What are the types of hair, and why is it important to know yours?

It’s easier to take care of hair than skin: you just need to wash it as it gets dirty and don’t forget to “appease” it with balms and masks. True, it is important to use the right products – and in order to choose them, you need to accurately determine your hair type.

Why do you need to know your hair type?

What are hair? Very, very different. Long, medium length and short. Straight, curly, wavy and curly. Thick and sparse, soft and hard, blond, red and pitch black. Natural and dyed. Brittle, split ends (what does it depend on? Often – from improper care and health problems …

All these characteristics are very important, but it is even more important when choosing cosmetics to take into account the type of hair – whether it is oily, normal or dry. After all, it’s even scary to imagine what will happen if you take care of oily hair with products for dry ones, and use shampoos, balms and masks for oily ones for dry and brittle hair. Happy curls (and scalp) from this definitely will not! If you use the wrong means:

  • strands become brittle, dull;

  • hair begins to fall out;

  • scalp itches and becomes irritated,

  • dandruff may appear.

And vice versa, if you correctly determine the type of hair (or learn it by asking a hairdresser or trichologist), then you can easily choose effective care and the appearance of curls will improve significantly.

How to determine your hair type

At home, this is easiest to do with our test.

1. How often do you wash your hair?

a) Once a week.

b) Once every three days.

c) Every day or every other day.

2. Do you have dandruff?

a) There is no dandruff, but the skin often itchs after styling products, and after washing there is a feeling of dryness and tightness.

b) It can only appear from a new unsuccessful shampoo.

c) Yes, there is oily dandruff.

3. Is your hair brittle?

a) No, I would not say.

b) Yes, the ends split, the hair breaks.

c) No, they are tough, durable, “thick”.

4. Are they shiny?

a) No, they are dull, with lifeless tips.

b) Yes, they look healthy and shiny.

c) Yes, but it’s greasy – they always look greasy.

5. Does your hair become electrified?

a) Yes, and a lot.

b) Only in winter after a hat.

c) No.

6. Are they “light” or “heavy”?

a) Very light, because of this they constantly fluff and scatter.

b) After washing, they are lush, but the volume quickly disappears.

c) “Light” only at the ends, at the roots they always seem to be sleek.

7. Do they dry quickly after washing?

a) Yes, very quickly.

b) Fast enough.

c) The ends dry quickly, and the roots take a long time.

If more answers A, you have dry hair type, B – normal, C – oily.

Basic hair types and care

There is also the so-called mixed type of hair – this is when the scalp, for example, is oily, and the hair itself is dry. Or when the scalp is dry, flaky, itchy, and the hair itself is normal. What to do in these cases? Garnier Expert Creator Evgeny Sedoy advises you to always choose a shampoo according to the type of scalp (if it is oily, choose a product for oily hair, if dry – for dry). But balms, conditioners, masks and leave-in care can already be purchased according to the type of hair and their characteristics.

normal

Such hair does not have any features and does not require special care, so you can use absolutely any moisturizing, softening, nourishing shampoo, balm and mask. You can afford to choose a product, focusing only on the texture and aroma – the owners of the happiest type of hair, how we (and not only us) envy you!

Elseve Luxury 6 Oils Light Nourishing Shampoo, L’Oréal Paris

Carefully cares for any type of women’s hair – softens, moisturizes, fills with shine. The main roles are played by oils of lotus, rose, chamomile, flax, sunflower and tiare flower, each of which nourishes and transforms hair in its own way.

Botanic Therapy “Coconut milk and macadamia”, Garnier Botanic Therapy conditioner for nourishing and soft hair

The tool gives the hair softness, makes them more elastic, supple, obedient. In addition to coconut milk and macadamia, the composition includes glycerin, a moisturizing ingredient that easily creates a healthy, vibrant hair shine.

Oil-elixir Fructis “Transformation” for all hair types, Garnier

It is quickly absorbed without weighing it down, instantly improves the appearance of the hair, makes it easier to comb. The formula with triglyceride and natural plant extracts and oils creates a protective film on the surface of the hair, the strands become smooth and soft to the touch and shiny.

Fatty

Such hair quickly gets dirty. Moreover, frequent washing does not always help – it happens that by the end of the day the strands do not look very fresh. Intensely cleansing shampoos with components such as, for example, salicylic acid, clay that absorbs excess sebum, charcoal, tea tree oil, cucumber extract and others save the situation.

Dercos Nutrients Detox Deep Cleansing Shampoo for hair that needs frequent washing, Vichy

Charcoal and spirulina algae extract are the main stars of this remedy. Thanks to them, the scalp remains fresh for a long time, and the hair is light. We at Healthy-Food know from experience how oily hair can be, but even that can now be washed once every three days thanks to the good cleansing effect of this shampoo!

Balm Elseve “Three valuable clays” for hair oily at the roots and dry at the ends, L’Oréal Paris

Three types of clay: white, blue and green – absorb excess sebum well, normalize the water-lipid balance and help create volume at the roots. The balm perfectly moisturizes the hair without weighing it down and making combing easier.

Mask 3-in-1 Fructis Superfood “Papaya” for damaged hair, Garnier

Just because your hair is oily doesn’t mean it’s not damaged. Coloring, hot styling, wind, temperature changes – each of us faces these negative factors. The mask helps to restore the structure of the hair, gives them smoothness, silkiness and shine.

dry

The problem is that this hair is not just dry – it is also fragile, brittle, split, electrified. They get confused quickly, comb badly, and styling them is still a pleasure. Hair dryer and styling only worsen their condition. Products with probiotics, vegetable oils, glycerin will help – pay close attention to them.

Soft physiological shampoo-gel Kerium, La Roche-Posay

Gently cleanses and maintains the physiological balance of the scalp – and all thanks to special mild surfactants, glycerin and salicylic acid. The shampoo has almost no smell – it is light, barely perceptible. And you can use it at least every day.

Balm conditioner for very dry hair Fructis Superfood “Banana”, Garnier

Banana, soybean, sunflower and coconut oil, glycerin – these are the secret ingredients of this nourishing balm, which perfectly moisturizes dry hair and stimulates healthy growth.

Types of hair in shape

Hairdressers and stylists also classify hair according to the shape and type of curl. It:

  • 1 – straight curls;

  • 2 – wavy;

  • 3 – curly;

  • 4 – curly.

Determining your type is very simple: wash your hair and let your hair dry. Don’t comb them, don’t give them any shape – just see how they lay themselves.

The shape of the hair is directly related to their structure: straight hair is round in section, wavy is oval, and curly is almost flat, like a ribbon. This is also related to the location of the follicles. In straight hair, they are located almost perpendicular to the scalp, in wavy – at a slight angle, and the smaller the angle, the denser the curl. In curly hair, the root runs almost parallel to the scalp and also wriggles.

Direct

Curls will appear only if you twist the strands with a curling iron or curlers. But both waves and curls will quickly go away: straight hair does not hold styling well. Due to the low porosity, they are also difficult to color. But they are easy to care for, they are elastic and shiny! And it is also very difficult to dry them out – which, however, does not negate thermal protection when using hot appliances.

Professionals distinguish three subtypes of straight hair:

  • A – soft and thin;

  • B – slightly thicker, often oily at the roots and dry at the tips;

  • C – hard and thick, prone to dryness and brittleness.

The best cosmetics for straight hair are moisturizing shampoos and nourishing balms and masks. Sometimes you may need funds “from fluffiness.”

Wavy

If you just dry them, they will lay down in a small wave, and if you use a hair dryer, they will straighten up quickly. Among the shortcomings – wavy hair is often split, fluffy, easily confused. They are more brittle than straight and more porous. The degree of porosity depends on the subtype of hair.

  • A – thin, not thick, with a barely noticeable curl, a little porous;

  • B – medium density, with a clear curl, often fluffy;

  • C – with a pronounced S-pattern, often brittle and very porous.

In our opinion, the best cosmetics for wavy hair are sulfate-free shampoos, moisturizing, nourishing and regenerating masks and conditioners that remove the “dandelion effect” and make combing easier.

Curly

You can’t confuse them with wavy ones: if they lie in soft waves, then curly hair is shaped like spring curls. As a rule, they are brittle and dry, which is why hot styling can only be used on holidays (otherwise the strands will become even more dry and begin to break along the entire length). What kind of curly hair is in structure?

  • And – thin, porous, loose and, as we call them, “weather-dependent” – they easily lose their shape from humidity and strong wind, you can’t go outside without gel and mousse.

  • B – dense, porous, fluffy, with a fairly large curl – you can wind it on your finger. They keep their shape well – styling is needed only in special cases, usually a balm or conditioner is enough.

  • C – thick, hard, dense, with a small curl (diameter does not exceed the size of a pencil), very voluminous. Like the first two types, they are prone to dryness and section, so the curly method, the alternation of shampoo and co-washing, the use of oils and a leave-in conditioner will be optimal for all three.

Curly

It is the most difficult to care for them – in their structure, this hair is very dry, brittle, porous. They are quickly damaged and extremely poorly fit. The shape of the hair varies from a dense S- to a Z-pattern – the so-called “afrotype”, which needs constant hydration and nutrition.

  • A – small hard curls that wrap around a toothpick.

  • B – curls-zigzags.

  • C – thick, dense curls sticking out in different directions.

From the description of the hair, you probably already understood that it is extremely difficult for a girl (and a boy) to take care of them. Afro curls’ best friends are mild shampoos, oils, moisturizing conditioners, and leave-in treatments. You can dry them only with a cold hairdryer with a diffuser, and style them with sprays and light jellies.

To determine your digital type, wash your hair without combing, let your hair dry and see what shape it takes

Summary results

Briefly about the main thing.

What are hair like? 

According to the generally accepted classification, oily, normal and dry. The easiest way to determine your hair type is with our test (see above). 

What other types of hair are there? 

Very, very different. Long and short, straight and wavy. And yet – soft and hard, healthy and lifeless, strong and brittle, straight and wavy, natural and colored. And all these characteristics are important to consider when choosing care products.

Why is it important to know your hair type? 

If you correctly determine the type of hair, you can easily find effective care, keep them in good condition and enjoy their natural beauty.

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