Beyond Hair Typing: Understanding Natural Hair!!!

With so much talk about natural hair, you’d think the term “natural” hair was one size fits all. However, there are many different types and it goes beyond the hair typing number system created by hair stylist ANDRE WALKER.

Here are a few things you should know…

Fine or Coarse?

All black hair is not coarse as some mistakenly believe. Most natural hair is soft, but some women have fine hair as opposed to coarse.  Fine hair doesn’t necessarily mean the texture is loose. Fine strands will appear thin when examining a single strand and fine hair is more prone to breakage.  More delicate handling of hair during detangling helps fine hair.  Coarse hair will appear very thick in size when one strand is examined compared to fine hair. Those with coarse hair may need extra moisture and water as to keep it from being overly dry. Wash and go’s are not usually ideal for coarse hair.

High Porosity or Low Porosity?

High porosity usually is the result of heat or chemical damage. This type of hair typically absorbs a lot more water which is good for maintaining moisture. However, there is a such thing as too much water. If too much water is absorbed, it could lead to frizzy or puffy hair with little definition. Using emollients and staying away from humectants are key.  Low porosity hair may not soak up water as well as someone with normal or high porosity. The threat of product build up is more common with these hair types. Humectant products helps lift moisture from the air and into your hair.

Density of follicles

You can have fine hair but have follicles closely together, or have coarser thicker strands that are farther apart. Hair that is shorter but has more follicles may appear fuller than hair that is longer yet has less follicles in the scalp. Women that have less hair follicles can try different styles such as small twists for twist outs that will give a fuller appearance than thicker twists.

The exciting part of natural hair is discovering your hair type and it is more complex than believing just because another woman’s hair looks similar to yours you can do everything exactly as she does. Keeping track of what type of products work best on your hair type, and experimenting with different  styles are a natural’s best tools to understanding their hair.

Donyel L. Griffin As an educator, freelance writer, and former online show host, it would be an understatement to say Donyel L. Griffin has a love for words. For the last five years Griffin has write about hip-hop, celebrities, pop culture, beauty and education for VIBE, AllHipHop.com, Examiner.com, and UChic. Word lovers follow her @donnyd1va

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