41 Hair Terms You're Hearing Everywhere, Decoded

An asymmetrical cut is a style where one side is cut shorter than the other — sometimes, two lengths are better than one. For more hairstyles that are popular this year, head here.

This beloved technique involves hand-painting highlights onto the hair for a natural look. Many people prefer this to traditional foil or cap highlights, which can look overdone and more obvious, particularly when your hair is growing out.

This classic 1960s trend saw women teasing their hair into a super tall, conical look. Popularized by pop stars like The Ronettes, this style is one of the most iconic of the decade—and it's back in style now.

"A bevel is a slight curve which gives the hair a softer look," explains DreamDry senior stylist Jenn Bradford. This is perfect for when you want your locks styled straight, but not pin straight.

This chin-length style originally became popular in the early 1920s, after stars like Louise Brooks and Colleen Moore donned it on the silver screen. There are tons of variations you can try, whether it's a shaggy texture on the ends or a crisp A-line cut.

This rounded, poofy style gained popularity in the United States during the early '60s, when Jackie Kennedy rocked it as First Lady. It's a little quieter than the beehive, but it still packs a lot of volume.

Simply put, "This hairstyle involves pinning your hair into a knot," says Pantene celebrity stylist Gabriel Samra. It's an elegant look for any occasion, whether it's a friend's wedding or your own date night.

A combination of conditioning and washing, this is a technique many women with curly hair opt for in the shower. "This method not only helps you cleanse you hair, but it's gentler on your scalp and preserves natural oils," explains Bradford.

A deep conditioning treatment offers moisture and vitamins in order to restore weakened strands and improve shine. It can be performed at your salon by a stylist, or you can try a drugstore deep conditioning treatment for an at-home session.

This layer is the thickest part of your hair, and it's what gives your hair its color, which is why Bradford insists that preserving it is so integral to your hair's health.

Your curl pattern is the shape of your hair's spiral. To uncover yours, Bradford says: "Once you've washed and conditioned your hair in the shower, use a wide tooth comb to gently brush your hair; determine if your pattern is a soft 'S,' spiral, zig-zag, kinky, or loose curl." Knowing this can help you determine which products you should be using, how to care for your curls, and even which style tutorials you can best emulate, should you be a fan of YouTube beauty bloggers.

You've likely heard this term in the context of your nail beds, but your hair strands have cuticles, too! "The cuticle is the outside layer of the hair shaft that protects hair from damage," explains Meri Kate O'Connor, senior colorist and educator at Eva Scrivo Salons.

If you're looking to add shine or switch up the tone of your hair color, go demi-permanent. "It uses a low-volume developer to add color to the hair, so it lasts approximately 24 shampoos," says O'Connor. Plus, it "grows out softer than permanent color."

"A diffuser is a blowdryer attachment that minimizes a lot of the frizz that comes when curly hair is naturally air dried," explains hairstylist Brittan White. "It also gives a boost to the curls that may lay flat because of your hair's weight and length." To learn how to use one, watch our step-by-step diffuser tutorial.

This popular style is perfect for men (and women!) who are looking for a simple, trendy cut. "A fade is a close cut on the edges of a man's haircut, typically at the sideburns or temple region and the back hairline, that gradually transitions into longer hair toward the middle and top areas of the head," says Bradford. "A fade on the sides and edges makes the haircut look softer when it's growing back."

Popularized by one of our favorite ladies of the '70s (Farrah Fawcett!), this technique features finely textured layering. "Feathering offers a softer look for women who want layers in their hair without the layers being obvious," says Bradford, who adds that when done well, this style can be simultaneously chic and low-maintenance.

You know how stylists are always talking about maintaining the integrity of your hair follicles? That's because this is where your hair is produced, making it critical to keep 'em healthy.

Fringe, a.k.a. bangs, is one of the easiest ways to change up a cut. "This involves cutting the front part of the hair so that it lies over the forehead," explains Samra. While bangs are often cropped straight at or just above the brow, you can change 'em up by making them ruffled, choppy, gelled, super short, or even spiky.

This style features hair in layers that angle upward. "Graduation in a cut gives hair striking shape and can be used for both men's and women's haircuts, as well as on curly or straight hair," says Bradford. For more short hair ideas, follow us over here.

If you've ever lusted for long hair but can't quite seem to grow it out, you may want to give extensions a go. They add instant length, can be made from real or synthetic hair, and are available in every color of the rainbow. For more info, read our guide to hair extensions for all sorts of fun facts, including pricing and variations.

Your hair texture is determined by the circumference of an individual strand of hair, with fine hair having a small measure around the strand and coarse hair having a large circumference.

Before you flat iron, curl, or blow dry your hair, pros recommend using a heat protectant to defend the strands from getting fried or dulled.

When you hear a stylist referring to heat styling, she's talking about the use of heat tools to do your hair. Curling irons, blow dryers, flat irons — anything that requires, you guessed it, heat!

"A Keratin treatment is a protein-based coating that targets the cuticle and smooths out your hair," says O'Connor. It's a popular treatment for celebs with wavy or curly hair.

One of the most popular techniques at salons today, layering arranges hair into shorter and longer lengths. These layers can be blended for a more subtle look, or cut into totally different lengths for a more dramatic feel. Need inspiration? Try one of these 60 layered styles for long hair.

Once your hair has grown out of its roots, it cannot repair itself — and that's why the lipid layer is so important. "The lipid layer of the hair helps protect and preserve the strand, specifically to guard it from blow drying, brushing, and the overuse of products," says Bradford.

Meet one of the biggest celebrity haircuts of the year. If your hair is starting to thin or you're just craving a more versatile style, consider the lob, a.k.a. a long bob. It usually starts around the shoulders and can go slightly past the collarbone. If you want some inspiration for the salon, one these 17 lob haircuts should do the trick.

Ombre hair, still trendy as of this year, is simply hair color that transitions from one hue to another. This switch can be subtle (a.k.a. sombre hair), dramatic, natural, or totally unnatural. It's a very youthful look, and if you want more where that came from, try one of these 11 hairstyles that'll take off 10 (!) years.

Perms take your hair from one texture to another by putting it into waves or curls, then using chemicals to set it permanently. And guess what? They're finally back in style!

If you're going for a dramatic 'do or a more long-term change, opt for permanent color. "This permanently alters the color of your hair and covers gray one hundred percent," explains O'Connor.

The pixie cut is super-short but often flattering hairstyle that has seen such iconic wearers as Twiggy, Mia Farrow, and Halle Berry. We've got 34 variations of the pixie cut here, so pick your favorite and take it to the salon with you!

This effortlessly cool style features hair combed upward and rounded, sans part.

"Razoring is one of the most effective ways to layer, remove bulk, and add texture to your hair," says Bradford, who adds that your hair should be wet when it's being razored — and that stylists need to use a sharp razor.

Everyone knows that regular trims is a core way to keep your hair healthy, but what exactly does "regular" mean? "You should get your hair cut every six to eight weeks," recommends O'Connor. This way, you wind up with fewer split ends, less breakage, and a smoother 'do overall.

Blowing out your hair to a smooth finish takes time, but rough drying means blow drying your hair juuust enough to get the water out — and styling it with your hands, rather than a brush. (Pssst...if you like the snooze button as much as we do, here's a bonus round of quickie hairstyles.)

While many women prefer using a diffuser to get curly locks nice and shiny, Bradford says scrunch drying is just as effective. "Once you've cleansed your hair and removed any excess water, flip your head upside down and gather sections of hair in your hands, then scrunch it to accentuate any natural curl," she explains. It's best to do this when your hair is about 50 percent dry — and spritz on a sea salt spray beforehand.

You know how your stylist often separates your hair and puts it into clips as they cut it or blow it out? This is called sectioning, and it allows the stylist to segment your hair in order to hit every...single...strand.

If you want change without commitment, "Semi-permanent dye is a non-ammonia based hair color that is not permanent and lasts up to 10 shampoos," says O'Connor. Perfect for a fun new style during Halloween or a special occasion!

Oh, the shag. It's so close to the mullet, yet (thankfully) so far away. Popularized in the '70s by celebs like Jane Fonda, Joan Jett, and Florence Henderson, this crop features shorter locks on top that graduate to longer layers toward the back.

If your hair is becoming cumbersome to style, you may want to talk to your stylist about thinning it during your next appointment. "This technique is used to take the bulk or weight out of hair during a haircut," says O'Connor.

An undercut features long hair on top and buzzed hair on the bottom, often with the front slicked away from the forehead. While this cut is most commonly seen on men, women have been known to rock this edgy look as well.