When talking about hair, hair loss, hair systems, and everything else related to the subject, there are uncountable words that we can hear or read without fully understanding the meaning of it. It's important be aware of the true meaning of each of these words to know better our hair problems, hairpieces, and how to take care of them properly.
That's why we've decided to make a list of the most used vocabulary you'll see on our website, blogs, and other content.
At the end of this blog post, you will be a step closer to being an expert on the topic!
Let's jump in.
A
Alopecia: It's a pathology of loss of hair or baldness.
Alopecia Areata: Pathology of loss of hair in circumscribed patches. People who suffer from stress, immune system, or even genetics, can suffer from this.
Alopecia Totalis: The complete loss of scalp hair. This may occur during a short period of time or all at once.
Alopecia Universalis: Total hair loss in all parts of the body including eyelashes, arms, legs, etc.
Amino Acids: The building blocks of protein - not having enough amino acids in your body can affect the growth of your hair.
Anagen: This is the growth phase of the hair cycle where new hair is born.
B
Biopsy: Piece of tissue removed from a living body used for a diagnostic study.
Bonding: The act of gluing a hairpiece to the scalp of a person.
C
Catagen: A transitional phase of the hair cycle - this occurs between growth and resting of the hair follicle.
Chemotherapy: Chemical treatment usually applied to patients with cancer. It can cause Alopecia Universalis due to its strong treatments and chemicals.
Club Hair: A hair that has stopped growing or is no longer in the anagen phase. It is usually replaced by new growing hair.
Crown: The highest part of a head.
Cuticle: It's the outer layer of the hair. It helps it maintain its shine, smoothness, and strength.
D
Dermis: The inner layer of skin located underneath the epidermis. It is composed of hair follicles, blood vessels, lymph vessels, sweat glands, thin connective tissue, and sensory nerves.
Dermal Papilla: A thin layer situated above the dermis, and can also be found at the base of the hair follicle. This is an important part of hair growth, due to its receptors for both androgens and hair-promoting agents.
Detach: The process of removing a hairpiece, whether it is attached with glue or tape.
Diazoxide: Pharmacology substance that has potent anti-hypertensive action, usually used to reduce blood pressure in a hypertensive crisis. It also promotes hair growth.
Donor Site: A specific area used to remove hair-bearing skin during a hair transplant.
E
Epidermis: The outer, nonvascular, nonsensitive layer of the skin, covering the true skin or corium.
F
Female Pattern Baldness: Also known as FPB, this is a type of hair loss that affects women. The medical name given to it is androgenetic alopecia. It can be caused by stress, age, genes or hormones and occurs less on women than on men.
Flap: This is a type of hair surgery. It must be done by professionals and it consists on cutting the hair-bearing scalp into three or four sides and then transplanted to the wanted bald spot.
Follicle: A small structure located below your scalp. In other words, the sheath where hair grows.
Follicle Unit: It's a group of growing hair that shares the same blood supply from the scalp.
Frontal Alopecia: Hair loss located at the front of the scalp.
G
Genetics: The science of heredity. The genetics are responsible for the differences or resemblances of organisms that are related due to the interaction of their genes and even the environment that surrounds them.
Glue: It's a prepared substance used as an adhesive that helps to bond hairpieces.
Grafts: Name given to transplanted hair.
H
Hair: Uncountable fine, cylindrical, keratinous filaments growing from the skin of humans. They can be of different colors and textures.
Hairpiece: A toupee used by people that usually suffer from hair loss or baldness.
Hair Replacement: Also known as Hair Transplant, it consists of the procedure a person that suffers usually from heritage baldness goes through to have hair on their head once again.
Hair Shaft: Filament that comes from the epidermis. It protects the skin and gives the body warmth.
Hair System: A system of natural or synthetic hair used to cover partial or complete hair loss zones.
Hamilton Scale: Method designed by Hamilton to measure the amount of hair loss.
Hirsutism: Excessive growth of hair in a specific spot or all around the body.
I
Infundibulum: The highest portion of hair follicles.
Inhibitory Protein: Healthy protein found in scalps that don't suffer from hair loss.
Isthmus: The middle zone of the hair follicle. It normally contains a gland called sebaceous.
K
Keratin: A scleroprotein or albuminoid substance, found in the dead outer layer of the skin.
L
Lace Hair System: It is one of the lightest and most invisible types of hair systems, providing a natural look.
Lanugo Hair: Type of hair found on a fetus or a newborn baby. It's very soft and unpigmented.
Linear Graft: A row of hair and skin that is transplanted by experts to a bald spot.
M
Male Pattern Baldness: Also known as MPB, this is one of the most common types of baldness. Its cause can vary according to the person, some reasons are aging, stress, hormones or heritage.
Medulla: A central zone of cells present in thick hair.
Menopause: The period of permanent cessation of menstruation, usually occurring between the ages of 45 and 55. This can cause the growth of hair and nails on women to slow down.
Midline: Section located at the middle of the scalp.
Mini-graft: A small hair graft consisting of three to eight follicles each.
P
Papilla: Small root area located at the base of the hair. It receives all the nutrients from the follicle needed to help it grow.
Posterior Scalp: Back part of the head.
Prosthetic: An artificial replacement.
Punch Graft: A group of around 10 to 20 hairs strand located in a circular form graft.
R
Re-attach: The act of attaching a hair system again after cleaning or washing.
Recipient Site: Bald area usually used to transplant hair.
Retro-auricular Area: Area located behind the ear.
S
Scarring Alopecia: A disease of the skin and connective tissue that can cause hair loss if not treated on time and correctly.
Scleroderma: A pathology in which connective tissue a becomes hardened and rigid.
Sebum: An oily type of secretion caused by small sebaceous glands near the follicles that help keeping the hair lubricated and shiny.
Senescent Alopecia: Hair loss that naturally occurs with aging.
T
Tape Rolls: A type of adhesive used to help bond hairpieces.
Telogen: The resting phase of the hair cycle.
Telogen Loss: Also known as natural hair loss, occurs when hair is lost in the resting phase.
V
Vellus Hair: Fine baby hair that is difficult to see with the naked eye.
Vertex: The crown area of the scalp.
We hope that this list of terms and its meaning help you out have a better understanding of the fabulous world of hair systems. If you have any other question for us, feel free to give us a call at our toll-free number.
We’ll be more than happy to help you with any other questions or doubts you might have.
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