Vocab Guide to Hair Glam

When it comes to getting exactly what you want at the hair salon, communication is key. Help your stylist out and avoid a teary post-appointment meltdown by studying up on some hair salon terms particularly on hair cuts. To clear up some of the confusion, we US-based celebrity hairstylists Lisa Lobosco and Jonathan Elkhouri, break down some of the most commonly used terms in the hair salon:

1. A blunt cut: Often requested at salons, to a stylist, a blunt cut means no layers and cut in a straight line. However, the client typically means it in the sense of a shoulder length bob, warns Jonathan. So be careful what you ask for.

2. Graduation: Stylists love to use this term! “For the client, you say graduation and they think diplomas and gowns,” says Jonathan. “For stylists, we are referring to the angle to which you cut hair. A better way stylists can explain this is that they’re cutting your hair so that your layers are longer on top and shorter/closer underneath at the back of your head.” A graduated cut is great for creating the appearance of more hair.

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3. Re-texturizing: This is a process that changes the texture of your hair from either curly to straight or straight to curly.

4. Layers: A big mistake many clients make is wanting a specific number of layers in their hair, says Lisa. “There is no such thing as numbers of layers. Layers are continuous angles from the shortest point in the crown to the longest point of length. The shorter you start at the crown, the more layers you’re going to look like you have.” Hmm, good to know!

5. Soft layers: Also known as long layers, these are usually for longer hair.

6. An A-line bob: A-line bobs are shorter in the back and angle longer in the front, with no layers.

7. A stacked bob: This bob is cut shorter underneath in the back with layers to create more volume at the back of your head.

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8. An inverted bob: Similar to A-line bobs, inverted bobs are shorter in the back and longer in the front. However, they may also include some stacked layers in the back depending on what the customer wants. Make sure you clarify.

9. A lob: What do you get when you combine “long” and “bob”? A lob, AKA a long bob!

*Quick tip: According to Jonathan, one of the most dangerous things a client can say to a stylist is to “thin my hair.” “If you ask this of an inexperienced stylist, you are looking at months of growing out that cut. Instead, ask the stylist to remove weight from your hair,” he advises.

Source: sheknows.com

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