Many articles have been written on how to help you improve your hair texture. To tell you the truth, hair texture is something you cannot change- you are born with it! The same applies to hair type. Many even confuse the state in which your hair is with your hair texture. A typical example is dry hair. If you are also confused, read on as I demystify everything that relates to hair type and texture.

What is hair texture?

This term is used to refer to the thickness of each strand of your hair. It is its visual quality. It can be thick, medium or fine.

Fine hair: Very fragile. Individual strands are very thin and only constitute of two layers: the cuticle and cortex. It is not easy to maintain such hair in style, and any product build-up weighs it down. It is susceptible to breakage.

Medium hair: What a majority of people have. Individual strands may have an additional third layer- the medulla. It is more resistant to breakage and keeps hairstyles for longer.

Thick hair: People with such hair have a fuller head. All the three layers (cortex, cuticle, and medulla) are present. Such hair has a higher tolerance for heat styling products and breakage. Such hair is rarely weakened by dyes. However, such hair may take longer to dry up, and as a result frizzes very fast under humid conditions.

Do you know your hair curl pattern?

Curl patterns refer to the shape your hair fiber takes. They include: wavy, curly, straight, kinky curly.

Wavy: The hair curls are s-shaped and most of the hair appears straight with the ends slightly bending. Hair with this curl pattern tends to frizz easily, and takes a lot of effort to achieve nice looking waves.

Curly: the entire shaft of hair tends to curl itself. Strands may either be coarse or fine, but most of the time they are fine. Curly hair lacks a curl definition, experiences a lot of shrinkage, frizzing and drying.

Kinky-curly: This hair has the tightest curls with the strands s-shaped and z-shaped. Its curl definition is almost impossible and the hair is very fragile. Dryness and shrinkage are a constant companion of such hair.

The different states in which hair can be

1. Oily hair

People with oily skin tend to have oily hair as well. Your skin type remains the same even when it constitutes the scalp, hence oily hair. This is mainly due to the production of excessive oil, which means an oily scalp and ultimately oily hair.

How to recognize oily hair

• Such hair lacks life and looks dull most of the time.
• Hair becomes greasy and oily even a day after shampooing.
• The scalp suffers from dandruff due to excess oil and as a result, the hair tends to fall off.

Care

• Frequent shampooing
• Regularly rinse your hair with mild concoctions of vinegar, lemon and
• Keep your hands off your hair to minimize oil transfer from your skin to the hair.
• Minimize oil secretions by keeping off oil massages.
• Wash your hair with cool water to avoid stimulation of oil production.
• Go for herbal remedies. Do not apply conditioners on your scalp to avoid product build-up. Instead, focus on the hair strands which really need the conditioning.

1. Dry hair

Infection oil-secreting glands result in dry hair. people with dry skin tend to have dry hair. This is due to insufficient secretion of sebum by the sebaceous glands on the scalp.

How to recognize dry hair

• Split ends
• Excessive hair loss and breakage
• Frizzy and dry hair as a result of the drying effect of the sun or chemical treatments.

Care

• Frequent hot oil massages
• Regular deep conditioning. Leave-in treatments are the most suitable for such hair.
• Avoid heat styling tools such as flat irons
• Do not shampoo your hair on a daily basis
• Be a friend to home remedies such as avocado hair masks. Let it sit in for an hour then rinse off.

1. Normal hair

You are a lucky one if this is your hair type!

This hair type is known for its perfect balance in pH, shininess and general healthy state.  However, this kind of hair is very rare. It only takes the usual cleaning, moisturizing and protection to keep it looking healthy and vibrant.

Identifying normal hair

• Minimal breakage and hair loss
• rarely gets dandruff and other issues

Care

• Have a balanced diet so that the hair’s health is maintained.
• Use sulfate free shampoos when washing
• Regularly condition it.

A simple method to determine your hair type

Simply dab a small piece of tissue on the scalp two days after washing. This is what you will see:

• Normal hair- an oil blot
• Dry hair-nothing on the tissue
• Oily hair- hair strands sticking together

I hope this simple guide will help you identify the state of your hair. Maintain an overall health of your hair by:

• Eating a balanced diet, with a lot of vitamin B
• Opt for air drying as opposed to towel drying your hair
• Switch to mild shampoos. Baby shampoos are the best.
• Don’t brush the hair in its wet state
• Love your hair as it is- in its natural state. Avoid heat or chemical treatments.

Remember, no hair type/texture/curl pattern is bad. It is just that each type needs a different kind of special attention. Embrace your hair and it will embrace you right back!

About the Author

Candice Hall is the Marketing Manager of Dynasty Goddess Hair, with a factory in Thailand & Office and Shipping Center in West Palm Beach, Florida, they are one of the top retailers in Virgin Remy Hair Extensions in the USA.

David Johnson

David Johnson is a versatile content writer known for his ability to breathe life into words and create engaging narratives on diverse subjects. With a passion for effective storytelling and a keen eye for detail, David crafts content that resonates with readers and sparks their curiosity. He is dedicated to delivering high-quality, informative, and enjoyable content, making him a respected voice in the digital landscape. Beyond the keyboard, David enjoys exploring the outdoors, immersing himself in literature, and finding inspiration in everyday experiences.