What is My Hair Type?

Your hair is as distinctive as you might be, and understanding your hair kind, curl sample, subtype and the opposite elements of your hair kind will be the step one of understanding your distinctive head of hair.

Most People Get Their Hair Type Wrong

Hair Typing is a system of classifying hair created by Andre Walker it includes of curl sample, hair texture, density, and porosity. 

Most solely give attention to the ABCs and 123s of the hair classification system which solely describes the bodily look of hair or curly kind and its subtype. You know… I’m 4b/4c for instance.

But there are some belongings you take into account in terms of your hair kind: 

1.) One head of hair can have a number of hair varieties. You could have observed that your curl sample is looser within the entrance. Or perhaps it’s tighter within the crown or middle of your head. This actually isn’t unusual. Many folks have observed the variations of their hair. 

2.) Knowing your curl sample can go away you at nighttime about your hair’s wants and bodily make-up or composition. Honestly, it doesn’t present any details about your hair’s bodily make-up. In addition to twist sample, figuring out your hair’s texture, density, and porosity will present a colourful view of the individuality of your head of hair. 

Curly hair is very complicated. No two heads of hair are alike. In truth, hairs on one head could not act alike. That is what makes us distinctive. But that additionally generally is a problem to completely perceive our hair. Hair has numerous curl patterns (3C, 4A, and so forth.), textures, density, porosity and elasticity. It could seem very difficult, however right here is the breakdown:

Defining Hair Types

Hair Type consists of those 5 elements: 

• Curl Pattern
• Texture
• Density
• Porosity
• Elasticity

Curl Pattern or Curl Type

The is the most typical system used to explain curl sample. 

 The hair typing system is useful in understanding how your hair could look should you copy a selected model. You may infer that hair that is kinkier can be drier, as a result of the tighter curl sample makes it harder for pure hair sebum to achieve the ends of the hair. You mustn't infer that kinkier hair is stronger. This is false. 

Hair varieties are usually categorized into 4 main classes or curl patterns: straight, wavy, curly, and coily. 

Each of those classes will be additional divided into subtypes of a, b, or c. 

Here’s a quick overview of every curl sample:

• Straight Hair (Type 1): This hair kind is typically clean and straight, missing a noticeable curl or wave.
• Wavy Hair (Type 2): Hair with a mild “S” form or free waves falls into this class. It’s typically simple to model.
• Curly Hair (Type 3): Curly hair options well-defined curls or ringlets, from free to tight spirals.
• Coily Hair (Type 4): This hair kind has tight, springy curls or coils that vary from nice to coarse.

The Subtype of Curl Pattern

You subtype describes the most important distance of your curls or the diameter of your curl, kink, or coil. 

A: Well-defined curls or spirals.

B: Looser, much less outlined curls.

C: Very tight, small curls or coils.

In addition to twist sample, right here’s a breakdown of the opposite three elements of the hair kind system: texture, density, and porosity.

Texture

Hair Texture refers back to the thickness or diameter of the hair strand. Your hair will be nice, medium (regular), or thick (coarse). Fine hair is delicate –with much less protein construction — and doesn’t maintain curls properly. Fine hair is extra susceptible to breakage, particularly if it is additionally susceptible to dryness. Medium (regular) has extra protein construction than nice hair, nevertheless it is extra pliable than coarse hair. Coarse hair is a thicker hair strand, that holds curls properly, nevertheless it is much less pliable than nice or medium hair.

Density

Density refers back to the variety of strands in your head. Those with low-density hair usually tend to have points with scalpy twists. High density means you have got loads of hair strands. When you discuss with somebody’s hair as “thick”, it is usually in reference to density.

Porosity

Porosity refers to how your hair strands retain moisture. If you might be having points moisturizing your hair, this is a vital idea to understand. Low porosity hair makes it troublesome to get moisture into the hair. Normal (Medium) porosity hair is pretty simple to get moisture into the hair shaft and retain that moisture. High porosity hair has a really troublesome time retaining moisture as a result of water enters and leaves the shaft simply. (NOTE: Overly porous hair is usually as a result of chemical and mechanical injury and is much more troublesome to moisturize.) 

How to Test Your Hair Porosity

To check your hair porosity, place a shed hair in water and comply with the information beneath. It is additionally necessary to notice that hair porosity can change over time as a result of the usage of chemical substances, warmth, and age of hair.

Quick and Easy Guide to Porosity

Low Porosity = Closed Cuticle = Hair floats in water throughout hair porosity check = Difficult to get moisture into hair

Normal Porosity = Cuticle layer opens sufficient to permit moisture = Hair takes a very long time to sink = Easy to moisturize and retain that moisture

High Porosity = Raised cuticle layer = Hair rapidly sinks to the underside = Absorbs water simply

Elasticity

Elasticity refers back to the “stretchiness” of your hair, which is how a lot your hair will stretch after which return to its regular state. If your hair is wholesome, when moist, it ought to stretch 50% or extra and return to its regular state. Unhealthy hair could solely stretch about 20% when moist. Hair that is not elastic is extra susceptible to breakage. It is additionally tougher to twist with rollers or heat-styling instruments. To check for elasticity, pull strands from at the very least 4 areas of your head. Determine how a lot it springs break, how rapidly it springs break, and whether or not your hair breaks.

So there you have got it! The easy breakdown of “hair typing”. As you'll be able to see, it is way more than 1, 2, 3, and A, B, C. [Sorry I couldn’t resist the rhyme.] It is additionally necessary to notice, which you can have any mixture of those traits. (So though you suppose your hair seems to be like “Ebony” if you watch her video… it’s not.)

Identifying Your Hair Type:

Determining your hair kind is a simple course of. After washing and permitting your hair to air dry, take a detailed take a look at your strands. Pay consideration to elements like curl sample, thickness, and frizz. 

 You can use these observations to determine your hair kind and subtype.

Is your hair straight, wavy, curly, or kinky? Assign your hair the corresponding hair kind (Type 3 or Type 4).  It’s value noting, that the majority Black girls have curly (3) or kinky (4) hair in its pure or non-relaxed state. 

To determine your subtype take a look at the diameter of your textured hair. 

Note that you're figuring out the dominant hair kind.

The Quick and Easy Curl Pattern Guide:

1 = Straight Hair

2 = Wavy Hair

3 = Curly Hair

A = Curl diameter of sidewalk chalk

B = Curl diameter of a sharpie

C = Curl diameter of a pencil

4 = Kinky Hair

A = Curl diameter of a needle

B = Zigzag curl sample

C = No curl sample

How Do You Use Your Hair Type

Now that you already know your hair kind, how do you set this data to make use of?

The best strategy to clarify this is to make use of myself for example.

Like so many I used to be utterly confused and slightly overwhelmed after I first went pure.  Everyone was throwing round phrases, merchandise I needed to strive, and declaring curl varieties left and proper.  Needless to say, I bought product after product…that didn’t work for my hair kind.

That is after I began to take the time to actually perceive my hair.  You can say I constructed a relationship with my hair.  And not simply the Andre Walker Typing System, which is restricted in utility.  I realized about numerous features of hair typing so I may higher perceive how one can moisturize and elegance my hair.  And that is after I had my main breakthrough.

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