Ooo we’re talking hair now! Did you think we just wrote about skincare and makeup? Wrong! *Insert hair flip* 614 Beauty isn’t just about your skin, but the lovely locks surrounding your gorgeous face. We’ll even start nice and simple with hair types. Why do you need to know your hair type? Well, when choosing products for your hair, you want to make sure you’re getting the right type of products otherwise they might not work properly. Seems straightforward, I know, but some of these little “hair tests” might surprise you and might help you find products better suited to your hair’s needs.
Shape
This one is probably the most obvious, but let your hair dry naturally to determine the type of shape it has.
- Straight hair has no curves, is usually soft and silky and often thin and prone to oiliness
- Wavy hair is neither curly or straight with soft waves normally towards the bottom of the hair. It usually holds style well and its texture is typically on the rougher side
- Curly hair has various levels of curls from loose to tight spirals and coils and is more dense than those without curls. Curly hair is prone to frizziness and tangling
- Kinky hair is a different type of curly hair where the curls resemble more of a z shape. This hair type looks more coarse, but is typically more fragile and prone to breakage.
The shape of your hair alone can lead you to a slew of products designed specifically to help combat your hair’s natural concerns and if you’re like me and always wanting to style in the opposite of your natural hair (straight/wavy hair wanting curly hair) then they can help with that or, you know, a curling iron works too.
Density/Structure
Here is one of those tests I was talking about! No calculator or cheat sheet required though. To test the density of your hair, you’ll want to take a strand in between your thumb and forefinger.
- Fine Hair -If you can’t feel the hair between your fingers
- Medium Hair– If you can feel the hair slightly in between your fingers,
- Coarse Hair– If your hair feels thick and distinct in between your fingers
I always thought I had pretty coarse hair, but this test made me realize I’m more in the medium hair range. Go figure! Did it surprise you?
Porosity
To determine your hair porosity I give you another test! Woohoo! You’ll need a glass of water for this one and a strand of hair again (obviously). Submerge the hair in the cup to see the porosity.
- Low Porosity– The hair floats on the water
- Medium Porosity– The hair sinks slowly or floats half submerged
- High Porosity– The hair sinks immediately to the bottom
Knowing your hair porosity is more important than I ever thought because it determines how well your hair retains moisture and products. The higher the porosity, the more moisture it will absorb which sounds totally great, right? Unfortunately, high porosity hair is more prone to damage because the moisture can leave just as easily. The hair absorbs everything too well and requires a lot more product which can cause frizz and damage due to the chemicals in products. Low porosity hair on the other end, has a hard time absorbing any products and will often leave the hair feeling sticky and wet for a long time after showering. Medium porosity seems to be the best of the bunch here as it gets the best of both worlds: styles well and less prone to damage.
Moisture Level
Do you have to wash your hair every day just to keep from looking like you just went for a 10 mile hike in 80 degree weather or do you wash your hair once a week and it still stays dry like the freaking Sahara? Your scalp moisture level affects the overall health of your hair so it’s imperative you’re giving it the products it needs. The greasiness of your scalp on a daily basis lets you know the type of moisture level you have.
- Dry hair lacks moisture and because your scalp isn’t producing enough sebum, (in case you haven’t read any of our skincare articles, sebum helps protect the skin and help it retain moisture) it becomes dry and itchy and can cause the hair to break
- Oily hair feels greasy very soon after showering and because of the overproduction of sebum (bonus points if you recognize this term), your hair will attract dirt and could lead to dandruff.
- Balanced hair is for those with the good genes (lucky you) that have an even amount of oil production and can wash your hair once or twice a week.
- Combination hair is greasy in some areas (behind your ears and over the temples) and dry in others
If you know the type of hair you have, you can be better informed on making decisions on the types of products your hair needs. Look for natural products that work to combat the issues you might have and highlight the good things. *Insert cheesy affirmation line about being a goddess no matter what type of hair you have*
*Photo Kismet Visuals
By Sadie Young