Tips for Determining and Caring for Different Hair Types

​It’s essential to know your hair type. You can choose products and cuts designed for your specific needs to maintain optimal health, condition, and style.  As a barber, determining hair type will determine what tools and products I use to achieve the desired cut or style.  While you can ask your barber or stylist to help identify your type, there are some easy ways to figure it out.  Using some common categories, we can describe types by texture, porosity, curl pattern, density, etc.

TEXTURE

Texture is an important identifier.  The texture is based on the diameter of the hair.  If you have coarse hair, you’ll know it!  Coarse hair is stiff to manage with the largest diameter. With strong cowlicks and dryness that can irritate skin, this hair type will require some products.  Fine-medium hair is typically the normal/average hair type.  Fine-extra fine hair is the most manageable of all types, with the thinnest diameter.
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Regardless of the texture, make sure to choose gentle cleansers that are pH-balanced and paraben-free, followed by an all-natural moisturizer.  I recommend Warrior Beard Oil from Razors Image Products as a moisturizer for coarse beards.

POROSITY

Porosity is the measure of how well your hair absorbs moisture.  High porosity means that your hair absorbs a lot, but it doesn’t retain it.  Medium porosity is a steady rate of absorption and retention.  Low porosity is when your hair has trouble absorbing moisture, but once it’s there, it stays well.
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Low porosity typically looks healthier and shinier and is not as prone to split ends. High porosity hair would greatly benefit from creamy butters and rich oils to help retain and lock in moisture.

CURL PATTERN

The Andre Walker Hair Typing System shown in the diagram is an excellent visual of curl patterns.  Straight to Extra curly, and everything in between…the hair types are described in more detail on this neat blog post, “Curl Pattern,” at Curlsandpotions.com.
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Curly hair tends to lack moisture more often than straight hair.  It’s a great idea to use daily leave-in moisturizers. Argan oil will bring out the shine in your curls!  

DENSITY

Hair density measures the strands per square inch…so how thick is your hair?  We say it is either low, medium, or high density.  To measure your density at home, generally, a medium-average is a ponytail that is 2-3 inches in diameter.  Less would be considered low, and more would be regarded as high.

Ethnicity can affect the average person’s density. (Measured at the crown) The typical density of Caucasian hair is 1,458 hairs per square inch—Hispanic averages 1,148 and African at 961.  Age is a factor; as we age, we lose density in our hair. Healthline has a great article on hair density for further reading, “What Is Hair Density and Why It Matters.”
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With low-density hair, product weight, and residue would be a concern. With high-density hair, you would want something with good hold.

A lot goes into typing your hair correctly.  By identifying your hair type, you can be sure to use products that will work for you and your specific needs to help you reach your styling goals!  You will be able to create a realistic, easy to manage grooming  routine for your everyday needs! 
​Knowledge makes you sharp on the inside. Applying it makes you sharp on the outside!
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