One possible explanation for not getting the best results from your luxury haircare products could be that the formulas aren’t suitable for your type of hair.

Ascertaining your hair type can be crucial to achieving your hair goals.

In the same way, knowing your skin type is necessary for putting together a successful skincare regimen.

There are twelve main forms of hair.

To maximize the potential of your hair, the variations between them require different products based on the pattern and texture of your hair.

I’ll cover all the information you need to identify your hair type and how it affects your daily styling regimen.

Hair Pattern

Your hair strand’s natural shape is known as your hair pattern.

 

 

 

 

 

 

• Straight hair, type 1

Has little to no pattern and lies flat on the scalp.

Out of all the hair kinds, this one has the maximum shine because the natural oils in the hair can readily move from the scalp to the ends.

 

• Wavy hair, type 2

This hair type forms ‘S’  shape

This kind of hair is less oily than straight hair since it is thicker and has a subtle form and structure.

 

• Curly hair, type 3

This hair type is naturally defined by spiral curls and ringlets and is more prone to breakage and tangling.

Oil cannot pass down a hair strand because hair does not lie flat. Because of this, frizz and dryness are more likely to affect curly hair.

Comparing this hair type to straight and wavy hair, it tends to be more voluminous.

Curly hair is less dense than coily hair, though.

• Coily hair, type 4

Black Americans tend to have this hair type the most.

This form of hair, in contrast to curly hair, is tightly curled, has distinct ringlets and zigzags, and keeps its type whether it is wet or dry.

This type of hair is more brittle, prone to breakage and damage, and has a texture that is rather coarse.

People with this hair pattern are more likely to experience dry and itchy scalps because hair oil cannot get through the coils in their hair.

How To Determine Your Hair Pattern?

Wash the hair and let your hair air dry without using any products to determine your hair pattern.

It is straight if it dries without bending or curling.

It is wavy if it dries in a curved or ‘S’ shape.

It’s curly if, after drying, you notice loops, corkscrew curl patterns, or bouncy ringlets.

It’s coily if it dries quickly and if it does so in coils or compacted spirals.

The thickness of each individual hair strand determines the type of hair.

This influences how well certain hairstyles stay on your hair.

Fine (Type A) hair does not retain curls well and has a delicate appearance and feel.

Medium (Type B) hair retains curls for a longer amount of time and is easy to style.

Although coarse (Type C) hair is more likely to frizz and is generally less flexible, it may hold curls quite well but can be challenging to manage.

Roll a single hair strand in your finger to determine the texture of your hair.

• Your hair is alright if you’re not feeling anything.
• Your hair is medium if you can feel it just a little.
• Your hair is coarse, if you can feel it.

Texture of Hair

Straight hair (type 1)

• Type 1A hair has absolutely no waves or curls and is extremely straight and fine.

This type of hair needs to be shampooed frequently because it tends to get very oily.

This hair type is quite uncommon and is mostly found in Asian women.

• Compared to Type 1A, Type 1B hair is slightly thicker and straighter.

This type of hair bounces and has more volume. The hair has more movement and complexity thanks to its medium texture, which also holds curls well.

• Frizzy hair can develop from type 1C hair, which is straight and usually coarse and thick.

This type of hair can lay flat on the scalp yet look thicker and more disheveled as it air dries.

This type of hair is unyielding and cannot retain curls for very long.

Wavy hair (type 2)

• Individual hair strands in Type 2A hair create a ‘S’ shape and are fine and thin.

This design descends into softer waves after beginning at the root.

This sort of hair is simple to curl or straighten with style products.

• Compared to Type 2A hair, Type 2B hair is slightly thicker, friskier, and wavy.

These waves are more distinct from the middle to the ends of the hair.

Compared to other Type 2 hair varieties, Type 2C hair waves are thicker and originate from the scalp.

This particular variety of coarse hair is the frizziest and has a distinct ‘S’ shape.

Curly hair (type 3)  

• Hair of type 3A has a looser curl pattern and is glossy and fine.
• Type 3B hair features medium-to-tight, springy curls that are easily defined without the use of style tools.

It is also prone to minor frizz, just as Type 3A hair.

Strands are often coarse and dense, and their shapes range from ringlets to corkscrews.

• Hair of type 3C is thick and tightly curled.

This type of hair typically has very texturized curls.

Since the hair strands are prone to shrinking, this type of hair is also known as ‘curly-coily.’

Coily hair (type 4)

• Type 4A hair typically coils into tight, bouncy curls.

These kinds of hair usually shrink to half their original length after they dry.

Of the Type 4 hair category, this type has the most definite curl pattern.

Compared to other hair varieties, strands often have fewer cuticle layers.

• Type 4B hair is crimpy or has tight curls in a Z-shaped coil.

Despite being less distinct than Type 4A curls compared to Type 4C hair, it is clearer.

Additionally, these hair strands are prone to shrinking.

• Type 4C hair has an O-shaped pattern that is more tightly packed and coarse.

This type of hair shrinks a lot when wet and has a less defined curl pattern.

This kind of hair is delicate and prone to being knotted and entangled.

After determining your hair type, you need to know which hair tools are appropriate for you.

The needs of someone with naturally thin hair and someone with extremely curly hair are different.

 

Density of Hair

The thickness of your hair strands, or hair density, can be divided into three broad categories:
1. Slender (fine)
2. Mild
3. Dense (rough)

Your hair’s density will determine how effectively it holds styles and responds to different products.

A simple and quick method to determine which category your hair belongs in is to place a hair strand next to a spool of sewing thread.

You have thin (fine) hair if your strand is thinner than the sewing thread.

Your hair falls into the thick (coarse) category if it is thicker than the thread.

Anywhere in the middle would be considered medium.

Moreover, you’ll discover that medium-length hair is easier to manage and retains curls longer than fine hair.

With the correct products, thin or medium-length hair can be volumized with ease.

Although thicker strands are much easier to curl, styling and maintaining their shape might be more difficult because to their decreased suppleness.

Hair Porosity 

Since hair porosity cannot be seen, it is frequently disregarded as a crucial component in identifying hair type.

When it comes to choosing the products to use on your hair for optimal outcomes, understanding the porosity of your hair can be a game-changer.

Porosity: What it is

The term ‘porosity’ describes your hair’s capacity to take in moisture and makeup.

Put one hair strand into each glass of water, and perform the easy experiment below to find out what kind of porosity your hair has:

• Your hair has high porosity, meaning it absorbs a lot of moisture, if it sinks to the bottom.
• Hair with well-balanced porosity—that is, hair that absorbs just enough moisture to stay healthy—sinks but does not touch the bottom of the glass.
• Your hair has poor porosity, which means it does not absorb moisture quickly, if it floats on top of the water.

You would expect that hair with a high porosity level would always be extremely hydrated.

However, this is untrue. Because of the holes or rips in the cuticle, this type of hair absorbs moisture quickly.

It therefore loses moisture at the same rate that it takes it in.

Dry, brittle hair that is prone to breaking is the end result.

What Should I Do If My Hair is Highly Porous?

If this describes you, we advise you to steer clear of heat styles whenever feasible.

Harsh chemical-containing products should also be avoided since they may worsen your hair’s drying out condition.

Alternatively, search for all-natural, deeply hydrating hair masks, hair oils, and leave-in treatments that will seal the cuticle to keep moisture from escaping your hair and rehydrating it.

What Should I Do If the Porosity of My Hair Is Low?

You will need to apply a product that facilitates moisture movement through the shaft if your hair has poor porosity.

This indicates that your cuticles are preventing moisture from getting into your strands.

Learn About Your Scalp

The truth is that your hair will not be healthy if your scalp is not.

So, never undervalue the importance of taking proper care of your scalp.

Experts advise you to check your scalp the day after washing it to determine what kind of condition it is in.

It’s most likely that you have an oily scalp if your roots look dead and greasy.

If so, you might benefit from a deep cleaning scalp scrub to get rid of excess oil, product buildup, and pollutants.

It’s likely dry and in need of nourishment if you notice flakes on your scalp.

A flaky scalp can also be quite sensitive, so you’ll need to use caution when cleaning it.

You also need a shampoo that can thoroughly clean your hair and scalp without depleting it of its own natural oils.

What Happens, Though, If My Scalp is Flaky and Oily?

A tangle of product and oil from poor or infrequent cleaning could be the cause of your messy scalp.

What About Graying Hair and Hair Loss?

More often than not, conditions are used to categorize hair types, including aging and hair loss.

However, matching your locks with items that will nourish them will be beneficial if your hair fits into one or both of these categories.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

Which four forms of hair are there?

Hair can be coily, curly, wavy, or straight.

A 2020 article claims that hair is made up of two structures: the hair follicle and the hair shaft, or actual hair strand.

The cortex, surrounding cells, and, in thicker hair, a central medulla are the layers that make up the hair shaft.

Do I have 2A, 2B, or 2C hair?

To put it simply, type 2A has little waves, type 2B has softer waves, and type 2C has defined waves.

It is best to steer clear of the limp and fluffy texture and style that 2A hair can naturally gravitate toward.

For type 2A hair, a little shorter length works and it’s ideal to accentuate the volume of your natural waves in both texture and volume.

Which hair kind is African?

It is typically categorized as Kinky, ‘Coily, ’or Afro hair types 4A, 4B, or 4C.

The curl pattern of coily or afro hair is extremely tight, with little gap between the coils.

This type of hair is easily damaged, brittle, and frequently extremely dry.

‘Coily’ hair is also incredibly versatile, which is great news.

Which kind of hair works best?

Straight hair is resilient and does well in the heat, bad weather, and styling.

The natural oils in your hair flow readily from your scalp to the tips of your follicles because your hair is straight.

As a result, straight hair appears naturally lustrous.

 

Disclaimer

This information is not meant to replace medical care from a licensed healthcare or beauty expert; rather, it is meant for educational and self-awareness purposes.