What Is Your Hair Type?
When it comes to hair care, the very foundation that supports the effects of the routine itself lies in knowing your hair type. Since each hair type is quite unique, you have to build a regimen that revolves around those characteristics. Here are the hair types you should know about.
1 | Straight or Normal Hair Type
A normal or straight hair type has great characteristics. Aside from being the shiniest hair, it can also withstand damages better than others. Here are the key characteristics of this type of hair.
- Minimum curls, often only found on the tips of the hair.
- With the most sheen.
- Stronger hair strands that withstand can damages.
- Hard to style or curl.
- Oiliest hair type which makes it the most moisturized.
How to Deal With Straight Hair
If you’ve got straight hair, then you’re in luck! While you can’t really style it that much to get those beautiful curls and waves, when it comes to daily hair care, you’ve got the better deal. It requires minimum effort. Just make sure to always provide the essentials.
2 | Wavy Hair Type
The type of hair that lies between a straight hair and curly locks. Having natural beach waves is a blessing. But there are also drawbacks especially when it comes to taking care of it. For this reason alone, you should know how it differs with other hair types.
- Less sheen than straight hair but have a shinier look than curly hair.
- With medium curls often starting from the middle lengths to the tips.
- There are 3 types of wavy hair – A, B, and C. Along these types, the waves gradually get more defined.
- Wavy A hair type is easy to style – either straight or curlier. But B and C are more stubborn.
- With a rough and dry texture.
- Prone to frizzing.
How to Deal With Wavy Hair
Since wavy hair types are drier and rougher than straight locks, you need to cut down on your shampoo days. Stick to every other day or four times a week. But make sure to condition the hair every day. This way, you can give it a softer texture and a shinier look.
Another problem with wavy hair is that it tends to frizz. To avoid this, shy away from hair styling tools that expose the strands to too much heat. Like blow dryers or styling irons. Here’s something to remember for you: you need to resist the temptation of disturbing those curls. Keep those fingers away from your waves or you will just make them suffer from frizzing.
3 | Curly Hair Type
Having those beautiful curls is like having your permanent hairstyle. Embracing this type of hair also means acknowledging the effort that it requires to maintain its gorgeous form. Because this hair type has more disulfide bonds than straight or wavy tresses, it has the characteristic full volume s-shaped strands that are harder to dry and style.
- S-shaped strands that are immune to styling.
- Full-bodied hair that shows volume and thickness.
- Strands are prone to damage and breakage.
- Vulnerable to getting weak and brittle.
- Easily affected by the environment, especially humidity.
- Frizzy
How to Deal with Curly Hair
With more links in the strands, the moisture from the scalp can’t get through the rest of the body. This is why this hair type is dry, rough, and frizzy. Sometimes the slightest changes in temperature can even cause more damage. Just like in wavy hair types, you need to focus more on moisturizing than cleansing.
Use shampoos only three times a week at max but make sure to condition AND moisturize the hair. Then you might also need an extra styling formula to keep it from going all over the place.
4 | Kinky Hair Type
A type of hair with the most links and no space for straightness. Quite the sight for having a stunning hair type that just defies gravity and forms a bubble all over the head, having kinky hair is a blessing. And a curse at the same time. Know how to deal with it properly!
- Thin strands that are brittle and weak to damages.
- Frizzy hair type that flies all over the place.
- Dry and rough.
- Tightly coiled curls that require gentleness.
- Prone to dandruff.
How to Deal With Kinky Hair
When it comes to kinky hair, the motto is to moisturize, condition, moisturize and moisturize a bit more. Cleanse gently by using shampoos that do not contain sulfate while having boosted moisturizing properties. Follow up with a conditioner that hydrates the hair really well. Rinse thoroughly and pat dry with a towel. Your hair type is prone to dandruff too. Not washing your hair enough can make it flaky and full of dandruff. You can use tea tree oil shampoo to prevent dandruff while maintaining the strength of the strands.
While still moist, apply a moisturizer. Let dry and style using another oil-rich styling cream. Fluff up and you’re ready for the day. Remember to detangle any knots with utmost care. Use your fingers to do this.
Marrying the Essentials of Hair Health
Every battle is won with knowledge over the enemy. And if your hair’s your opponent, then the best course of action to take is to learn everything there is about hair care. But don’t just pick up useless information! In Healthy Hair Lifestyles, you’ll get information just for your hair care needs. The secret to having a flowing lustrous hair is to commit to a routine that is essential for hair health. Understand the basics and take them a notch higher!
Products for Cleansing Hair and Scalp
There are standards for every cleansing formula. Choose products that wash away dirt, oil, and flakes on hair and scalp without stripping the strands off of its natural moisture. While you’re used to using ordinary formulas, remember that there’s a hidden potential to your hair.
Using normal and harmful hair products is probably hindering you from getting those thick and resilient locks. Enter the craze about organic and natural products. What’s better than using an item that has the same effects but gentler, safer, and much more enjoyable to use? To get better results, see some of these tips for cleansing certain hair types.
- Curly or Kinky Hair Types
For kinky and curly hair types, keep your scalp clean by using shampoos that do not have sulfate. No-poos are trending nowadays. It gives you that silky texture without robbing the moisture from your hair.
Just like those who have curly hair, wavy tresses should also stick to shampoos that does not have sulfate. But if you can’t let go of your hair cleansing formula, keep your shampoo days to a maximum of three times a week. Focus on conditioning more!
- Normal Straight Hair Types
Having a straight hair, you probably didn’t encounter that much of an issue when it comes to cleansing your hair. But just so you can keep its silky soft texture, keep the cleansing massage going on the scalp. Avoid doing it too much from the middle to the lower parts of the hair.
Conditioning Formulas
Of course, the foundation of hair care for women is not complete without at least knowing some conditioning products. What makes products the best choice for your hair type? Is there any proper application that you should know about? Answer these questions and more! There’s nothing better than restoring the silky smooth texture and the shine to your tresses.
Try doing these conditioning tips to get soft tresses all throughout the day!
- When it comes to conditioning, focus on the tips to the mid-lengths of the strands. This is because the tips are drier and more prone to breakage.
- Avoid using conditioners on the scalp as much as possible. The scalp produces natural moisture for the hair. Meaning, that it is capable of producing oil. Using a conditioner can just clog those pores. Plus, if not properly washed off, they turn into flaky residues. This is one of the causes of dandruff.
- Condition the hair daily and wash it off thoroughly.
- To moisturize hair all throughout the day without washing it off, simply use hair-moisturizing sprays. One of the best formulas you can use is a mix of a hydrating oil and purified water.
- Even men need a conditioner to prevent having rough hair. The rule also applies to beards as it prevents the grizzly texture.
Styling Accessories
Women are pretty familiar with styling tools and products. Who doesn’t want a beach wave even when it’s not summer? Having these tools and knowing how to use them is truly an advantage that gives you the ability to transform your hair into any style and shape. Plus, you’ll discover ways to protect the tresses from damages.
Build a versatile hair care that gives you soft and smooth hair like no other! Here are some of the tips in choosing accessories and formulas that are suitable for your needs.
Women are quite close with hair tools. As a trusty companion to hair troubles, owning these tools make every battle with tresses easier and more fun. But while they offer a lot of perks for you to enjoy, there are also risks in using them carelessly.
Aside from the essentials, there are also formulas that help with styling your hair. Some of them include wax, hair sprays, gels, and mousse. But as you should be careful with tools, you should also consider the damages these formulas can be causing.
7 Foods to Eat Your Way to Lush Tresses
The products that you apply on them do not determine hair growth and strength. Scalp and hair first depend on the nutrients and minerals that you ingest. These 7 foods are great for stimulating the healthier growth of hair.
1 | Eggs
Most people think that eggs are only good for the hair because they are rich in protein, which is actually a building block for hair. But specifically, the reason why eggs are healthy for your locks is because of the high amount of biotin that it contains. It helps with hair growth and also stimulates the stronger growth of strands.
2 | Avocado
Quite the treasure trove of essential vitamins for the hair, eating avocado or adding it to your diet helps keep the healthy state of your strands. Vitamin B is important for stimulating hair growth while vitamin E is an antioxidant that prevents, or at least, slows down damages. It also boosts blood flow in the scalp to help the follicles. More than that, eating avocados also helps maintain the pH balance on the scalp and regulate oil production.
3 | Whole Grains
Whole grains are another source of biotin. It also contains zinc, iron, and other B vitamins. Iron and zinc are two essential minerals that the body needs to prevent hair loss. Deficiency from these minerals leads to thinning and hair loss.
4 | Carrot
Beta-carotene, as you know, is quite the foundation for a soft, shiny hair. It works by helping boost the production of sebum on the scalp. It provides moisture to the tresses. You can get it from fruits and vegetables that are orange-colored.
5 | Nuts & Seeds
Keep a small pack of nuts or seeds in your bag and you’ll have thick and shiny hair in no time! Rich in omega-3 fatty acids, nuts like almonds and walnuts help moisture the hair from within. Coupled with rich vitamins, particularly vitamin E, and proteins, they give you those lustrous tresses.
6 | Fish
Did you know that your favorite fish is quite the hair care hero? Salmon, mackerel, and sardines all provide essential omega-3 fatty acids. Just what is the deal with these fats you ask? Well, our body does not provide them. But it needs them to keep illnesses away and problems such as dry and rough locks.
Speaking of seafood, you might also want to try some oyster, crab, or lobster. They are rich in zinc which supports cells that are responsible for hair growth.
7 | Spinach or Leafy Greens
Don’t let your hair suffer. Eat spinach and other leafy greens! They are surely packed with water content and a load of vitamins and minerals. As it naturally moisturizes the hair, it also replenishes the minerals to your body to prevent hair loss. Leafy greens also provide magnesium, fatty acids, calcium, iron, potassium – all of which keeps the hair looking lush and shiny.
Hair Foods that Weirdly Work
The world of hair care is not all sunshine and daisies. Sometimes you have to face eating your greens like peas to have strong and lush tresses. But don’t worry, no one’s expecting to eat liver when you can just eat the chicken to stock up on vitamin B. Here are some of the other foods that are unexpectedly good for your hair!
It’s not that kind of weird to eat broccoli. But for healthy tresses? It’s unheard of. You should eat some broccoli even when you’re not pregnant. The reason why? It has folic acid that prevents premature graying of hair. Peas, beans, and lentils are also some other good choices.
Aside from the antioxidants in green tea, did you know that it is one of the best sources of polyphenols? It’s a substance that helps stimulate hair regrowth!
Yes, beer actually helps your hair maintain its shiny and lustrous appearance. But only with moderation. Drinking one bottle of beer a day is good for women as beer have one of highest amounts of silicon. It may help boost the blood flow in the scalp which is important for a healthy growing hair.
Hair Private Affairs Women Shush About
There are just things that women can’t talk about in public. Sometimes even having these talks with your fellow girls is quite awkward. Who would love to divulge about their insecurities? We’re just programmed not to let others know that we’ve got all these little issues that bug us when we look at the mirror.
But it’s time for women to finally feel confident about themselves. Here are some silent hair issues that most women experience at least once in their life.
Underarm Hair
Women’s skin only looks silky and smooth because we take the time to shave off unwanted hair. We might come out as vain and chic because of it but underneath the demure smile, we have our fair share of cavemen tendencies.
There are women who feel uncomfortable with the idea of growing underarm hair. But armpit hair is not as unpleasant it seems. After all, there are still debatable perks of growing one. For example, having hair on the armpits help with ventilation by keeping sweat away from the skin. With this, it also aids in preventing the growth of bacteria that causes odor.
Why Do Women Feel the Need to Remove Armpit Hair?
The habit of shaving body hair did not develop until 1915. Because there’s no need to expose the armpits to the public, it is not much of a concern back then. This is until Harper’s Bazaar’s advertised women to participate in Modern Dancing by wearing a sleeveless dress. But first, women should bow down to hairless armpits. And from then on, social views made women feel uncomfortable growing underarm hair.
Pubic Hair
Nowadays, growing a pubic hair as a woman is almost as taboo as talking about having one. There’s just no way to skirt around this subject. Talking about pubes is as delicate as the area they’re growing in. But this does not mean that they should be written off as some secret language spoken in quiet tones.
Embracing Your Privates
Shaving and trimming pubic hair is quite normal. Especially during summer where people flock to beaches. One of the standards for wearing a swimsuit is to strip your body off of any visible hair. But men also came to adapt this practice. As years go by, we see various changes in the trend for either removing or shaping pubes. This is why there are even waxing methods called Brazilian that helps you shed off all those hair.
But as women empowerment continues to reach various countries, culture, social class and even age group, having pubes is growing to be acceptable.
Body Hair
Talking about hair growth in various body parts of women is quite taboo. But it became quite the norm for women to divulge some of their night rituals of shaving to fellow girls. Since you can expose these parts to the public, people feel comfortable talking about this.
This kind of hair is different than vellus hair. The latter is characterized by being very thin and having a very light color. They would almost seem imperceptible to the naked eye. Androgenic hair or body hair is much thicker and starts to grow during puberty. They might also seem coarser and thicker.
Facial Hair
This one’s fairly simple. It’s pretty normal even for a girl to have facial hair, not necessarily eyebrows and eyelashes, but a moustache. It can be an issue especially if it’s quite prominent. Some women feel comfortable enough to leave it alone. But some find it quite annoying especially if it’s not only a mustache they’re growing but a full beard.
However, here’s the good news. It’s not that rare. Most women do grow facial hair. From their chin, to the neck area and even sideburns!
The Science behind Facial Hair
It’s only normal for men to grow facial hair. The same goes for women because it’s not really a unique occurrence. Remember Frida Kahlo and her iconic uni brows? In her beauty, you might also notice the hint of a mustache!
Sometimes it’s because of a medical condition called Hirsutism. This is where people of any gender experience rising androgen levels which lead to the excessive growth of body hair. For women, this mostly occurs on the chest, back, face, or abdomen area. Androgen is a hormone that both the body of men and women produce but on different quantities.
But aside from this, there are also other underlying conditions that pose high risks for the affected. One of the possible causes might be medication which can affect both hair growth and hormonal balance. Other conditions also include Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome and Adrenal Gland Disorders.
Women find having facial hair unappealing. Even sprouting strands on the chin are subject to immediate removal. A symbol of confidence and power for men becomes a mar in a women’s femininity. Learn more about the differences between the views of men and women when it comes to facial hair.
