A

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Apple Cider Vinegar - (ACV) Used to clarify. Mixed at a ratio of 1-2 TBSP in a cup of water. As hair is slightly acidic in pH, this will smooth down the cuticle which helps to seal in any moisture after cleansing away build up.

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B

Balance - whether your hair has the right amount of moisture to protein. There are other factors to hair health, but hair needs both of these components to be balanced. To find out which your hair needs more of try this : take a hair or two. Wet them. Hold them tightly between your fingers and thumbs. Then stretch them slightly. one of three things should happen.

   1) It barely stretches, then snaps - your hair is lacking moisture.

   2) It stretches to about twice the length and returns back like an elastic band - your hair is balanced.

   3) Your hair stretches quite well, but doesn't return back to its' original length - your hair is lacking protein

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Build up - Many products build up on the hair. Weighing it down and making it look dull and lifeless. Fix by using a clarifying shampoo, or alternatively an ACV rinse.

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C

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Cast - when your product goes crunchy on your hair, this enables your hair to dry in a perfect frizz free curl. Once dry, the cast is scrunched out (SOTC) leaving a soft curl.

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Clarify - to remove build up.

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Co-Wash - Washing your hair with conditioner as in the Lorraine Massey Curly Girl Method.

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Coconut - acts as a protein mimicker. Also called Cocos nucifera on ingredients lists. It can make your hair feel dry and/or brittle if your hair is lacking moisture (see Balance above).

 

Conditioner - Acts at the surface of your hair, to improve the outer cuticle and aids de-tangling.

 

Curly Girl Method  - (CGM) A plan that was devised by Lorraine Massey to teach Curly people how to treat their hair. It is a good starting point if you're just starting to embrace your curls. It's one method. It's not the only method.

 

D

Deep Conditioner - acts deeper within the hair to address moisture and protein imbalances and to add nutrients. A heat cap can further help the product by opening the cuticle. 

 

Detangling - always use a wide toothed comb or fingers..and only on wet hair.

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Diffuser - the attachment that ifts to the end of the hairdryer to spread the flow of the air out which lets your curls do their thing.

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E

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Emollient - see "hair products explained"

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F

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Flaxseed Gel - In the UK they are called linseeds) a homemade gel using brown linseeds that develops a good cast. Easy to make. Very highly thought of for adding moisture to hair. Cheap as chips. Texture is a bit gross, but great results . See Recipe on Curly page.

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Frizz - the fuzzy bits that don't conform to the curl. Love it or hate it, you kinda need to accept it. Curls all frizz at some point.

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Flash drying - kind of instant frizz. You may notice it when your conditioner goes on or when you use certain products. Essentially, it's when the water is drawn out of the hair by the product used. Most often glycerine and aloe. But not exclusively. Experiment :))

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H 

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Hydration - the process of causing water to be absorbed into the hair.

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Humectant - see "hair products explained"

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I

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Itchy Ms - Methylchloroisothiazolinone and Methylisothiazolinone. Found in some conditioners. Can make your scalp sore or itchy.

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Invisibobble - Hairband that looks like an old telephone wire (remember those?) used to Pineapple at night

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L  

 

Lo-poo -Sulphate free mild shampoo.

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M

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Moisture - water. 

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O

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Olaplex - not a deep conditioner. A bond fixing treatment (once hair structure is healthier water can be better retained in the hair. Genuine Olaplex is not sold on Ebay or Amazon. The stock is usually counterfeit or expired. A variety of products are available, some of which are not CG friendly.

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P 

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Pillowcase - Silk pillowcases can prevent frizz whilst sleeping.

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Pineapple - A high ponytail worn on top of your head whilst you sleep. 

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Plopping - A CG term. Basically wrapping your hair in a towel or t-shirt after washing.

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Porosity - In simple terms, hair porosity refers to a strand of hair's ability to absorb and hold moisture. Hair that has high porosity can absorb the most moisture, or water, but it's unable to hold onto this moisture (which is not a good thing, since you want to keep your strands hydrated).

Low porosity hair will feel like it repels water as the cuticles are tightly shut. Curly hair is more often that not high porosity.

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Praying hands - Another CG term for the way you apply product.

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Protein - see "hair products explained"

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R

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Refresh - what you do to your hair on non wash days.

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Raking - method to distribute product through the hair.

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S

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Scalp massager - silicone brush bought on Amazon for around a fiver. Gently scrubs scalp without tangling hair. Love mine! 

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