Hair Lingo

What are they talking about??  A weft of #27 bonded to a track?!?  Don't worry, we'll catch you up to speed.  And if you have seen terminology that is not listed here, please contribute to this list.  This list is a work in progress.  Just e-mail us with the subject Hair Lingo.

Hair additions: any method of attaching hair that is not your own to your head.

Weaving: the process of forming a base (or track) along the scalp to attach wefted hair.  This process is not limited to the cornrow method.  Several other popular methods are the Euro-Lock, Microlinking, and Bonding.

Extensions: the process of extending a persons natural hair by attaching human hair in individual strands rather than rows (as in weaving).  Popular methods are Braiding and Fusion.

• Bonding: to attach wefted hair to the natural hair with a latex or  surgical type adhesive.

• Braid: to weave strands of hair together.

  • On the scalp braiding: is used to form a base or track to sew on a commercial weft.  This is the cornrow technique.

  • Off the scalp braiding: is used for traditional braiding styles and various methods adding extensions such as Warlocks.

• Bulk Hair:  term for loose commercial hair.  This hair is used for creating wefts or for services like fusion.

• Commercial Hair: term used to describe hair that is used in the weave/extension process.  Commercial hair is sold in wefts or in bulk (loose).

• Cornrow:  term used to describe an on the scalp braid.  These braids can be used to form a track for the cornrow weaving method. 

• Euro-Lock Technique:  a track is formed along the scalp by a rolling technique with a lock stitch.  Wefted hair is attached to this track.

• Fusion:  the process of attaching small pieces of human hair with a special adhesive and a thermal gun.  This is a hair-to-hair process, no tracks are required.  This method allows for free movement of hair extensions.

• Hair Additions:  any hair that is added to one's own hair that is used to create volume, color, texture or length.

• Hair Textures: 

  •     European:  Processed in straight, wavy or curly.  Fine and smooth.

  •     Ethnic Textures:  Processed in straight, wavy or curly.  More coarse than European.

• Hair weft clips:  to attach hair wefts by clips.  Clips are places in the hair and snapped close.  Wefts are held securely in place.

• Heat Clamp:  a heat gun that is used to seal synthetic hair.  Used for creating warlocks and other styles.

• Integration:  a crocheted web with attached hair.  The loose web allows the user's hair to be pulled through and "integrated" with the hair piece.

• Color ring:  a color guide that is used by the hair industry.  Colors are labeled by number.

• Kinky:  tightly curled hair.

• Micro-Linking Technique:  the process of attaching hair wefts without braids.  The links are sewn on to the wefted hair.  The user's natural hair is pulled through and locked secure.  This system is highly recommended for natural hair that is too fine or soft to hold other weave techniques.

• Pressed Hair:  hair that is thermally treated for a temporary straightening with a heated comb or iron.

• Processed Hair:  hair that has been chemically treated, natural or commercial.

• Relaxed Hair:  hair that has been treated to remove all curls and waves.

• Remi or Remy Hair:  hair that has cuticles aligned in a uniform direction. This typically applies to cuticle or minimally processed hair.

• Synthetic Hair:  hair that is made from chemicals.  Artificial Hair.

• Tension:  stress created by stretching, winding, weaving, or braiding the hair firmly.  Excessive tightness.

• Texture of Hair:  type of hair such as coarse, medium, fine etc.

• Thermal Process:  temporarily straightening the hair with a heated iron.

• Track:  parting or a cornrow that establishes the placement pattern of wefts or strand additions.

• Warlocks:  process of adding synthetic hair by using a "box" braid (four-strand braid).  The hair is parted in very small sections and only a small amount of extension hair is used at one time.  The box braid extends about 1/4" from the scalp  and sealed with a heat clamp.   Braided hair is interspersed with loose natural hair.  Hair is left loose at the hairline to cover braid based.

• Waves:  to have a series of curves.

• Weaving Machine:  used to make wefts or form tracks.

• Weave Needles:  needles used in the weave process to sew wefted hair to tracks.  Needles are curved or straight and very dull.

• Weaving Poles:  Used by experts for the process of making hand made wefts.

• Weft:  Commercial hair sewn on a fine base and used in the process of hair weaving.  Hair is referred to as wefted.

• Wet and Wavy / French Refined Weave:  Versatile texture that appears straight when purchased.  When the hair is wetted, waves appear.  It can be worn wavy, blown dry to straight or styled with rollers.

• Yaki (or Yaky) Hair:  a relaxed texture for ethnic weave styles.  It has a crimped, coarse look.