7 Common Cosmetology Terms
Just like any other profession, cosmetologists use certain words that are related to the industry. To someone that has never heard any of these terms, this can sound like a whole new language. We think it’s important to be familiar with these terms and words, especially if you are interested in pursuing a career in beauty or simply visiting your local salon for an appointment. Let’s take a look at some of the most common terms.
Balayage
A balayage is a hair coloring technique that highlights the hair in a natural way from dark to light. Balayage is french for, “sweep” or “to paint”. The technique is to naturally sweep a lighter color through your hair to give you hair the “I just got back from an amazing two week beach trip.”
Hair Toner
Have you ever noticed your pretty dyed blonde hair turning into a brassy yellow? This is where hair toner comes in. Toner uses a purple-blue tint to neutralize brassy yellow and orange tones. If you have bleached hair, it is often recommended to wash your hair with “purple shampoo” that carries toner. This is to keep your color lasting longer.
Bangs
Also known as fringe in the UK, bangs are the strands of hair cut to cover the forehead. There are different styles of bangs, from the thick and straight to side swept and thin wisps of hair that cover a portion of the forehead. Bangs are very versatile and can be done on straight and curly hair.
Perm
This iconic hairstyle is back from the 80’s. A perm, or a permanent wave, involves using heat and chemicals to give your hair a long-lasting curl or wave. The process involves washing the hair, wrapping the hair in form and then reagent is applied. There are multiple types of perms you can request, from tight curls to loose waves.
Shears
Shears, or hair-cutting shears, are significantly sharper than your average scissors and designed specially for cutting hair. There are different types of shears, such as texturizing shears that are used to thin, texturize, and blend hair. Sheers are typically five to seven inches long and have a hook, known as a finger brace, attached to one of the finger rings. This gives the stylist better control when using the shears.
Thinning
Thinning is a hair cutting technique that reduces the thickness of hair. It is done by using texturizing shears and running the shears throughout the hair. People thin their hair when their unruly thick hair becomes too difficult to manage or style.
Undercutting
This hair cutting technique is done by cutting the hair on the back shorter than the rest of the hair. This is to prevent it from growing longer than the rest as your hair grows. You have the opportunity to master undercutting in our barbering program!
Learn More for Yourself!
A strong understanding of terms like this is just a part of being a good stylist or cosmetologist. These are just some of the many terms students will learn when they enroll in Evergreen Beauty School. Check out this student success blog to read about one of our students and how she has rocked cosmetology! If you are interested in becoming a beauty pro, learn more about how Evergreen Beauty College can help you get the education you need!
