natural hair terminology

being natural comes with it’s own little jargon, here are a few that is popular: let me know in the comments which ones should be added.

A

• ACV: Apple cider vinegar, used to clarify the hair and level acidity
• Aloe Vera gel/juice: very moisturizing for hair and skin
• ALS: Ammonium Laureth Sulfate, Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate; ingrdients that can potentially harm your hair
• AO: Aubrey Organics
• APL: Arm Pit Length
• ASL: Ammonium lauryl sulfate, a common ingredient in shampoo

B

• BAA: Big a** afro
• Baggy method: Applying conditioner to the hair then wrapping it with saran wrap or covering it with a plastic/shower cap for an extended period of time
• BBA: Big beautiful afro
• BC: Big chop, cutting off all the relaxed and or chemically processed hair, to have fresh and free natural hair
• BSB: Below Shoulder Blade
• BSL: Bra-strap length
• BSS: Beauty Supply Store

C

• CC: Creamy Crack
• CL: Chin length
• CBL: collar bone length hair
• Clarifying: when you wash your hair to remove product build up, dirt or anything clogging the follicles
• Cones: silicones, which can lead to no moisture to adhere to the hair
• CON: Creme of Nature
• Co-wash: Conditioner wash; washing hair with conditioner instead of shampoo, also called cw

D

• DC: Deep condition/Deep conditioner by leaving conditioner on the hair for 30 mins or more
• DIY: do it yourself
• Dry comb: Coming the hair while it is dry
• DT: to deep treat the hair, same as DC

E, F, G, H, I, J, K

• EVOO: Extra virgin olive oil, very popular oil for hair and skin care
• EVCO: Extra virgin coconut oil, a common oil to use for hair and skin due to it’s amazing properties
• EO: essential oil
• Flex-set: to flexi-rod set the hair
• HE: Herbal Essences
• HEHH: Herbal Essence Hello Hydration
• HG: holy grail
• HHG: happy hair growing
• HIH/HIF: hand in hair and hand in fro disease
• HL: hip length hair
• HSR: Honey Suckle Rose by Aubrey Organics
• HTH: hope that helps
• IMO: in my opinion
• JBCO: Jamaican black castor oil
• KCCC: Kinky Curly Curling Custard

L

• Leave-in: this is a conditioner or mix that stays in your hair after it’s applied. It is not rinsed/washed out. Mean’t to moisturize the hair
• LHCF: refers to the site Long Hair Care Forum

M

• MBL: Mid back length
• MN: Miconazole Nitrate
• MT: Megatek

N

• Natural Hair: to be completely free of chemical processing in the hair, aka NH
• NG: New growth
• NL: neck length
• No-poo: Haircare regimens that don’t include the use of sulfate shampoo
• Naturally Curly: popular site for naturals

O, P

• PJ: product junkie, or one who likes to buy hair products or any products for that matter a lot.
• Poo: Shampoo
• Pre-poo: to apply a conditoning/ treatment to the hair prior to shampooing/washing so as to add moisture to the follicles

Q, R

• Rod-set: uses perm rods to set the hair into curls
• Rolls: the art of rolling the hair to create a style (french roll, finger rolls)

S

• SAA: silk amino acids
• Shea Butter: the most popular butter for hair and skin care. Has great properties to help moisturize and protect hair and skin. Can be used with other oils and plants.
• SL: shoulder length
• Slip: the measure of how well a product allows you to detangle your hair, or glide through it. Slip is the ease/leeway the product provides and sliperiness on the hair
• SLS: Sodium lauryl sulfate, a common ingredient in shampoo
• SLES: Sodium Lareth Sulfate, another common ingredient in shampoo
• Straw sets: setting the hair on straws for a curly outcome

T, U, V, W, X, Y, Z

• TWA: Teeny weeny afro
• Water: the natural’s staple ingredient!!
• WSL: waist length hair

numbers

• 3A texture: Loose curls
• 3B texture: Tight curls
• 4A texture: Loose kinks/coils
• 4B texture: Tight kinks/coils

3 loves