Most
people know the four main types of hair: straight, wavy, curly, and coily (if
you don’t know your base hair type; take this quiz).
However, aside from just type, your hair’s texture, porosity level and
elasticity are important factors to identify. Knowing where you hair falls
within these categories provides important information on what styling
techniques and hair care regimens work best for your hair.
Texture:
Hair
texture or “thickness” is important to know especially when it comes to hair
styling and coloring. The three main hair textures are thick, medium and
fine. According to Madison Reed, a
popular hair color company, thick hair holds curls very well but is the slowest
to absorb color and can be resistant to chemical styling like perms and
straightening. Fine hair has a difficult time holding curls, absorbs colors
quickly and is more prone to over-processing and damage. Medium hair falls
somewhere in between for time needed to absorb chemical treatments and is
fairly easy to style since it hold its shape well. To determine your hair’s
texture cut a six-inch piece of sewing thread and compare the thickness to a
single strand of your hair. Laying the string and your hair on a flat plain
surface is best. Thick hair will look thicker than the thread, medium hair will
have about the same thickness, and fine hair will be a lot thinner than the
thread.
Porosity:
Porosity
level determines the ability to which your hair absorbs moisture, water, and
products. This factor is especially important in knowing how to properly care
for curly and coily type hair. “It is directly related to the condition of the
cuticle layer of the hair, which acts like a shield to the inside layers of
your hair,” says Madison Reed. Low porosity hair means your cuticles are tight which
makes your hair pretty resistant to absorbing hair color, moisture and products.
High porosity hair absorbs products quickly but releases the moisture just as
fast because the cuticle layer is open. Your porosity level is a factor of
genetics but can change over time. Having high porosity hair can be a sign of
damaged hair caused by over processing and too much heat styling. Normal
porosity hair is a sure sign of healthy hair. It holds moisture and products
for an extended period of time and reacts best to styling and hair treatments. Essence
magazine suggests dropping a strand of freshly washed, dry hair into a glass of
water and see where it falls. If it floats near the top and takes awhile to
sink you have low porosity, if it sinks immediately you have high porosity or
damaged hair, if it floats in the middle you have healthy, normal porosity.
Elasticity:
Your
hair’s elasticity refers to how much pulling and stretching the hair can take
without breaking. High elasticity means the hair is healthy and balanced and is
getting enough moisture and protein. Having the opposite effect, low elasticity
indicates your hair isn’t getting enough nutrients and is highly susceptible to
breakage and resists color and hair treatments. “Elasticity can be lost due to
age, heat damage, exposure to the sun, or chemical damage caused by hair
treatments,” says Essence Magazine. When your hair is wet, securely hold a
strand of hair and stretch it. If the hair stretches and returns to it original
length and shape when released, then it has high elasticity. If the strand
breaks, or doesn’t return to it’s original shape, your hair has low elasticity.
Having a
healthy hair care regimen designed for your locs is imperative to fighting the
effects of thinning hair and hair loss. Hairstart®
products are designed for every hair type and provide essential nutrients
and moisture to combat thinning strands and promote hair growth. The earlier
you begin a healthy hair care routine and good scalp hygiene the better the
results. Make HairStart® part of your hair care routine today.
New England
Associates® has been helping people look their best since 1982. Utilizing the
latest advancements, we’re able to repair, replace and restore lost hair. To
find the right program for your specific hair loss, we provide several surgical
and non-surgical
options, as well as laser
hair therapy. For a FREE microscopic hair and scalp exam call
1-866-HairStart (1-866-424-7782) today! For more information about NEA and our
treatment programs visit our website and download our FREE “Look As
Good As You Feel!”™ information kit or have it sent to your home. We’re “Your
First Step to a Better Looking Future!”™ don’t wait contact us today!
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