Cowash – Washing your hair with conditioner instead of shampoo or with a product marketed as a cowash. Click Here to see a tutorial of how I do it.
No Poo – A conditioner that cleanses the hair but doesn’t lather(very similar to cowash)
Lo Poo – A lathering shampoo with slightly stronger cleansing agents than a cowash
Pre Poo – Applying an oil or a conditioner to your hair before washing it
Final Wash – Washing your hair one last time with a shampoo that has sulfates, but no silicones
Transition – The time it takes your scalp and hair to get used to the Curly Girl Method. During this time, hair tends to look worse before it looks better. It usually lasts 2-3 months
Deep Condition – A way to add moisture to your hair.
STC – Squish to Condish – With conditioner in your hair, add water and squish. Add more water or conditioner as needed, squishing them in, repeat until your hair feels soft like seaweed. Click Here to see a tutorial of how I do it.
Clumping – When strands of hair group together to form larger curls
Raking – Using your fingers as claws, like a cat to apply your styling products
Praying Hands – Using both your hands, palms facing inwards towards each other, to glide your stylers on between them
Scrunching – Cupping your hair in your hands and gently squishing your hair up to your head
Finger Coiling – While wet, twisting individual clumps of hair around your fingers to create more of a spiral. Click Here to see a quick and easy way I do it in under 10 minutes.
Plopping – A way to use a cotton t-shirt or microfiber towel to help form/set your curls
Microplopping – Using a cotton t-shirt or microfiber towel to gently squish water out of your hair one section at a time
Root Clipping – Using hair clips on your roots to promote more volume while drying
Pixie Diffusing – A method of diffusing where you turn the diffuser off when moving from one section of hair to the next
Hover Diffusing – A method of diffusing where you move the diffuser around your hair, without touching your hair
Smasters – A technique where you add more styling product when your hair is about 50% dry
Cast – When your hair is dry and feels hard and crunchy
SOTC – Scrunch Out The Crunch. When your hair is completely dry, use your hands, a t shirt, or a silk scarf to gently scrunch out the crunch until your hair feels soft
Fluff – A way to add more volume to your hair by using a pick or your fingers to help lift your roots away from your head
Buff – A stretchy fabric tube with two open ends used to protect the hair. Tie it shut for extra protection. Click Here to see how I use it.
Pineapple – Gathering your hair at the top of your head and making a high ponytail or bun to protect your hair
Clarify – A way to remove buildup. You can do this with an ACV rinse, Lemonade rinse, or a clarifying shampoo(this is a low poo shampoo with sulfates, but not as strong of sulfates as in a final wash). Click Here to see a tutorial of how I do the ACV rinse. Also, I am planning on writing a whole post with more details about clarifying.
ACV – Apple Cider Vinegar
Porosity – Your hair’s ability to absorb and retain moisture
Deva Cut – A curl by curl cut done on dry hair
Unicorn Cut – A way of cutting your own hair and adding layers. Click Here to see my tutorial. I do have an updated one in the main feed of my Instagram account, but for some reason I can’t link it here.
If you would like a one on one Curly Consultation with me, Click Here for more details.