Guide to using this book viii Guide to using this book Diamond face shape – diy- mund fay-s shay-p – the head and face shape determined by a narrow bone structure of the forehead with wide cheekbones tapering to a narrow chin. The ideal hairstyle for this shape is one which minimises the width across the cheekbones. A central fringe should be worn with hair full below the cheeks but flat at the cheekbone line. (See head and face shapes on page 161.) Different needs – dif-r-unt nee- dz – differing requirements, especially those of clients. It is illegal to discriminate against clients on grounds of disability, race, ethnicity or sex. See also client needs, Disability Discrimination Act 1992, 1995 and 2005, Race Relations Act 2000. Diffuse alopecia – dif-yoos alo- pee-sha – a gradual loss of hair and thinning. Often appearing in women, it is thought to be due to changing hormone levels which have a direct affect on hair follicles. Pregnancy, the contraceptive pill and the menopause can all contribute to this type of hair loss. It can also be a symptom of some illnesses, such as a thyroid problem or iron deficiency, so the client should be referred to a General Practitioner. Diffuser – dif-yooz-ur – a large plastic attachment, often with prongs, that fits on to a hairdryer. It distributes heat so that natural hair movement and curl are encouraged as the hair is dried. The end is placed directly on to the hair where the hair is worked around the fingers in a circular fashion. Being large and open it spreads the heat over a wider section of hair, allowing the hair to be dried slowly and increasing the amount of curl present. See also finger dry. Using a diffuser d 38 Diamond face shape The term is given in bold. The pronunciation is in italics