About Your Hair Type & How to Rock It!

Healthy hair is not limited to a certain hair type. In fact, all hair types have the potential to look and feel great in their very own way. So what makes the difference between a manageable mane or a frizzy mess? Let's find out!

To begin, let's make clear there isn't a rigid system to "classify" your hair type. That would be putting all the beauty of the diversity of the world into a box! We can though, group your hair type by texture, thickness and by your scalp's ability to produce natural oils.

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HAIR TYPE BY TEXTURE

Whether it's straight, wavy or extremely curly, the most important thing to understand about texture is that the curlier the hair is, the dryer it can be and the more hydration is needed. However the level of moisture of any texture can also be impacted by factors like your health and level of activity, as well as external conditions such as weather and pollution, which we'll refer to later.

Straight hair is produced by round shaped follicles which are determined by your DNA. In the case of straight hair, choosing an appropriate haircare line, good cleansing/conditioning, good handling habits (no harsh brushes, excessive drying, hot tools, etc.) and regular trimming depending to your growth, are key to maintaining this type's characteristic softness and shine. As a rule of thumb, the more you work with your real texture instead of trying to go against it, the easier it will be for you to handle your hair. Of course, we're not saying you shouldn't experiment with different hairstyles, you should be able to plan ahead with your stylist by talking about the real implications and your long term commitment, making sure you plan for breaks, deep conditioners and proper home care and styling.

This specific hair type benefits a lot from serums to help control flyaways and help keep the ends moisturized!

Wavy to extremely curly textures are produced by oval shaped follicles. Oil prewash treatments, deep conditioners and leave-in creams are fantastic for these hair types! It is also very important not to overdry with your towel after your shampoo and to be as gentle as possible while detangling using a smooth rubber wide tooth comb and working the hair sections from ends to roots! The reason for this is that the bends in each strand are their thinner and hair could break at these points. Find that sweet spot between soft and firm. It's good to leave your scalp free of conditioners by concentrating its use on the ends. You will want to look for products that do not coat or weigh your hair down. Although oils are beneficial using too much and not washing them out properly isn't recommended, because it will cause the adverse effect.

HAIR TYPE BY THICKNESS

The struggle of the coarse hair is real! This hair type is very characteristic of asian ethnicities and is found some parts of South America. This hair is very resistant to hair color often forcing stylists to use double pigment formulas as well as high developers and strongly prepared lighteners. Curling it is also a task because styles tend not to hold well for too long, making spraying a must! Either way, in order to give a coarse haired girl a change of look stylists are constantly using more concentrated, harsher products. For this reason intense conditioning every now and then is a must to keep this hair type in good shape, such as botox, keratin or repolarization. Good trims occasionally are also a must.

Thin hair could be quite a challenge if you are aiming at making it look fuller and thicker. Many women tend to purchase volumizing shampoo systems, from which there are many good brands. This is OK if your hair isn't processed chemically in any way (color, relaxer, waving...). However, if it has been chemically treated we recommend purchasing weightless conditioning shampoo systems specially for chemically treated hair.

HAIR TYPE BY SCALP

Our scalp produces natural oils (called sebum) through the sebaceous glands located in every follicle. Little production of sebum produces dry hair which tends to limpness and/or breakage depending on how we treat it. If you have dry skin in general, you're more likely to also have a dry scalp. A dry scalp can also get itchy and look scaly. This, like dandruff, is basically a normal shedding of your scalp's skin without sebum. This hair type benefits greatly from scalp treatments that help reduce the dryness and condition the hair. It is important to get a tried and true recommendation from your stylist so that you're not over saturating your scalp with oils which could create an imbalance.

Oily hair could be controlled with rebalancing shampoo systems. Again, the expertise of your stylist will come in handy by recommending the appropriate products, because although there is a great deal of products labeled "oil control" not all of them do a great job keeping the scalp clean and the ends moisturized all at the same time, which results in very dry and discolored ends. Sometimes even excessively oily scalps can be controlled with the right recommendation from your stylist

In the case of uncontrollable dandruff and excess sebum, it is best to consult a physician first. After you are on the proper medicated system try to combine with deep conditioning *only on ends* to prevent from dryness and breakage which is a tendency of these stronger systems. Your stylist should be able to notice when scalp issues escape their control and advise you to visit your doctor.

Suggested read: Learn why a private hair salon might be best for your busy lifestyle

EXTERNAL FACTORS THAT INFLUENCE HAIR APPEARANCE

The following are a few external factors that impact the hair:

Weather: Winters are usually harsh on your hair because of the lack of moisture in the air. This creates dryness making the hair look dull and opaque. Make sure you shampoo and condition your hair properly and dry it at least 90%. Also, the effect of wet hair under a winter hat is the same as sleeping with wet hair. You're not drying it properly therefore it dries up tangly and unruly.

Hot and humid summer days are good indicators of how nourished your hair really is! Your hair will swell up and taming it will be more challenging. This is how you know you need to bring the conditioning guns in!

Location: If you're by the beach, the salts in the air aren't your allies! They swell up the hair's cuticle and make every molecule of dirt and debris penetrate the strands. It makes the hair feel stiff. Consistent cleansing and good conditioning are ideal for maintaining good looking hair around the ocean. Protecting the hair before and after swimming and/or sunbathing is a must. Every now and then repolarization will be necessary (washing with a neutral shampoo and applying a deep conditioner). Your stylist will have options for in salon treatment and purchase.

If you're in a desert area, pre-wash oil treatments, deep and leave in conditioners are the products you live by! Big cities filled with pollution make it necessary for constant depolarization and tougher conditioners like keratins and botox.

Work conditions: If you work in hot or extremely hot environments, cleansing and conditioning well are key. If you are very physically active make sure you put your hair up and to prevent your ends from touching your own sweat, which is filled with toxins. If you are required to use any kind of hat keratins and botox every few months are a plus. If you are in public figure (tv host, dancer, actor...) having an open conversation with your stylist is key to formulate a plan that fits your demands.

Tip: Find a great stylist in the East Amherst area here!