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Definition: Digital Perm
Digital perming or "hot" perming is a curling technique that originated in Japan and has since become increasingly popular worldwide. Although the chemicals used are very similar, unlike a traditional perm, digital curls are most prominent when dry, which obviates the need for heat styling, and the curls produced using a digital perm are larger and softer, which is more in keeping with current hair trends. If you want big, glam curls, and you don't mind the expense (a digi perm can run upwards of $200), it could be an excellent option for you.
Definition: Jacaranda
Jacaranda, alternately known as palisander or Brazilian rosewood, is a tree with gorgeously scented purple flowers that's native to central and South America, as well as some Caribbean islands. Beauty fiends, though, know its wood as a soft, earthy perfume note that's often paired with moss and orris to form a fragrance's final middle notes and lead into the base. Lately, because it goes well with the fruity notes that have dominated recent fragrance releases, we're seeing a surge of scents with jacaranda notes.
Definition: Maang Tikka
The maang tikka, worn here by Bollywood hotness Priyanka Chopra, is one of my favorite hair ornaments. They're a longstanding Indian bridal tradition with a storied history in painting and sculpture, but they also show up on runways and at formal occasions quite a bit these days. These ingenious little stringed beauties have a hook that allows them to be attached to your hair so that the maang (stringed section) can rest in the center part of your hair and dangle the tikka (the jeweled section) onto your forehead.
Definition: Labdanum
Labdanum, a type of rock rose, is a base note and excellent fixative that's as old as the Pyramids — in fact, the pharoahs' false beards were made from hair soaked in this sweet, woody amber resin. Labdanum is present in many modern scents, and has become a frequent substitute for the animal-unfriendly base note ambergris. If you're looking for something that sticks to your skin, lasts all day, and has a complex sweetness, a labdanum-based fragrance might be a good option.
Definition: Lacefront Wig
It's rare that I dig into more technical hair terminology, but as anyone who's ever talked to a celebrity stylist knows, lacefronts are very popular, with fans ranging from Beyonce to Tyra Banks to — allegedly — John Travolta and Jeremy Piven. Lacefronts get their name from a fine piece of lace mesh at the wig's hairline. The mesh allows the wearer to pull some of her own hair through the wig, mingling real hair and artificial and creating a seamless, natural-looking hairline.
Definition: Calendula
Calendula is just another name for marigolds, but it's the term that's used most commonly when the plant's extract is being sold for beauty and medicinal purposes. Even though marigolds aren't as exotic or fancy as the word "calendula" sounds, they're great for a number of beauty issues. Used traditionally to treat rashes, dry skin, acne, and sunburns, calendula's a gentle and effective anti-inflammatory still used in tons of skin care products today — in everything from Fekkai Shampoo for Dry Hair ($9) to Blistex Lip Tone ($2).
Definition: Five-Spice Powder
A crucial component of Chinese cooking, five-spice powder (also known as Chinese five spice) is a mixture of ground spices that combine the five primary flavors of Chinese cuisine: sweet, salty, sour, bitter, and pungent.
The five spices — cinnamon, cloves, star anise, Szechuan peppercorns, and either fennel seed or ginger — are employed based on the Chinese philosophy of balancing the yin and yang in food. The powder is used to flavor dishes from Cantonese roasted duck to beef stew.
Definition: TL; DR
The abbreviated version of "Too Long; Didn't Read."
Used to reply to someone when they have sent you a text, article, blog post, or email rant whose length makes your eyes cross and click away from it.
Not a problem on Twitter.
Learn the Baby Gear Lingo
Mamas- and papas-to-be try their best to figure out what to buy and register for the impending babe. But all the vocab that goes with the toys and contraptions can be a bit confusing. From activity mats and bouncers to play yards and jumpers, we've broken down the tyke terms.
Baby's Wardrobe Items Defined
Babe arrives with a whole new set of lingo. At a couple's shower I attended recently, a few men in the room laughed and pondered the difference between terms like layette, onesie, and sleeper. In case you, too, are curious or confused, we've taken the time to define the infant basics.
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