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How to Analyze your Hair Quality to Determine Natural Hair Types

By on May 4, 2017

How will you know which hair product is best for you. By reading the ingredients. But that’s not enough because, for proper hair care you should have knowledge of your hair type. So let us learn about natural hair types.

Tips to Analyze Natural Hair Types

Tips to Analyze Natural Hair Types

Tips to Analyze Natural Hair Types

1.How to Determine Hair Density

It is very simple. Stand in front of the mirror. While looking at your mirror image part your hair with the help of a comb or your fingers. Part hair from the middle. Pin up your hair on one side of the part. Take a chunk of hair from the other side of the part and move it to around. This will make the hair roots visible to you from different angles. With the help of other hand hold a flashlight above your head to have a good light to help you to see clearly. If you are not able to see much of the scalp your hair is dense, medium density is indicated when you see some scalp and if most of the scalp is visible in your hair density is really very thin. Check the whole scalp as hair density may differ at a different spot on your scalp.

How to Determine Hair Density

How to Determine Hair Density

2.How to Determine the Texture of your Hair

To determine the hair texture first shampoo your hair and use a conditioner. Let your hair dry. Do not use a hair dryer for this purpose. Better use a towel or fan your hair to dry. Now take a regular sewing thread about 8 inches in length. Pull out a hair strand. Keep both the hair strand and thread on a white paper side by side and compare them closely. In the case of curly hair better stretch them. If the thickness of hair is thinner than thread piece your hair is thin. If it the thickness of both thread and hair is same your hair texture is medium and if hair strand is thicker than thread your hair texture is thick.

How to Determine the Texture of your Hair

How to Determine the Texture of your Hair

3. Determining Porosity or Ability to Retain Moisture

Properly wash your hair and dry it with the help of a towel. To determine the porosity, pull a hair strand and put it in a bowl filled with water. If hair stand floats its indicates low porosity, if it stays for a while indicates medium porosity and if it sinks it indicated high porosity.

Determining Porosity or Ability to Retain Moisture

Determining Porosity or Ability to Retain Moisture

Determining elasticity- Pull out a strand of hair and stretch it in between both the hands slowly. If your hair stretches long it indicates strong and highly elastic hair. If it stretches a little elasticity is medium. If your hair breaks immediately, it indicated low elasticity.

According to Curl Pattern, and Size, we can Divide Hair Type Into Following:

  1. Straight hair– This hair type does not have any curve. They are curled resistance. Such hair is fragile to coarse, fine and thin.
  2. Wavy hair– These hair types are little wavy however not as much as curly hair. They are also thin to coarse and fine, but they are also frizzy.
  3. Curly hair- This natural hair type is S in shape. There curl pattern is definite even if they are not styled. However, their curls vary from loose curls to crock screw curls.
  4. Kinky hair- Their curl varies from tight hair colors with highly patterned. Even if you stretch them, they will return to their original shape. They shrink up to 75 percent of their actual length.

Subcategories of the above Natural Hair Type:

  • 1A: Hair is very soft, very thin, fine and unable to hold a curl along with a shine that is noticeable.
  • 1B: Although this hair type does not have curl has volumes more than Type 1A. They are medium textured.
  • 1C: They do not curl and are coarse in comparison to above-discussed hair types. They are resistant to styling
  • 2A: They resemble S letter, and are wavy and coarse. But in comparison to other Type 2 natural hair types, they are thin and fine. They are easy to handle, style and to be curled.
  • 2B: Have definite wave along with being frizzy.
  • 2C: Such hair type belongs to the coarsest category. They don’t only have thick waves, but are also very frizzy.
  • 3A: Curls are pretty loose with a diameter as side chalks. But they are shiny.
  • 3B: Curls are medium-sized with a diameter as a sharpie.
  • 3C: Also known as corkscrew curls with a diameter as a pencil.
  • 4A: Very tight curls of diameter as a needle. When stretched makes an S pattern.
  • 4B: Looking like letter Z such hair curls resembles Zigzag pattern. Their curl pattern is less defined. This hair type bends with very sharp angles.
  • 4C: There is no curl pattern to this hair type.

LOIS System

One more way to determine the hair curl pattern is LOIS system. For this take a hair strand and compare it with the letters L, O, I and S. If Your hair shows dominate right angles, fold and substantial bend it looks like the letter L.

Curled or coiled hair strand resembles the letter “O”.

Hair without distinctive curls that lies flat is considered“I” patterned.

S = If hair has “S” shaped waves it is a pattern “S”.

Hope you find this article helpful in determining your hair type.

Dr. Ritu Kumari Gupta
Dr. Ritu Kumari Gupta:  Professionally a homeopathic doctor and a dietician Dr. Ritu Kumari Gupta is passionate about writing health and parenting blogs. She believes in holistic approach towards health and well being.
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