Do you REALLY know your hair type?

Poll posted by BR Natalie

We have some hair care trials coming up, different ranges aimed at specific hair types.  Naturally the crew got to talking about hair types, a seemingly simple and mundane conversation, you'd think right?  No.  It continued over bowls of chilli at lunch time and continued with messages after office hours.

Did you know you can have oily hair but a dry scalp?  Normal scalp and dry hair?  That dry hair isn't necessarily damaged, and wavy hair is in fact classed as curly hair?

So we thought if we're asking you your hair type so we can send out the right products, we might want to go back to basics.  Here's a breakdown of different hair types and what they need from products to look and feel their best.  This will help you fill out our pre-qualifying survey for these upcoming trials!

Normal Hair. 

• You're a lucky sausage if you have normal hair! Normal hair is naturally strong, moisturised and shiny. 
• A normal scalp is moist and pink and isn't prone to irritation or flaking. 
• Hair care products formulated for normal hair will help to maintain the balance of your hair and scalp.
• You can probably get away with washing your hair twice to thrice a week and will only need a mild conditioner.

 Oily Hair.  

• You'll know you have oily hair if one day after washing, your hair it feels like it needs to be washed again!
• Just like your skin, your scalp produces oil, which travels down the hair shaft locking in moisture and keeping the strand healthy.  The sebaceous glands in an oily scalp over-produce oil, which leaves hair looking limp and greasy. 
• Products for oily hair will balance oil production, but it can take a bit of perseverance to get out of the daily hair wash trap. 
• Try dry shampoo to freshen oily locks between washes.    

 Dry Hair. 

• If your hair and scalp show no signs of oil after 3-4 days of not being washed they are both dry. 
• Dry hair is usually lacklustre and incredibly brittle, it will split and break easily.  Dry hair will feel rough and is most likely to be frizzy. 
• A dry scalp can be caused by irritation, but is most likely to be caused by the insufficient oil production of the sebaceous glands.  Other causes of a dry scalp include; hormonal imbalances, a diet lacking in proteins and vitamins or repeated chemical treatments. 
• Products for dry hair will work to deliver moisture to the inner cortex of the hair, whilst ensuring the cuticle remains lubricated and laying flat. 
• Hair oils or serums are a must for anyone with dry hair.

Curly Hair.  

• The term 'curly hair' essentially covers hair that isn't straight, so if your hair is quite wavy you can include it in this group (although some product ranges are specifically formulated for wavy hair, just to add to the confusion).
• Curly hair is probably the 'wildest' of hair types, in that it tangles easily and can be very difficult to maintain and style. 
• Curly hair will usually be very dry, for two reasons.  Curls and natural waves lift hair away from the scalp where the natural moisturising sebum is produced and oil can't travel as easily down the kinky, curly and wavey strands. 
• Ideal products for curly hair will aim to moisturise the hair without weighing it down with heavy residue. 

Unnatural States.

Coloured Hair. 

• The alkali chemicals in hair colour products cause the cuticles to swell open, so the pigment can penetrate the shaft.  Ingredients (commonly peroxide) bleach existing pigments, so the dyes in the hair colour can take over. 
• The first few times you colour your hair, the cuticles will shrink back down, forming the natural tight mesh as before the colouring.  However, the more you colour, the more damage to the cuticles and eventually they will not shrink back, meaning hair can't retain it's moisture.  
• If your coloured hair dries super fast, trust us - this isn't a good thing.  It's a sign your hair is extremely porous, damaged and in need of restoration.
• Products for coloured hair will not only help replace lost moisture and add shine, many products can enhance and extend the longevity of the colour.

Damaged Hair.  

• Natural, untreated or unstyled hair is made up of tightly packed cells that keep moisture in and bad things out.  Chemicals treatments cause the cuticles to swell and penetrate deep in to the hair shaft, so that other chemicals can change the internal structure of the strand.  The more you expose your hair to this, the less likely it is that your cuticles will recover.  They will become dry and frizzy. 
• Repeated heat styling damages the hair, because, well, you're literally cooking it.  If you burn yourself with your straightener it hurts right?  Now it doesn't hurt your hair because effectively, hair is dead from the roots down, but of course with repeated exposure to extreme heat, your hair will become damaged.
• Technology in hair care products these days is is amazing and product innovations can help restore moisture and balance.  They 'fill the gaps' in the hair shaft meaning your hair can retain the moisture and look shiny once again.  

So, using this as a guide - what's your hair type?  How about your scalp? Are you keen to trial a new hair care range; shampoo, conditioner and at least one treatment?  Yes?  Take this pre-qualifying survey!