Curly and Textured Hair Glossary

A way of describing the shape of your strands. A widely used system numbers hair from 1, straight, to 2, wavy, 3, curly and 4, coily, with letters A to C describing how loose or tight each pattern is. Most heads have more than one pattern.

Waves form loose S shapes, curls form defined loops, coils form tight spirals, and kinks form tight zigzag patterns. All are healthy, natural textures.

How easily your hair absorbs and holds on to moisture. Low porosity hair resists water at first but holds moisture well. High porosity hair drinks moisture in quickly but loses it quickly too. A specialist can help you read your hair's porosity.

How many strands you have on your head, described as low, medium or high. It affects how much product you need and how styles look.

How thick each individual strand is, described as fine, medium or coarse. Fine strands can be fragile even when you have lots of them.

How much a strand can stretch and return without breaking. Healthy elasticity is a sign of a good balance of moisture and protein.

When curls and coils spring up as they dry, so hair looks much shorter than its true length. Shrinkage is a natural sign of healthy, elastic texture.

The fine hairs along your hairline. They are the most delicate on your head, so they are best styled gently and kept away from tight tension.

The day you cleanse, condition, detangle and style your hair. For many people with textured hair it is a planned routine rather than a daily task.

A treatment applied before shampooing, often an oil or conditioner, to protect the hair from dryness during cleansing.

Washing with a cleansing conditioner instead of shampoo, for gentle cleansing that keeps moisture in.

A deeper cleanse that removes product build up. Most people only need it every few weeks.

How slippery a conditioner or detangler makes the hair. Good slip helps fingers or combs glide through, reducing breakage.

Hair needs both moisture for softness and protein for strength. Too much protein can leave hair stiff and brittle, while too much moisture can leave it limp and overly stretchy.

Weakening that can happen when hair repeatedly swells with water and dries again. Balanced care and not over soaking help prevent it.

Layering products in a set order to hold in moisture: liquid, oil and cream, or liquid, cream and oil. The best order depends on your hair.

A technique where conditioner is scrunched into wet hair with water, helping curls clump and drink in moisture.

Wrapping wet, styled curls in a soft cotton T shirt or microfibre towel to absorb water and reduce frizz without disturbing the curl.

Drying curls with a diffuser attachment on a hairdryer, which spreads the airflow so curls keep their shape.

Gels can dry into a firm coating called a cast, which holds curl definition. Once hair is fully dry, you gently scrunch it to break the cast and reveal soft, defined curls.

Reviving curls between wash days with a little water, leave in or styler.

Styling products applied to wet hair, which is then left to dry in its natural pattern.

Hair is twisted or braided while damp, left to dry, then unravelled for defined, stretched waves or curls. Read our Twists guide.

Loosely gathering curls on top of the head at night to protect their shape while you sleep.

A style that tucks away the ends and reduces daily handling, such as braids, twists or locs. Kept light at the root, they give your hair a rest. Read our Locs guide.

A haircut designed around your curl pattern, often cut dry or curl by curl, so the shape works with your natural texture.

A heat straightening service for natural hair without chemicals, so curls return after washing. Read our Silk Press guide.

Changes to the hair from too much heat, where curls no longer spring back into their natural pattern. It cannot be repaired, only grown out and trimmed gently over time.

Growing out relaxed or heat damaged hair while keeping your natural texture, often trimming the old ends gradually. Read our Relaxer guide.