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THE OFFICIAL WEBSITE FOR CURL KEEPER® PRODUCTS

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The Curl Glossary

A
ACV rinse : a clarifying rinse using apple cider vinegar 
Air dry : drying hair naturally, without a hair dryer 

B
Big chop : the big hair cut lots of curlies have to start their new regime
Blow out : a hairstyle achieved using heat and brushes whilst drying 
Breakage : when hair snaps, due to being too dry, excessive brushing or too much protein
Build-up : when products load onto hair strands over time, not fully washing off

C
Cast : the hard, stiff structure that forms around curls when styled with certain products 
CG approved : products allowed for usage within the Curly Girl Method 
Clarify : the removal build up, essentially a reset for our hair and scalp
Clipping (or root clipping) : the use of clips at the hair roots to achieve more volume whilst drying 
Clump : the sticking together of hair into curly sections 
Co-wash : to cleanse your hair with conditioner and scrubbing of the scalp
Cocktail : several styling products mixed 
Crunch : the hard cast formed after applying a product

D 
DIY : Do it yourself treatment 
Density : the number of hairs on your head 
Detangling : removing knots and tangles from the hair gently 
Diffusing : adding a cup like attachment to a hair dryer to aid in drying 
Drying alcohols : ingredients with a short carbon chain that speed up drying time, but can dry hair  

E
Emollients: Water Repelling ingredients that form a film on the hair strand, sealing the cuticle
Essential Oils: Highly concentrated natural oils, derived from plants
F
Finger Coiling: A curl training styling technique whereby curls are formed with your fingers in a coiling action
Fluff: A way to add volume to hair, using the fingertips to massage the hair roots 

G
Glycerin(e): A moisturising ingredient found in many hair care products - a type of humectant
H 
Holy Grail: Your go to products! 
Hair Type: The classifications used to identify the kind of hair you have, from straight to coils 
Halo Frizz: Frizz that sits on the uppermost part of your hair, forming a halo
Heat Damage: Damage caused to your hair when it is subjected to heat styling 
Humectant: Ingredients that attract moisture to themselves from the surrounding environment 
Hydrate: The act of moisturizing of your hair
Hygral Fatigue: Over moisturised curls!

K
Keratin: The protein your hair is made up of

L 
LOC Method: A styling method involving applying leave in, curl cream and oil in that order. There are several variants of this inc.LCO, LCEG, LOG etc (E being enhancer, G being gel)
Layers: A cutting technique where different lengths are introduced to the hair
M
Moisturiser: a product that smooths the hair strand, helping to trap moisture in

N
Night-time Routine: how you protect your curls at night

P
PVP: an ingredient found in styling products (particularly gels) that forms a film on the hair, helping strands stick in place
Pick: a hair tool used to create volume
Pineappling: a loose ponytail used to protect hair overnight
Plopping: Wet = wet hair plopped in a shower cap to aid moisture retention. Dry = wet hair plopped in t-shirt or microfibre towel for drying
Polyquats: ingredients used in styling products to form a film on hair. Can cause build up
Porosity: how able your hair is to absorb and retain moisture
Praying Hands: the spreading of product onto hair by taking the hair between hands in a praying manner, smoothing the hands from root to end
Pre-Poo: applying an oil or dc treatment to the hair prior to shampooing
Protein: hair is made up of a protein called keratin. The moisture and protein in hair needs to be balanced and moisture or protein treatments can help with this
Pulsing: the application of product into the hair with the palms of the hands scrunching upwards, then pulsing at the top

R 
Raking: the combing of product through the hair with the fingers
Refresh: reviving your curls  

S
Satin/silk Bonnet: A bonnet used for sleep protection. The satin/silk material is smooth, reducing friction and preserving curls
Satin/silk Scarf: A scarf wrapped around the head for sleep protection
Satin/silk pillowcase: A pillowcase designed to reduce friction and breakage during sleep 
Scalp Massage: Using fingers, massager, or brush stimulating blood circulation to promote healthy scalp and hair growth
Scalp Treatment: treatments designed to improve scalp health. Some can be medically prescribed
Scrunching: taking sections of wet hair in your hands squeezing as the hands move upwards. Can be used to apply product
Scrunch Out The Crunch/SOTC: the process of removing the hard cast formed by styling products. There is several ways of doing this including scrunching, clapping (COTC), praying hands, with oil, etc.
Shrinkage: the difference in hair length from wet to dry curls
Silicone: hydrophobic ingredients that coat and build up on the hair. Most can only be removed with sulphate shampoos, although there are also water soluble silicones
Slip: the slipperyness created by particular products on hair. High slip is desirable for conditioners when finger detangling
Smasters Method: the application of a small amount of emulsified styling product to the hair during the drying process
Squish To Condish: the squishing of conditioner into the hair to help absorption of moisture
Sulphates (acronym SLS): lathering ingredients used to clean the hair
Sun Damage: the damage caused by overexposure of hair to sunlight

T
Texture: the thickness of each hair strand (from fine to coarse)
Transitioning: the process of returning to your natural curls. Can involve a big chop
Trim: cutting off the hair ends to minimize split ends and breakage 

V
Virgin Hair: uncoloured hair that has not been damaged by heat styling either

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