What's My Type - Part Two

Posted by Adria Marshall on July 24, 2020

Alrighty, guys, so by now you've determined your Hair Texture, Porosity, Density and Diameter, right? If not, stick a pin in this post and go here to figure these out!

In the second part of this hair typing series, we will delve into the best cleansers, conditioners, and stylers for different hair types. This comprehensive guide will provide valuable insights and recommendations based on your specific hair type. Whether you have straight, wavy, curly, or coily hair, this post will help you navigate the overwhelming world of hair care products and find the ones that are best suited for your needs.

By understanding your hair type and its unique characteristics, you can make more informed choices when selecting cleansers, conditioners, and stylers. The right products can enhance your hair's natural beauty, promote healthy growth, and address specific concerns such as frizz, dryness, or lack of definition.

Texture

Your hair texture doesn't significantly impact the choice of cleansers and conditioners. Focus on factors like moisture level, ingredients, and specific concerns. When it comes to stylers, it's a matter of personal preference and desired outcome. Type 2 textures may prefer lighter products, while Type 3 and 4 textures may lean towards heavier ones. Experiment to find what works best for your hair, regardless of texture.

Porosity

High porosity hair, with its raised cuticles, requires specific ingredients to retain moisture effectively. Moderately penetrating oils such as Olive, Castor, Avocado, and Sweet Almond are ideal for nourishing high porosity hair. Ingredients like Grapefruit and Shea, with larger molecules, are excellent for sealing in moisture. When it comes to protein treatments, opt for both larger molecule proteins like Keratin and smaller ones like Quinoa, Wheat, and Oat to address the unique needs of high porosity hair.

For low porosity hair, oils that can easily penetrate the cuticle are beneficial, such as Coconut, Palm, Babassu, and Sunflower oils. These oils provide effective moisture without weighing down the hair. Low porosity hair can also tolerate slightly larger oils like Olive, Castor, Avocado, and Sweet Almond. However, oils such as Grapeseed and Shea, which are heavier, may be too much for low porosity hair and can lead to buildup.

Density

For high density hair, it's important to choose hair care products that provide slip for easy detangling. Look for cleansers, conditioners, and stylers with a thinner consistency that can be easily worked through densely packed strands. Medium and low density hair can also benefit from products with good slip, although it may not be as essential. Those with low density hair often prefer to avoid heavy products to achieve more volume. When selecting oils, be cautious of low penetrating oils like Shea and Grapeseed, as they can sit on the hair shaft and weigh it down.

Diameter

Fine hair strands lack structure and are more prone to damage, so they benefit from protein treatments. On the other hand, coarse strands are stronger and require less protein. "Protein sensitivity" may be more common among those with coarse strands. However, it's important to note that simply having fine strands doesn't mean any protein treatment will suffice. If you have low porosity hair, opt for protein treatments with smaller molecules that can penetrate the hair shaft effectively instead of being rinsed away.

To help bring this all home, here's a table to summarize this information!

	Cleansers	Conditioners	Stylers
Texture
Type 2	n/a	n/a	Generally speaking, Light weight foams, creams and gels
Type 3	n/a	n/a	Generally speaking, Medium weight creams and gels
Type 4	n/a	n/a	Generally speaking, Heavy weight creams and gels
Porosity
High	Moderate and Low penetrating oils	Moderate and Low penetrating oils Small or Large proteins	n/a
Medium	Easy and Moderate penetrating oils	Easy and Moderate penetrating oils Small proteins	n/a
Low	Easy penetrating oils	Easy penetrating oils Small proteins	n/a
Density
High	Allows for easy distribution and detangling	Allows for easy distribution and detangling	Allows for easy distribution
Medium	Allows for easy distribution and detangling	Allows for easy distribution and detangling	Allows for easy distribution
Low	n/a	n/a	n/a
Diameter
Fine	Consider protein	Consider protein	Consider protein
Medium	Consider protein	Consider protein	Consider protein
Coarse	Watch out for protein overload	Watch out for protein overload	Watch out for protein overload

I really hope that you guys found this post and the overall series helpful. Feel free to refer back to it when choosing products for your hair. Remember that your natural and curly journeys often take place on winding roads, so be patient with your hair and yourself and try to enjoy the trip!

XOXO,

Adria

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Comments

If my hair takes forever to get soaked but takes forever to completely dry, what would porosity be? It begins to frizz as soon as water is taken off of it if it is not already saturated with leave in serum and a cream of some sort.

Kelli Alkire on August 23, 2020
What are examples of easy penetrating oils and small proteins?

Melissa on August 23, 2020
This was super enlightening.
I am curious what protien treatment and how often would you recommend for 3A, medium porosity, low density, fine hair? I have been CGM for about 1 full year. I mostly use Innersence for cleaning and conditioning and ecoslay OM for hold, my hair loves it far beyond anything else I have ever tried.
Looking forward to your insight and recommendations 😊

Lesley Goody on July 24, 2020

What's My Type - Part Two

Texture

Porosity

Density

Diameter

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