Hair Guides · 40 terms
A–Z: every word explained
A
B
C
- Cold waveA perm with no machine and no heated rod: a lotion at room temperature and the tension of the wind.
- CollagenHydrolysed collagen is a conditioning film-former: it plumps, softens and glosses; it does not straighten.
- CortexThe thick inner structure of the hair that gives it its strength and colour.
- CuticleThe outer scales of the hair shaft.
- CysteamineThe reducing agent in "thio-free" perms, used instead of ammonium thioglycolate. It is itself a sulphur chemistry.
- Cysteic acidWhat bleaching turns the hair's cystine into. There is nothing left for a neutraliser to rejoin, so a perm drops out.
- CysteineAn amino acid. On a smoothing label, cysteine means the gentle tier.
D
- DemiThe middle commitment. About 60% of the curl out, 6+ months, no regrowth line.
- Digital permThe only perm that is curliest when it dries.
- Disulphide bondTwo sulphur atoms holding two protein chains together. Chemistry moves them, and that is permanent.
- DOWNLess curl, less frizz. Treatments that make hair smoother and straighter.
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F
G
H
K
L
M
N
P
- PermanentThe full commitment. 80%+ of the curl out, for good on treated hair; only new growth brings you back.
- Piggyback permThe wrap that lets one strand of hair carry two different curl diameters at once.
- PorosityEssentially a measure of how much of the hair's protective outer layer has been lost. It is not a measure of dryness.