Hairdressing Terms Explained
Hairdressing has a language of its own, and a lot of it goes unexplained — which makes it harder to ask for what you actually want. A good appointment starts with clear communication, and that’s far easier when you and your stylist are using the same words. This A–Z is a plain-English guide to the terms you’re most likely to hear at Wisteria Avenue in Abingdon. Bring a photo too — the words and the picture together give your stylist the clearest possible brief.
An A–Z of Hairdressing Terms
A
Ash tones — A cool, ashy hue with no warmth in it. Ash shades tend to flatter cooler skin tones and are often used to counteract unwanted warmth in lightened hair.
B
Babylights — A very fine, delicate highlighting technique that lightens the hair in small sections for a soft, subtle result.
Balayage — A colouring technique where lightness is worked through the hair from roughly the top of the ear down, leaving the roots untouched. It’s prized for looking natural and being low-maintenance — our guide to the difference between balayage and ombre explains it properly.
Base colour — The colour of the hair at the root area, which acts as the starting point for any colour service.
Blow dry — Drying, and often styling, the hair after a wash or cut.
Blunt cut — A cut where all the hair falls to the same length. It suits finer hair particularly well, creating the illusion of density and volume.
Bob — A short-to-medium length cut, traditionally kept to one length.
C
Chignon — A classic “hair-up” style where the hair is pinned into a knot. The name comes from the French chignon du cou, meaning the nape of the neck.
Choppy — A cut with deliberate added texture, usually best suited to shorter and mid-length hair.
Colour correction — The process of putting right unwanted, uneven or damaged colour. It can be extensive work and sometimes needs more than one appointment.
D
Demi-permanent — A colour that sits between semi-permanent and permanent. It lasts longer than semi but fades out gradually rather than being there for good. It’s often used for blending grey, toning, or refreshing existing colour.
Density — How many individual strands of hair you have on your head — in other words, how thick or thin your hair is overall. Not to be confused with texture.
F
Feathering — A cutting technique that softens the ends and reduces bulk, particularly effective on thick hair.
Flat — A common description of hair that lacks volume or movement and looks limp, often when it hasn’t been styled.
Full head highlights — Highlights (also called foils) worked throughout the whole head for an all-over lightened effect.
G
Graduated — A cut that is shorter at the back and gradually lengthens towards the front.
H
Half head highlights — Highlights worked through the top and sides of the head only. A shorter, more cost-effective appointment than a full head.
Highlights — Sections of hair lightened to add brightness, contrast and dimension.
K
Keratin — A protein that occurs naturally in hair, skin and nails, and a key part of healthy hair. Keratin treatments are used to smooth and improve condition.
L
Layers — A cutting technique that removes weight and adds movement and body, especially useful for finer hair.
Lowlights — Darker sections added through the hair, often used alongside highlights to add depth and stop a colour looking flat.
O
Ombré — From the French for “shading”. A graduated colour effect that is darker at the roots and blended down to noticeably lighter ends.
P
Perm — A treatment that sets a long-lasting curl or wave into the hair.
Porosity — Your hair’s ability to absorb and hold moisture. It has a real bearing on how hair takes colour.
S
Semi-permanent — A gentler form of colour that fades gradually and is less damaging than permanent colour. Our JOICO semi-permanent colours last roughly 15–20 washes — you can read more on how long semi-permanent colour lasts.
Serum — A lightweight styling product that adds shine and helps tame dry or unruly hair.
Skin fade — A men’s cut where the hair is graduated shorter and shorter down the sides until it blends into the skin.
T
Texture — The thickness of each individual hair strand — fine, medium or coarse. Different from density.
Thinning scissors — Scissors with teeth on one blade, used to reduce bulk. Not every stylist chooses to use them.
Tint — An all-over, root-to-tip permanent colour in a single shade.
Toner — A colour applied after lightening to refine the final shade. Our post on what a toner actually does explains why it matters.
T-section — A small highlighting service that focuses on the parting and hairline to address regrowth — see what a T-section is for more.
U
Undercut — A cut where one or both sides are clipped short and left disconnected from the longer hair on top.
V
Volume — The fullness and body in the hair, often boosted with cutting techniques and the right styling products.
W
Warm tones — Colours with golden, copper or red undertones, which tend to flatter warmer skin tones.
Still Not Sure? Just Ask
You don’t need to memorise any of this — the words are only a starting point. The best results come from an honest conversation about what you want and what will genuinely work for your hair. If you’re planning a change, book in for a free, no-obligation consultation, and have a look at our price list to see what’s involved.
