Hair and Beauty Glossary
A
Asymmetrical Cut
An asymmetrical cut is one where the length is not the same all the way around. One side of the hair drops dramatically below the chin.
B
Balayage
Derived from the French term ‘to sweep’, Balayage is a colouring technique that paints the highlights onto the hair. This gives your hair a more natural sun-kissed look that can shine at any length. This involves bleaching, so the technique may take longer for those with dark hair. It can take around three hours, but it’s worth it for the smooth, blended colours.
Bevelled Hair
This is a cut defined by soft curves, with bevelling being a kind of layering. There is only a slight difference in the length between the bottom and top layers – and the final result is a ‘bevel’ alongside the cut.
Big Chop Cut
This short hairstyle is popular among women of colour who are transitioning from chemically processed hair to their natural texture.
Blowout
A salon treatment in which the hair is washed, blow-dried and styled using hot tools. It is not the same as just blow-drying the hair; a lot of attention to detail goes into this treatment and the look will last three to five days.
BOND FUSION
A specially formulated hair treatment system, Bond Fusion can defend follicles against chemical damage. It restructures the bonds, allowing your hair to sustain any number of complex treatments without worry.
C
Chemical Straightening
Chemical Straightening will permanently straighten your hair. It is a treatment that takes between 4-6hrs, has several steps and will grow out of your hair. We take this very seriously and go through the whole process and the upkeep, to ensure that you are fully aware of your commitment.
Clarifying shampoo
Clarifying shampoo is a type of ultra-strength shampoo that is designed to remove the build-up of oil and dirt from the hair. Clarifying shampoo can be used on all types of hair, but it is particularly effective on oily hair.
Curtain Bangs
This 1960s-inspired hairstyle sees bangs fall below the brows. Wearers tend to sweep them across their faces, hence their name.
D
Dry shampoo
An aerosol product that is used between shampoos to remove oil and increase texture and volume to the hair. Referred to as dry shampoo as it is applied to dry shampoo and will not make your hair wet. Most importantly, choose a dry shampoo that can be used in dark or light hair.
Dry-cutting
Dry cutting is usually done after the hair has been washed and dried. Cutting hair when it’s dry is often used to correct and refine shapes.
E
Electrolysis
Electrolysis is a method of hair removal that uses electrical currents to destroy the hair follicle and stop growth at the root. Electrolysis is considered to be a permanent method of hair removal, and it can be used on all parts of the body.
Extensions
Hair extensions are pieces of artificial hair that are attached to the natural hair to add length, volume, or both. Extensions can be made from a variety of materials including human hair, synthetic fibres, and animal hair. Hair extensions can be attached to your existing hair using a variety of different methods including clips, tape, and glue.
F
Feathering
Feathering is a hair-cutting method that involves the hair being heavily layered with the shorter layers of hair being trimmed at an angle and the sides being brushed back. This shapes your hair into a ‘V’ shape and gives it a lovely, feathery look. Feathering was most popular in the 1970s and is a terrific technique to give volume and structure to fine hair. It is perhaps most associated with Farrah Fawcett, and typically sees the hairdresser holding the scissors at a 90-degree angle to achieve the feather-like style.
Flyaways
These are soft and fine pieces of hair that can often be difficult to control. Flyaways can be caused by various things, ranging from broken hairs or new hair growth to static or being in a dry climate.
Foiling
This is a process used to achieve highlights, where foil sheets separate the hair. The strands are then covered in the lightener or colour, followed by foil wrapping to control the lighting effects.
Fringe
Also known as bangs, a fringe describes locks of hair that cover your forehead. Fringes can vary in shape and style. Your stylist is the best person to recommend the best style of fringe/bang to suit your haircut, your face shape and your lifestyle.
H
Hair serum
Hair serum is a hair treatment that creates a coating on the hair. Your serum is designed to help you grow out and prevent split ends. When used regularly, this will seal the split end allowing you to grow them down and eventually be cut off. It can also help you to achieve smooth and shiny locks, as well as prevent frizz.
Hairline Bob
This is a recent style that is pixie length in the rear but longer at the front so that you can tuck strands behind the ears.
Heat Protectant
A special product that can protect the hair from heat damage during treatment. This prevents the hair from being dulled or fried, and Bond Fusion can offer this feature with ease.
Henna
Henna is a type of hair colouring product that is made from a plant called Lawsonia Inermis. Henna has been used for centuries to colour hair, skin, and nails, and it is a popular choice for natural beauty products. Henna can be used to create a wide range of colours, from light red to dark brown, and today it’s used in a variety of hair and beauty products including henna tattoos, henna hair colour, and henna body paints.
Highlights
Highlights are sections of hair that are lighter than your main hair colour. Highlights can occur naturally but many people choose to have highlights dyed into their hair. There are a number of different techniques for dying highlights, including hair painting and foil highlights.
L
Layers
Layers are shorter strands of hair that blend into the length to create volume and depth. Often used to remove weight from thick hair, they help to create shape and can be the defining feature in many styles.
Layered hair
Layered hair is cut into various lengths to create more volume and texture. Each layer of hair is cut shorter than the layers underneath it. The length of each layer can vary depending on how long your hair is and the look you want to have.
Lowlighting
This technique provides a darker colour to parts of the hair to give it more depth. It stands in contrast to highlighting, which uses lighter colours to add dimension.
M
Mermaid Hair
This magical style blends a wide variety of similar colours, such as shades of purple and pink. This is not too dissimilar from Rainbow Hair, but with a more subtle variety.
N
Non Chemical Straightening
Non Chemical Straightening can be a great introduction to straightening. This is a heat activated process that gradually washes from the hair. Usually lasting 3 months, depending on your lifestyle and the care taken. It is a great defrizz and ideal for someone who is wanting to maintain their curls and make the straightening process easier at home.
O
Olaplex
This is a hair treatment that protects the hair from chemical damage caused by bleaching and colouring, leaving it feeling stronger and looking healthy.
Ombré
Sometimes confused with Balayage, Ombré is a hair colour gradient that you can attain using the Balayage technique. This is a dramatic shift from light to dark (or vice versa) across the same head of hair – such as brown hair that turns blond by the tips.
P
Pastel hair
This refers to light tones of colours like blue, red, green, purple, or orange applied to the hair for a soft pastel effect. This style usually works best when applied to very light blonde hair.
Patch test
A patch test is a method of testing a new hair or beauty product on a small area of skin to ensure that you are not allergic to it. Patch tests are particularly important for products that contain chemicals or other potentially irritating ingredients. To do a patch test, apply a small amount of the product to an area of skin, wait 24 hours, and then check the area for any signs of irritation.
Perm
This treatment can be used to reshape existing curls or add curls to straight hair. It works by setting the hair in curls or waves and then treating it with chemicals so the style lasts for several months.
Pintura
This is an extension of Balayage for curly hair, painting the colour in specific patterns to match the curls. This gives it a more personal look, unique to your specific do.
Point Cutting
This method lightens the hair by softening the ends and adding structure. Scissors are held at an angle and the hair is cut vertically.
R
Rainbow Hair
As the name might suggest, Rainbow Hair is coloured with as much variety as a rainbow. Our colourists are more than capable of achieving this vibrant and dynamic look.
Roots
Roots are the part of the hair that grows from the follicles on the scalp. The roots of the hair are responsible for anchoring the hair in place and providing nutrients to the hair shaft. New hair at the roots grows in your natural hair colour, so if you colour your hair, your roots should be touched up every few weeks or months, depending on your hair growth and colour.
S
Shag haircut
This is a style of haircut where hair has been cut to various lengths with feathered layers. The layers make your hair look fuller around the crown of the head and thin out towards the ends.
Sombré
This is a subtle transition compared to Ombré, effectively meaning a ‘soft Ombré’. This uses less bleach, resulting in a less intense gradient that might be better suited to certain professional settings.
Steampod
This is a hair-straightener that uses a continuous application of steam at high pressure to help provide a wide array of finishes. We use the Steampod to provide some of our finest treatments.
T
Toner
Toners add natural or more visible tones to hair after it has been coloured or highlighted to ensure it’s a desirable shade. Tones can be cool (ashy), warm (golden) or neutral.
Trimming
This means cutting as little hair as possible with the aim of making it look healthier. Trimming involves only removing as much hair as needed to get rid of damage. It can encourage your hair to grow, as well as improving its appearance.
T-Zone
The T-zone is the area of the face that includes the forehead, nose, and chin. The T-zone is often oily, and many people use specialised skincare products to control shine in this area.
