What Type of Hair Do I Have? Expert Hair Guide

Taking care of our hair is actually easy. It only becomes challenging when we don’t know our hair type. If we’re unaware of it, we end up choosing the wrong hair care products. In using the wrong ones, we set up our mane for more harm than good. It’s a waste of money and a waste of time. Not to mention, it can shatter our confidence because our hair will then look lifeless and dull. 

But worry not, as it ends now. In this article, you will learn how to determine your hair type correctly. We’ll help you take better care of your hair and solve the mystery of different hair types. Let’s start to achieve your #hair goals finally. 

What Type of Hair Do I Have: All the Factors to Consider

1. Hair Density

Your hair density concerns itself with how much hair you have on your scalp. It is literally the number of individual hairs. Hair density varies from hair diameter. You can have thin locks with more density, and alternatively. There are three levels of it. It can also be determined with the mirror test. 

Grab a considerable sediment of your hair and pull it aside. The level to which you can see your scalp rules your hair density. 

• Thin density: If you can see your scalp, you have thin density. It means your tresses are scantily placed. 
• Medium density: It is the case if you can partially see your scalp underneath your hair. 
• Thick density: If you have difficulty seeing your scalp, it means you have thick hair density. This type is likely to have a higher hair volume. 

2. Hair diameter 

The diameter of your mane refers to the width of an individual hair strand. This is the most accurate way to know your hair type. Do the strand test to tell if your hair is fine, medium, or thick. 

Hold a single strand of hair between your thumb and index fingers. 

• Thin hair: You have a thin mane if you can barely sense the strand between your fingers. In some occurence, the hair strand can be so light. It can not even be visible. 
• Medium hair: If you can feel the mane strand slightly, you have medium hair. 
• Thick hair: If you can feel the hair strand distinctly, you have this. 

Hair thickness can be known by contrasting your hair strand to a sewing thread. Place a hair strand with the length of a thread. Suppose it is just as thick or even thicker than the tread. You have coarse or thick hair. Suppose it is more or less the same thickness as the thread. You have medium hair. You have thin or limp tresses if the hair strand is drastically thinner than the thread. 

3. Porosity 

Porosity is the hair’s ability to absorb and retain moisture. The higher it is, the more moisture and product it will absorb. High porosity may also harm the hair. Low hair moisture indicates strands are vulnerable to hair frizz. This also extends to its capacity to absorb products. 

Knowing the porosity of your mane can help you pick the correct products for your locks. Deluge a single hair strand in a cup of water to rule the hair porosity level. 

• High Porosity: If your hair strand sinks to the bottom, you have high hair porosity. This type of hair is more vulnerable to damage. It can readily soak up the chemicals from products. It also gets frizzy and rough easily. The tresses may also quickly dry up after washing them. A high volume of pores in the hair cuticle results in it. It is also often caused by the frequent application of chemical-filled products. Hair is never hydrated enough if you have high porosity. 
• Medium or normal porosity: You’ll observe the strand floating between the water. It is rightly balanced. Normal porosity tresses take in the correct amount of moisture. After washing it, your hair feels wet. Yet, it is not sticky. It does not demand a lot of maintenance. It can also hold any hairstyle effortlessly. Finally, it is less prone to damage. 
• Low porosity: Your hair strand will drift on the surface if you have low porosity. It means your hair takes a long time to dry. Your hair cuticles have fewer pores in case of it. 

4. Hair greasiness 

Knowing how greasy your hair is can aid in understanding how frequently you need to wash it. Determining hair oiliness will also enable you to pick the right products, such as clarifying shampoos and conditions. It is due to oily hair being prone to building residue faster. 

Wash your hair thoroughly before sleeping and let it air dry. Upon waking, do a patch test on your scalp. You can push a tissue against your scalp, more near the crown of your head and behind your ears. The volume of oil on the tissue will rule out how oily your mane is.

• Oily hair: If the tissue has a hugely greasy block, you have greasy hair and scalp. It means you must wash your hair 4 to 5 times a week. 
• Normal hair: You have a normal scalp if there is very light evidence of oil. You can wash it 1 to 2 times a week. 
• Dry hair: No oil is deposited on the tissue. Hair dryness indicates a lack of hydration. Hair conditioning products can then add and retain moisture on your crowning glory. 
• Combination hair: If there is oil secreted on the tissue from only specific areas of your scalp, you have combination hair. 

Sometimes, people can have an oily scalp with dry and frizzy hair. In such cases, you should apply an oily scalp shampoo for the scalp and shampoo for dry hair variants on the strands. They can also only shampoo the scalp more frequently. Also, use a condition on their hair without shampooing every time. 

Most of the time, people mistake dandruff or flakes to be rising out of dry scalp and continue to use the wrong products. It can worsen the condition and directly to hair loss. Thus, if your condition does not improve with the usage of the OTC products, consult an expert instead. It must be done to control hair shedding. 

5. Hair elasticity 

Hair elasticity concerns itself to the extent to which a single hair strand can stretch prior to returning to its normal state. It is a strong sign of hair health. High elasticity has a good load of hair shine and bounce. It is also perceived as the strongest of all hair types. 

To know the elasticity of your hair, pluck a wet hair strand. You’ll then stretch it as much as you can. Hinging on the results, your hair elasticity can be divided into three types. 

• High elasticity: If your hair strand extends a long way and does not break quickly, it is considered high in elasticity. It translates to stronger hair. Often, coarse tresses are highly elastic. 
• Medium elasticity: If your tresses stretch to some extent before breaking, it indicates this. Most women have medium hair elasticity. You can strengthen your locks using natural hair masks and oils. 
• Low elasticity: Hair that breaks almost immediately after stretching. 

This hair type is often limp and brittle. It demands special attention concerning the products used on it. A good hair routine is vital. Harsh chemicals can rid hair elasticity. Thus, it is critical to pick shampoos that strengthen hair cuticles. It is also best to introduce proper hair-brushing techniques. It aids in boosting blood circulation. Also, it prevents detangling and breaking. 

6. Curl pattern 

Observe your hair. There are four kinds of hair curl patterns. Your hair follicle and hair shaft determine how your locks will look. 

• Type 1: Straight hair 

Straight hair stays straight even with any amount of curling. It lies flat from the roots to the tips. It has a soft and silky texture. It is extremely shiny. It does not show any signs of curls. 

Besides being soft, you can observe a high amount of oil secretion in it. People with straight hair have fine hair. People with this type often resort to hair perming to add waves to their mane. 

With straight hair, you should avoid heavy serums or butter. Use texture sprays instead. Dry shampoos are also ideal. 

Washing your hair too frequently can also direct the scalp to overproduce oils. 

• Type 2: Wavy Hair 

The wavy hair type is neither straight nor curly. It is in the middle, somewhere between the two. You can sight a slight curl pattern at the lower end of these tresses. Wavy hair also holds hairstyles very well. It may be slightly rough to touch. Its diameter is thick. 

Boost the base with a light mousse to keep your hair waves from flattening out. It would also help to use a gel to define those waves. Avoid any oil-based or creamy products. 

• Type 3: Curly hair 

The best way to determine if you have curly hair is to check if your hair strand follows an ‘S’ pattern. This hair type has definite curls that remain like this irrespective of any amount of straightening. It has higher density as opposed to a wavy and straight mane. It is also more vulnerable to frizz. It can be tangled quickly. Adopting correct hair combing techniques to safeguard hair from damage is crucial. 

The best advice for curly locks is to lose the ponytail. Pulling your mane back into a ponytail triggers curls to lose their formation. If you persist in doing a bun or ponytail, you will begin to see thinning and hair loss. 

• Type 4: Kinky hair 

Kinky hair looks coarse and rough. Yet, in actuality, it is pretty fragile and soft. It is easily inclined to breakage and damage if not cared for. It has high density. It holds highly tight curls. The curls also mimic a ‘Z’ shape. 

Deep conditioning masques, butters, and creams. These three are good options for preserving kinky hair health.