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Writer's pictureTanesha Brown

Hair Talk with Tanesha: Natural (Curly Hair) Terminology


PRODUCT JUNKIE

Someone who just can’t stop buying natural hair products! It’s a problem, one that some celebrate funny enough.

HAIR TYPE

A classification of different shapes of curls/hair strands. Ranging from 1A (the straightest hair), to 4C (the kinkiest coiliest hair).

BANDING

We use this technique to stretch hair in a heatless manner. Achieved by holding a section of hair taught and adding elastic hair bands along the length of the hair.

COWASH

Washing hair with conditioner instead of shampoo to avoid dry hair.

SLIPAGE

When a product has good slip it means it covers the strands and smooths them down allowing for easier detangling on wash day.

Spongy Hair

This hair has a tight frizzy compacted look with low shine. It must absorb a lot of water before it feels completely wet.

Pineappleing

This is a nighttime hair styling technique that is used to protect or preserve the hair by gathering the hair loosely in a high ponytail on the top of your head. Sleeping on a satin pillowcase or using a satin cap can greatly improve the effectiveness of this technique.

Plopping

This refers to a technique for drying your hair. You use a t-shirt to dry your hair instead of rubbing a towel on it. This can tremendously reduce your drying time.

Protective Styles

These are hairstyles that require little manipulation, protect the ends of your hair by keeping them tucked away and allows regular moisturizing. Common styles like twists, coils, flat twists, and cornrows can all be converted to protective styles by tucking or hiding the ends.

Sealing

This is a process of trapping moisture (water) into the hair strands and then sealing it with oils or butters. Oils and butters that are commonly used to seal hair include castor oil and shea butter.

The Thickness of Strand Classifications

  • Fine – Translucent thin hair strands that are hard to see and as fine as silk

  • Medium – Hair strands that feel like a cotton thread and that are neither course nor fine feeling

  • Course – Thick strands of hair that are larger than cotton thread and easy to see and that may make a noise if rasped between the fingers

Nappy Hair

The word nappy is a pejorative description of African American hair textures. This word is offensive to some women.

Demarcation Line

This is the place on the hair where natural hair growth and hair that has been relaxed meets. Breakage of hair strands is very likely at this line so be gentle when handling the two textures.

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