What Are The 3 Different Hair Types And How To Identify Them?
Know what type of hair you have to give it the TLC that works best for it.
Dr. Madhuri Agarwal is an aesthetic dermatologist with over 16 years of experience and the Medical Director & CEO of Yavana Aesthetics Clinic. She caters to a wide range of people from diverse backgrounds, including top names from the television and fashion fraternity, CEOs, and entrepreneurs, and delivers injectables and advanced technologies to her clients.
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Experience: 4 yearsJyotsana Rao is an engineering graduate from NIT, Nagpur, who discovered her love for writing during her undergraduate days. She is passionate about writing about everything related to beauty - makeup, fashion, hairstyles, skin care, or hair care and has 4 years of experience on writing in these genres.
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Experience: 7 yearsAnjali is an associate editor at StyleCraze. She specializes in hairstyles and hair and skin care and has written over 200 articles in these domains. She has 7 years of experience, and her philosophy about hair and skin care is simple: if you love and care for it, it will be healthy.
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Experience: 3 yearsKrati is an associate commerce editor, a certified skin care coach, and a beauty enthusiast. She has a master’s degree in advertising and publishing relations from DAVV University and three years of experience in writing and editing for different niches.
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Hair is the crown you never take off! Long, silky, and lustrous hair has been a favorite subject for most poets. Your hair is unique, and there are three different hair types among women.
It is like an accessory that can enhance our style and reflects our personality. So, it is important to give proper care and attention to your hair. And for that, you need to know about the type of hair you have. So, keep reading this article to know the different hair types and more. Scroll down!
In This Article
Different Hair Types
A. Oily Hair
It is very common for those with oily skin to have oily hair. The skin type does not vary between the visible surface and your scalp. Hence, you have oily hair. Oily skin means oily scalp and if your scalp is oily, your hair will automatically become oily. Oily hair also usually has low porosity, meaning the cuticles are tightly packed, making it difficult for moisture to penetrate. This leads to a buildup of oils on the surface of the scalp, leading to greasy tresses.
This is primarily due to excess secretion of the natural oil called sebum (1).
How To Recognize This Hair Type
- Dull hair looks lifeless most of the time.
- However much you shampoo, you will end up with brittle hair or limp hair in just a day or two.
Care
- Shampoo frequently.
- Avoid touching your hair. Oils can be transferred from your skin to the hair.
- Avoid oil massages as this will stimulate more oil secretion
- Opt for cool / room temperature water for hair wash. Hot water stimulates more oil production.
- Avoid conditioner on roots of the hair.
Hairstyles For Oily Hair
- Ponytail
Oily hair tends to become limp and greasy quickly. A sleek ponytail is a practical choice that keeps hair off the face and helps disguise the oiliness.
- Messy Bun
The added texture from the natural oils in oily hair can make it easier to create a messy yet chic bun.
Quick TipB. Dry Hair
Fewer or lesser number of oil glands leads to dry hair.
If you have dry skin, it is most likely that you will have dry hair. This is a result of the insufficient production of sebum by the glands on your scalp. Dry hair often has high porosity, where the cuticles are raised or damaged, allowing moisture to enter the hair easily but also escape quickly, leading to dryness.
How To Recognize This Hair Type
- Dry and frizzy hair due to overexposure to the sun, using harsh shampoos and chemical treatment (1)
- Split ends
- Excessive hair breakage and loss
Care
- Indulge in lukewarm oil massages.
- Go for deep conditioning or leave-in treatments.
- Refrain from using flat irons and other heat styling tools.
- Avoid daily shampoo as it will dry the hair further.
- Opt for home remedies like mashed avocado hair masks. Leave in and rinse off after 30 minutes.
Hairstyles For Dry Hair
- Braids
Braids are great for dry hair as they can protect the strands from further damage and help lock in moisture.
- Layered Haircut
A layered haircut can add movement and texture to dry hair. It provides a modern and stylish look while helping maintain hair health.
Quick TipC. Normal Hair
You are lucky if you have this hair type!
Proper pH balance, shiny and healthy hair come in conjunction with this type (2). Though we must tell you that the name is a huge misnomer. This is the most uncommon hair type to find. Take the regular precautions to clean, moisturize, and protect it from sun damage and you will never face too many troubles with this hair type. Also, keep in mind your hair’s porosity level when purchasing hair care products. Normal hair typically has medium or normal porosity, where the cuticles are aligned well, allowing for balanced moisture absorption and retention. This helps maintain healthy hydration and oil levels.
How To Recognize This Hair Type
- Healthy hair with minimal hair loss
- Minimal dandruff and other issues
Care
- Eat a balanced diet to maintain this hair.
- Opt for shampoos that are sulfate-free.
- Condition regularly.
Hairstyles For Normal Hair
- Beach Waves
Normal hair is versatile and may simply be styled into a wave. It’s a laid-back, easygoing look that doesn’t need a lot of styling.
- Half-Up, Half-Down
This hairstyle strikes a balance between a casual and polished look. It’s ideal for hanging out with your friends and dates.
Quick TipKey Takeaways
- Your hair can be categorized into different types based on its texture and pattern like oily, dry, or normal hair.
- Regular hair treatments like deep conditioning may help in maintaining the health and beauty of your hair.
- Opt for a hair care routine that targets your specific hair type. It can lead to manageable healthy and shiny hair.
- To keep your hair healthy, you should eat foods full of B vitamins, air dry your hair, use gentle shampoos and avoid brushing wet hair.
Tips To Determine Different Types Of Hair
If you want to learn how to determine your hair type, try out this simple test. Dab a tissue on your scalp the second day after wash.
- If there’s an oil blot, you have normal hair.
- If the tissue shows nothing, it is dry.
- If strands stick to each other, it is greasy hair and you have an oily hair type.
Hopefully, you should be able to identify your hair type using these simple tips. To maintain overall health of the hair, you should
- Opt for a healthy diet full of B vitamins.
- Air dry your hair rather than heat or towel dry.
- Use gentle shampoos. Try baby shampoos to get relaxed hair once in a while.
- Don’t brush your hair when its wet.
- Embrace your natural hair and avoid chemically-treated hair or heat-damaged hair.
- Excessive use of heat styling tools or an unhealthy lifestyle may lead to you having grey hair or thin hair.
Infographic: Easy Ways To Identify Your Hair Type
Identifying your hair type is the first step to caring for it. Most of the time, we fail to recognize our hair type and end up experimenting with the wrong products, further deteriorating our hair and scalp health. Check out the infographic below to learn the easiest hacks to identify your hair type and care for it.
Illustration: StyleCraze Design Team
Just like the skin, there are different hair types: oily, dry, and normal. These hair types are determined by the amount of sebum (natural oil) produced by the scalp. Each of these hair types requires different care routines. You cannot use an oily hair care routine or product to care for dry hair or vice versa. You can determine your hair type using the tissue test. Place a tissue on unwashed hair. If you see an oil blot on the tissue, you have normal hair; if the tissue sticks to your strands, you have oily hair; and if the tissue is dry, you have dry hair.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does one’s hair type affect their styling choices?
Different hair types may need different styling methods. For instance, straight hair often holds styles well with minimal product, while curly hair typically requires specific products to enhance and maintain curl definition effectively. Certain styling products work better on particular hair types. For example, gel may suit curly hair better, but it gives straight hair a crisp weighed down look.
What are the 6 basic types of hair textures?
Six basic types of textures are straight hair, wavy hair, coarse hair, curly hair, fine hair, and frizzy hair.
Can you change your hair type?
No. Your DNA defines your hair structure, so you can do much to change your hair type.
Which hair type shrinks the most?
Type 4C hair shrinks the most due to an extremely tight curl pattern.
Learn to love your hair and it shall show its love by being fabulous.
Discover your unique hair type and get some amazing tips on how to keep it healthy and vibrant. So go ahead and check out this video, your hair will thank you!
References
Articles on StyleCraze are backed by verified information from peer-reviewed and academic research papers, reputed organizations, research institutions, and medical associations to ensure accuracy and relevance. Read our editorial policy to learn more.
- Review on Hair Problem and its Solution
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/342174156_Review_on_Hair_Problem_and_its_Solution/fulltext/5eec163d299bf1faac627269/Review-on-Hair-Problem-and-its-Solution.pdf - Healthy hair: what is it?
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18004288/
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