Common Beauty Terminology
There are various terms that are used in cosmetology and beauty schools and shops today. Here you can get the meaning of a few of them to help you understand what your stylist might be telling you.
The word absorbent is usually used in referring to hair that easily takes in liquid such as like a sponge. An accelerator is used when referring to tanning products normally. This product will improve melanin production and decrease the amount of time required for you to tan. Acid mantle is the combination of sebum and sweat which helps to protect the skin.
An acid perm is a solution that will provide you with a permanent wave in your wave. It tends to be softer than the other version known as alkaline perm. An alkaline perm has a pH greater than 7.0 and is not acidic. Allergens are those things which will cause allergic reactions to various products. Many things in a beauty salon can be sources of allergens.
Amino acids are one of the proteins that are considered to be a building block for your hair. Alopecia is a condition that causes baldness in many areas where hair grows. When your stylist talks about anagen they are referring to the growth cycle of your hair. A discussion about body will be the amount of spring that you have in your hair.
When discussing various hair colors, basic shade refers to your natural color while brassy is considered a tone that you do not want in your hair which has been created by the use of various chemicals and/or damage to the hair. When your stylist says that they to use a cationic polymer, this is a product that will provide a positive electric charge to the hair to help reduce static.
If you are having problems with your hair, there may be a discussion about the capillaries. These are little vessels of blood flow that feed the hair. Cetyl alcohol is used to help soften the hair and smooth it. It is commonly found in shampoo products. Chamomile is used usually to enhance blonde hair colors.
Chelating, which is also known as clarifying, is the process of gently stripping the hair of leftover products. This process is usually performed just prior to a chemical treatment of any sort in order to help the results that are achieved. Catogen refers to the stage of when your hair is resting and not growing.
Conditioner and cream rinse refer to the same type of product just with slight variations to the consistency. Both are intended to improve the condition and control of the hair by smoothing and boosting the follicles. Dandruff is a condition of dry, flaking skin on the scalp. Generally if you have dandruff your stylist will recommend a special shampoo to help resolve the issue.
Various chemicals are used in a salon as well. The term barbicide is a brand name sanitizer that the stylists use to disinfect their various tools such as combs, brushes, irons and so on. Ammonia is used many times in hair color and usually is used for decolorizing the hair. It is commonly found in blonde hair colors.
Additionally you may have a discussion about your skin. When you are referring to the dermis, this is the inner layer of skin just under the surface. It is also the thickest part of the skin. Epidermis is the very outer most layer of skin. Elasticity can refer to either the skin or the hair. When referring to the hair it is referring to the hair’s ability to stretch as when brushing and then return to its original shape without breaking. When referring to the skin you are discussing the lack of collagen in the skin. The breakdown of collagen occurs as a person ages or as damage is caused by exposure to UV rays from the sun or various other sources.
Emollients are used to help smooth or soften the skin while sometimes an emulsifier is used to thicken the lotion and make it a cream instead. Exfoliating refers to removing the dead layer of outer skin to provide a better surface that is fresh and smooth. When you have a procedure known as depilate, you will be removing the hair from the surface of the skin such as when you shave.
If you are getting your hair relaxed, you are usually having curls chemically loosened so they are wavy or even gone completely. A hair extension is a piece of hair that is added on to your existing hair. This is usually done to add to the overall length of your hair.
There are many more terms which your stylist may use. If you do not understand what they are telling you, ask them to explain or show you examples. Many times the stylist is like a doctor. They will forget that you may or may not understand the terms they are using as they are well educated in the meaning of the various things.