Hair Care Guide

Know your hair: A guide to help you understand your hair type for better care 

There are many types of hair for example straight hair, wavy hair, curly hair and coily hair. But what is the difference? In this article we will help you to understand your hair type better. Also, we discuss different types of hair color and Neofollics ends this article with a hair type test that answers all your possible questions shortly. The following subjects will be explained: 

• What type of hair do I have? 
• What are different types of hair color? 
• What type of hair do I have quiz 

 

                                                    Neofollics Hair Growth Stimulating Products 

What type of hair do I have?  

Every hair type is beautiful as long as you like it yourself. But it can be helpful to find out what type of hair you have to choose the right hair care products and techniques that suit your hair type. This can help make your hair healthier, stronger, and more beautiful.  

A hair type is primarily based on your hair’s curl pattern. Types of curly hair may be a completely different type of hair than straight hair types. Additionally, men hair types can also differ from women. Normally, the more oval or asymmetrical your hair follicle is how curlier your hair will be. Your hair type is and in fact all hair types are determined by your genetics. 

Neofollics recommend you to don’t alter your curl pattern with heat or chemicals, because this can possibly cause hair damage and hair loss. Also, little scientific evidence says that changing your curls is possible by hormones and medication, but this is also not recommendable. What you can do is proper care for your hair and regularly using a healthy shampoo and conditioner to keep your hair healthy, while at the same time promoting hair growth in bald spots and also getting rid of dandruff.    

 

What types of hair are there? 

According to the Hair Type System of Andre Walker, known for decades as the stylist of Oprah Winfrey there are four main natural hair types. Which are the straight hair type, wavy hair type, curly hair type and coily hair type 

 

These four types of hair are further divided into subcategories based on the tightness or looseness of the curls and coils. This may sound simple, but it is difficult to define human characteristics.  
You can also experience type 4 hair at the crown and type 3 hair at your temples. Men hair types differ from the pictures above, but the four main hair types stay the same. While men like to call type 4 as kinky or afro-textured hair style also.  
 

Type 1: Straight Hair ‘Sleek’ and ‘Chic’ 
 

Hair type 1 is divided in type 1a, 1b and 1c. Overall, straight hair types can make you look ‘sleek’ and ‘chic’. Below you find a short bullet point list about the landmarks of hair type 1: 

• 1a Hair type is fine, thin hair which is prone to oil. There are no waves or curls visible, and it looks straight. People with this hair type can experience a hairstyle that looks like oily hair. This type of hair is common among people with Asian descendants. For oily hair you can use a shampoo that contains ingredients to effectively stimulate a healthy and exfoliated scalp. Read more about a shampoo for oily hair in this article. 
• 1b Hair type is straight but has more volume than 1a Hair type. The hair texture can generally hold curls giving the hair more texture and movement. Some people see this type of hair style as sleek and chic.  

• 1c hair type is straight and is usually coarse and thick, which can result in frizzy hair depending on the environment or climate. Type 1c hair can achieve a tousled look lying flat on the scalp when air-dried. 

Type 2: ‘Wavy’ and ‘Wonderful’ hair  

Wavy hair can be considered as a medium between straight and curly hair. This type of hair is not as oily as type 1 and often forms an ‘S’ shape. Below you find a bullet list about the landmarks of hair type 2: 

• Hair type 2a is fine and thin with individual strands forming the shape of an ‘s’ when dry. In type 2a hair products can be used easily to curl or straighten your hair. You can also use type 2a hair products to combat hair loss or to enhance hair growth when you experience hair local thinning or baldness. Type 2a hair products work for men hair types as well as for women.  
• Hair type 2b is wavy and slightly frizzier than hair type 2a. When dry, individual strands create an ‘s’ shape with some frizz. Type 2b hair products that you can use are similar to type 2a hair products. 

• Type 2c hair is the type of hair where you start to see waves forming from the scalp which are thicker than other hair type 2 and 1 subcategories. This coarse dry type is most prone to frizz.  

 

Revive your scalp today! 

Type 3: The ‘Natural’ beauty of ‘Curly’ hair 

Type 3 hair is curly hair and for women this type of hair has a famous method to create, which is called the curly girl method. For this method it is important to avoid silicones, sulphates, waxing and using parabens in your hair styling products. Because this can make your hair follicles more prone and weaker and could eventually lead to hair loss. Below you find a bullet list about type 3 hair: 

• Type 3A hair is a hair type in which S-shaped curls form loose loops. The curls have a circumference a little wider than the large end of a taper candle. 3a hair type is easily defined without the use of styling products and is prone to slight frizz. 
• Type 3b hair has curls that are medium to tight springy curls similar to type 3a hair. But type 3b hair curls spring from the roots and have ample volume to maintain their characteristic spiral shape. These ringlets generally needs moisture which is why type 3b hair products can be used as long as they don’t contain silicones, parabens or sulphates that may temporarily tame frizz, but dry your hair out over time. Instead use type 3b hair products that can really sooth your scalp and add more moisture. 
• Hair type 3c has tight and thick curls. The curls of this hair type normally have a lot of texture and are very springy. Instead of combing, which can lead to frizz and breakage in this phase you can use a leave-in conditioner, with a careful approach through your wet hair only using the fingertips to get the most out of your curly hair style. For type 2 and type 3 hair hydration is key which is why you don’t want to miss out in using effective products for your hair conditioning.  

Type 4: ‘Coily’ and ‘kinky’ hair 

Type 4 hair is most common among African Americans. Unlike type 3 hair, coiled or kinky hair is tightly curled with defined ringlets and maintains its hair shape whether it is dry or wet. This hair type is fairly coarse in texture and is prone to damage by heated hair styling products. Type 4 hair products need to be caring for your hair and should not contain any ingredient that can possibly damage your hair. Below you find a bullet list about type 4 hair: 

• 4a hair type is a coily hair type that is usually in tight and springy coils. Hair strands of this type typically shrink down to half its length when dry. This type of hair has the most definitive curl pattern of type 4 hair. This hair style can do harm to your hair condition if the hair reaches out of reach for hair growth stimulating products of conditioning treatment. 4a hair type hair products often can’t reach all your hairs which makes it so dry when you open it your hair can break and fall off. 
• Type 4b hair are curls in zigzag a Z coil pattern. Although it is less defined than type 4a curls, it is clearer than type 4c hair.  
• 4c hair type is densely packed and coarse. The curl pattern of this hair type is not defined and has a lot of shrinkage. The hairs are fragile and easy to break when you comb roughly or too often, this makes it vital to frequently nourish your hair with a conditioner. 4c hair type men looks similar to type 4b hair and for men it becomes challenging in this hair type to grow their hair out.  

How porosity and density affects your hair 

Hair porosity refers according to professionals on how well your hair absorbs moisture. Highly porous hair has numerous gaps in its surface layer, which is known as the cuticle. Porosity can be either natural or caused by chemical and heat treatment. These kinds of treatments are not good for your hair condition and only make your hair weaker. Holes in the cuticle can allow your hair to absorb more moisture. Living in a humid climate can cause frizz as the cuticle draws moisture from the air. 

The upside of porous hair is that it can absorb moisturizing products better. A variety of products, such as leave-in conditioners can seal these gaps and make your hair manageable. Hair with lower porosity, on the other hand is tightly locked and more resistant to moisture. To avoid build up and to get rid of it you can use scalp caring products that help you effectively get rid of impurities and dryness of the scalp.  

You can test your hair porosity by laying a few strands of your hair in a bowl of water. Take a look after a few minutes and if hair floats than it has a low porosity. When hair sinks it has a high porosity.  

Hair density can also affect your hair. You have a high hair density if your scalp is not easily visible. Conversely, if you see your scalp without parting your hair the density is low. Factors that can cause hair loss may influence your hair density, for example hormonal changes, stress, pregnancy, and nutrition. 

Neofollics created an article about the causes of low hair density you can read this article if you want on this page about hair loss causes. Also, we recommend you use Neofollics hair growth products when you experience low density hair and want to transform your hair to higher density by using products that can add volume and thickness to your hair.  

What are different types of hair color? 

There are many types of hair color the most common are natural colors, such as black, brown, blond and red. However, there are also various artificial hair colors which are becoming increasingly popular, including vibrant shades link pink, blue and green as well as more natural- looking shades like ash blonde, caramel, and chestnut brown. The different types of hair color allows everyone to show their own personality to the world and look how they want. Below are some examples of hair colours: 

 

 

Unfortunately, many people do not grow their ideal hair colour on their heads at birth. Which is why people decide to dye their hair over the course of life some people do these many times. Also, the development of grey hair may be a trigger for many people to dye their hair. But dyeing your hair is actually not good for your hair at all. Because altering the hair’s protein structure through permanent or demi permanent dyeing can cause side effects such as the loss of hair strength making it more vulnerable to fall off and lose thickness.

That’s why Neofollics does not recommend you dye your hair when experiencing grey hair. Instead, you can use a treatment for colourful and healthy hair consisting out of anti-grey hair supplements and hair growth supporting tablets. This treatment exists out of scientifically proven ingredients that can help prevent further hair loss and loss of hair colour.  

What is my hair type? 

Below you will find a hair type quiz about your hair type. The quiz contains 5 questions: 

 

Question 1: What hair types are there? 
 
A: Straight hair, flat hair, curly hair and coily hair 
B: Coily hair, straight hair, curly hair, and wavy hair 
C: Curly hair, straight hair, kinky hair and coily hair 

Question 2: What should I do against frizzy hair? 

A: Moisturizing your scalp with a shampoo and conditioner to keep your hair hydrated 
B: Moisturizing your scalp with a shampoo and conditioner that contain parabens, silicones, and sulphates.  
C: Using hot hair style tools and flat irons. 

Question 3: Do men and women have the same hair types? 

A: Yes 
B: No 
 
Question 4: Is there a difference between curvy and coily hair? 
A: Yes 
B: No 
 
Question 5: What types of hair do the women below have? 

 
A: Curly hair, Coily hair, straight hair, straight hair 
B: Wavy hair, Coily hair, Curly hair, Straight hair 
C: Coily hair, curvy hair, straight hair, straight hair 
D: Curly hair, Coily hair, Wavy hair, straight hair 

Answers 

1. B: the four main types of hair are straight hair type 1, wavy hair type 2, curly hair type 3 and coily hair type 4.
2. A: Against frizzy hair you should use a nourishing shampoo and a leave-in conditioner. Together they form a treatment for beautiful and healthy hair.
3. A: Yes, men and women have the same types of hair. Of course, it looks different but there are many similarities. 
4. A: Yes, there is a difference between curly and coily hair. Curly hair typically has a defined curl pattern, while coily hair has a tighter zig-zagged curl pattern. Coily hair may also have a higher density than curly hair. Coily hair can be more prone to dryness and shrinkage and require more moisture and care to maintain its health and shape.

The first picture mostly looks like wavy hair but is also a bit curly. The second one is definitely coily hair. The third picture has pretty straight hair but is also slightly wavy and the last women has straight hair. 

If you enjoyed this quiz, we recommend you visit the next quiz to receive personalised hair advice from the experts of Neofollics.  

Conclusion 

In conclusion, knowing your hair type is crucial for choosing the right hair care products and techniques that suit your hair type, making your hair healthier, stronger, and more beautiful. Your hair type is primarily based on your hair’s curl pattern, which is determined by your genetics. According to the Hair Type System of Andre Walker, there are four main natural hair types: straight hair, wavy hair, curly hair, and coily hair each of which is further divided into subcategories based on the tightness or looseness of the curls and coils. Proper hair care and using a healthy shampoo and conditioner regularly can help keep your hair healthy, while at the same time promoting hair growth in bald spots and getting rid of dandruff.