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Have you seen a few technical terms floating about on i-glamour? Not quite sure what we’re on about? Here’s the solution! It’s our glossary to technical terms, applicable to hair appliances, beauty tools and hair care products.
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AC Motor
AC = alternating current. Used in professional hairdryers, AC motors are bigger, slower revving motors with more torque. AC motors are built for continual use within the hairdressing salon and will last from 1,000 to 2,000 hours depending on the quality.
Adjustable Heat
You control the exact temperature of the hair appliance, in turn reducing damage to hair caused by heat. Thin, fine or fragile hair doesn’t need ultra-hot temperatures that thick or coarse hair needs. As a guide, fine or fragile hair is best suited to temperatures up to 180˚C, medium length or naturally wavy hair up to 200˚C and thick, ultra-long, coarse or curly hair types up to 230˚C.
Air Flow Round Brush
These brushes are designed so the air from a hair dryer can blow through the hair and brush at the same time to cut down drying time. Usually they are made of plastic, rubber or wood.
Anodised Plates
On a hair straightener, anodised plates are aluminium with a colour fixed to the surface by an electrical process. Anodised plates are exceptionally shiny and excellent to use as they are extremely durable and don’t scratch.
Argan Oil
One of the world’s rarest oils, argan oil is derived from the Moroccan argan tree. Rich in essential fatty acids, Omega 6 and Vitamin E, it is valued for its ability to regenerate and nourish dry and damaged hair.
Boar Bristle Hair Brushes
Natural bristles used for hair brushes that massage the scalp, distribute oil and close the hair cuticle. Boar bristle brushes smooth fine hair resulting in easy to style, shiny hair.
Brushing Hair Brush
This type of hair brush is used to brush hair prior to shampooing to remove knots, tangles, styling product or teasing. They can come in a number of shapes and styles with very soft flexible nylon pins which bend when in contact with hair eliminating all tugging, tearing and pulling. This ensures no split ends and no damaged hair, whilst the ball tips stimulate circulation at the follicle.
Brushing Out Hair Brush
This is different to a Brushing Hair Brush. This hair brush is used after hair has been set with hot rollers, curling tongs or any wet roller set. They can be either a paddle or cushion hair brush with either boar, porcupine or nylon bristles, this depends on the hair type.
Carbon Hairdressing Combs
Combine carbon fibre and nylon which results in hairdressing combs that can withstand thermal styling, such as straightening/flat ironing, and chemical processes, such as smoothing and colouring treatments, as well as being extremely durable and static-free.
Ceramic
Often found in hair appliances. Ceramic retains heat longer while evenly distributing heat across the entire surface of the hair appliance, resulting in gentler drying and styling. When heated, ceramic also produces negative ions which close the hair cuticle creating a smoother, shinier and healthier-looking result.
Cold Shot Button
Is most commonly referred to for hair dryers. The cold shot button helps seal your hair shaft, setting your style in place and adding shine. Many hairstylists will finish off blow-drying a section of hair with a blast of cold air whilst the hair is still wrapped around a round hair brush.
Cushion Hair Brush
These hair brushes have a round or oval appearance and have a soft rubber base that the nylon pins or bristles sit into. These hair brushes are perfect for grooming all lengths and types of hair.
DC Motor
Retail hair dryers favour DC (direct current) motors. DC motors, compared to an AC Motor, tend to be lightweight and less expensive but only offer an operating life of approximately 500 hours. They are best used for home use. I
f you have difficultly wielding a hairdryer or are on a tight budget, you may appreciate a lightweight hair dryer with a DC motor.
Diffuser
Diffusers are attached to the nozzle of a hair dryer to enhance hair’s natural texture. Best for curly or wavy hair, diffusers work to soften the airflow so it does not disrupt the natural texture of your hair, helping to prevent frizz.
Dual Voltage
This means a hair appliance can be used almost anywhere in the world. Most commonly found in travel hair appliances, dual voltages convert 110/120 V to 220/240 V, but you will still need a standard adapter plug to fit into the electrical socket for the country you are travelling to.
Hot Tube Round Hair Brush
These can have a metal, ceramic, ceramic/tourmaline barrel, with holes through the barrel. Designed for a faster drying time allowing the air from the hairdryer to blow through the hair and hair brush at the same time. Brushes that have the added benefits of ceramic, tourmaline etc., will also emit negative ions taking the frizz and fluff off the hair as it is drying.
IntelliFlex Bristles
IntelliFlex bristles are specially created bristles for the The Wet Brush range of detangling hair brushes. IntelliFlex bristles are thin, strong and very flexible. They have intelligent flexibility – flexible on one stroke and firm on the next. The adaptive flexibility of IntelliFlex eliminates all tugging, tearing, pulling and ripping, providing ouchless brushing and detangling!
Keratin
Keratin is a protein that provides hair with a strong, protective layer. Keratin improves the structUre of the hair by bonding to the cuticle layer to smooth unruly hair resist humidity and reduce styling time.
Multiple Heat or Temperature Settings
These allow the hair appliance (hair dryer, curling iron, hair straightener, hot rollers etc) to adapt to different hair types and styling needs.
Nylon Bristle Hair Brushes
The strength and stiffness of nylon or synthetic bristles varies. As a general rule, stiff nylon bristles are excellent for thick hair types, whilst more flexible nylon bristles are recommended for medium to medium-thick hair or for people with a sensitive scalp.
Obliphica Berry (aka Sea Buckthorn Berry)
Is rich in antioxidants, essential amino acids, vitamin E, rare Omega 7 and 190 other bioactive nutrients, the Obliphica berry is actually a food and not a chemical based product, and the body instantly absorbs the nutrients.
Paddle Hair Brush
Square in shape and have a soft rubber base that the nylon pins or bristles sit into. These hair brushes are perfect for grooming all hair lengths and types.
Porcupine Bristle Hair Brush
Great for medium to thicker hair. This is when the brush has some bristles longer than the others. They can be made from all nylon, all plastic, all boar bristle or a mixture of any two bristles. The most popular combination with professional hairdressers is boar bristle and nylon bristle.
Silicone Base Hair Brushes
A silicone base on a hair brush prevents static and frizz during blowdrying. Sleek hairstyles are easily achievable, particularly with the assistance of rounded nylon bristles for maximum grip and ideal tension for styling.
Solid Barrel Round or Radial Hair Brush
Designed to add volume and straighten all hair types. These hair brushes can have any of the following barrels; wooden, ceramic or metal. Brushes with anything other than a wooden barrel are also called a Thermal Hair Brush.
Styling Hair Brush
A very loose term which is generally used when talking about hair brushes, most people will be referring to a round or radial hair brush that is used to change the shape of your hair when blowdrying.
Teasing Hair Brush
Teasing Hair Brushes have only 3 rows of bristles and used when teasing hair or for doing updo hairstyles. Due to the size of this brush it can be manoeuvred very easily and the tail pin handle is ideal for sectioning hair.
Thermal Radial or Round Hair Brush
Designed to add volume and straighten all hair types. These hair brushes can have any of the following barrels; ceramic, tourmaline or metal.
Titanium Technology
For hair appliances titanium technology offers more durable and longer lasting components. Zero corrosion. Titanium has the ability to be heated to extremely high temperatures very quickly, and heats extremely evenly. For hair straighteners and curling tongs, titanium can be buffed to a highly polished mirror-like finish resulting in no gripping or pulling of delicate hair strands whilst using.
Total Recall Technology
Total Recall Technology is exclusive to the TIGI Catwalk Curlesque Curl Collection of hair hair products. Made up of custom-tailored polymers which allow you to easily re-shape your hair back to its original style no matter what elements you encounter. This original style memory gives you the freedom to define your curls as desired.
Vent Hair Brush
Made from hard plastic or wood, these hair brushes are used for accelerating drying time because the air from the blow dryer can penetrate straight through the vent hair brush.They have the ability to pull hair straight or create volume due to the length of the pins.
Wattage
Wattage refers to a hair appliances’s power. This is the current being drawn from the power point. Say for a hair dryer as a general rule, the higher the wattage, the stronger the air flow and hence the quicker the drying time.
