How to Care for Different Hair Types

How to Care for Different Hair Types

To understand how to care for your hair you must first determine what your hair type is. Hair can be classified according to texture and dryness. Hair texture determines how dry or oily your hair will be. Oily hair requires different hair care to dry hair. Different hair types require different hair care regimes. This blog will set out recommendations for how to care for your hair in accordance with its classified type.

Dry Hair

Dry hair in its natural state will lack shine and, in some instances, appear extremely frizzy. Most afro and mixed raced hair is dry. Afro hair is dry for two reasons. Firstly, because sebum which secretes on the scalp is hindered from flowing down the entire length of the hair shaft because of the kink and curls of afro hair.

Consequently, hair strands become dry and lack shine which sebum helps to create. Secondly, afro hair cuticles are naturally raised to accommodate the curl and kink.

Raised hair cuticles allows hydration and moisture to escape from the hair shaft which causes dryness. Also raised hair cuticles causes hair to feel coarse in texture as well as making hair more likely to fray and break when combed and styles.

Advice: To keep hair hydrated and clean, wash hair with a moisturising or hydrating shampoo, once to twice a week. Washing dry hair once or twice a week helps to

1. Hydrate hair and scalp
2. Prevents a build-up of sebum on the scalp which could potentially block the sebaceous gland and consequent release of sebum causing further dryness.

Conditioning hair after shampooing will assist in flattening raised cuticles as much as possible, helping to seal moisture and hydration into the hair shaft, counteracting the perpetuation of dryness.

Restore the moisture in dry hair with biweekly hair treatments such as coating the hair with a hair mask then sit under a steamer or put on a steam cap for 15 – 20 minutes.

Between and after washes, moisturise the ends of your hair with a leave in conditioner to nourish and restore the health of dry ends.

Because dry ends are a natural symptom of afro hair, hair tips are more prone to damage, snapping and breaking. To maintain healthy hair tips, frequent trims are recommended. Click here for more information regarding why it is important to trim hair regularly to prevent hair breakage.

Oily Hair

The symptoms of oily hair are self-explanatory. If your hair is dull, limp and greasy, then you have oily hair. Oily hair can be caused from over active sebaceous glands or excessive use of products causing build up. 

Advice: Excess sebum from over productive sebaceous glands can block hair follicles, and stifle the scalp, making hair limp and potentially triggering hair loss. This is why it is important to wash oily hair frequently (3 to 4 times a week) which will eliminate product build up and excess sebum which can cause hair to be too oily. After shampooing, apply a light conditioner to hair, then rinse after 2 – 5 minutes. Light use of products which add moisture to hair.

Normal Hair

If your hair is neither dry nor oily then you have normal hair. Hair which is neither oily or dry tends to be straight. Sebum, natural lubricant which excretes on the scalp and flows along the hair shaft, navigates along straight hair strand easily. This helps to emollient hair, maintain a healthy balance of hair moisture.

Advice: Keep hair clean by shampooing and conditioning 3 to 4 times a week. Conditioning hair after shampoo will help to flatten hair cuticles which might have been raised during the shampoo process, giving hair a healthy, shiny look.

Combination Hair

If your hair is a mixture of oily and dry, then you have what is known as combination hair. To test for combination hair, wash your hair and leave it to dry naturally. After several hours, if hair around the scalp becomes oily whilst the ends of your hair are dry, then you have combination hair. Oily scalps and dry ends are typical in mixed raced and Mediterranean hair because the curls and kinks doesn’t allow the sebum (natural hair oils that come from the sebaceous gland) to travel down the length of the hair making it moisturised and easy to manage.

Advice: Washing hair twice a week with a gentle shampoo will help to normalise oily scalps. Hair must be conditioned after each shampoo to flatten hair cuticles which are naturally slightly raised to accommodate the curl. Flattening hair cuticles will help to prevent hydration and moisture from escaping from the hair shaft, preventing hair from becoming dry and brittle. Regular hair treatments such as steaming the hair with a hair mask at least once a month and moisturising the ends of your hair with a leave in conditioner twice after shampoo and condition can restore dry ends. 

Treatment for Hair Loss

If you have found it difficult to find the right way to care for your hair and consequently experienced hair loss or breakage, then we recommend you seek treatment for your condition before hair loss worsens, or becomes permanent. ProTress Essential Scalp Therapy Energising Shampoo and Lotion contains natural extracts of Rosemary and Nettle and the patented Si MATRIX PF which rebalances and purifies the scalp, preventing the hair follicle from becoming clogged by sebum from over productive sebaceous glands.

ProTress Essential Scalp Therapy Energising Shampoo and Lotion stimulates the flow of blood around the scalp and revitalises hair follicles which improves hair production, extending the anagen (growth) stage of the hair growth cycle, restoring hair growth, making hair thicker and stronger whilst reducing hair loss.