In life, things are rarely simple. They are rarely straightforward and often contain complex problems that cannot be solved systematically.
Hair comes in a variety of different textures. When considering the texture of hair, there are three main aspects to consider: curl pattern, hair thickness and density. There are other aspects to consider as well.
Here are a few hair and texture type systems to work with in order to make a thorough assessment of textured hair. It allows you to evaluate your hair and determine its unique properties and needs by combining different classifiers to evaluate your hair texture. The systems used include the Natural Curl Texture System, the L.O.I.S African American Natural Texture System, the Andre Walker Curl Texture System, and the Global Hair Texture System. However, the first thing we will do is hair texture.
Table of Contents
The First Thing - Hair Texture
Whether your hair is straight, wavy, curly or kinky, we all have 3 basic textures: fine, medium and thick, which can also be referred to as coarse. Texture is not the feel of the hair, but describes the thickness of each strand. It is usually compared to a strand. If your hair is fine it is finer than a thread, medium hair is usually the same width, thick or coarse hair is thicker than a thread.
Characteristics of Each Hair Texture
Fine Hair
Fine hair is the most fragile texture and can be easily damaged. Contrary to popular belief, people with finer hair
People with finer hair tend to have more hair than people with thicker strands. Fine hair may tend to be
to be more oily than other types of hair. For those with fine hair, you may find it difficult to keep a
your hair light enough to sit flat on your head. Voluminous hair is often desired, but not often
achieved. Structurally, fine hair has two layers of hair – the cortex and the cuticle.
Natural Fine Hair Texture:
- Does not hold hair well
- May be weighed down by heavy products, causing hair to look loose
- May look thin
- Is prone to breakage because of its fragility
Medium Hair
Medium hair is the most common hair type and usually covers the scalp well. This hair type is not as fragile as fine hair and can be easily manipulated into styles. Structurally, medium-textured hair usually has two layers – the cortex and the cuticle – and may contain the medulla.
Medium Natural Hair Texture:
- Can hold a style well
- Usually looks thick and covers the scalp well
- Does not break as easily as fine hair
Thick or Coarse Hair
This hair is strong in texture because structurally, it contains all three hair layers – cortex, cuticle and medulla. The medulla is the innermost layer of the hair shaft and is almost a series of voids. It is an area filled primarily with air and protein. This hair type usually takes longer to dry than other hair types and is resistant to various chemical treatments. It tolerates heat well and resists breakage better than fine or medium hair.
Thick Natural Hair Texture:
- Looks full.
- Holds hairstyle well
- Can tolerate higher levels of heat
- Resists hair coloring and chemical relaxers
Hair Type
Straight Hair
Naturally Straight hair is the strongest type and reflects light the best, giving it a shiny appearance. A challenge with curly hair is that it resists curling and usually requires the use of chemicals to finish permanently.
Wavy Hair
Wavy hair has s-shaped curls along its length, or most of the hair looks straight with a slight bend at the ends. Wavy hair is easily curled and requires attention to achieve the perfect wave.
Curly Hair
Curly hair tends to be all over the length of the hair. The thickness of the hair can range from fine to coarse, but is most commonly fine. The biggest challenges with curly hair types are frizz, lack of curl definition, shrinkage and dryness, and to a lesser extent, dryness.
Kinky-Curly Hair
This type of hair has the tightest curls, from fine to coarse, with s and z curls and everything in between! It is the most fragile. It is the most fragile of all types. If the definition of curly hair is a challenge for curly hair types, it is almost impossible for kinky curly hair. In addition, shrinkage and dryness are two issues that need to be constantly fought.
