Hair Jargons

In the natural world, there are a lot of terms and abbreviations used when talking about our tresses. I've put together a list of some of the more popular ones to help those still getting in the swing of things. If there are others that you know about, shoot me an email and I'll add them. alwaysn4evernatural@gmail.com
 HTH (hope this helps)

A

• ACV: Apple cider vinegar, used to clarify hair
• Aloe Vera gel/juice: moisturizing for hair and skin. Sometimes added to products
• ALS: Ammonium Laureth Sulfate, Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate: harmful ingredients in hair products
• AO: Aubrey Organics product line
• APL: Arm Pit Length

B

• BAA: Big A** Afro
• Baggy method or bagging: A moisturising technique that some naturals find effective. In simple terms it involves using a plastic bag (saran wrap, grocery bag, sandwich bag or plastic shower cap) to wrap around hair soon after moisturising it to help the hair retain that moisture.
• BC: Big chop, cutting off all the relaxed or chemically processed hair to have all natural hair
• BSB: Below shoulder blade
• BSL: Bra strap length
• BSS: Beauty supply store

C

• CC: Creamy crack, a relaxer
• CL: Chin length
• CBL: Collar bone length
• Clarifying: When the hair is shampooed to remove product build up, dirt or anything clogging the follicles
• Cones: Silicones, can lead to  no moisture to adhere to the hair
• Co-wash: Conditioner wash, shampooing with conditioner instead of shampoo, also called CW

D

• DC: Deep conditioning, leaving conditioner on hair for 30 min or more
• Detangle: Getting all the kinks and tangles out of the hair. Best to be done while wet and full of conditioner
• DIY: Do it yourself
• Dry comb: Combing the hair while dry. A big no no.
• DT: Deep treating same as DC
• Dusting: The trimming of 1/4" or less of the ends of the hair

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

• EVOO: Extra Virgin Olive Oil, very popular oil for hair and skin
• EVCO: Extra Virgin Coconut Oil,  another common oil with amazing properties
• EO: Essential Oil
• Flex-set: Flexi rod set on the hair
• HG: Holy Grail, your tried and true products
• HL: Hip length
• HTH: Hope this helps
• IMO: In my opinion
• JBCO: Jamaican Black Castor oil

L, M

• Leave-in: A conditioner or mix that stays in the hair after applied, not rinsed out.
• LHCF: a popular hair site called Long Hair Care Forum
• MBL: Mid back length

N

• Natural Hair: Hair being completely free of chemical processing, also know as NH
• NG: New growth
• NL: Neck length
• No-poo: Cleansing the hair without shampoo
• Naturally Curly: A popular site for naturals

O,P

• Pineappleing:  A technique for longer hair for putting it up at bedtime in order to preserve your curly hair style. Pull your hair up to the top of your head into a high but loose ponytail using a satin scrunchie or ouchless ponytail holder and go to sleep on a satin pillow case or use an over sized satin bonnet. In the morning take down and shake gently and your all of your curls are  preserved.
• PJ: Product Junkie, one who likes to buy or collect products whether they need them or not
• Poo: Shampoo
• Pre-poo: Applying a conditioner or treatment to the hair before shampooing for added moisture

Q,R

• Rod-set: Using perm rods to set the hair into spiral curls
• Rolls: Rolling the hair to create a style (french roll, finger rolls)

S

• Scrunching: A technique to help with boosting your hair’s natural curl or wave pattern. Best done on wet. Scrunching is taking sections of your hair and crumple them into your hand and work up towards your scalp. Start with underneath sections then work your way up. For longer hair you may need to flip your head over or to the side to get all sections scrunched. Dry it by sitting under a dryer, diffuse with a blow dryer or let air dry. Once dry, do not touch your hair unless you are scrunching in moisturizer, oil or glosser otherwise touching your hair at this point may make it frizzy or poof out.
• Shea Butter: The most popular butter for hair and skin care. Has great properties to help moisturize and protect the hair and skin. Can be used with other oils.
• Shingling: A technique of applying a curl promoting styler to sections of your hair as you stretch and elongate to boost your hair’s natural curl pattern. When your hair is soaking wet and detangled, section hair into small sections, apply product (Jane Carter Solutions Curl Defining Cream is good) from roots to the ends of your hair while stretching your hair. It's good to use a Denman brush after applying the product to stretch. Do this throughout your entire head of hair. When done with shingling, scrunch your hair all over to add a product like an anti-frizz serum or oil and to help define and set the curls. Then dry your hair by sitting under a dryer, diffuse with a blow dryer or let it air dry. Once dry, do not touch your hair unless you are scrunching in moisturizer, oil or glosser otherwise touching your hair at this point may make it frizzy or poof out.
• SL: Shoulder length
• Shrinkage: When your hair draws back or shrinks causing the length to look shorter than what it actually is.
• Slip or Slippage: The ease the product provides and slipperiness on the hair.  Also, how a well a product detangles your hair or how a comb is able to glide through it.
• SLS: Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, a damaging ingredient in shampoo
• Straw set: Setting the hair on straws for a curly outcome
• Stretching: A technique used to extend your shrunken curls, showing length.

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

• Transitioning: In stead of chopping off all of your chemically treated hair, you let your hair grow without getting more relaxers with the intent of going natural, cutting a little off at a time.
• TWA: Teenie Weenie Afro
• Twist Out: To double strand twist your hair wet, either let air dry or sit under a dryer, gently take the twists apart and style. 
• Wash and Go:  To wash or co-wash your hair, add a styler cream or gel by shingling in, shake and go. Let your hair air dry and go or dry using a diffuser.
• Water: THE NATURAL'S STAPLE INGREDIENT!!!
• WSL: Waist Length hair