How to Care for Your Hair: A Guide for Every Hair Type

How to Care for Your Hair A Guide for Every Hair Type

For many women (and even men), their hair is their crowning glory. It is a source of pride for many people and should be treated with care.

But before anything else, know this: your hair is beautiful, no matter what type you have. Regardless if it seems defiant to all your wishes in terms of styling or if caring for it costs you a pretty penny, you must respect your hair.

Curly, straight, long, short, thick, or thin, you should manage and style your hair the right way.

Here, you will learn the proper way to care for your hair according to the type you have.

4 Hair Types and Their Proper Care

When shopping for hair and beauty products online, you will notice how some specifically target certain hair types. Some are made for color-treated hair, while others work best for dry or oily hair.

But beyond the condition of your mane, the particular hair type you have should be your top consideration when buying such products.

Most people think that there are only two options when it comes to hair type: straight or curly. However, humans actually have three main types of hair, divided into four subcategories according to curl looseness or tightness.

Sounds simple enough, right? Not really. To help you understand this better, below is a summary of the characteristics of each type of hair:

1. Straight

Naturally straight hair is more likely to get shiny and greasy than curly hair because the oil from the scalp has only one way to go – down. Unlike curly or kinky hair, straight hair has no curves that impede the oil from spreading throughout the strand.

There are three subcategories for straight hair, namely:

  1. Fine and straight – This is most common among people of Asian descent.
  2. Straight but with a thicker and medium texture – The texture adds volume to the hair, which appears thicker than type 1A.
  3. Coarse and thick – This type of hair is still quite straight, though it is thicker than both type 1A and 1B and tends to be shinier than the other two.

Because of the tendency of straight hair to become oily or greasy, it is recommended that you check the label of every hair care product you buy to ensure it won’t add more oil to your already greasy hair. Steer clear of butter or heavy serums.

With fine and straight hair, you can use texture sprays to up the volume. Dry shampoos also work to your advantage, as washing too frequently can trigger the overproduction of hair oils.

As for the hairstyle, a chin-length blunt cut is popular among people with straight hair. However, any hair cut will do so long as you consider your face shape.

2. Wavy

With more volume than straight hair, wavy hair tends to form an S-shape that leaves it looking thicker than the former.

Like straight hair, this hair category is also divided into three subcategories:

  1. Very fine and thin, wavy hair – This is the kind of wavy hair that is very easy to style. If you’re after keeping the S-waves of your hair, avoid using creamy or oil-based products and go with gels or a light mousse to define the
  2. Frizzier and medium-thick – This is the best type of hair to achieve that perfect balayage – a hair coloring technique where the outer layer is hand-painted with hair color.
  3. Thick, wavy, and coarse – This subcategory is most prone to frizz and can be challenging to style. Because of its well-defined waves, people with this type of hair may face daily frustrations from daily straightening to enhancing or controlling the waves. Fortunately, there are lots of light mousses that have both anti-humidity and moisture ingredients that could help.

3. Curly

Characterized by defined and springy curls, this kind looks straight when wet but goes right back to being curly once it is dry. You won’t have a hard time styling those springy curls so long as you accept you have naturally curly hair.

If you have curly hair, here are the three possible subtypes you may have:

  1. Defined, shiny curls with a thick texture that can sometimes look a bit frizzy
  2. Tighter curls with a combination of different textures in different areas
  3. Very tight curls (also called “kinks”) that are generally easy to style

Curly hair benefits from a hair care routine founded on a moisturizing shampoo and conditioner. If possible, look for products specifically designed to nurture the type of hair you have. You can also try using curl jelly, hair oil, or mousse to control the frizz while defining your curls.

As for haircuts, you can decide based on how curly you want your hair to become. The shorter you go, the curlier it will seem (the same goes for wavy hair).

4. Kinky

As the name implies, this hair category entails kinky or very curly hair, with well-defined curls that look like they are coiled into place. This type of hair can be fairly coarse, though it is quite sensitive and can be damaged easily with the wrong use of heat and hair care products.

There are also three subcategories for kinky hair, namely:

  1. One with a soft texture and tight, well-defined kinks or coils;
  2. Very tight curls that are less defined, fragile, and soft; and
  3. Extremely tight curls that sometimes may not even look like “curls.”

You can break kinky hair – primarily Type 4C hair – easily if you’re not careful with how you comb through it or if you comb it too often. It is also crucial that you use rich conditioners when you have this type of hair.

After a shower, it’s a good idea to towel-dry your locks first to remove any excess moisture. Kinky hair looks its best when air-dried, as a blow-dryer can leave the hair too dry and leave it at risk of breakage. It is also recommended that you use a leave-in conditioner or hair oil to ensure that your hair is moisturized and the curls are perfectly defined.

Here’s the ideal hair care routine for very curly or kinky hair:

  • Shampoo using a product made specifically for very curly hair.
  • After rinsing, apply a heavy moisturizing conditioner.
  • Then use a moisturizing mask. Make sure you do this as frequently as you wash your hair.

Care for Your Hair the Right Way

Caring for your hair can take significant effort, depending on the type of hair you have.

However, you must remember that caring for your hair the right way pays off as it will leave your locks beautiful even with no expensive salon treatments.

Author Bio 

Maya Saab is the Marketing Manager at BEAUTI, the leading beauty retailer in Saudi Arabia that offers carefully selected collections of luxury brands around the world of cosmetics, skincare products, perfumes and health foods. BEAUTI believes in empowering modern Saudi women and giving them everything they are looking for.