Best Hairstyles for You - Step 2 of 6

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What is your hair type and texture?

When you find a celebrity hair style that you really like, you must consider your hair texture and type. Even though you may have the same face shape as your favorite celebrity, that doesn’t mean that her hair style will work with your hair type. For example, some women cut layers into their hair only to find out later that they are unable to style the hair at all. It just falls flat, with no body.

Hair texture encompasses the density, wave, movement and body of the hair. There are five basic categories of texture: Straight, Curly, Black, Fine, Chemically Treated and Coarse.

Straight Hair: This hair has no wave or curl. Straight hair typically has natural shine and body.

Curly Hair: This hair has a tighter S-shaped curl with lots of volume. Curly hair is high-maintenance and can appear dull-looking and frizzy. Help from leave-in conditioners and shine enhancers will help alleviate this problem.

Black Hair: This hair is usually dry, brittle and fine. Use of conditioning products and daily massage can gently promote health hair.

Fine Hair: This type of hair can look very lifeless soon after washing. Always use hair care products specially formulated for fine hair.

Chemically Treated: Many hair color processes can permanently change the make up of your hair. Always use shampoos/conditioners designed for colored hair. Also, check that the products contain sunscreen in them to protect your hair from damage caused by the sun.

Coarse Hair. This hair can look very wiry after shampooing. Use of leave-in conditioner to close and smooth the cuticle will help, along with regular deep-conditioning treatments.

To see what texture of hair you have, try threading one of your hairs through a sewing needle. If you have trouble threading it or the hair gets caught as you pull it through, then you have thicker hair such as curly or coarse. If the hair goes right through, then you probably have fine hair.

Hair type encompasses the condition of your scalp, the texture of your hair and how your hair reacts to the environment. There are four basic categories for hair type: Normal, Dry, Oily and Combination Hair.

Normal: This type of hair is neither prone to oiliness or dryness.

Dry: This type of hair will look dull, lifeless and parched, even sometimes frizzy and straw-like.

Oily: This type of hair will look oily, dull and dirty along the whole hair shaft.

Combination: This type of hair will begin to show oiliness about 5-6 hours after washing, while the ends remain dry. This can be caused by the use overuse of conditioners and styling products or by humidity and pollution.

To see what type of hair you have, drop one of your hairs in a glass of water. If the hair floats, it is either oily or healthy. (Oil and water don’t mix, so oily hair will float)  If your hair sinks to the bottom, then your hair has absorbed water and is dry.

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