There is always something to learn when it comes to hair care, either your hair is natural or relaxed, one of which is the different terminologies and acronyms associated with hair care. We are here to provide you with all the necessary hair acronyms that will be useful to make taking care of your curls easier.

In this article, you will find some acronyms that will come in handy to you for your hair journey, their meaning, and their importance.

ACV

Apple cider vinegar – a beneficial ingredient for curly, kinky, or natural hair. It is used to regulate the pH of the scalp and prevent many of the negative effects of alkaline hair products by doing ACV rinses! ACV has a pH of about 3, but diluted with water it will be close to the normal acidity of your scalp.

BAA

Big A$$ Afro or Bad A$$ Afro

BC

Big Chop -This process is often looked at as an alternative to transitioning since big chopping your hair means cutting off all of your relaxed or processed hair. You can also transition your hair before performing a big chop, growing it out slowly until you can see where your natural hair and what’s left of your processed strands meet.

DC 

Deep Conditioning – Hair is saturated with a deep conditioning product that is specially formulated for deep conditioning treatments and left on the hair for a specified period according to the directions. 

EVCO

Extra Virgin Coconut Oil -It a great oil for pre-pooing or pre-conditioning the hair to prevent protein loss when wet combing. It is one of the few oils that have been tested and known for penetrating the hair shaft.

EVOO

Extra Virgin Olive Oil -It can be used on your skin and hair. It is thought of as penetrating oil and is often used as pre-poo or pre-conditioning.

GHE

Green House Effect – mimics the effects of a greenhouse, whereby heat is trapped in an environment. In this case, heat generated in our heads is trapped within a plastic cap, which creates a warm environment, this increases blood flow that stimulates hair follicles and raises your hair growth rate.

JBCO

Jamaican black castor oil – is extracted through a traditional method of roasting, grinding, and boiling the castor seed before being pressed to release the signature dark brown oil. Its benefits include;

• Moisturizing dry hair and scalp
• Restoring split ends and brittle hair fibers for a shiny and smooth appearance
• Promoting blood circulation to the hair roots to stimulate regrowth

etc.

LOC

Liquid/Leave-In Conditioner, Oil, and Cream – the term “liquid” in the LOC method generally refers to water or a conditioning hair spray that uses water as a base. Leave-in conditioners are typically also water-based and can range in texture feeling watery, milky, creamy, foamy, whipped, or like a lightweight custard or pudding.

The term oil in the LOC method is just that—an oil. The beauty of oil is that it can create a layer around the hair shaft that prevents water from escaping, which in turn helps hair to stay moisturized for longer periods. Creams do a similar job, but as the last step in the LOC method, they are meant to be the heaviest out of the bunch. Whether your hair prefers a thick moisturizer that is like a smoothie or butter, this final step ensures hair has retained as much hydration as it can on the hair shaft.

LCO

Liquid Cream Oil – it is a helpful way to guard and protect the hair from everyday wear and tear. This can protect from wind, UV rays, and friction.

Friction is caused by simple things like a shirt collar, the back of a sofa, or a comb raking through the hair. 

The LCO Method aims to prevent friction by coating your natural hair with the protection you can wear without disturbing your hairstyle.

Layering on creams and oils after hydrating your hair can help to seal the strands and prevent harm from entering through the cuticle to damage the shaft.

How to do the LCO method

You’ll need:

• Plain water, aloe vera juice, or a water-based leave-in conditioner.
• Curling or smoothing creams, work well for the cream for LCO Method.
• Excellent LCO Method oils are Jojoba, avocado, or coconut oil.

PS

Protective Styles – These are hairstyles that protect the ends of your hair by keeping them tucked away, they require little manipulation, and allows regular moisturizing. Common styles like twists, coils, flat twists, and cornrows can all be converted to protective styles by tucking or hiding the ends.

SLS

Sodium Laureth Sulfate or Sodium Lauryl Sulfate

The majority of shampoos contain sulfates (compounds of sulfur and oxygen), or more specifically one of five sulfates — sodium laureth sulfate (SLES), sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), sodium These sulfates can actually be bad for your hair. Using shampoos that contain sulfates can result in fading from hair that has been color-treated, or in loss of oils, resulting in dry hair. They can cause irritation, too. Generally, sodium myreth sulfate causes the least amount of irritation, while ammonia myreth causes the most irritation.

TWA

Teeny Weeny Afro. 

This refers to a relatively short and compact afro. Most women have a TWA after they big chop to mark the beginning of their natural hair journey.