Hair type and Concern

Your hair is beautiful and unique to you.

Everyone's hair is different based on genetics, lifestyle, and maintenance. Understanding
your hair type is the first step in navigating what products are best for your hair.

Hair types

1

STRAIGHT

2a
2B
2C

WAVY

3a
3B
3C

CURLY

4a
4B
4C

COILY

HAIR TYPES

Hair texture

Understanding what type of hair texture and density you have can help you determine the best way to manage and
care for your hair. The most important thing to understand is that there is nothing wrong with having thin hair, fine
hair or coarse hair - it’s simply genetics!

Hair texture vs. Hair Density

The texture and density of your hair are two different things.

Texture is the diameter of the individual hair strand. Texture is roughly split into three categories (Fine, Medium, Coarse)

FINE

MEDIUM

COARSE

FINE HAIR

COARSE HAIR
FEATURES The hair shaft is thinner (smaller diameter), not the same as having less hair FEATURES The hair shaft is thicker (thicker in diameter), not the same as dense hair
BENEFITS
Dries quickly, Easier to style into updos, Easier to heat style
 BENEFITS Can be resilient and strong, can hold styles better
DOWNSIDES Can get greasy faster, hair can be more fragile and prone to breakage and tangling DOWNSIDES Can be dry and in need of hydration. Can also be very resistant to colouring and versatile styling (it may require more heat and hold products to change the shape or style).

FINE HAIR

FEATURES The hair shaft is thinner (smaller diameter), not the same as having less hair
BENEFITS Dries quickly, Easier to style into updos, Easier to heat style
DOWNSIDES Can get greasy faster, hair can be more fragile and prone to breakage and tangling


COARSE HAIR

FEATURES The hair shaft is thicker (thicker in diameter), not the same as dense hair
BENEFITS Can be resilient and strong, can hold styles better
DOWNSIDES Can be dry and in need of hydration. Can also be very resistant to colouring and versatile styling (it may require more heat and hold products to change the shape or style).

HOW TO TEST
 

HOLD A SINGLE STRAND OF YOUR HAIR BETWEEN YOUR THUMB AND INDEX FINGERS

RESULTS

FINE HAIR


If you can barely feel the strand between your fingers, you have fine hair

MEDIUM HAIR


If you can feel the hair strand slightly,
you have medium hair

COARSE HAIR


If you can distinctly feel the hair
strand, you have thick hair

HAIR DENSITY

Density is the number of active hair follicles on the scalp

THIN

MEDIUM

THICK

HOW TO TEST
 

GRAB A BIG SECTION OF YOUR HAIR AND PULL IT ASIDE, THE EXTENT TO
WHICH YOU CAN SEE YOUR SCALP DETERMINES YOUR HAIR DENSITY

RESULTS

THIN DENSITY


If you can easily see your scalp, you
have thin hair density. That means your
hair is scantily placed

MEDIUM DENSITY


If you can see your scalp partially
from underneath your hair, you have
medium hair density 

THICK DENSITY


If you can hardly see your scalp, you
have thick hair density
 

HAIR POROSITY
 

Porosity is roughly split into three categories (Low, Medium, High).

LOW

Cuticles that are close together.

MEDIUM

Cuticles that are less tightly bound.

HIGH

Cuticles that are more widely spaced.

HAIR POROSITY

 

Porosity is roughly split into three categories (Low, Medium, High).

LOW

MEDIUM

HIGH

Cuticles that
are close
together.

Cuticles that
are less tightly
bound.

Cuticles that
are more
widely spaced.

HAIR STRUCTURE


To understand the concept of hair porosity, it helps to know a bit about
the structure of your hair, which consists of three layers.

THE CUTICLE This is the tough, protective outer layer of your hair that’s made up of smaller cuticles that overlap each other, similar to shingles on a roof.

THE MEDULLA This is the thickest layer of your hair. It contains fibrous proteins and the pigment that gives your hair its color.

THE CORTEX This is the soft, central part of the hair shaft.

For your hair to stay healthy and hydrated, water, oils, and other moisturizing products need to be able to pass through the cuticle to get to the cortex. But, if the cuticles are too close together, it’s not easy for water and oils to penetrate the hair. This can make it harder for your hair to get the nourishment it needs.

Also, if the cuticles are too widely spaced, your hair will have a harder time retaining moisture and staying hydrated.


HOW TO TEST
1 TAKE SOME STRANDS OF HAIR FROM YOUR BRUSH OR COMB 
Be sure to use clean hair as products can alter the results
2 DROP THEM INTO A GLASS OF WATER
3 LET THEM SIT FOR A FEW MINUTES
If the strands float after the time is up, you likely have low porosity hair. If it sinks, the hair is likely to be high porosity. If the hair floats somewhere in the middle of the glass, this would indicate medium porosity hair

 

1
TAKE SOME STRANDS OF HAIR FROM YOUR BRUSH OR COMB 
Be sure to use clean hair as products can alter the results

 

2
DROP THEM INTO A GLASS OF WATER

 

3
LET THEM SIT FOR A FEW MINUTES

If the strands float after the time is up, you likely have low porosity hair. If it sinks, the hair is likely to be high porosity. If the hair floats somewhere in the middle of the glass, this would indicate medium porosity hair

 

THE FLOAT TEST

 

LOW

MEDIUM

HIGH

 

HAIR ELASTICITY
 

In a similar way to the elasticity of skin, hair elasticity is the hair’s ability to stretch and return to its
original or normal state. Hair elasticity is important because the amount of stretch defines its level of
strength, and therefore measures the amount of pressure your hair can handle.

Elasticity can affect your hair in different ways, from how easy it is to style and manage, even
how to shiny and healthy it appears.

LOW HAIR ELASTICITY


Your hair breaks easily. Your hair may appear brittle and straw-like. Your hair may have too much protein, and instead needs more moisture and collagen.

NORMAL HAIR ELASTICITY


Your hair has good elasticity and is in optimal shape. Your hair may be shiny and have bounce.



HIGH HAIR ELASTICITY


Your hair when stretched may stretch too much and may not bounce back properly and appear slack. Your hair may feel a bit dry and lifeless. It may contain too much moisture and not enough protein.

HAIR ELASTICITY

In a similar way to the elasticity of skin, hair elasticity is the hair’s ability to stretch and return to itsoriginal or normal state. Hair elasticity is important because the amount of stretch defines its level ofstrength, and therefore measures the amount of pressure your hair can handle.

Elasticity can affect your hair in different ways, from how easy it is to style and manage, evenhow to shiny and healthy it appears.
HOW TO TEST YOUR HAIR'S ELASTICITY RESULTS
1 TAKE A WET STRAND OF YOUR HAIR
if it's already fallen out then even better 		WHEN YOU PULL: IT RETRACTS
Your hair has good elasticity and is in optimal shape
2 WRAP BOTH ENDS OF THE OF THE HAIR STRAND AROUND YOUR FOREFINGERS WHEN YOU PULL: THE HAIR IS SLACK
Your hair has high elasticity and needs protein
3 GENTLY STRETCH THE STRAND OF HAIR WHEN YOU PULL: THE HAIR BREAKS
Your hair has a low elasticity, and needs moisture and collagen

 

 

 

HOW TO TEST YOUR HAIR'S ELASTICITY

 
1

TAKE A WET STRAND
OF YOUR HAIR

if it's already fallen out then even better

 

2
WRAP BOTH ENDS OF THE OF THE HAIR STRAND AROUND YOUR FOREFINGERS

 

3

GENTLY STRETCH THE STRAND OF HAIR

 

 

RESULTS

WHEN YOU PULL: IT RETRACTS
Your hair has good elasticity and is in optimal shape

 

WHEN YOU PULL: THE HAIR IS SLACK
Your hair has high elasticity and needs protein

 

WHEN YOU PULL: THE HAIR BREAKS
Your hair has a low elasticity, and needs moisture and collagen

 

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