Terms Every Naturalista Needs to Know

The natural hair world can seem so overwhelming at times, especially with all of special terminology and acronyms!
The following is by no means complete, but I compiled it as a means to aid with the revamping of the Natural Hair FaceBook group which I have been a admin since 2006. If you haven’t checked it out yet (which is unlikely as we have over 30,000 members) you need to!

ACV/Apple Cider Vinegar – Exactly what it says it is, can be found in the baking section of grocery stores. ACV is used most often as a rinse in order to restore the natural pH balance of the hair. It can be used added to conditioner or plain water to provide a “slip” for easier detangling. ACV has several other uses such as removing household stains or to suppress the appetite.

APL: Arm Pit Length

Baggy Method
– A method of deep conditioning the ends of the hair (which are the most fragile) by applying a plastic conditioning cap, sandwich bag and/or saran wrap atop of conditioned ends of hair.

BC or Big Chop – The big chop is the final step to crossing over to the natural side. It consists of chopping off all of one’s chemically processed hair. Often, many naturals do a big chop to relinquish any heat damaged hair as well.

BSL: Bra Strap Length

Cones/Silicones – A class of chemical ingredients that is found in many commercial hair conditioners; Silicones provide “slip” felt in conditioners. Use of a sulfate shampoo or ACV is used to remove the build up that cones can leave behind.

Co-Washing
Conditioner Washing
– Washing the hair with conditioner only. Many commercial conditioners, contain just enough sulfates to serve the same purpose as shampoo for persons with a tendency for dry scalp/hair

Creamy Crack
- A reference to chemical relaxer.

DCT
- Deep Conditioning Treatment

Demarcation Line
- Refers to the point where relaxed hair meets the new growth. For transitioners, it is important to reinforce the new growth above the demarcation line because having to textures of hair on one strand results in breakage. This breakage often can go above the demarcation line resulting in damage to the natural hair. A common means of preventing breakage is by keeping the hair in protective styles such as two strand twists, or braids with one’s own hair.

EO/Essential Oils
- also known as volatile oils, ethereal oils or aetherolea, or simply as the “oil of” the plant from which they were extracted.An oil is “essential” in the sense that it carries a distinctive scent, or essence, of the plant.

EVOO
- Extra Virgin Olive Oil

EVCO
- Extra Virgin Coconut Oil

Leave-in
- A conditioner that is not meant to be rinsed out after applying. Such conditioners help to provide additional moisture to the hair than water can give.

No-poo
- Washing the hair without conditioner. Co-washes are a form of no-poo. ACV rinses are also considered no-poo.

PJ: Product Junkie
- One who is unable to control the inclination to purchase every beauty product they come across. Though many PJ’s are self-proclaimed, the term is sometimes used on other’s in a negative sense.

Pre-Poo
- Deep conditioning prior to shampooing. The reason for doing so is to counteract the harmful stripping of the hair that sulfates in shampoos can cause.

Plopping/Plunking
- A method of wrapping soaking wet hair, which has had a gel or other curl enhancer applied with a t-shirt to encourage stretched but defined curls.

Shrinkage
– Refers to the length naturally curly/coily/kinky/nappy hair APPEARS to be after air drying without stretching.

Slip
-A measurement of how easily a product allows hair to detangle. Also refers to how slippery the hair feels when a product is applied.

Stretching
– A means of preventing shrinkage on natural hair. Stretching can be accomplished by banding, braiding, flat-twists and blow-outs.

Transitioning
– The drawn out process of slowly cutting away at relaxed or heat damaged ends of hair. Many persons who opt to go natural feel uncomfortable with the idea of wearing closely cropped natural hair. Transitioning allows them to maintain a comfortable length while at the same time getting rid of damaged hair.

TWA : Teeny Weeny Afro

WL : Waist Length