase) and Telogen (the dormant phase). This is why hair grows out unevenly.
Hair Painting – Painting the hair color directly on the hair with a brush.
Hair Plopping – A drying technique for curly hair using a microfiber towel or T-shirt.
Hair Primer – A lightweight product applied before styling to protect from heat and help achieve a smoother finish.
Hair Shaft – The non-growing part of hair above the skin.
Hair Weaving – A process by which a hairpiece is attached to your existing hair by braiding or weaving.
Hair Weft Clips – To attach hair wefts by clips. Clips are placed in the hair and snapped closed to hold the weft securely in place.
Halo Highlights – Lightening only the top and front sections to create a halo effect.
Hand-Tied Extensions – Strips of hair that are hand-tied onto a row of beads or thread close to the scalp, providing a lightweight, natural look.
Heat Clamps – A heat gun that is used to seal synthetic hair – used for creating warlocks and other styles.
Henna Dye – An extremely permanent, but natural, plant-based hair color. It is reddish-brown in color. It does not use developer, and will not damage your hair, but will be very hard to remove later if you change your mind.
Henna – Derived from the henna plant, a vegetable dye made from its leaves and stemmed into a powder. Traditionally, it imparts a reddish cast to the hair by coating it. Clear henna enhances shine. Henna cannot be dyed over since it coats the outer hair shaft affecting the penetration of the chemical colorant.
High and Tight– A very short, faded haircut that is blended high on the head. This is very popular in the military.
Highlights – Hair highlighting/lowlighting refers to changing a person’s hair colour using lightener or hair colour. There are four basic types of highlights: foil highlights – the process of using foils to separate strands of hair which will be lightened from strands of hair which will remain its natural or different colour. Hair painting – a more permanent method which employs a simple hair-painting brush tool, Balyage is the most common form of hair painting. Frosting – refers to the process of free-hand lightening of the tips of the hair and is generally performed on men. Chunking – a style of highlights which is larger and thicker than traditional highlights.
Holographic Hair – A multi-dimensional, iridescent hair color effect.
Honey Blonde – A warm blonde shade with golden undertones.
Humectants – An ingredient in skin or hair products that draws moisture from the air to moisturize.
Hybrid Balayage – A customized mix of balayage and traditional highlights.
I
Ice Blonde – A very light, cool-toned blonde shade.
Ingrown Hair – Hair that does not break the surface of the skin and grows inward. Can be severe and cause inflammation, soreness and infection.
Interlocking – A method in which hair is maintained or tightened using a tool.
Invisible Layers – Soft, barely-there layers that add movement without being noticeable.
Ionic – Ionic hot tools emit negative ions, which disperse water quickly, drying your hair faster and causing less damage.
J
Jelly Perm – A modern perm that creates soft, beachy waves instead of tight curls.
Jojoba Oil – Oil extracted from the seeds of an American Shrub, commonly found in hair products. It closely resembles sebum and adds a lot of moisture to the hair.
Jumbo Braids – Large, thick braids commonly used for protective styles.
K
Keratin Hair Straightening – Aka “Brazilian Blowout.” A method of temporarily straightening the hair by sealing a liquid keratin and a preservative solution into the hair with a straightening iron. These treatments aim to straighten curls and waves and to reduce frizz. The treatments do not guarantee completely straight hair, although if performed correctly they can reduce between 50 and 80 percent of the curl depending on the original hair texture. Treatments last around 10–12 weeks and repeating the treatment every few months will allow for treatment of new growth.
Keratin – A fibrous protein found in hair, nails and skin.
Knotless Braids – A tension-free braid technique that creates a natural, lightweight feel.
L
Lace Closure / Lace Front – Hairpieces or wigs with a lace base that create a realistic-looking part or hairline.
Layered Lob – A long bob with layers for extra texture and volume.
Layering – Layering is a technique used by hairdressers to change the thickness of the hair, creating either a thinning or thicker appearance. In this way the hair can be given a fuller appearance, more texture and movement.
Layers – Layers are a very important part of hair terminology that everyone should know. Layers are shorter pieces of hair that blend seamlessly into the haircut, adding volume and dimension. Remember, there is no such thing as getting “3 layers put into your hair.” Layers are created by cutting the shortest layer and the longest layer and cutting everything in between.
Lightener – See Bleach.
Line-Up – The act of creating hard lines around the perimeter of a short haircut with trimmers.
Lipid Layer – Lipids are part of the structure of the hair and also form a protective barrier. They are composed of EFA’s amongst other complicated scientific things.
Lived-In Color – A natural, low-maintenance hair coloring technique.
Lob – A lob is a long version of a bob. The weight line should fall around your collar bones.
Long Layers – Layers that tend to stay towards the bottom of the hair.
Long Pixie Cut – A slightly longer pixie cut that adds versatility.
Low Maintenance Blonde – A blonde color technique designed for easy upkeep.
Lowlights – The process of darkening some pieces of hair, but not all of it.
M
Mane Makeover – A dramatic transformation involving a full color and cut.
Medulla – The innermost part of hair structure. It may be absent in some people and its purpose is unknown.
Melanin – Natural substance that gives color (pigment) to hair and skin.
Mermaid Waves – Loose, voluminous waves resembling a mermaid’s hair.
Micro-Bead (Micro-Ring) Extensions – Tiny beads are used to attach small strands of extension hair to individual sections of your natural hair.
Midnight Blue Hair – A deep, dark blue shade with a subtle shine.
Milk Tea Hair – A creamy beige-blonde hair color inspired by milk tea drinks.
Mink Brown – A rich, neutral brown hair shade.
Mohawk – When all of the head is shaved except for a strip of hair down the middle of the head. It can be either really short or really long.
Money Piece – Face-framing highlights around the front hairline that brighten and accentuate facial features.
Money Piece Balayage – A mix of balayage with a bold face-framing highlight.
Movement – The path that your eye will follow through the hairstyle. Wavy hair has a lot of movement. Straight hair does not have as much movement.
Mullet – A haircut that is short and clean-cut around the top of the head and in the front, but long in the back.
N
Nape – The lower part of the back of the head, below the occipital bone.
Natural Hair Styling – Styling techniques tailored for natural curls and textures.
Natural – Ingredients extracted directly from plants, earth minerals or animal products as opposed to being produced synthetically.
Neutral Blonde – A balanced blonde shade without excessive warmth or coolness.
Neutralize – To cancel or reduce an effect.
Neutralizer – Neutralizer is applied to hair after it has been broken down by the perming solution. The purpose of neutralizer is to rebuild the hair back in the newly formed curls.
Notching – The act of cutting some hair but not all of it, to create texture. Can be done with thinning shears or point-cutting techniques.
O
Octopus Cut – A layered style that keeps heavy volume around the crown, with thinner, more textured ends—resembling the shape of an octopus tentacle.
Oil Slick Hair – A dark, iridescent rainbow color effect on darker hair.
Ombré – A color technique where hair transitions gradually from darker at the roots to lighter at the ends.
Onyx Black Hair – A rich, deep black shade with a shiny finish.
Organic – Pertaining to carbon-based compounds produced by living plants, animals or by synthetic processes.
Outer Root Sheath – A soft thin layer that surrounds the lower two thirds of the hair.
Overdirecting – This is hair terminology for when the hair is combed to the complete opposite side of where it should lay, before cutting it or blow-drying it. This is meant to create volume.
Oxidation – The chemical reaction caused by mixing hair color and developer together. Oxidation lifts the cuticle, allowing the hair color to work inside the hair shaft.
P
Palming the Shears – This is the common practice of closing the shears in your palm, while using the comb to take sections. Leaving the shears open could result in unwanted cuts to the hair.
Papilla – The small area at the base of the hair root which provides nutrients needed for growth.
Pastel Hair – Soft, muted shades like lavender, pink, or baby blue.
Patch Test – A test performed usually with a hair dye, or other potential allergens, on the skin 24 hours before its use to see if the skin suffers an allergic reaction.
Peekaboo Highlights – Hidden highlights that show when hair moves or is styled differently.
Perm – The process of adding permanent curls to someone’s hair. It can either re-shape curls that already exist or add curls to straight hair. The head is wrapped in cylinder-shaped perm rods, and then the hair bonds are broken down and then rebuilt in the shape of the perm rod.
Permanent Hair Reduction – Treatments, especially IPL, where the follicle is disabled by the light energy making it unable to support any more hair growth.
Permanent – Lasting or intended to last or remain unchanged indefinitely.
Piecey – This is when the ends of the hair are separated into smaller sections with gel or wax with the fingers. It is generally a term used for shorter haircuts. Can also be used synonymously with the term, choppy.
Pigment – Color.
Pixie Cut – Super short hair that is cut very close to the scalp. It usually is still wispy around the edges, making it look feminine.
Platinum Card Technique – A full, intense blonde lightening process using foils.
Plopping – A method for drying curly hair by wrapping it in a T-shirt or microfiber towel, enhancing curl definition and reducing frizz.
Point Cutting – When the Scissors are held at an angle, creating a “saw-tooth” effect on the hair. This is great for adding texture to the hair.
Pompadour – This style was made famous by Elvis Presley. It is a hairstyle, in which the hair is combed straight up from the forehead, without a part.
Porosity – Ability to absorb moisture.
Power Blonde – A bold, icy blonde shade for a statement look.
Precision Haircut – A style emphasizing clean lines and perfect shaping, often associated with Sassoon cutting techniques.
Pre-Poo – A pre-shampoo conditioning or oil treatment applied to protect strands from the stripping effects of shampoo—especially popular in curly-hair routines.
Protective Style – Hairdos (like braids, twists, or wigs) that tuck away the ends of the hair, minimizing breakage and encouraging growth.
Protein Treatment – A type of deep conditioning treatment that adds protein to the hair cortex, which strengthens hair and adds elasticity
Pumpkin Spice Hair – A warm-toned, copper-red hair color inspired by fall.
Purple Shampoo – A color-correcting shampoo that neutralizes brassy tones in blonde hair.
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Razor Cut – Using a razor blade, or comb with razor blades in it to cut the hair. This type of haircut is not perfectly even, and is very textured, giving a softer look than scissor cuts.
Relaxer– Used to permanently straighten hair.
Remi/Remy Hair – Refers to human hair (usually Indian in origin) which has been harvested from root to end with the entire cuticle going in the same direction. It is different from virgin hair as it may be coloured or permed, but has not had the cuticle removed. It is generally soft and silky, and is used for making higher quality wigs, extensions and hair systems.
Reverse Balayage – A technique that darkens the roots and mid-lengths for depth.
Rhythm – This is hair terminology for the recurrent pattern of movement in hair. Tight curls have a fast rhythm while loose waves have a slower rhythm.
Ribbons of Color – Soft, hand-painted highlights for a dimensional look.
Root Drag – A coloring method where darker roots are dragged down for a natural blend.
Root Melt – Blends a darker root color seamlessly into lighter ends for a “melted” color transition.
Root Smudge / Root Tap – A technique where a slightly deeper shade is applied at the root and gently blended downward to blur any harsh highlight lines.
Rose Gold Hair – A blend of pink and golden hues for a trendy hair color.
Rough Blow-Dry – A rough blow-dry is used to remove the moisture from wet hair, i.e. to dry the hair without styling.
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Scalp Detox – A treatment that cleanses and refreshes the scalp.
Scalp Facial – A spa-like treatment focusing on deep cleansing, exfoliating, and moisturizing the scalp to promote healthy hair growth.
Scrunch Dry – A technique used for drying your hair which creates a style at the same time.
Sebaceous Gland – Oil producing gland in the dermis.
Sebaceous – Refers to the oil-secreting glands on the scalp.
Sebum – The oily secretion of the sebaceous glands on the scalp composed of keratin, fat or cellular debris.
Sectioning – Sectioning your hair allows you to only pay attention to a particular area or panel of hair. You or your hairdresser will do this when blow-drying, cutting or colouring your hair, and will section your hair by taking a panel of hair and pinning or ignoring the rest.
Semi-permanent – Hair color that is semi-permanent will eventually wash out. It does not use developer and therefore it cannot make your hair lighter. It works by coating the hair shaft.
Serum – A serum is a smoothing product which stops your hair from frizzing, keeping it smooth and straight.
Shadow Root – Similar to a root smudge but typically leaves a more noticeable, slightly deeper root color transitioning to lighter mid-lengths and ends.
Shadowing Technique – A coloring method that deepens roots for depth and dimension.
Shag – Inspired by the 1970s, this cut has layered, feathered sections around the crown and face, adding volume and texture.
Shears – Scissors used to cut hair.
Silk Press – A heat-styling technique that straightens natural hair without chemicals.
Silver Blonde – A platinum blonde shade with silver undertones.
Single Process Color – A one-step method using permanent or semi-permanent color over the entire head for a uniform shade.
Soft Layers – Light, subtle layers that add movement to the hair.
Sombres – A softer, more blended version of ombré with subtler transitions between dark and light.
Split Ends – Trichoptilosis is the splitting of hairs at the ends, often referred to as split ends. A split end is when the hair shaft splits or frays due to excessive heat and damage. There is no way to repair split ends; when they occur the hair must be trimmed.
Strawberry Blonde – A warm blonde shade with hints of red or copper.
Sugar Spray – Similar to salt spray but uses sugar for texture and hold, often resulting in a softer, more touchable finish.
Sun-Kissed Highlights – Soft, natural-looking highlights that mimic sun exposure.
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Tape-In Extensions – Thin wefts of hair with adhesive tabs that are pressed together on either side of a small section of natural hair.
Taper – Hair terminology that means to gradually lessen. It is popular to taper short hairstyles so that the perimeter blends without a hard-line.
Tea Tree Oil – Tea tree oil is an extraction from the Melaleuca tree which is valued for its antiseptic properties.
Telogen – The resting phase of the hair cycle.
Temporary Color – Temporary color is color that coats the hair until you wash it again. Think Halloween hair color that you will wash out the next morning.
Texture – Hair that has texture in it, is hair that is not all the same length. It can be created by layers, razor cut, or thinning shears.
Textured Bob – A bob with added layers and texture for a modern finish.
Texturizer – A texturizer is a mild relaxing treatment. Instead of causing the hair to be ’bone straight,’ this chemical treatment is left on for a shorter period of time. The idea is to slightly relax the natural curl in African hair so that it’s more manageable and with proper maintenance, one can mimic curly styles.
Texturizing Shears – See Thinning Shears.
Thermal Process – Temporarily straightening the hair with a heated iron.
Thermal Reconditioning – A method of straightening hair by working like a reverse perm.
Thermal Styling – General term referring to any hair styling using heated tools such as flat irons, curling wands, or hot rollers.
Thinning Shears – Shears in which one or both of the blades have notches cut out of them. When using these to cut hair, they only cut some of the hair and leave hair. This creates a textured look.
Thinning the Hair – Using thinning shears, razors, layering or other various methods to reduce some bulk in the hair.
Tinsel Hair – Strands of metallic or colorful tinsel woven into the hair.
Tone – Distribution of ashen and warm pigments, visual effect of gold or ash in the hair.
Tousled Waves – A messy, undone wave style.
Track – Cornrows that hair extensions are sewn into.
Treatment – A treatment is used between shampooing and conditioning to put protein back into the hair. You should leave the treatment in your hair for approximately five minutes before using your conditioner.
Trimmer – Small clippers made to clean up the edges and add detail to a short haircut.
Tweed Hair – A blend of warm and cool highlights for a multi-dimensional effect.
U
Undercut – Where the sides or back (or both) are shaved or closely cut underneath a longer section of hair on top.
Undone Hair – A natural, effortless, slightly messy style.
UV-Protectant Hair Products – Products designed to protect hair from sun damage.
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Vanilla Blonde – A creamy, light blonde shade.
Vellus – The soft downy hair found covering the body.
Velvet Hair Color – A rich, luxurious color with a soft finish.
Vertex – The top of the head towards the posterior position, including the area at which the hair grows in a spiral pattern.
Virgin Hair – This term refers to hair which is still in its original state and which has not been permed, coloured or chemically processed in any way.
Volume – Hair that has a lot of volume is hair that is lifted further from the scalp, so that it appears bigger. Can also mean thicker, fuller hair.
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W
Warm Brunette – A rich brown hair color with warm undertones.
Weave – A hair weave is usually a hairpiece with layered gaps made into it. This is then placed on a person’s head and his/her own real hair is woven into the hairpiece.
Wedge Haircut – A vintage-inspired short style with a full, rounded shape at the back and tapered edges.
Weft – Real or Fiber hair which is doubled over and machine sewn along the top to create long strands of hair. This is also the type of hair used for hair extensions and weaving.
Weight Line – The part of the haircut that holds the most weight. For example, in a non-layered, “straight across” haircut, it will be the bottom of the hair.
Wet Look Hair – A sleek, shiny hairstyle that mimics the appearance of wet hair.
Whipped Balayage – A softer, more diffused version of balayage.
White Hair – Hair that has no pigment. Some possible causes are genetic, Vitamin B deficiency, drugs for treatment of arthritis and some other health factors.
White-Walls – This is hair terminology for maximum scalp exposure on a short haircut.
Wig – The term used to describe any hairpiece with a full cap which covers the hair on the head, or the entire area where hair normally grows, as a substitute for your own hair.
Wispy Bangs – Soft, feathered bangs that blend seamlessly.
Wolf Cut – A modern, shag-like cut featuring lots of texture and short, voluminous layers on top with longer, choppy layers at the sides and back.
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