Q&A for How to Determine Hair Type

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  • Question
    What is kinky hair?
    Laura Martin
    Licensed Cosmetologist
    Laura Martin is a Licensed Cosmetologist based in Milledgeville, Georgia. She has been working as a hair stylist since 2007, and began a career as a cosmetology teacher in 2013. She worked as a teacher at Arrojo Cosmetology School, teaching cosmetology practices, hairstyling, and hair color application. She also brought her cosmetology expertise to her work as a staff writer for fashion blog Style Noted, writing pieces related to hair and fashion. She received an MFA in Creative Writing from Georgia College & State University, where she was also an English Teaching Fellow. Additionally, she received a BA in Creative Writing and Literature from New York University.
    Licensed Cosmetologist
    Expert Answer
    Kinky is a term that is sometimes used for extremely curly hair where the coils are very tight and form helix or z shapes.
  • Question
    What are the different hair types?
    Laura Martin
    Licensed Cosmetologist
    Laura Martin is a Licensed Cosmetologist based in Milledgeville, Georgia. She has been working as a hair stylist since 2007, and began a career as a cosmetology teacher in 2013. She worked as a teacher at Arrojo Cosmetology School, teaching cosmetology practices, hairstyling, and hair color application. She also brought her cosmetology expertise to her work as a staff writer for fashion blog Style Noted, writing pieces related to hair and fashion. She received an MFA in Creative Writing from Georgia College & State University, where she was also an English Teaching Fellow. Additionally, she received a BA in Creative Writing and Literature from New York University.
    Licensed Cosmetologist
    Expert Answer
    There are a number of different factors that make up your hair type. These include density (the number of hairs on your head), texture (how thick your individual strands are), and curl pattern (how straight or curly your hair is).
  • Question
    Do I have thick or thin hair?
    Laura Martin
    Licensed Cosmetologist
    Laura Martin is a Licensed Cosmetologist based in Milledgeville, Georgia. She has been working as a hair stylist since 2007, and began a career as a cosmetology teacher in 2013. She worked as a teacher at Arrojo Cosmetology School, teaching cosmetology practices, hairstyling, and hair color application. She also brought her cosmetology expertise to her work as a staff writer for fashion blog Style Noted, writing pieces related to hair and fashion. She received an MFA in Creative Writing from Georgia College & State University, where she was also an English Teaching Fellow. Additionally, she received a BA in Creative Writing and Literature from New York University.
    Licensed Cosmetologist
    Expert Answer
    If your part line is very thin you have high density hair, if it is wide and you can see through it on the sides you have low density hair.
  • Question
    What is Type 2 hair?
    Laura Martin
    Licensed Cosmetologist
    Laura Martin is a Licensed Cosmetologist based in Milledgeville, Georgia. She has been working as a hair stylist since 2007, and began a career as a cosmetology teacher in 2013. She worked as a teacher at Arrojo Cosmetology School, teaching cosmetology practices, hairstyling, and hair color application. She also brought her cosmetology expertise to her work as a staff writer for fashion blog Style Noted, writing pieces related to hair and fashion. She received an MFA in Creative Writing from Georgia College & State University, where she was also an English Teaching Fellow. Additionally, she received a BA in Creative Writing and Literature from New York University.
    Licensed Cosmetologist
    Expert Answer
    According to Hair Rules, a method of identifying curl type devised by a professional stylist, type two hair is wavy hair. This is hair that has natural movement but is also easy to straighten.
  • Question
    I really don't know what hair type I have. my hair looks straight when I comb it out into an afro but when I look closer, its actually curly. What type is this?
    Laura Martin
    Licensed Cosmetologist
    Laura Martin is a Licensed Cosmetologist based in Milledgeville, Georgia. She has been working as a hair stylist since 2007, and began a career as a cosmetology teacher in 2013. She worked as a teacher at Arrojo Cosmetology School, teaching cosmetology practices, hairstyling, and hair color application. She also brought her cosmetology expertise to her work as a staff writer for fashion blog Style Noted, writing pieces related to hair and fashion. She received an MFA in Creative Writing from Georgia College & State University, where she was also an English Teaching Fellow. Additionally, she received a BA in Creative Writing and Literature from New York University.
    Licensed Cosmetologist
    Expert Answer
    If your hair can be combed out into an afro, then it is definitely curly. It sounds like your coils or zigzags are short/small, which makes them harder to see unless viewed close up.
  • Question
    My hair appears healthy and it is L-shaped. If you pull down one strand it Kinks up like a Z l and goes in different directions. Why is this?
    Laura Martin
    Licensed Cosmetologist
    Laura Martin is a Licensed Cosmetologist based in Milledgeville, Georgia. She has been working as a hair stylist since 2007, and began a career as a cosmetology teacher in 2013. She worked as a teacher at Arrojo Cosmetology School, teaching cosmetology practices, hairstyling, and hair color application. She also brought her cosmetology expertise to her work as a staff writer for fashion blog Style Noted, writing pieces related to hair and fashion. She received an MFA in Creative Writing from Georgia College & State University, where she was also an English Teaching Fellow. Additionally, she received a BA in Creative Writing and Literature from New York University.
    Licensed Cosmetologist
    Expert Answer
    Hair of any curl type can be perfectly healthy. The kinking you are seeing is just the natural movement of the hair.
  • Question
    I have thin hair density, medium hair texture, medium-low porosity, dry hair, highly elastic and O resembling. How do I choose a shampoo?
    Laura Martin
    Licensed Cosmetologist
    Laura Martin is a Licensed Cosmetologist based in Milledgeville, Georgia. She has been working as a hair stylist since 2007, and began a career as a cosmetology teacher in 2013. She worked as a teacher at Arrojo Cosmetology School, teaching cosmetology practices, hairstyling, and hair color application. She also brought her cosmetology expertise to her work as a staff writer for fashion blog Style Noted, writing pieces related to hair and fashion. She received an MFA in Creative Writing from Georgia College & State University, where she was also an English Teaching Fellow. Additionally, she received a BA in Creative Writing and Literature from New York University.
    Licensed Cosmetologist
    Expert Answer
    If your hair is dry and curly, try a moisturizing shampoo designed for curly hair.
  • Question
    My hair is very frizzy and little curly or wavy. I want to grow my hair long, but it gets very frizzy and oily when I grow it for 1-2 months
    Laura Martin
    Licensed Cosmetologist
    Laura Martin is a Licensed Cosmetologist based in Milledgeville, Georgia. She has been working as a hair stylist since 2007, and began a career as a cosmetology teacher in 2013. She worked as a teacher at Arrojo Cosmetology School, teaching cosmetology practices, hairstyling, and hair color application. She also brought her cosmetology expertise to her work as a staff writer for fashion blog Style Noted, writing pieces related to hair and fashion. She received an MFA in Creative Writing from Georgia College & State University, where she was also an English Teaching Fellow. Additionally, she received a BA in Creative Writing and Literature from New York University.
    Licensed Cosmetologist
    Expert Answer
    If your hair seems oilier when its longer, it may be that your shampoo isn't reaching your scalp when you wash. Massage shampoo directly into scalp, working in from the hairlines: top, sides, and underneath.
  • Question
    I still can't figure out my hair type, because it is always soft, thick, and wavy. What can I do?
    Laura Martin
    Licensed Cosmetologist
    Laura Martin is a Licensed Cosmetologist based in Milledgeville, Georgia. She has been working as a hair stylist since 2007, and began a career as a cosmetology teacher in 2013. She worked as a teacher at Arrojo Cosmetology School, teaching cosmetology practices, hairstyling, and hair color application. She also brought her cosmetology expertise to her work as a staff writer for fashion blog Style Noted, writing pieces related to hair and fashion. She received an MFA in Creative Writing from Georgia College & State University, where she was also an English Teaching Fellow. Additionally, she received a BA in Creative Writing and Literature from New York University.
    Licensed Cosmetologist
    Expert Answer
    If the tests are inconclusive, then you may want to book a consultation with a professional stylist.
  • Question
    My hair is medium, but I want to know if my hair was coarse or oily, wavy, curly or straight. What do I do?
    Laura Martin
    Licensed Cosmetologist
    Laura Martin is a Licensed Cosmetologist based in Milledgeville, Georgia. She has been working as a hair stylist since 2007, and began a career as a cosmetology teacher in 2013. She worked as a teacher at Arrojo Cosmetology School, teaching cosmetology practices, hairstyling, and hair color application. She also brought her cosmetology expertise to her work as a staff writer for fashion blog Style Noted, writing pieces related to hair and fashion. She received an MFA in Creative Writing from Georgia College & State University, where she was also an English Teaching Fellow. Additionally, she received a BA in Creative Writing and Literature from New York University.
    Licensed Cosmetologist
    Expert Answer
    Medium hair means that you have lots of options. Most haircuts and styling products will work on your hair. You may want to schedule a consultation with a professional stylist who can give you a professional assessment.
  • Question
    I have kinky, dry, light hair. Would it be safe to relax it?
    Community Answer
    Relaxing your hair will cause significant damage, so doing it to any hair type is risky. You should schedule a consultation with a professional stylist to see if relaxing your hair is an option for you.
  • Question
    I just had my hair straightened. After one wash my hair was frizzy and a little curly again. I'm disappointed. What can I do?
    Community Answer
    Some hair types just can't be made permanently straight. Curly and wavy hair types are more dominant than straight. However, you do have many temporary options.
  • Question
    I've been getting relaxers since a very young age, and I have no idea what my hair type is. I try to look through old pictures, but I can't seem to figure out what my hair type is. How do I find out?
    Community Answer
    However you hair falls when you get out of the shower is your hair type. Looking at old pictures won't help much considering hair type can change. Take a break from hair treatments, because although they can revive your hair, they can dull your hair if used too often.
  • Question
    What factors determine whether hair is wavy or straight?
    Community Answer
    Your hair is wavy if it has a curl that's sustained without any external force. If there's no curl, it's straight.
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