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Glossary
Short, neutral meanings for the words you see on hair care labels. Definitions, not endorsements.
- Aqua / water
- Usually the first ingredient in a shampoo or conditioner. It is the base that other ingredients are dissolved in.
- Clarifying shampoo
- A shampoo type meant to wash away product build-up. Directions usually suggest using it only now and then.
- Conditioner
- A rinse-out or leave-in product used after shampoo to help hair feel smoother and easier to comb.
- Developer
- In permanent hair color, the second component mixed with the color. Follow the box directions exactly.
- Dimethicone
- A type of silicone commonly used to make hair feel slippery and look shiny.
- Emollient
- A softening ingredient, such as a plant oil or butter, that helps hair and skin feel smoother.
- Fragrance / parfum
- A catch-all word for scent ingredients. The individual scent ingredients are often not listed separately.
- Heat protectant
- A cosmetic product with directions for use before heat styling. It does not make high heat risk-free.
- Humectant
- An ingredient that attracts water, such as glycerin.
- Leave-in
- A conditioning or styling product meant to stay in hair after washing. Check the directions for amount.
- Oxidative color
- Permanent hair color that works by mixing color with a developer. The box includes patch-test and safety directions.
- Patch test
- A small trial of a product on a small area of skin before wider use, as the product directions describe.
- PAO symbol
- The open-jar symbol with a number and the letter M. It shows the months a product is meant to be used after opening.
- Porosity
- A word people use for how easily hair absorbs and holds water. It is a description, not a medical term.
- Preservative
- An ingredient that helps keep a product from spoiling. Products that contain water generally need one.
- Sulfate
- A family of cleansing agents used in many shampoos. “Sulfate-free” products use other cleansing agents.
- Surfactant
- A cleansing ingredient that helps oil and dirt rinse away with water.
General information only. A definition is not a recommendation. Dewvira is a health and beauty information website, not a medical provider, clinic, pharmacy, or retailer. It makes no medical claims, sells no products, does not diagnose or treat, and does not share your details with any partner.
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