We all love a glorious mane. As we all know, a good hair day can make a world of difference, and a bad hair day can drive us nuts. More often than not, the gazillion products available in the market play with our heads. And when it comes to hair, the “trial-and-error” method is not exactly ideal. Here are some useful tips for taking care of your hair according to your hair type.
The Importance of Knowing Your Hair Type
Some products work for some hair types. Thus, it is very important to know your hair type. Knowing your hair type helps you choose the right products and also helps you understand the needs of your hair.
If you are familiar with your hair type, you will be better able to experiment with different hairstyles and choose the appropriate products for your hair. When you have a good understanding of the type of hair you have, it will be easier to build an effective hair care regimen.
Solving The Hair Riddle
Find out your porosity: porosity refers to the overall capacity of the hair to absorb and retain moisture. You just need a glass of water, a strand of your hair, and a few minutes to find out the answer. Give it a rest for two to five minutes. Low porosity is indicated by the presence of floats. Porosity may range from low to medium to high. These are the three main levels. A high porosity indicates that the cuticle of your hair is open, which gives the appearance that your hair is dry and makes it difficult for it to retain moisture. Your hair will be considered to have high porosity if it sinks throughout the trial.
Pay special attention to your scalp: Our scalps are unique in the same way that our hair is different from each other. If you notice that your hair is breaking easily or that you have a lot of flakes, then it may be that your scalp is crying out for some attention. Apply moisturizing shampoos for dandruff; they can help maintain the equilibrium of the scalp and prevent the formation of bothersome flakes.
There is a difference between hair thickness and density; knowing the density and thickness of your hair is an integral part of knowing your hair type. Density is about having thick or thin hair altogether, whereas thickness is the breadth of a single strand of hair. Understanding your hair’s thickness and density is important for choosing the proper cut.
Now that you know what type of hair you have, you can proceed to coil your hair.
An Overview of Different Hair Types
Some factors that determine a person’s “hair type” include their ancestry, the curly nature of their hair, and the shape of their hair cells.
Human hair may be roughly divided into four categories: straight, curly, wavy, and kinky.
| Type | 1(straight) | 2(wavy) | 3(curly) | 4(kinky) |
| A | superfine, thin, and extremely oily | Fine, S-shaped | fine, light curls | Fine, less-coiled |
| B | medium, not so flat | S-shaped with frizz | Tight curls | Z-shaped coiled |
| C | thick but not curly | very frizzy and coarse | thick and connected curls | Frizzy and coarsely coiled |
Straight hair: Straight hair is the most common and easiest hair type to maintain. Natural curls do not exist in type 1 hair. Many hairstylists advise against using oily products on straight hair because it produces more than any other type. Depending on the thickness of the individual hairs, there is fine straight hair, medium straight hair, and coarse straight hair.
Tips for Maintaining Straight Hair (Type I)
- You should pick a gentle shampoo that doesn’t contain much oil.
- Because the scalp is becoming more oily, you can use dry shampoo in between hair washes.
- The hair washing method in reverse works best for straight hair types. You just have to apply conditioner before shampooing and then condition again.
- Avoid washing your hair after showering and using a lot of heat.
- Straight hair tends to feel flat, but you can always get a layered haircut, which gives volume to your hair.
Wavy hair: Type 2 hair is thicker than type 1 hair and is naturally curly but has an “S” shape. It usually produces less sebum than straight hair.
Tips for Maintaining Wavy Hair (Type II)
- Since this type of hair is drier than straight hair, shampooing once a week is best. Always go for a gentle, hydrating shampoo that is anti-frizz.
- Always use a moisturizer with hydrating oil and moisturizing properties. You can also go for the reverse hair-washing routine.
- Protect your hair from dryness and frizz by oiling and masking it once a week.
- For extra care, you can go for a silk pillowcase and leave-in serum.
Curly hair: Breakage is a common issue with curly hair because it is the most resistant. For the same reason, it is hard to style such hair. Simultaneously, people with straight hair begin to wear curls.
Tips for maintaining curly hair (Type III)
- Wash your hair only when it is required. Overwashing curly hair causes dryness and frizz. Choose a moisturizing, curly-hair shampoo. Use a clarifying shampoo before adding gels, oils, creams, or pomades to preserve your hair between washes.
- Keeping your hair moisturized should be your priority. Curly hair is drier than other types. Condition the whole hair to keep it hydrated. Conditioners with Argan oil, glycerin, cetyl alcohol, and stearyl alcohol are ideal. You can opt for a leave-in conditioner too.
- To keep your scalp healthy, oil it properly before shaving to condition it better. Don’t have lengthy intervals between hair-washing sessions.
Kinky hair: This hair type is tighter than curly hair. It is very coarse and thick. Since it is more textured, it is more difficult to maintain. But we’ve got your back. It is type 4 hair.
Tips to maintain kinky hair (type IV)
- Don’t forget to use a hair mask. Kinky hair is more dry and brittle, so deep conditioning is essential for retaining hydration. Thus, heavy creams and oils are always your options.
- Always go for a sulfate-free shampoo. These shampoos moisturize kinky hair better.
- If you have kinky hair, you should definitely try faux locs or box braids.
The first thing that any of us notice about a person is their hair. As much as we care about how we look and how healthy and attractive we are, it is important to take care of our hair. With this, I thank you for reading to the end.
