Hair type is a term used to categorize hair based on several factors.
Knowing how to determine your hair type is essential for many reasons.
It is commonly used in hair treatments, hair care products and styling.
Hair types are one of the essential factors in selecting the right hair or wigs.
For example, someone with straight hair will have a completely different hair experience than someone with curly hair.
In this article, we’ll be discussing the various hair types, how to determine yours and how to care for them.
Types Of Hair
The type of hair you have usually is determined by genetics, ethnicity, and age.
There are four major hair types: dry hair, oily hair, normal hair, and curly hair.
1. Dry Hair
Dry hair type is the most common hair type. It doesn’t always mean you have a dry scalp and hair.
It can result from other external factors such as over-washing, too much exposure to sun or seawater and even dehydration.
Dry hair can be challenging to manage simply because it becomes very brittle and does not have natural oils or moisture. A dry hair type will also be prone to breakage and split ends.
2. Oily Hair
Oily hair type has its origins in the scalp. The sebaceous glands on the skin produce excess amounts of oils.
This type of hair usually tends to be thin and can have varying textures, such as curly or wavy.
An oily hair type tends to need more moisture than other hair types, and it is widespread not to experience a great deal of hair loss with this texture.
If you have oily hair, you should consider washing your hair properly with gentle products that are specially formulated for oily hair types.
3. Normal Hair
The normal hair type is the most common of all hair types.
This hair type can be straight, wavy or curly.
Normal hair is very similar to the hair people see in the stores.
Furthermore, it is easy to style and easy to maintain, healthy and shiny.
You will experience no significant problems with this hair type, and you are free to cut it as you wish.
People of different age groups and ethnicities are known to have normal types of hair.
4. Curly Hair
Curly hair is thicker and has more volume than straight hair.
It’s prepared with a certain softness and flexibility with moderate luster.
Also, it can easily be shaped into different looks with its natural texture, including curls, coiled, crimped, wavy and so on.
Characteristics Of Hair Types
Dry Hair Characteristics
- Hair that is dry, brittle and lifeless
- This hair type angles quickly have a few split ends
- Not prone to oiliness
- Poor hair growth
- They have a less protective outer layer than other hair types.
- Dry hair tends to produce excess sebum.
- Furthermore, they suffer from low elasticity and are susceptible to breakage.
- They are the most delicate of all hair types.
Normal Hair Characteristics
- Normal hair is straight
- It usually grows fast
- Normal hair doesn’t often suffer from breakage and damage
- It can be styled easily
Oily Hair Characteristics
- Oily hair type can often be fine
- This type of hair tends to have larger pores
- Oily hair feels thicker because it has a lot of natural oils.
- High levels of sebum excretion mean that hair can be oily and look greasy.
- Smaller hair shaft diameter.
- Less moisture in the hair and scalp.
Curly Hair Characteristics
- Curly hair is full of volume
- This type of hair is thick and coarse
- Curly hair dries quickly
- The curly hair is primarily brittle
Steps On How To Determine Your Hair Type
The following steps can help determine what hair type you have to know how to care for it.
1. Look at your hair
One way on how to determine which hair type you have is just by looking at it.
It’s best to visually look at your hair (or do a quick flick of your wrist and take a look) and decide what you think your hair type is.
There are basic things to look out for, like the number of curls that your hair has, whether it’s thin-looking or thick-looking, and if it’s limp or bouncy.
The critical thing to remember is that these don’t necessarily tell you what type of hair you have.
Instead, they are markers for getting an idea of the type of hair you might have.
2. Know how your hair feels
Knowing how your hair feels can help you to identify what type of hair you have.
This will assist in determining the right products to use on your hair and treatment and styling options.
3. Understand Its growth
Hair growth is different on everyone. Understanding your growth pattern can help in how to determine your hair type.
FAQ’s On How To Determine Your Hair Types
Is it possible to have a combination of two hair types?
The short answer is you.
While it doesn’t happen very often, It is possible to have a combination hair type.
Combination hair is that middle ground between oily and dry hair types.
If you feel like you have a case of an oily T-Zone area and an extremely dry crown, then it’s safe to say your hair type is a combination.
How often should I wash my oily hair?
The frequency in which oily hair types should be washed will depend on the shampoo you use.
Some shampoos have chemicals to counterbalance the extra oil production that occurs in the scalp.
If you shampoo every day, this may remove these oils and make your hair appear dry.
Furthermore, you may also want to consider a good 2-in-1 shampoo that has a balancing agent.
How can I care for my hair type?
There are various ways to care for each of the hair types earlier identified.
Dry hair care
Dry hair types are fragile and should be given extra special care. People with dry hair should use conditioners and moisturizers on a regular basis, especially if they have colored, permed or treated their hair in any way.
Normal hair care
The normal hair type is straight, relaxed and has no natural curl.
Caring for normal hair is simple. You want to keep your normal hair looking good and healthy? The secret is knowing the right products and how to use them.
Oily hair care
I know it’s challenging to keep your oily hair clean with all the sebum oil that comes out.
Often you may be under the impression that for oily hair, one should avoid washing.
You might also think washing will worsen the situation and make your already oily hair even more greasy.
However, that’s not true as you need to wash regularly to get rid of excess greasiness.
Curly Hair Care
Curly hair type can be tricky to manage.
You have to take the time to learn about it to cope with it. It is recommended that you keep your curly hair tamed through regular washing and conditioning, along with using the right products.
What hair type is the best?
The answer to this question varies.
This is because there is no best or worst hair type. Every hair type has its uniqueness; it all depends on how well you care for it.
Conclusion
We all have different hair types, and it is important to know yours, especially if you are trying to grow your hair long.
Knowing how to identify your hair type will help you take care of your hair.
Also, it will help trap the growth cycle of your hair.
Identifying your hair type is the first step to finding suitable hairstyles and haircuts.
It will also be easier to learn about products and maintenance if you know which hair type you have.
So, it is essential to determine your hair type by looking out for its characteristics and then knowing what products and styling that is best suited for your hair type.
