Know your hair

You don't need to be a hair expert to choose the right products. Our first piece of advice: Talk to your hairdresser!

You only need to know four things:

1. Is your hair straight, wavy or curly?
2. Is each hair strand fine or thick?
3. Do you have a little or a lot of hair?
4. Is your scalp dry, normal or oily?

Once you know the answers, it becomes much easier to choose shampoo, conditioner and other care products.

1. Is your hair straight, wavy or curly?

Start by washing your hair and letting it dry without wax, serum or other styling products. Then look at your hair's natural shape.

Straight hair

The hair falls straight down without noticeable waves or curls.

Straight hair can often get oily faster and is easily weighed down by too much oil or heavy care products.

Typically choose:

• A light shampoo
• Conditioner on the lengths and ends
• A light serum
• Small amounts of product

Wavy hair

The hair forms soft waves or a slight S-shape.

Wavy hair can lack definition, but it can also become heavy if you use too much product.

Typically choose:

• A mild shampoo
• Conditioner on the lengths
• A light leave-in conditioner
• A light product that defines the waves

Curly hair

The hair forms clear curls, spirals or very tight curls.

Curly hair often needs more moisture and care than straight hair. It should usually be combed gently while it's wet and has conditioner in it.

Typically choose:

• A mild, nourishing shampoo
• Conditioner through the full length of the hair
• Leave-in conditioner
• Hair oil or serum on the ends
• A diffuser when blow-drying

You don't need to know whether you have hair type 2A, 3B or 4C. The most important thing is knowing whether your hair is basically straight, wavy or curly.

2. Is your hair fine or thick?

This is about the thickness of each individual hair strand – not how much hair you have. Take a single strand between your fingers.

Fine hair

If you can barely feel the strand, you probably have fine hair.

Fine hair is more easily weighed down and therefore usually needs less product. It can also be more sensitive to heat and rough handling.

Typically choose:

• Light products
• A light conditioner
• A light serum or spray
• Limited amounts of oil

Medium hair

If you can clearly feel the strand, but it doesn't feel stiff or coarse, you probably have medium hair.

Medium hair can usually handle most ordinary hair products.

Thick or coarse hair

If the strand feels distinct, strong or almost stiff, you have coarse hair.

This hair type can often handle more conditioner, oil and other nourishing products.

Typically choose:

• A more nourishing conditioner
• Leave-in conditioner
• Hair oil
• A hair mask as needed

Fine hair generally needs less and lighter product, while thick hair often needs more product to be properly cared for.

3. Do you have fine hair or thin hair?

The two aren't the same.

• Fine hair means each individual strand is thin.
• Thin hair means you have fewer hairs overall, or that your scalp is more easily visible through your hair.

So you can have:

• Lots of fine hairs
• Few thick hairs
• Fine and thin hair
• Thick and dense hair

This matters because ordinary hair care can make your hair look healthier and fuller, but it doesn't necessarily treat actual hair loss.

If your hair is gradually getting thinner, minoxidil or finasteride may be more relevant than more cosmetic hair products.

4. Is your scalp dry or oily?

Your shampoo is chosen mainly based on your scalp. Your conditioner and other care are chosen based on the hair itself.

Oily scalp

Signs can be:

• Your hair quickly looks greasy
• Your hair clumps together at the roots
• You feel the need to wash your hair often

Wash your hair when your scalp gets oily. People with fine hair or an oily scalp may need to wash more often than people with dry, thick or curly hair.

Use shampoo on your scalp and conditioner on the lengths.

Dry scalp

Signs can be:

• Your scalp feels tight
• It itches after washing
• Dry flakes appear
• The skin feels irritated

Choose a mild shampoo, and avoid very hot water.

Persistent itching, redness or flaking may be caused by something other than ordinary dryness. It should be assessed by a doctor or dermatologist.

Oily scalp and dry ends

This is a very common combination. The solution isn't necessarily to use the same product everywhere:

• Shampoo on the scalp
• Conditioner on the lengths
• Serum or oil on the ends

Hairplant's recommendation

Have a chat with your hairdresser! You don't need to find the perfect, highly precise hair category.

Start by finding out:

• Your hair's natural shape
• The thickness of the strands
• How dense your hair is
• How your scalp feels

Then choose light products for fine hair and more nourishing products for thick, dry or curly hair.

Always start with small amounts. You can add more product, but it's hard to remove without washing your hair.