How to Find Your Hair Pattern
Just like the rest of our bodies, our hair changes overtime due to lifestyle choices and life changes. Nonetheless, everyone’s hair is unique and beautiful but the lack of knowledge about our hair, what it can and can’t do and how best to manage it as it changes can often lead us to have a misunderstanding about our hair. If this sounds like you then you’ve come to the right place. At The Good Hair Co, we aim to help you uncover the mysteries of the hair world to bring you closer to understanding your hair and establishing the perfect routine for your hair profile.
Let’s talk about finding your curl pattern!
WHAT IS A HAIR HAIR PATTERN?
Hair pattern (or curl pattern) is the specific shapes your hair strands make as they naturally grow out of your scalp. As your hair grows, it forms different shapes and patterns depending on whether it kinks, curves, or winds around each other into spirals. Knowing your natural curl pattern can help you understand if certain life changes or lifestyle choices are affecting your hair to help you figure out why. This enables you to make better product selection choices, know your styling do’s and don’ts and the techniques to use to bring the best out of your hair.
While knowing your curl pattern can point you in the right direction, your curls pattern as well as other hair properties like hair porosity, density, elasticity and texture play a huge part in discovering the best hair care products and routines for your hair.
HOW DO I FIND MY HAIR PATTERN?
When it comes to finding your hair type, most people in the hair community rely on the hair typing system that have been created to help normalise and educate men and women about the variety of hair textures and patterns that we all have. The most commonly known classification system is the Andre Walker Hair Typing System, created by Andew Walker, Oprah Winfrey’s stylist. His system classifies hair into 4 hair types; straight is 1, wavy is 2, curly is 3 and coily is 4. These patterns are then divided into subcategories based on the looseness or tightness of the waves, curls and coils - “A” being loose, “C” being tight and “B” being somewhere in the middle.
To determine your hair’s curl pattern, take a few strands from different sections of your freshly washed hair, ensuring there is no product on it, and compare your hair strand to the descriptions below.
Straight Hair - This hair type is straight from root to tip and forms little to no pattern or shape as it grows. At times this hair is easy to moisturise as the natural sebum from the scalp is able to travel down the entire hair strand, however, it can lack volume and feel greasy if not cared for properly.
Wavy Hair - This hair type is straight at the roots then starts to form loose S-shaped waves from the middle down to the ends. At times it can be moisturised easily and have volume, however, the waves formed can make the hair prone to dryness if not cared for properly as the sebum struggles to travel down the entire hair strand.
Curly Hair - This hair type is slightly straight at the root and forms corkscrew like curls as it grows out. At times it has a lot of volume compared to straight and wavy hair types, however, it can become frizzy and lose definition when dehydrated as the sebum struggles to travel down the entire hair strand due to the curl formation.
Coily Hair - This hair type has tight, afro-distinct, springy curls that resemble O shapes and adhere close to the scalp as it grows. At times it is voluminous, versatile and experiences a lot of shrinkage, however, it can often be frizzy, prone to kinks and experience frequent dryness as the sebum struggles to travel down the entire hair strand due to the curl formation.
Kinky Hair - This hair type bends in sharp Z-shaped angles from the root down and is most often fine and delicate. It can be susceptible to knots and may easily break if not cared for properly.
Note: These descriptions only serves as a guide, and not a prescription for what your hair will always do or look like.
The misconception about hair patterns or the lack of ability to define your hair pattern can often make curly or coily hair seem patternless. As you start to discover your curl pattern, remember that not only is every hair unique, you may also find that your own hair falls into more than one hair pattern. The characteristics of your hair pattern will be determined by your hair’s texture and density as well as lifestyle choices, life changes and hair care practices.
As you age, your hair pattern may become looser or tighter due to hormonal changes, lifestyle choices, environmental conditions and even gravity. A change in curl pattern is a part of life but it can also be a sign of hair damage. For example, if your hair has experienced heat or chemical damage, then you are probably seeing a different hair pattern to that of your hair’s natural pattern. Try examining a few strands of your hair and compare the hair pattern at the root of your hair to the pattern at the ends of your hair. Damaged hair will appear a lot straighter, dryer and limp at the ends as compared to the roots.
WHAT DO I DO NOW?
Now that you have an idea of how to find your hair’s pattern, book your consultation with one of our certified hair experts. Get a personalised regimen consisting of highly effective product recommendations to solve your hair and scalp concerns. Let us help you discover the expert hair care advice you need to get the healthy hair you want.