Hair Type

How Do You Determine Your Hair Type?

Knowing your correct hair type forms the basis of your personal hair care routine. To choose the right shampoo, conditioner, hair oil and styling products, you need to understand what your hair needs. So, how do you determine your hair type? The answer to this question can be found by assessing various criteria, such as the shape of your hair (straight, wavy, curly), its texture (fine, thick) and the characteristics of your scalp (oily, dry).

Whilst you can have professional analyses carried out, it is also possible to determine your hair type at home using some simple methods. Once you have correctly identified your hair type, maintaining and strengthening your hair’s health will become much easier.

Why Is It Important to Determine Your Hair Type?

Determining your hair type is the first and most important step in selecting the right care products for your hair and applying a routine suited to its needs. Every hair type has a different structure and different needs. For example, curly hair generally requires more moisturising, whilst fine hair responds better to lighter, volumising products. If you do not know your hair type correctly, the products you use may weigh your hair down, leading to hair loss or breakage.

Furthermore, treatments unsuitable for your hair type (such as high-heat styling or incorrect cutting techniques) can disrupt the hair’s natural structure and cause long-term damage. Therefore, identifying your hair type is not just a matter of aesthetics; it is also crucial for achieving healthy and strong hair.

What Are the Different Hair Types? (Straight, Wavy, Curly, Very Curly)

Hair types are generally divided into four main groups, and this classification is usually based on the hair’s natural texture:

• Type 1 – Straight Hair: This naturally straight hair type is generally more prone to oiliness. It is easy to style but can appear lacking in volume. It usually has a high shine.
• Type 2 – Wavy Hair: It has natural, gentle S-shaped waves. It is neither very straight nor very curly. It requires moderate care and may be prone to frizz.
• Type 3 – Curly Hair: It has defined curls and volume. It is sensitive to moisture loss and requires specialised moisturising care. It is important to maintain the definition of the curls.
• Type 4 – Coily Hair: It has very tight, Z-shaped or spiral curls. It is usually dry, more prone to breakage and requires intensive moisturising and gentle care. It is one of the most fragile hair types.

This classification will guide you in determining the general approach to caring for your hair.

Hair Texture: Fine, Thick, Medium

Hair texture is determined by the diameter of each individual hair strand. This texture has a direct impact on the hair’s strength, volume and ability to hold a style:

• Fine Hair: The hair strands are very delicate and break easily. It generally appears lacking in volume and can easily become weighed down by heavy products. It should be supported with lightweight products.
• Thick-Strand Hair: The hair strands are thicker and quite resilient, but can be difficult to style. It generally takes longer to dry and may require heat styling.
• Medium-Thick Hair: It is both manageable and resilient. It is generally easier to care for and works well with most products.

Determining your hair type is crucial for choosing the right haircut and hair care products.

How to Identify Your Scalp Type? (Oily, Dry, Combination, Sensitive)

Hair health begins not just with your hair strands, but directly with your scalp. Your scalp type plays a critical role in preventing problems such as dandruff, hair loss and itching:

• Oily Scalp: This causes the hair to become greasy and heavy quickly. It may generally require daily washing.
• Dry Scalp: Flaking, tightness and itching are common. Moisturising shampoos and oils are recommended.
• Combination Scalp: The roots may be oily, whilst the ends are dry. Balancing products and specialised moisturisers for the ends are recommended.
• Sensitive Scalp: Prone to redness, a burning sensation and itching. Fragrance-free, gentle and hypoallergenic products should be used.

Scalp type is an important factor to consider when preventing problems such as hair loss and during procedures such as hair transplants.

A Hair Type Test You Can Do at Home

You can carry out a simple test at home to determine your hair type:

1. Wash and rinse your hair (without using conditioner).
2. Allow your hair to dry naturally (do not use a hairdryer or styling products).
3. Gently pull a few strands of hair from different areas of your head (e.g. the crown, sides, nape) using your fingers.
4. Examine the strand of hair you’ve pulled out in the light and feel it between your fingers:
   • If the hair strand is barely visible and you cannot feel it in your hand: You most likely have fine hair.
   • If the strand feels thick and stiff, and has a noticeable thickness: You probably have thick hair.
   • If it is of medium thickness, i.e. it feels somewhere between thick and fine: you have medium-thick hair.
5. Also, observe the natural shape of your hair once it’s completely dry (straight, wavy, curly). The curls or straightness that form without styling will help you identify your hair type.

Methods for Determining Hair Type in Wet and Dry Hair

Your hair type may look different when wet and when dry. It is therefore important to assess both states when determining your hair type:

• When wet: As the hair becomes heavier, curly hair may have more pronounced curls, whilst wavy hair may appear straighter. At this stage, the hair’s natural texture can be misleading.
• On dry hair: The true hair type can be observed most accurately. The natural curl pattern, wave or straightness of the hair, left to dry without styling, should be examined.

This analysis will provide you with clearer information about your hair’s shape, elasticity, moisture requirements and hair density.