102C.15 Hair Care

A comprehensive set of vocabulary flashcards covering hair evaluation, textures, common hair and scalp conditions, and various types of hair loss.

Texture

The degree of coarseness or fineness in the hair fiber.

Density

The number of active hair follicles per square inch on the scalp; usually referred to as light, medium, or heavy.

Porosity

The ability of the hair to absorb moisture, liquids, or chemicals.

Elasticity

The ability of hair to stretch and return to its original shape without breaking; also referred to as resiliency.

Average Porosity

Hair with a slightly raised cuticle, having the normal ability to absorb moisture and suitable for most services.

Resistant Porosity

Hair with a flat cuticle that is able to absorb the least amount of moisture; also called "poor porosity."

Extreme Porosity

Hair with a raised cuticle that is damaged from chemical services or the environment, requiring treatment prior to chemical services.

Uneven Porosity

Hair that has a combination of two or more different porosities.

Normal Dry Hair Elasticity

Capably of being stretched about $\frac{1}{5}$ ($20/$) of its length.

Wet Hair Elasticity

Able to be stretched $40/$ to $50/$ of its length.

Acid Mantle

Lubricates the outermost layer of the cuticle and reduces friction from combing and brushing.

Broken Hair

Also known as Abraded Hair or Abraded Cuticle; characterized by a cuticle that becomes cracked and frayed.

Split Ends

Also known as Brittle Hair, Fragilitas Crinium, or Trichoptilosis; small cracks in the cuticle that deepen into the cortex.

Nodules

Also known as Trichorrhexis Nodosa or Knotted Hair; characterized by lumps or swelling along the hair shaft.

Canities

Grayness or whiteness of the scalp hair, which can be congenital (at or before birth) or acquired (due to aging, illness, or heredity).

Monilethrix

Also known as Beaded Hair; characterized by beads or nodes formed on the hair shaft where breaks occur between the nodes.

Matting

Also known as Plica Polonica; characterized by a mass of hairstrands tangled together in a mat that cannot be separated.

Ringed Hair

Also known as Pili Annulati; characterized by alternating bands of gray and dark hair.

Hypertrichosis

Also known as Ambras Syndrome or "werewolf syndrome"; abnormal coverage of hair where normally only lanugo or baby fine hair appears.

Hirsutism

Also known as Superfluous Hair; excessive amounts of terminal hair found in women in areas such as the face, back, abdomen, and chest.

Psoriasis

A scalp disorder characterized by thick, crusty patches of red irritated scalp covered with rough, silvery scales; refer client to a physician.

Pityriasis

The medical term for dandruff; a chronic scalp condition with excessive flaking, itchiness, tightness, and irritation.

Malassezia

A naturally occurring microscopic fungus that is the leading cause of dandruff.

Pityriasis Capitis Simplex

The medical term for dry dandruff, appearing as dry flakes attached to the scalp or on the hair.

Pityriasis Steatoides

The medical term for greasy or waxy dandruff; oily flakes combined with sebum that stick to the scalp in clusters and can appear yellowish.

Tinea

The medical term for ringworm; a red, circular patch of small blisters caused by a vegetable parasite.

Tinea Capitis

The medical term for ringworm of the scalp; enlarged open hair follicles surrounded by clusters of red spots (papules).

Tinea Favosa

Also known as Favus or honeycomb ringworm; characterized by dry, yellow, encrusted areas on the scalp called scutula.

Scabies

Also known as itch mite; red and watery vesicles or pus-filled areas caused by an animal parasite burrowing under the skin.

Pediculosis Capitis

The medical term for head lice; an infestation causing itching and eventual infection.

Folliculitis Barbae

Also known as Barber's Itch; an infection on the face and neck where the area surrounding the hair follicle is inflamed with redness and pustules.

Pseudofolliculitis Barbae

Also known as razor bumps; a chronic inflammatory condition caused by a foreign body reaction due to ingrown hair from shaving.

Lanugo

Baby fine, silky hair which is shed shortly after birth.

Vellus

Short, fine, non-pigmented hair that replaces lanugo hair and covers most of the body.

Terminal Hair

Long, thick pigmented hair such as scalp and eyebrow hair.

Alopecia

Excessive hair loss which may be caused by a fungal or bacterial infection or inflammatory disease of the scalp.

Androgenetic Alopecia

The most common form of alopecia; a combination of heredity, hormones, and age that causes progressive shrinking or miniaturization of certain scalp follicles.

Alopecia Areata

An autoimmune skin disease characterized by the sudden loss of hair in round or irregular patches without an inflamed scalp.

Alopecia Areata Totalis

The total loss of hair on the scalp.

Alopecia Areata Universalis

The loss of hair over the entire scalp and body.

Telogen Effluvium

Premature shedding of hair during the resting stage; can result from childbirth, shock, drug intake, or fever.

Traction Alopecia

Also known as traumatic alopecia; hair loss due to repetitive excessive stretching or pulling on the hair.

Trichotillomania

A condition in which people compulsively pull hair from their bodies.