GET TO KNOW YOUR HAIR

Are your strands straight, wavy, curly, or coily?

HAIR TYPE AND TEXTURE

The first step in getting to know your hair is understanding its classification. Hair falls into one of four types: 1 for straight hair, 2 for wavy hair, 3 for curly hair and 4 for coily hair. Then, it’s also grouped into one of three-letter groups that determine your hair pattern. For example, someone with straight, fine hair would be classified as 1A and someone with straight hair with a light wave would be classified as 1C.

My hair is 3B and 3C because it’s a combination of medium-tight curls and ringlets with tighter, more condensed curls at my roots.

HAIR POROSITY

Once you’ve figured out your hair type, it’s really important to know about your hair porosity level as this also helps determine the best kinds of products for your hair and what ingredients you should avoid.

Hair porosity has to do with how your hair strands absorb moisture. If you have high porosity hair, you have lots of hair pores that are open and willing to soak up moisture easily but it also leaves the hair quickly. If you have low porosity hair, well, it’s the opposite. Your hair has a low number of pores so it struggles to absorb moisture. Some have a normal porosity level so hair moisture is evenly balanced.

To figure out what kind of hair porosity you have, take a strand of hair that’s clean and free of any products. Put it in a glass of water and see if it floats, sinks and stays in the middle. If it sinks, you have high porosity hair. If it floats to the top, you have low porosity hair. If it stays in the middle, you have a normal porosity level.

HAIR HEALTH

Mindfully touch your hair. How does it feel? How about your scalp? Your ends? Your roots? If it feels brittle, you have split ends, breakage excess shedding, and/or it just looks dull, your hair is definitely damaged. This can be caused from being dehydrated, lack of, or too much protein (in your diet or hair products), too much colouring, chemicals or heat styling.

Restoring your hair to a healthy state takes time. While not all damage can be repaired with products (sometimes it just has to grow out and be cut off), there are ways to help your hair such as ensuring you’re drinking enough water, eating balanced meals and taking vitamins. Hair treatments such as masks and oils can also help depending on your hair type, porosity level and type of damage.

Getting to know your hair is an important first step in hair care. I hope this blog post has helped you on your hair care journey!