Definitions of Tools and Terms
Index
This section of the LHC Thesaurus explains the different tools that can be used in creating and securing hairstyles, as well as accessories associated with hair, and the terms used throughout the thesaurus. Where threads exist dedicated to a specific topic links are included.
Tools
Barrettes - also known as a hair clip, hair-slide or clasp. Made in a variety of materials and closures.
Barrettes -
thread
Slides - usually two separate pieces: a straight stick and a larger piece that partially or completely covers the updo and through which the stick is inserted
Slide -
thread
Flexi-8 - brand name for a figure-8 shaped slide with attached stick
thread
Bun cages - generally a wire frame large enough to fit over a bun, secured with one or two hair sticks
Bows - bows can be as simple as a ribbon tied to the end of a braid, or a bow affixed to a barrette. Usually made of fabric.
Clips - distinct from barrettes in having a spring hinge
Combs & Brushes - used to remove tangles and/or smooth hair. These may be made from many materials. Poplular comb materials on LHC are wood, horn, and seamless acrylic.
Wide tooth comb
Fine tooth comb
Boar bristle brush
Hair forks and combs - anything with two or more prongs used for securing or decorating a hairstyle
Interlocking combs/Double combs - two combs joined by decorative bead-work on elastic, common brand name African Butterfly Comb-
thread
Fork
Decorative comb
French twist comb
Hair sticks - anything that is a single continuous piece without prongs.Claw - a stick shaped like a single curved claw. (Not be be confused with a spring hinged claw clip.)
Hair stick
Straight,
spiral, or with head curve
Moons - moons have a learning curve associated with them and may not be directly substituted for straight sticks in all hair styles.
Hair ties (and other ways of securing a braid or ponytail)
elastic band, hair elastic, ponytail holder or whatever you call it
folded elastic
mini claw clips - those tiny claw clips are useful for holding the end of a braid or securing an accent
mini paranda -
tutorial
pantyhoes ring
polybands - tiny plastic bands
scrunchies -
thread
Hats - some buns work better than others - Style of the Month
Headbands - hard or soft, can be used to hold hair out of face, for decoration, and some will keep your ears warm.
Calormetry - a warm yarn or cloth headband, often with a button closure or quite stretchy used to keep ears warm without disturbing a bun -
thread
Hard - plastic or metal
Soft - elastic or stretchy cloth
Paranda - a length of yarn or other mateiala that is braided into hair. Adds color, thickness, and/or length depending on user's desire. May contain ornamentation along length or at ends - thread
Pins - small, often metal, with two prongs for securing hair styles, excepting finishing pins, these are usually meant to be functional and unnoticed.
Amish pins
Bobby pins
DPN - double pointed knitting needles bent into a U shape
Finishing pins
Spin pins
U pins
Pony scrubs - a hair covering often used in the medical professions that includes a pocket for long hair.
Rats - used to give the illusion of more hair or achieve a particular shape (See Gibson Pompadour)
Doughnuts/socks - circular rats with a hole in the center that fit over a ponytail and are then covered with hair. Used in variations of the Sock Bun.
Ribbons - can be incorporated into hairstyles in many ways. thread, Style of the Month
Scarves - many ways to incorporate into a hairstyle - Style of the Month
Scissors - Keep them sharp and use them only for hair for best results. thread
Sleep caps - often made of silk or satin, a smooth cap to reduce rubbing during sleep.
Snoods - a cloth or yarn bag for holding hair, usually loosely.
General threads for tools
Hair Toy Links - where to shop (needs to be updated, also see Pastina's blog)
How to store
Hair toy addicts
Wear Everything Once (WEO)
Wear Everything AT Once
Self Made Hair Toys
Self Made Figure-8 Slides
Modified Ficcares
Vintage and antique- Tools for securing and deorating hair styles have been around for a long time. Antique thread, Vintage thread
NOTE: Not all tools are listed for each updo in the lists below. Many styles can be held with a claw clip or ficcare. If it can be held with a single stick, it can be held with a slide or figure-8 of the right size for your bun. It might say stick, but there is probably a way to make a fork work. Experiment and explore!
Terms
accent - a distinct detail that can be incorporated into many hairstyles
braid - a complex structure or pattern formed by interlacing strands of hair
bun - a hairstyle in which the hair is drawn back into a distinct mass at the back of the head
center held - a structural term indicating that the updo is held through or behind its center and not the outer edge
cinnamon - a twisted structure spiraling outward from a central gathering point
doubled twist - a structural technique effectively doubling the volume of a twist
flip - a structural technique in which a bun is flipped over after it is formed
gap - a structural technique in which gaps are created during a braiding process or the gaps inherent in adding sections to a root braid are used to anchor the length
hair stick anchor - a structural technique in which a hair stick is an essential anchor for a style
heatless curls - curls created without applying heat, usually performed on damp hair that is left to dry in a specific position and then undone
knot - a structural technique in which a knot is tied in the length
partial flip - a structural technique in which part of a bun is flipped
pocket - a structural technique in which a pocket is formed into which length is placed and secured
ponytail - used to indicate that the initial gathering of hair is secured at the scalp to form a ponytail before additional steps are taken
root braid - braids that incorporate sections of hair close to the scalp with each over/under.
sectioned - a structural technique often valued for its distribution or accommodation of thickness
topsy - aka braid flip - where a ponytail or braid is pulled through itself close to the scalp or behind a hair tie
twist - the appearance of one continuous twisted section that is actually the gradual incorporation of hair, often along the hair line
twisted - where hair is twisted in the same direction along the length
updo - hair entirely contained above the collar
wrapped - as opposed to twisted, where hair is wrapped without twisting the length
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