natural hair lingo for my newbies!!!!

ok so your thinking about going natural (insert applauds) go girl....but you been watching youtube vids reading blogs.....and you feel like all the naturals are speaking another language.....well dont worry i got you.....going natural is already a journey itself...i know learning a new language wasnt in the plans right?...to be honest idk why we have our own lingo....but i must admit i use the terms too....well i have a very short list of terms just for my newbies (like me).....now its so many terms but imma keep it simple for now and give you guys the basics ok!


Big Chop (BC) - To cut all relaxed/chemically treated or heat damaged hair down to the new growth in order to start their natural hair journey.

Co-wash – To wash your hair with conditioner instead of shampoo, conditioner wash.

DC - Deep condition or to give your hair a deep conditioning treatment
 or mask.

Detangle – getting all of the kinks and tangles out of your hair. It’s best to detangle your hair while it is wet and full of a detangling conditioner.

Dusting – The trimming of 1/4″ of less of the ends of your hair.

Heat Damage – excessive heat styling of your hair. Heat crack’s the hair’s cuticle and withdraws moisture which leaves hair dry and brittle. If you use heat stylers way that you can tell if your hair has heat damage is when it’s wet. If there are sections that are straight do not form your natural curl pattern it may be damaged from heat.

Lengths – The objective of many naturals is to achieve length. And when you go natural and learn how to properly nurture your hair you will see tremendous growth. Many set natural hair length challenges that they aspire to. So you will see many make reference to the following:
  
  APL Arm pit length
     BSL Bra-strap length
     CL Chin length
     MBL Mid back length (my goal)
     SL shoulder length

Scrunching – a technique to help with boosting your hair’s natural curl or wave pattern. You can use the scrunching technique on wet or dry hair. Scrunching is taking sections of your hair and crumple them into your hand and work up towards your scalp. Start with underneath sections then work your way up. For longer hair you may need to flip your head over or to the side to get all sections scrunched. If you scrunch wet hair dry it by sitting under a dryer, diffuse with a blow dryer or let air dry. I like to let mine air dry. Once dry, do not touch your hair unless you are scrunching in moisturizer, oil or glosser otherwise touching your hair at this point may make it frizzy or poof out.

Shingling -  a technique of applying a curl promoting styler to sections of your hair as you stretch and elongate to boost your hair’s natural curl pattern. When your hair is soaking wet and detangled, either after shampooing and conditioning or co-washing, section hair into small sections, apply product (i just use my cream of nature leave in) from roots to the ends of your hair while stretching your hair. I use my Denman  (really its a bootleg donna) brush after applying the product to stretch. Do this throughout your entire head of hair. When done with shingling, scrunch your hair all over to add a product like an anti-frizz serum or oil and to help define and set the curls. Then dry your hair by sitting under a dryer, diffuse with a blow dryer or let it air dry. I like to let mine air dry. Once dry, do not touch your hair unless you are scrunching in moisturizer, oil or glosser otherwise touching your hair at this point may make it frizzy or poof out.

Shrinkage – when your hair draws back or shrinks causing the length to look shorter than what it actually is. For example a lot of shrinkage happens when natural hair is styled in a wash & go. When that style completely dries your curls become tight and shrinks.

Stretching – a technique used to extend your shrunken curls, showing length.

Twist & Curl (TNC) – a curly hair style where you double strand twist your hair and roll the ends.

Transitioning - In stead of chopping off all of your chemically treated hair, you let your hair grow without getting more relaxers with the intent of going natural. When I transitioned I wore protective styles. i didnt realize i was transitioning

Twist Out - To double strand twist your hair let dry, either let air dry or sit under a dryer, gently take the twists apart and style.

Wash & Go (W&G or WNG) - To wash or co-wash your hair, add a styler cream or gel by shingling in, shake and Go. Let your hair air dry and go or dry using a diffuser

ok so now you have some terms and tips good luck on your journey and don't forget to check back for move tips and terms....i hope this video gives you encouragement to just do it...i found this video inspirational