Hair Type Education & Recommendations
Have you ever tried a ‘miracle’ hair product that worked wonders for your friend’s hair but left your hair flat greasy or frizzy? The truth is, hair care isn’t one size fits all. The secret to finding the right products and styles lies in knowing your own hair type.
The 4 main hair types;
Straight Hair – No bend or wave.
Wavy Hair – Loose ‘S’ patterns, from subtle waves to more defined.
Curly Hair – Spirals, springy curls or corkscrews.
Coily & Kinky Hair – Tight curls or zig-zag coils, with lots of shrinkage.
Tip – To determine what type of hair you have, wash your hair and let it air dry with no products and see how it natural falls. If your hair has a mix of patterns, don’t worry - this is very common, focus on the most dominant one or treat different sections accordingly.
Hair porosity (how well the hair absorbs moisture);
Low Porosity – Water beads on the surface, products sit on top.
Medium Porosity – Absorbs and retains moisture well – balanced.
High Porosity – Soaks up water quickly but dries fast; prone to frizz & breakage.
How to test porosity;
Drop a clean strand of hair into a glass of water;
If it floats = Low porosity.
If it sinks slowly = Medium porosity.
If it sinks quickly = High porosity.
Hair Density;
Density is based on the number of hairs NOT the individual strand thickness!
Low density – Lots of scalp visible when parted.
Medium density – Some scalp shows, but hair still looks full.
High density – Scalp hardly visible, very thick look.
Test – Part your hair in the middle and look at how much scalp you see.
Hair Strand Thickness;
Fine – Thinner than thread, hard to feel between fingers.
Medium – Similar to thread, noticeable but not coarse.
Thick / Coarse – Feels strong, wider than thread.
Test; Take a strand of hair and compare it to sewing thread.
Scalp Type:
Oily scalp – Needs lighter shampoos, less heavy oils.
Dry / Flaky Scalp – Needs moisturizing, hydrating formulas.
Balanced – Not too dry or oily.
Overall your hair type is a combo of curl pattern, porosity, density, strand thickness and scalp type. Knowing and truly understanding your hair type isn’t about fitting into a box – it’s about learning how to work with your natural texture – not against it.
Once you have determined what your hair type is you will notice that your products work better and your styles last longer – leaving your hair the healthiest it can be.
