What’s on Your Head? A Look at Hair Textures

October 31st, 2014      
Canadian Beauty College

Hair. Most everybody has it, yet it comes in so many types, textures, and colours. From blonde to black, afros to z braids, hair is unique. It can be fun, or it can cause problems. It can look great or cause a lot of angst. Here is a look at the most common types of hair textures so that you can better understand the benefits and challenges that come with each type.

Curly – Curly hair has what is known as a “true S” pattern. From the scalp base to the ends of the strands, curly hair is the least oily of all the hair types. Curly hair usually has either a medium or a coarse thickness. This means it has a more open cuticle than fine or thin hair and is also more porous. Depending on the degree of curliness, curly hair may be either left in its natural state or enhanced through styling.

Coily – Coily hair is similar to curly hair only with more sprigs. The curls are tighter and less uniform. The hair follicles in coily hair are usually strong and resilient. Depending on the biological makeup of the cysteines, coily hair may be ultra compact, resulting in a thick head of hair. Coily hair is not as malleable as curly hair, but can be styled with relative ease (some frizzing may occur).

Straight – Straight hair is mostly devoid of coils, curls, and kinks. Because it protrudes straight out from the cuticle, straight hair has finer pores and is the most oily type of hair. This often gives it a shinier appearance. Compared to other hair texture s, straight hair is usually finer. It is easier to brush out, but this also means it may not hold styling as well as other hair types.

Wavy – Wavy hair exists In between being truly curly and completely straight. Wavy hair is the most common type of American hair texture. At the cuticle level, wavy hair has a definitive “S” pattern. Unfortunately, this means that wavy hair is often frizzy when styling. Those with wavy hair usually use some sort of product to help in the styling process.

Kinky – Kinky hair is the ultimate in coily hair. It has a high density of tight coils and is very fragile. Its defined curly pattern is most often found in people with African heritage. Because it has a more wiry nature, some people choose to tease their kinky hair to be “brought out.”

No two heads of hair are unique. That is what makes styling hair so rewarding and exhilarating. You always are taking on a new task , and you help people look better and feel more confident. If you are interested in hair styling, contact Canadian Beauty College today for more information.

Write a Comment

Comments are closed.