Did you know there are at least 10 distinct types of hair? I would almost bet you didn't. And do you actually know what type of hair you have? That's ok if you don't. By the end of this article you will.
The problem with hair care is that there are no single solutions that will apply universally to all hair types. With that in mind, lets get into the 10 different hair types. In reality there are 4 main hair types. Each of these have at least 2 subtypes, some have 3. Add it all up and you get a recipe for confusion when it comes to selecting the right shampoos and styling products.
Naturally straight hair is the first type of hair. This kind of hair has more layers of cuticles which means the hair is more resistant to damage. That's a good thing but also a bad thing. This protection also means the strands of hair are more resistant to shaping or styling. When damaged, straight hair is dry and brittle and forms thin ends.
There are 3 subtypes of straight hair. Fine straight hair is usually thin, very soft and naturally shiny. Medium straight hair is more textured and has lots of body. Then there is course straight hair which is the most resistant to styling.
Next on our list of hair types is wavy hair. This hair is not quite straight and not quite curly. The strands of hair typically form S patterns in the waves. This kind of hair can be tough to curl and it may refuse to bounce at all.
Wavy hair also has 3 subtypes. There is fine or thin wavy hair which is quite easy to style with a hair straightener or curling iron. Medium wavy hair is more resistant to styling with these tools and tends to get frizzy easily. The last wavy hair subtype is thick and course. This hair is even more resistant to curling or straightening and can get the frizz even easier.
Our third hair type is curly hair. This kind of hair has a definite S pattern that often forms loops. When stretched out it bounces back like a slinky toy. Normally it is very soft and fine in texture. The layers of cuticles are smooth and not flat. That also means that this kind of hair has less shine than straight or wavy. It has lots of body and when wet straightens out. But in high humidity the curls tighten and it is prone to frizzing.
There are 2 subtypes of curly hair. The first is loosely curled. This kind of hair looks almost straight when cut short. But when grown long, it usually has shiny big curls. The second subtype is medium to tight curly hair. This kind of hair form medium to tight cork screw type curls. It is interesting to note that quite often people with curly hair will have both subtypes in different areas of their hair.
The last hair type is kinky hair. This kind of hair is very tightly curls. It is really wiry and extremely fragile. It is made of lots and lots of really thin strands of hair that are densely packed together. Kinky hair has a sheen but does not shine. Because it has the least amount of cuticles, it is often very soft but that also means it is easy to break. And because of this, kinky hair is hard to grow long.
There are 2 kinds of kinky hair subtypes. First is the tightly coiled S pattern hair. When stretched out, the hair forms an S pattern and has a bit of moisture to it. The second is the tightly coiled Z pattern. This hair forms a Z pattern when stretched has the least amount of moisture of any hair type.
There you have it. Ten unique and distinct hair types. Now, knowing this, it should be easier for you to decide exactly what specific type of hair you possess. That is important because you will get better styling results if you work with what nature gave you rather than against it. For example, if you have tight curly hair but you love the look of straight hair, you may not get the best results with a hair straightener. Or, if you have coarse straight hair but want to get tight curls, knowing that your hair will resist this type of styling helps you decide the best hair style for you.
Of course, the beauty industry has solutions for many of these different hair types so you can have straight hair for a short time if you want to. But remember to come back to your roots (pun intended).
Marcy Givens is a self pronounced hair care enthusiast. With all the junk being sold to uneducated consumers by huge manufacturers, Marcy felt obliged to get educated. During her path she discovered some useful tips and secrets for selecting the best hubpages.com/hub/Sedu_Hair_Straighteners Sedu flat iron and squidoo.com/chi-flat-irons Chi hair straightener which she freely shares with her readers.
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