Every day you see people of all hair colors and styles. But did you know you have a hair type? Yes! Not all hair is created equal. Let's start with the basic structure of hair: 1) Hair grows from a follicle, which is long and bulbous. If you were to pull out a strand of hair, you would see a bump at the tip of the hair. The cells at the base of the follicle divide rapidly and are where the hair grows. 2) Each strand of hair consists of three layers, the first of which is the innermost layer called the pith. However, this is only present in thick hair. 3) The middle layer is known as the cortex. This layer adds strength, color and texture to the hair. 4) The outermost layer is called the cuticle, and this is what protects the bark. It is completely colorless. 5) The entire strand of hair is made up of a protein called keratin. And that's hair! There are 2 basic types of hair: 1) Terminal hair is hair that grows thick and long and is found on the head, underarms, facial hair, and chest. (Face and chest in men) 2) Villus hair is the fine, short hair found on the rest of the body. The type of hair you have seems to be related to geography. 1) If you are of Asian descent, then the hair strands are rounder and thicker than all other hair types. Except for the red head, who has the thickest hair of all. 2) If you are of European descent with blonde or dark hair, then your hair strands are thinner. The strands are round to oval. 3) If you are of African descent, then the hair strands are flat and this is the reason for the frizz and waviness. It's interesting to see when you get a mixture of Asian genes with African genes or Caucasian genes with African genes. I'm a white girl with blonde, curly hair. My parents came from Holland, where there is a high concentration of people of African descent. So it's not hard to figure out where I got my hair type that I personally love. It's the hair factor, So now you can find out why your hair is the way it is. Just do a little research on your family tree and there you have it. Enjoy!
What does hair type mean? Your hair type is primarily based on the wave pattern of your hair. The amount of curl in your hair is determined by your hair follicle. The shape of your follicle determines whether your hair is: 1-straight 2-wavy 3-curly 4-coil The more oval or asymmetrical your follicle is, the curlier your hair will be. Your hair type is determined by genetics Trusted Source. You can change the curl pattern with heat or chemicals, and the curl pattern can be altered somewhat by hormones or medications you take, but your basic curl pattern is in your DNA.
What types of hair are there? Known for decades as Oprah Winfrey's stylist, Andre Walker is credited with inventing a system that classifies hair according to one of four curl patterns: Type 1 Straight hair Type 2 Wavy hair Curly hair type 3 Curly hair type 4 These types are further sub-categorized based on the tightness or looseness of the curls and coils. It may sound simple, but like most attempts to define human characteristics, it is not. You can have type 4C on the crown and 4A on the temples. Your hair can be straight at the roots and wavy at the ends. The key is to understand what each type needs in order to groom it well and keep it healthy. How to style and care for your hair type 1: Straight Type 1 hair does not have a natural wave. Individual strands can be fine or coarse, thick or thin, but they fall without curling from root to tip. Type 1 hair tends to get oily, so many stylists recommend that you check the label to make sure the product you're buying won't add extra greasiness to your hair. Stylist Kristi Lovelace also suggests avoiding heavy serums or butters. With straight or fine hair, I would recommend texturizing sprays instead. Dry shampoos are also a good idea, she said. Washing your hair too often can cause the scalp to overproduce oil, so dry shampoo is beneficial for people with straight, oily hair. Lovelace says most women come into salons with photos on Instagram or Pinterest of the style they want. "I usually recommend styles based more on face shape than hair type," she said. "One style that's really popular right now is the blunt chin cut, which works really well with straight hair." Type 2: Wavy hair Type 2A The natural state of type 2 hair is a fine, tousled texture. From the roots to eye level, your hair is relatively straight. And from eye level to ends, you have a loose, undefined wave. To avoid flattening this wave, avoid oil or cream based products. Instead, stylists recommend that you set the foundation with a light mousse or use a gel to define those waves. Type 2B As with 2A, type 2B hair is wavy from the center to the ends. The curls have a more defined S shape. Straightening may take a little more effort, but it's easy to create a beach look with a little salt spray. Type 2B is perfect for the balayage trend, where stylists hand-paint the color onto the outer layer of hair. “When people come in with balayage pictures,” Lovelace said, you'll always see wavy hair in the photo because when that hair curls, it gets dimension from the back. People with wavy hair don't have to go out of their way to style this look. Type 2C The best defined S-shaped waves are of the 2C type. The wave pattern may start near the crown and fall down. Type 2C hair is often thick and can be prone to frizz in humid weather. Lovelace recommends using a diffuser, a toothed device that clips onto the end of a hair dryer, to help eliminate frizz. I'm a big proponent of products, especially where you have environmental factors like hard water and salt water," Lovelace said, Anti-humidity products are huge. People with 2C hair can be frustrated by alternating between straightening their hair every day, which can damage it, and trying to find ways to improve and control their waves. The good news is that many lightweight foams now contain anti-humidity ingredients along with moisture. Type 3: Curly Type 3A For type 3A hair, S-shaped curls form loose loops. Curls are slightly wider in circumference than the large end of the taper candle. One important styling note: Brushing this type of hair can disrupt the definition of the curls and lead to a frizzy mane. Silvana Castillo, head stylist and founder of Miami salon The Curl Whisperer, which specializes in hair types 3 and 4, recommends styles and products that define natural curls. Her best advice? Lose the ponytail. "That's fine if you're on your way to the gym, Castillo said, or if it's necessary for work. But pulling your hair back into a ponytail will cause the curls to lose their shape. And if you pull your hair back into a bun or ponytail, you will also start to see thinning and hair loss. Hair loss occurs because the weight of the ponytail pulls on the front of the hair for a long time. Type 3B Type 3B curls have a circumference about as wide as the barrel of a Sharpie marker. Curls spring from the roots and have sufficient volume. These rings generally need moisture to maintain their characteristic spiral shape. However, avoid silicone and sulfates in your curl products. They can temporarily tame frizz, but over time they can dry out your hair and lead to breakage. Type 3C These curls are tight and springy - they would curl perfectly around a drinking straw. To maintain definition in these corkscrew curls, take a hands-on approach. Instead of combing, which can lead to frizz and breakage, use a leave-in conditioner and run your fingertips through wet hair. The American Academy of Dermatology recommends air drying instead of a blow dry. Type 4: Coils Type 4A The 4A hair curl pattern is an S-shaped spiral that you can wrap around the wand. "Type 4 hair is the finest hair type" Castillo said, ;You have to be very gentle with, and it needs a lot of moisture. But getting moisture doesn't necessarily mean using oils. Deep conditioning masks, butters and creams are good options for maintaining hair health. "We recommend that people wear them loosely in a wash-and-go style" she said. One thing the Curl Whisperer Salon doesn't advocate is protective styles like weaves and braids. Although some stylists swear by styles that allow you to tuck in fragile ends to protect them while they grow out, Castillo says these styles often do more harm than good. While hair is out of sight, it is also out of reach for conditioning treatments. When you wear your hair in a protective style for weeks, the frizz is completely gone. The cuticle is so dry and open that it becomes like little fishhooks that catch on each other and break when you take out the braids. Castillo said. It's better to wear it in a style that allows you to stay hydrated. Type 4B Curls in hair,4B zigzag. One of the popular techniques for defining and highlighting curls is shingles. Shingles start with wet hair. Gently comb through fingertips and use a generous amount of leave-in conditioner to hydrate and condition. Then divide the hair into four sections. Curl the curling cream or gel along the length of each curl, twisting the strands around your index finger as you go. Type 4C Type 4C coils are the tightest and most fragile. It's really easy to break them if you comb roughly or too often, and it's important to nourish your hair with rich conditioners often. Coconut oils are still popular, as are shea butter creams. More and more people are abandoning shampoo for co-washing
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