A few months after I big chopped, when I was literally learning about these terms myself
When I first went natural, a lot of terms seemed pretty strange to me. I had to look up almost every word someone used until I became pretty good myself. So if you’re new to this natural hair thingy, I believe this post would be pretty helpful to you. We’re all for providing solution to your hair problems. Lets move!
Afro
This refers to big curly rounded shaped hair. Most natural hair types can achieve a fro look. Afro is almost like an African signature.
Big chop
This is the process of cutting chemically treated, or relaxed parts of your hair, exposing the original texture of your hair or bald head.
Braid Out
This is a hair style that is achieved by braiding moist or damp hair with the aim to unravel it after it dries, showing a more curl defined pattern.
Co wash
This simply means washing your hair with a conditioner only. No shampoos, just conditioners. The aim of this is to protect your hair from harsh chemicals that dry up the hair.
Detangle
This is the process of loosening knots and tangle, most found at the tips of your hair. This is usually done right before you wash your hair.
DIY
For real, this was one of the words a lot people use on their blogs and you-tube channels when talking about natural hair. I felt sill when I realised it meant Do IT Yourself, reasons best known to me lol. You guys don’t even want to know what I thought it was.
Deep Conditioning
This is a treatment applied to your hair (usually with heat) to moisturise your hair, for easy maintenance and curl enhancement. It is major key to taking care of your natural hair. You can read about the basics of deep conditioning here
Essential Oils
These are oils that promote healthy hair. You need them for your hair journey. A few of them include, rosemary oil, lavender oil, peppermint oil etc.
Fluff
To fluff means using your fingers to comb your hair to achieve a bigger volume.
Frizz
This is the dryness that happens when your hair isn’t properly moisturised. When your hair is dry, it can lead to serious breakage. Although there are a bunch of other things that could be breaking your hair and you don’t even know. You can read all about those here.
Heat damage
This is damage caused by exposure to excessive heat to your natural hair
kinky Hair
Used to describe tightly coiled hair free of chemical treatments
Moisturize
Moisturizing your hair is simply adding moisture (water, leave in conditioner, oils) that leaves your hair soft and healthy. Note that wet hair doesn’t equal moisturised hair.
Pree-poo
This is simply a treatment applied prior to washing your hair to soften and reduce loss of hair moisture. Most naturalista’s use oils as preepoo treatment.
Regimen
This refers to your hair care routine for styling, washing, etc.
Sealing
This involves applying oil or butter to the ends of your hair to retain the moisture in your hair and reduce breakage
Shampooing
Process of washing your hair with shampoo to eliminate build up and dirt
Transitioning
To go from chemically treated hair to natural hair without having to big chop, ie growing out your natural texture.
Trim
Periodic trimming of split ends and damaged parts of your hair for healthy growth
Twit out
This is a hairstyle achieved by two strand twisting of damp hair while its wet only to unravel after it gets dry.
Wash and Go
This is a method of co-washing the hair, adding a styling gel or cream without applying heat because while you go off to start your day, it dries off by itself.
Wash Day
This is a day set aside to preepoo, detangle, shampoo, condition, deep condition and moisturize your hair. I have talked about my hair routine here, do check it out.
We have finally come to the end of this post. I hope this was really helpful. please leave a comment below guys. Feel free to include any natural hair term I might have left out. Enjoy the rest of your day
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Fisayo <3.
So detailed! I live that you made the terms easy to find and comprehend. On my natural journey as well, and it is one that has built patience and excitement in me. You have a great day Fisayo! ♥️
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awwn. Thank you girl! your feedback means a lot. We’re conquering on this journey together ❤
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Most definitely! ♥️
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You don’t have something for us that are bald. We will not stand for this.😒😋. Well done ma.
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Lol send me a personal message, I’m sure we can work something out 😊😊
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Finally I know what pre-poo and co-wash mean. Please share, what do you think DIY meant? I want to laugh
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Lool it’s too embarrassing debs😂😂😂
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Thanks for this! I wish I saw someone post something like this when I was starting out. And you are beautiful! Bless!
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Haha
It’s never too late. Thank you ❤
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Great thorough list, just thought of more to add to the list, shingling and raking, twa, low-po, tension blow-out (I think it is called), SSK, dusting the ends. Those are some I could think of☺
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Haha. Never thought of including those. Thank you 😊😊
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Hey hun! Thanks for the terminology breakdown! When I also became natural, all these terms sounded like greek to me, especially from America youtubers and bloggers, who just used abbreviations all together!! It really helps to know what this stuff actually means. Glad to know I was not alone 🙂
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Haha, we’re many 😂😂. Thanks for stopping by 🙌
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You’re so fine shaaaaaa. Chai! ❤❤❤❤
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Awwwn thank you ❤❤❤❤😭❤
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I’ve been natural for going on 3 years and still didn’t know some of these terms! lol Thank you for enlightening me! I’ll now know what they are talking about on YouTube for sure!
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Haha. So many of us 😂😂. I’m so glad you know now. Thanks for stopping by
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My new natural hair dictionary, nice one 🙂
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Yay 😊
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😊 Now following your blog, hope you follow mine too 😊
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On it love 😊😊😊
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I now know what pre poo means😁
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Loool now you do! Haha. Thank you for reading Mapie 😊
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What’s the difference between wet hair and moisturizing. Cause I just like our my hair under a tap (not literally but you get ) when I think it needs moisture
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Lol the difference is clear, wet hair will get dry and frizz up, moisturized hair will get dry but still retain “moisture “. I hope that makes sense 😊
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Thank you so much for the terminology! Add TWA to the list. This was very helpful!
Shannon
curlcrown.wordpress.com
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Thanks Shannon, hope to see more of you!
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Beautiful think hair 🔥💕😍
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Thank you! I 😊
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