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Beauty glossary A–Z
Every treatment and industry term, explained in plain English — with links to real UK prices where we have them.
A
Acrylic nails
Nail extensions sculpted from a liquid-and-powder mix that hardens into a durable overlay....
Anti-wrinkle injections
Botulinum toxin ('Botox') injections that relax targeted muscles to soften expression line...
B
Balayage
A freehand highlighting technique where colour is painted on for a natural, sun-kissed gra...
BIAB
BIAB stands for Builder In A Bottle — a thick, soakable builder gel applied over the natur...
Blow dry
A wash-and-style service using a dryer and brushes for a smooth or bouncy finish, no cut i...
Brazilian wax
Intimate waxing that removes almost all hair but leaves a strip or small shape at the fron...
Brow lamination
A chemical setting treatment that straightens and lifts brow hairs so they sit brushed-up...
Brow wax and tint
The staple brow service: shaping with wax (or thread) plus a tint matched to your colourin...
C
Chair rent
An arrangement where a self-employed stylist or tech rents a chair, bed or room inside an...
Chemical peel
An acid solution (glycolic, salicylic, lactic and others) applied to resurface the skin. S...
Classic lash set
Eyelash extensions applied one extension to one natural lash. The result is a natural 'mas...
D
Dermal filler
Injectable hyaluronic acid gel used to restore volume and structure — cheeks, jawline, chi...
Dermaplaning
A facial treatment where a sterile blade gently scrapes away dead skin cells and vellus ha...
Dip powder nails
A system where nails are coated in a bonding base then dipped into coloured powder and sea...
F
G
H
Henna brows
Brow tinting using henna, which stains the skin under the hairs as well as the hairs thems...
Hollywood wax
Intimate waxing that removes everything — front, middle and back. Compare: a Brazilian lea...
Hot wax
Also called hard wax: applied thickly, allowed to set, then lifted off without strips. It...
Hybrid lashes
A mix of classic (one-to-one) and volume (fan) lash extensions — roughly 50/50. Hybrids gi...
Hydrafacial
A machine facial that cleanses, exfoliates, extracts and infuses serums in one session usi...
I
Infill
A maintenance appointment for acrylic, gel or BIAB nails where the grown-out area near the...
Infill vs full set
Salon-speak you'll see on price lists: a full set is the complete service from bare nails...
K
L
Lash infills
A top-up appointment 2–3 weeks after a full lash set, replacing extensions that shed with...
Lash lift
A perm for your natural lashes: they're curled over a silicone shield and set with a lifti...
LED light therapy
A relaxing treatment using specific light wavelengths: red for collagen and calming, blue...
Lip filler
Hyaluronic acid dermal filler injected to add lip volume, shape or symmetry, usually price...
M
Mega volume lashes
The most dramatic lash set: very large fans (7D+) of extremely fine lashes for a dense, da...
Microblading
Semi-permanent brow tattooing done with a fine hand blade that draws hair-like strokes int...
Microneedling
Hundreds of micro-punctures made with fine needles to trigger the skin's repair response —...
Mobile therapist
A beauty professional who travels to clients' homes rather than working from a salon. Expe...
N
O
P
Patch test
A small skin test done 24–48 hours before treatments involving tint, lash glue, henna or c...
Profhilo
An injectable 'skin booster' of ultra-pure hyaluronic acid that spreads under the skin to...
R
Russian manicure
A dry (waterless) manicure done with an e-file and fine bits to clean the cuticle area ver...
Russian volume lashes
Lash extensions where multiple ultra-fine lashes (2D–6D fans) are applied to each natural...
S
Shellac
Technically a CND brand name, but widely used in the UK to mean any gel polish service. Tr...
Strip wax
Traditional warm wax spread thinly and removed with fabric strips. Fast and effective for...