Glossary Of Terms

Adverse hair and scalp conditions: Limiting factors that have an effect on what and how services are delivered to clients, e.g. head lice, psoriasis, alopecia, cysts, impetigo, scars, moles etc.

Bleach: A hairdressing product that dissolves/removes natural colour pigments from hair.

Chemically damaged hair: Hair condition worsened by the effects of chemical processing.

Chemically treated hair: Hair that has been previously permed, coloured, bleached or relaxed.

Client care: Providing service to salon customers in a way that promotes goodwill, comfort, satisfaction and interest, which ultimately results on regular return visits from clients.

Client consultation: A service which is usually provided before the client has anything done to their hair. Consultation will find out what the client wants, identify any styling limitations, provide advice and maintenance information and formulate a plan of action.

Col (RG or FH): Appointment abbreviation for colouring, either regrowth application or full head.

Communication: Listening, hearing and responding to the client.

Contrasts: A marked difference (e.g. between colours, say black and white.)

Contra-indication: Something that signifies that an adverse reaction has occurred.

Cortex: The inner part of the hair where permanent colour is deposited and where perms make physical changes to the hair.

Depth: The lightness or darkness of hair.

Full head application of colour or bleach: A colouring technique that requires a sequence of applications to the mid-lengths, ends and regrowth area. 

Hair colour: The resultant effect from two colour aspects; depth, the lightness or darkness of a colour and tone, the degree of red, gold, ash etc. within the hair.
 
Hair tests: Tests used to determine contra-indications to hair services.
 
Hair texture: Texture refers to the ‘thickness or thinness’ of individual hairs: coarse, medium or fine.
 
Henna: From a shrub with leaves that yield a red dye ‘Henna’.
 
HL or H/L: Appointment abbreviation for highlighting. 

ICC (International Colour Chart) system: A tabular system for identifying hair colours                  made by different manufacturers by their depth and tone.

Incompatibility: Refers to incompatible chemistry. When incompatibilities are present within the hair- e.g. colour restorers, ‘Just for men’ or compound henna- no organic chemicals can be used.
 
Incompatibility test: A method of testing hair to see if previous chemical treatments are compatible with those used with professional salons.
 
Influencing factors: Anything which could affect the hairdressing service.
 
Lighteners: Lighteners are products that remove natural tone from hair such as bleach, or high lift colour.
 
Manufacturer’s instructions: Explicit guidance issued by manufacturers or suppliers of products or equipment, concerning their safe and efficient use.
 
Para-phenylenediamine: A dye compound found in many permanent colours.
 
Permanent tint: A penetrating colour product that adds synthetic pigments to natural hair until it grows out. 

Personal protective equipment (PPE): You are required to use and wear the appropriate protective equipment during chemical services or any situation where personal harm may be encountered.
 
PH: The presence of positive hydrogen ions with a compound which denotes its levels of acidity or alkalinity.
 
Porous hair: Hair that has lost surface protection, therefore having a greater absorption and less resistance to chemicals and products. This affects the hair’s manageability, handling and ability to hold in a style.
 
Quasi-permanent colours: Colour products which should be treated as permanent colours in terms of application, testing and future service.
 
Strand test: A test carried out upon hair prior to chemical services to determine the effects of processing.

Temporary colour: Colour added to hair that lasts until the next wash.
 
Tone: The aspects of colouration of the hair, normally grouped into similar tints, i.e. copper tones, red tones, ash tones.

The Semi-permanent colour: A semi-permanent colour is not mixed with hydrogen peroxide. It only penetrates to the lower cuticle and therefore lasts for a few washes.
 
Virgin hair: Hair that has not been chemically treated.