History of "Stranded" and Hair Terms

For years, I was lost. I falsely believed that only a select few could have long, beautiful hair and that the rest of us were doomed to whatever length our hair could manage. While I never subscribed to the "good hair/good genes" school of thought, I did believe there was a hair hierarchy of which I was at the bottom. 

The media played into my attitude about hair, as well. Women of color are inundated with images of what society purports to be beautiful but those depictions rarely match what is reflected in our mirrors. I refuse to be made to feel inadequate because my tresses don't mimic those I see advertised in the media. I embrace the beauty of ALL hair types and celebrate the uniqueness of my own. The natural versus relaxed to debate is hackneyed and has no place in our community; do whatever makes you feel beautiful.

Once I educated myself and started my healthy hair journey, I made another error. While I knew having healthy hair was totally possible, I put all of my faith in the "professionals" and wouldn't speak up if things weren't going according to my plan. My silence has caused several setbacks and I only have myself to blame for these. I have adopted a hands-on approach to taking care of my hair and optimizing its health. I only go to stylists for touch-ups but I eventually plan to make them part of my past.

I thank all of the hair gurus who went against the grain to show we do not have to adhere to the standards of beauty that have been forced upon us. I want to take part in the growing community of women who are showing the world how beautiful our coils, kinks, and curls are. I'm blogging to document my progress but also to reach other women of color and help them realize that they no longer need to feel stranded.

Since there are so many hair terms and abbreviations out there, I thought this list would come in handy. I copied it from Hairlista and I hope it helps clarify any posts I write!

Acronyms:

EL – Ear Length
NL – Neck Length
SL - Shoulder Length
APL – Arm Pit Length
BSL – Bra Strap Length
BSB - Below Shoulder Blade
MBL – Mid Back Length
WSL – Waist Length Hair
GHE – Green House Effect
NG – New Growth
BC – Big Chop
DC – Deep Condition
NTM – Neutrogena Triple Moisture
AVG - Aloe Vera Gel
AVJ - Aloe Vera Juice
MNT - Mane N Tail
CW- Conditioner Wash
CWC - Conditioner, Wash, Conditioner
ACV – Apple Cider Vinegar
CON – Creme of Nature
WRTC - White Rain Tropical Coconut conditioner
BSS – Beauty Supply Store
PJ – Product Junkie
Slip – When the comb easily glides through the hair
IMO – In My Opinion
HHG – Happy Hair Growing
BHM – Black Hair Media
LHCF – Long Hair Care Forum
EVOO - Extra Virgin Olive Oil
EVCO – Extra Virgin Coconut Oil
JBCO - Jamaican Black Castor Oil
DIY – Do It Yourself
HTH - Hope This Helps
ETA - Edited To Add
TIA - Thanks In Advance
ITA - I Totally Agree
IA - I Agree
SO - Significant Other
DH - Dear Husband
DD - Dear Daughter
BRB - Be Right Back
BTW - By The Way
HE - Herbal Essences
HE LTR Herbal Essences Long Term Relationship
MT - Mega Tek
MN - Miconazole Nitrate
EO - Essential Oil
SAA - Silk Amino Acid
S&D - Search & Destory (Method for Triming off Spilt Ends)
ALS - Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate, Ammonium Laureth Sulfate
SLS - Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Sodium Laureth Sulfate
Cones - Silicones