Every woman wants to have healthy, beautiful hair. Understanding your hair type and how that plays into your hair care routine is crucial.
In this article, we’ll look at hair types, then look at specific ways you can care for your hair and have gorgeous looking natural hair.
The first things we should do is go over basic hair types, and some other important terms so you can accurately assess your hair type.
Type 1: Straight Hair
Type 1 hair is straight and can be any diameter from fine to coarse. There is no natural curl, it falls without any significant waves, bends or twists from the root to the tip. Straight hair often lacks volume and it’s a challenge to hold curls without styling tools and products.
There are three subcategories under Type 1:
- 1a – Extremely fine and straight which is very fine and thin.
- 1b – Medium texture, slight bend, holds a curl better than 1a.
- 1c – Coarser and thicker, can react to humidity, rarely frizzes.
Type 2: Wavy Hair
Type 2 is wavy hair, with gentle waves in an S-pattern. This hair is often between straight and curly and can be styled in many ways. There are three distinct patterns.
- 2a: Loose waves sometimes described as tousled. Struggles to maintain a natural curl without proper hair care product.
- 2b: Medium S-shaped waves, requires some product to hold curl. More volume, some light frizzing.
- 2c: Coarse, thicker waves that hold curls when air-dried. Still resistant to styling, requires hair product, still prone to frizz.
Type 3: Curly Hair
Type 3 hair has natural curls with well-defined patterns. There are three specific subcategories.
- 3a: Fine to medium S-shaped curls, Gentle, loose curls, very sensitive to humidity and frizz but manageable with product.
- 3b: Tighter ringlet curls, in spiral or corkscrew shapes. Curls hold very well with styling. Lots of volume, but prone to dehydration and frizz in humid weather.
- 3c: Tight, dense curls, often in coils or corkscrew shapes. Lots of volume, this coily hair is very sensitive to humidity. Requires lots of hydration to prevent frizz, stay healthy, and maintain shape.
Type 4: Coily Hair
Type 4 hair is coily, sometimes called kinky, much curlier than Type 3. The coily can have a zig-zag pattern. Requires lots of conditioning. There are three subcategories described below.
- 4a: Textured, well-defined curls, in a tightly coiled S-shaped pattern. Loosely packed coils that hold moisture.
- 4b: Sharper angles than 4a, Z-shaped coils with more volume. Can be a mix of coils and zigzag shapes. Can shrink when dry. Should be brushed carefully to avoid breaking hair.
- 4c: Tightest coils, a wide range of zigzag curl patterns. Very prone to shrinkage, this hair grows outward and stands on its own. Very fragile, needs to be delicate and must be brushed carefully to avoid breakage.
Hair Density
Hair density is how many individual hair strands you have per square inch on your scalp. Density is different from hair diameter (thick or thin hair strands). To gauge hair density, face a mirror, take a section of hair on the front of your head and pull it to the side. This method can also assist in determining your hair type, particularly if you are comparing density and texture. If you can visibly see your scalp through your hair, you have low hair density. If your scalp is barely visible at all, your hair density is high. If the amount of scalp you can see is somewhere in the middle, you have medium hair density.
Hair Porosity
Porosity is your hair’s ability to soak up moisture. If your hair is highly porous, it has a lot of holes in its surface layer, called the cuticle.
Medium porosity is optimal, because it allows your hair to absorb moisture. High porosity hair may be susceptible to frizzing in humid weather. This is because the hair strand is absorbing moisture from the air. High-porosity hair also releases moisture quickly, making it dry, brittle, and prone to breaking. High porosity hair might need extra conditioning, moisturizing masks, or leave-in treatments to help nourish the hair and seal the cuticle layer.
Your hair may be naturally porous, or chemical treatments and heat styling may create extra porosity.
When your hair is low in porosity, the cuticle resists moisture absorption from the local climate or chemical processing.
Here is an easy way to test your hair to see if it is low, medium, or high porosity.
Take a strand or two of your hair and put it in a bowl of water. If it sinks to the bottom quickly, your hair is high porosity. If it sinks at a moderate pace, it has medium porosity. When your hair floats, it has low porosity. Hair that is highly porous tends to lose color faster which leads to fading.
Hair Care Tips
There are several tips you can follow to help your hair look its best.
Understand Your Hair Type
It’s important to know what type of hair you have so you know how to care for it. Bing aware If your hair is straight, wavy, or frizzy lets you know how you must care for it. Consider if your scalp is dry, oily, or normal. Knowing your hair type will allow you to do the proper hair care routines for your hair.
Avoid Chemical Processing
Chemical processing can affect the porosity of your hair, causing it to be prone to absorbing moisture and frizzing. Instead of applying relaxer or keratin treatments at home, you should make an appointment at the salon. DIY treatments at home make it easier to inadvertently damage your hair.
Shampooing Regularly, the Right Way
Shampooing your hair every day is not necessary to keep your hair clean, as excessive shampooing can strip natural oils from the scalp and hair follicles. Assess what your hair type is and use a shampoo that is made specifically for your hair type. Use shampoos that are sulfate-free to protect your hair.
Use Conditioner
After shampooing, you should use a conditioner to help moisturize your hair. The conditioner is absorbed through the cuticle. Apply the majority of the conditioner from the middle to the tips of your hair, as the roots are close to the scalp and the hair follicles which already produce sebum.
Blow Dry or Air Dry Your Hair
Drying your hair carefully is part of minimizing damage to your hair. After you finish your shower, gently towel dry your hair by patting it down and removing excess moisture. Whenever you can, air dry your hair so there is little heat exposure. If you must use a hair dryer, use a diffuser and keep it on the lowest setting. Heat can damage hair and make it brittle. You can also use a heat protectant to keep the heat damage to a bare minimum.
Careful with Heat Styling
Heat tools like crimpers and curling irons can also damage your hair if used excessively. Be cautious about overusing these heat styling tools.
Scalp Health
When your scalp is healthy, your hair is healthy. Your scalp can contain up to 80,000 hair follicles. The sebaceous glands in each follicle produce sebum, which is your natural hair oils, that keep your hair moisturized. Healthy strands of hair start with the follicles, which rely on a healthy scalp. Make sure your scalp is massaged and exfoliated on a regular basis for optimal hair health.
Take Vitamins for Hair Health
Vitamins are an essential part of hair health, and there are specific ones that promote hair growth. Biotin aids in keratin production. Keratin is a protein which makes up your hair strands. Vitamin D helps keep your hair follicles healthy. Vitamin E is good for blood circulation in the scalp. Vitamin C supports the production of collagen, which keeps hair strong. Vitamin B12 and B6 are nourishing to the hair follicles and scalp. Vitamin K can help prevent premature hair loss.
Hair Coloring: Leave it to the Pros
While it’s true that you can find DIY hair coloring kits in the drugstore, it’s better to let a professional cosmetologist take care of your hair coloring needs. Bleaching and coloring involves increasing the porosity of the hair cuticle, to allow the dye to absorb into the hair. However, increased porosity can also make your hair lose moisture quickly, leaving your hair brittle and dry. Setting an appointment with a professional hair colorist will allow them to take care of your hair will premium grade coloring products and their years of expertise, preserving the health of your hair.
Get Regular Haircuts
Regular haircuts help remove split ends and keep your hair looking maintained. Schedule a routine haircut every few months to keep your hair looking healthy and neat.
Don't Use Hot Water to Wash You Hair
Washing your hair with hot water can lead to sebum and oil depletion and frizzy hair. It’s best to wash your hair with lukewarm water.
Detangle Hair Carefully
When you’re brushing your hair and detangling knots, be careful not to tear and break your hair. Go slowly, working from the ends upwards to the middle of your hair length.
Protect Your Hair from the Sun
UV rays from the sun can bleach and damage hair. Use hair products that have UV protection, or wear a hair covering if you are spending hours outdoors.
Protect Hair from Salt Water and Chlorine
Summer brings pool parties, or if you’re by the ocean, swimming at the beach. But chlorine and salt water can dry out your hair. Make sure you rinse out your hair with fresh water right away after swimming in the pool or ocean. You can also rinse your hair with fresh water before swimming to make sure your hair absorbs some of the fresh water through the cuticles.
Don't Go to Bed with Wet Hair
Your hair is at it’s most fragile when it’s wet, so going to bed with wet hair can lead to breakage. Be sure to dry your hair thoroughly before going to bed at night. If you want to use a silk or satin pillowcase to protect your tresses, all the better.
Regular Hair Trims
Getting your hair trimmed every so often helps get rid of split ends and broken hair strands, making the hair grow back healthier.
Hair Masks for Damage Repair
If your hair is porous, either naturally, from heat, or chemical processing, hair masks, leave-in conditioners, and creams can help moisturize your hair and seal the holes, making your hair healthier.
Hair that is less porous is less prone to humidity and moisture, meaning it will frizz less.
Frizz Management Routine
Each hair type has specific needs to prevent frizz during humid weather.
Coily hair needs deep conditioning and moisturizing to prevent moisture being absorbed in through the hair cuticle.
People with curly hair should avoid shampoos with sulfates. Look for products that promote moisture retention.
Straight hair requires conditioners that are non-greasy. Also avoid excessive heats styling to keep your hair healthy.
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