The natural hair community has its own lingo that has taken me years to learn. I created this list to help new naturals understand terminology used in conversation and Youtube videos. The faster you understand the terms below, the faster your hair will grow.
Natural Hair Terminology & Slang
2nd-, 3rd-, 4th- Day Hair: Counts the number of days since you last styled/applied styling products to your hair; The term is used to describe the volume you experience from the following hairstyles: twist out, braid out, wash n go, etc.
ACV: Apple Cider Vinegar. Hair cleansing method that cleanses your hair, treat dandruff, and restores your hair PH level
Baggy Method: Cover your hair with a plastic shower cap as you deep condition
Big Chop: Cutting damaged ends of your hair before you transition to natural
Clarifying: Removing buildup on your hair from products, sweat, and dirt
Clumping your curls: Using a denman brush to define your curls. This method causes two or more curls to stick together creating a curl that resembles a loose finger coil
Coily: Tight Curls
Co-wash: Wash your hair with conditioner only
Creamy Crack: Perm
Dusting: Minimal trimming to the ends of your hair
EVOO: Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Fairy Knot: Single strand knot where one hair strand tangles on itself; usually you will see a visible knot at the end of the hair strand
Greenhouse Effect: Conducting the baggy method overnight
Hair Porosity: Describes how your hair absorbs moisture
Heat Damage: Damage your hair has experienced from excessive heat that causes curls to lose their shape
JBCO: Jamaican Black Castor Oil
Leave In: Conditioner that can be left in your hair without rinsing out
LOC Method: Product Application method where you apply your hair products in the following order: Liquid (water in a spray bottle) first, followed by a hair Oil and finish with a hair Cream
LCO Method: Product Application method where you apply your hair products in the following order: Liquid (water in a spray bottle) first, followed by a hair Cream and seal with a hair Oil of choice
Pineapple: Gather all of your curls to the top of your hair with a scrunchie. Curl Preservation method that can double as lazy day hairstyle
Plopping: Wrapping freshly washed hair in a cotton t-shirt to dry hair
Pre-Poo: Coat your hair with an oil of choice prior to shampooing your hair
Product Junkie: A person that collects the latest hair products in pursuit of the best hair product
Protective Styling: Hairstyle that minimizes manipulation where the ends of hair is tucked
Slip: Description of ease that a conditioner provides when detangling your hair
Shrinkage: Description of how curls lose their length as they dry
Stretching: Technique used to combat hair shrinkage
Texturizing: Product similar to perm that loosens the curl pattern slightly
Transitioning: Time period where you stop using chemicals and/or heat in your hair to restore your natural hair texture and hair health
TWA: Teeny Weeny Afro
Wash n Go: Wash your hair, apply your products, and go. Popular natural hairstyle