How do I know my hair type?

by 

FGZ Cosmetics on 03/15/2023

Knowing about your hair type can help you choose the best hair care products and techniques.

But why is it so important to know what my hair type is?

You’ve certainly been in doubt when buying a shampoo or moisturizing cream, haven’t you? This is because we often read the countless labels that exist and uncertainty hovers in our heads.

At these times, the question “How do I know my hair type?” must appear in your mind, but do you know why we identify the type of our hair?

This is very important, because when we discover our hair type, many questions regarding ideal care and products end up disappearing. After all, each hair has unique and super special characteristics, requiring certain treatments and even specialized techniques.

How do I know my hair type in terms of the oil produced?

Our scalp produces a natural oil that nourishes and protects our hair fiber. The amount of oil produced can greatly influence the appearance and beauty of our hair. 

Normal hair
Your hair type is normal when it remains soft for up to two days after washing, without any visible oily appearance.

In this case, you don’t need to exaggerate with creams and hydration masks. After all, your hair already has the “right amount” of oil and therefore does not need to be constantly hydrated to replace it. Moisturizing fortnightly may be enough.

Oily hair
Oily hair is hair that needs to be washed every day, otherwise it will look sticky and too shiny. Therefore, if your roots immediately become oily one day after washing, it is important that you give more space between moisturizing treatments, doing it monthly, for example.

Furthermore, it is essential to be extra careful not to apply conditioners and moisturizing masks to the roots and not to overuse finishing products. After all, these habits can leave your hair looking even heavier and oily.

Therefore, invest in specific products for oily hair, which clean but are not aggressive, as the constant use of anti-residue or very astringent shampoos can cause the so-called rebound effect. In other words, your scalp understands that it needs to produce more oil to make up for the lack of protection and, as a result, your strands become even more oily.

Dry hair
Your hair type can be considered dry when it becomes rough to the touch, dull and quickly split ends. Here, instead of the oily appearance of the previous type, we notice that these strands suffer a lot from dryness.

In these cases, it is essential that you undergo a treatment with nourishing and moisturizing masks frequently – 1 or more times a week -. This way, we can return to the hair all the hydration it loses day after day.

Furthermore, investing in moisturizing is also a really cool option for drier hair. After all, this technique can replenish nutrients, add shine, hydrate and reduce  frizz  with the use of vegetable oils! That’s right, these oils perform lipid replacement in the strands, giving more life to dry and dull hair.

Mixed hair
If your hair has oily roots the day after washing it, but its length and ends remain normal, you can consider yourself as having mixed hair.
In this case, it is essential to use specific products for this type of hair. After all, they will control oil production on the scalp and also hydrate the lengths and ends of the hair.

Furthermore, avoid using any product other than shampoo at the roots of your hair, the constant use of heat tools and accessories – such as hats, caps and caps – which can make your scalp even more oily.

How do I know my hair type in terms of strand diameter?

If this is your question, we have a tip: look closely at the strand of your hair against the light and observe.

Thin hair
The finest hairs are almost transparent and have a small diameter. Normally, these threads tend to be more fragile than others and are characterized by the possibility of breaking when stretched.

Medium hair
Medium strands have the consistency of cotton thread and a medium diameter. This type of hair tends to have a more structured shape, but not as firm as thick hair.

Thick hair
This type of hair is easier to visualize and feel its thickness, as it has a larger diameter. This hair is characterized by being structured, firm and undisciplined, having the famous frizz .

Knowing these characteristics of your hair can help you determine what types of products you should use. For example, since thick hair is prone to  frizz , and often does not retain water, in this case, we must constantly hydrate these strands and apply an anti-frizz leavi-in.

How do I know my hair type in terms of porosity?

An easy way to determine if your hair is porous is by placing a single strand of hair in a glass of water. If the hair sinks to the bottom, your hair has a high porosity. But if your hair floats on top of the water, it has low porosity. Now, if it stays in the middle of the cup, your thread has normal porosity, which means it is well balanced and you don’t need to worry.

Low porosity hair
Hair with low porosity has very closed cuticles, which makes it very difficult to absorb water or any other treatment. Therefore, if your hair has this problem, you can focus on constant hydration. This, little by little, will help balance the porosity of the hair, making it more beautiful and healthier.

Hair with high porosity
Hair with high porosity has very open cuticles, which makes the absorption of water and other nutrients much faster, as well as their loss. Therefore, if your hair has this problem, it is certainly very dry.

Therefore, the most recommended treatment for these strands is reconstruction using masks for porous hair, as these products return mass to the hair fibers, regenerating and restructuring the hair.

How do I know my hair type in terms of the degree of curl?

Firstly, we need to analyze whether your hair is wavy, curly or frizzy. There is a lot of difference between these types of threads, so we will help you.

Straight hair
These strands are classified with curvature number 1 and divided into subtypes 1A, 1B and 1C. The difference between each one is in their thickness, that is, 1A hair is fine, 1B is medium and 1C is thicker.

The straight hair Natural has no waves and does not need heat techniques and tools to straighten it. Despite not undergoing chemical procedures, you need to be careful not to lose the natural hydration of your hair. Therefore, avoid constant exposure to the sun and the constant use of hair dryers, straighteners or curling irons.

Wavy hair
This type of hair has “s”-shaped waves, which can be straight when brushed or curly when kneaded – forming loose curls. Therefore, you can choose whether you prefer to leave your strands straighter and more aligned or stimulate your waves so that they appear and remain.

Like any other type of hair, wavy hair must be treated in a very special way to enhance its natural texture, such as correct finishing techniques .

Curly hair
Curly strands have more “true” curls than wavy ones, presenting them in an “s” or spiral shape.

Just like other hair types, there are different types of curly hair, which are based on the thickness and size of their waves. This type of hair is generally voluminous and more prone to damage due to its fragility.

Curly hair
Curly hair has a pattern without much definition, with “z”-shaped strands and is often very fragile. This type of hair shrinks when wet because it has fewer cuticle layers than other types of hair and is therefore more susceptible to damage, such as dryness and breakage.

In the end…Whether it’s fine, wavy, porous or frizzy strands, one thing is certain: correct care for your hair will not only provide more shine and softness, but also health and strength to your strands. Therefore, try to invest in personalized products for the unique characteristics of your hair.

Magnun Filgueiras
Hair Technical Coordinator

FGZ Cosmetics