Natural Hair Terminology

Being a natural can be very difficult at times so I put together a list of frequently used terms that may help you on your natural Hair Journey.

1. ACV: Apple Cider Vinegar



2. BC (Big Chop)

o Cutting off relaxed ends to reveal the natural texture of the hair.

3. Buds

o First stage in locking. Small, sections that will eventually grow out and become actual dreadlocks.



4. Clarify

o Shampoo product build up from hair using shampoo containing a sulfate/detergent and/or a wash containing baking soda, apple cider vinegar.


5. Co-Wash (Conditioner Wash)

o Washing hair with conditioner. No shampoo needed or wanted! Just rinse the hair with water and then wash hair with a conditioner.

6. Cones

o Term for any silicone related ingredient you might find in hair or skin care. Ingredients most often end in c-o-n-e.


7. Cone-free

o Products that contain no silicone related ingredients

8. Creamy crack

o Most commonly known as a perm, relaxer, or lye.

9. Curl definition

o Getting individual curly/wavy strands to clump enough for the curl/wave pattern of the hair to be evident; many separate clumps as opposed to all the curls merging together in one piece.



10. Denman

o A brush series that is used widely among the natural hair community to help define their natural curls.


11. DC/DT

o Deep Conditioning or Deep Treatment. This is typically done for 20 minutes to overnight, depending on personal preference.



12. Essential Oils

o Volatile liquids extracted from plant materials by steam distillation or expression, which contain the characteristic plant aroma. Unlike fixed plant oils (such as olive oil), essential oils evaporate at room temperature and do not leave an oily residue on the skin.

13. EVOO extra virgin olive oil


14. Hair Lengths

o EL- Ear Length

o NL-Nape Length

o SL- Shoulder Length

o APL- Arm pit Length )

o MBL- Mid back Length

o WL- Waist Length

15. Henna

o Used most often for adding color, shine, and increasing hair health. A natural product, chemical free.


16. No-poo

o Washing method that does not involve the use of shampoo for example: co-washing is a type of no-poo method

17. Panty-hose bands

o Hair bands made from cutting up laundered panty hose into 1/2 inch strips. They are used in place of regular rubber bands. They are snag free and hair friendly.


18. PJ :Product Junkie


19. Regimen

o A product/hair routine done continuously

20. Sealing

o Sealing is essentially “sealing” in moisture. Following the application of a moisturizer, moisture is sealed in typically with an oil or serum.

21. Shea Butter

o Butyrospermum parkii. Moisture-rich butter obtained from the nuts of the Mangifolia tree in Central Africa, also known as karite butter or African butter. A superb emollient, high in fatty acids and other nutrients, it is an ideal ingredient for skin moisturizers, sun care products and hair conditioners.

22. Shingling

o A technique to promote curl definition and elongation. Involves applying stylers to soaking wet hair in small sections, combing through with a fine toothed comb, and smoothing each section between thumb and forefinger. Hair is set to dry under a hood dryer, and when completely dry, the curls are stretched further by holding the hair taut under a hot blow-dryer.


23. Shrinkage

o General loss of appearance of length in curly hair, due to the coiling of the strands. Also tightening of the curl, usually due to water content of environment/product, resulting in shorter looking hair


24. Transition

o Refers to the transition from relaxed to natural hair whether you did by the big chop, braids, twist outs, wigs etc...

25. TWA

o Teeny Weeny Afro A result of a Big Chop after a short transitioning stage


Newly Added

Dreadlocks, also called locks or dreads, are  matted coils of hair which form by themselves or with the help of hair products. This is possible in all hair types if the hair is allowed to grow naturally without grooming or conditioning for a  period of time.
Coil: to form rings, spirals, etc.; gather or retract in a circular way.

Kinks: a short twist, curl, or bend in a thread, rope, hair, wire, etc.

Bentonite Clay:Bentonite, also referred to as Montmorillonite, is one of the most effective and powerful healing clays used to treat both internal and external maladies. Bentonite can be used externally as a clay poultice, mud pack or in the bath and, in skin care recipes. Internally it can be added to water or glazed upon food to help those with sensitive palates. A good quality Bentonite should be a grey/cream color and anything bordering "pure white" is suspect. It has a very fine, velveteen feel and is odorless and non-staining. The type of bentonite offered by Mountain Rose herbs is a Sodium Bentonite.