How To Determine Your Hair Type

If you’re building a haircare routine from scratch, there are two essential things you’ll want to consider: your hair texture and your hair type. We’re guessing that you can easily identify your hair’s texture (straight, wavy, curly, or coily) with a quick glance in the mirror. Hair type, however, can be a little bit trickier to nail down, especially since certain habits, such as heat styling and chemical processing, can make your hair feel drier or coarser than it naturally is. But in order to build an effective routine that makes your tresses shine, knowing your hair type is crucial. Here, we’ll give you a rundown on five of the most common hair types, explaining their characteristics and unique needs. Then, we’ll arm you with product recommendations and care tips to help your tresses shine—both literally and figuratively. Healthy-looking hair awaits.

What Is the Difference Between Hair Texture and Hair Type?

Put simply, hair texture refers to your specific curl pattern (or lack thereof), while hair type refers to the overall condition of your hair. 

What are the different hair textures?

Hair textures are typically denoted by a number and a letter, with the number referring to your curl pattern and the letter denoting how densely packed your strands are. Type 1 is straight, 2 is wavy, 3 is curly, and 4 is coily. If you’re wondering how to determine your specific subtype—for example, 1A or 3B—we suggest checking out The Ultimate Guide To Natural Hair Textures and Curl Types. We break down the entire textured hair type scale there and offer tips on assessing your unique curl pattern.

What are the different hair types?

Hair type, as mentioned, describes the overall quality and condition of your hair. Typically, your hair can fall into one of five categories: Dry, oily, thin, thick, or damaged. There may be some overlap between types—those with fine hair, for instance, often struggle with oily roots—but each type is unique in its overarching characteristics. 

Why Knowing Your Hair Type Matters

Haircare is rarely one-size-fits-all, and different hair types can benefit from different products and ingredients. While there are plenty of products suitable for all hair types, selecting products designed for your hair’s specific needs can help ensure your mane looks and feels its best.

Those with dry hair, for example, tend to do best with nourishing and hydrating products that help smooth, soften, and moisturize their hair. If your hair is on the oilier side, you’ll generally want to stick with lightweight products that help to remove oil and buildup to keep your strands looking (and feeling) clean. Likewise, fine hair requires different care than thick hair, as it can easily be weighed down by heavier, oil-based products.

How To Find Out What Type of Hair You Have

If you’re wondering, “What is my hair type?” you’ve come to the right place. Below, we’ll break it all down and help you identify your hair’s unique characteristics and needs.

Dry hair

Dry hair is a hair type characterized by a lack of moisture in the strands. While anyone can have dry hair, it’s particularly common amongst those with curly and coily strands. The curved nature of textured hair makes it more difficult for your scalp’s natural oils to travel down the strands, which can result in dryness, particularly at the ends of your hair. If your hair is dry, it may feel brittle, or have a dull, straw-like appearance. Frizziness can also be a concern, particularly in humid weather. 

How to care for dry hair

Perhaps unsurprisingly, the best way to care for dry hair is to give your strands plenty of moisture. Start in the shower by swapping out your harsh shampoo for a gentle, moisturizing version designed for dry hair. We love the L’Oréal Paris EverPure Sulfate-Free Moisture Shampoo, which delivers twice the moisture of a standard non-conditioning shampoo. After shampooing, squeeze out any excess water and replenish your strands with the creamy L’Oréal Paris EverPure Sulfate-Free Moisture Conditioner. For extra TLC, you can also add a deep conditioner or hair mask into your routine once or twice a week. If you need a recommendation, we love the L’Oréal Paris Elvive Total Repair 5 Power Restore Multi-Use Treatment, which melts into the hair fiber to promote silky, healthy-looking strands. 

How to style dry hair

Blow drying and flat ironing your hair may temporarily help quell frizz and roughness, but all that heat can further dehydrate your already parched strands. When possible, allow your hair to air-dry to avoid exposing your tresses to high temperatures. If you must use heat to achieve your desired style, be sure to prep your hair well with a heat protectant, such as the L’Oréal Paris EverPure Sulfate-Free Moisture 21-in-1 Leave-In Conditioner. 

Oily hair

On the opposite end of the spectrum is oily hair, which, as you can probably guess, has an abundance of oil. If you have an oily hair type, your strands may look limp or greasy, particularly at the roots. You may also find that you need to wash your hair every day to keep your mane looking and feeling clean. 

How to care for oily hair

For oily hair, balance is key—your mane still needs moisture, but it’s important not to overdo it, as anything too heavy can weigh down your strands. Once or twice weekly, kick off your shower routine with a scalp clarifying treatment, such as the L’Oréal Paris Elvive Hyaluron + Pure Oil-Erasing Serum. It’s formulated with salicylic acid and helps remove up to 100% of scalp residue for a purified, refreshed feel. Afterward, lather up with the L’Oréal Paris Elvive Hyaluron + Pure Purifying Shampoo, which cleanses oily hair without stripping it of much-needed moisture. Then, give your mid-lengths and ends some TLC with the L’Oréal Paris Elvive Hyaluron + Pure Rehydrating Conditioner. Just take care not to apply conditioner directly to your scalp—doing so can weigh down your roots and make your hair appear greasy.

How to style oily hair

Styling oily hair can sometimes be a challenge, as over-manipulating your tresses may actually add to the oiliness. Spritzing your roots with a dry shampoo can help minimize grease at the roots while adding much-needed volume to your mane. If you don’t have a dry shampoo on hand and don’t have time for a full wash-and-dry, consider trying a hairstyle for greasy hair—these sneaky styles work with your hair’s natural oils, not against it.

Fine hair

Fine and thin are often used interchangeably to describe hair that lacks fullness, but they’re not quite the same. Fine hair is a hair type in which the strands themselves are small in diameter. Thin hair, meanwhile, refers to a lack of density, but doesn’t describe the width of your individual strands. Like oily hair, fine hair can be prone to greasy roots and flatness. Fine hair also tends to lack volume, which can make scoring a bouncy blowout or bombshell waves feel like a challenge. Fortunately, the right products can help give your tresses body and bounce.

How to care for fine hair

If your strands are fine, look to lightweight volumizing products to help add body and texture to your mane. Avoid anything too heavy, as richer products may weigh down your finer strands. For shampoo, we love the L’Oréal Paris Elvive Hyaluron + Plump Hydrating Shampoo, which helps lock in moisture for up to 72 hours without weighing down your hair. Pair it with the hyaluronic acid-infused L’Oréal Paris Elvive Hyaluron + Plump Hydrating Conditioner for plump, bouncy-looking strands. 

How to style fine hair

When styling fine, flat hair, adding volume should be your number one priority. Post-shower, try misting your mane with the L’Oréal Paris Elvive Hyaluron + Plump Moisture Plump Serum to lock in hydration and add fullness without the need for a full blowout. Or, work a lightweight mousse throughout your tresses to add texture, bounce, and volume. For the latter, we’re big fans of the L’Oréal Paris Advanced Hairstyle BOOST IT Volume Inject Mousse, which gives lifeless hair volume for up to 24 hours.

Thick hair

Chances are good that if you have thick hair, you're already aware of it. With this hair type, the individual strands themselves are wider in diameter, which can make your hair appear full and naturally voluminous. On the other hand, thick hair can be difficult to detangle, style, and manage, making it imperative to find the right routine for your strands. 

How to care for thick hair

Because thick hair is so, well, thick, it can handle heavier, richer products than fine strands. To help your hair look and feel its best, try adding a glossing shampoo and conditioner into your routine once or twice per week. The L’Oréal Paris EverPure Sulfate-Free Glossing Shampoo and L’Oréal Paris EverPure Sulfate-Free Glossing Conditioner work in harmony to help smooth, soften, and add shine, leaving your hair looking glossy and feeling manageable. For extra TLC, pair the duo with the L’Oréal Paris EverPure Sulfate-Free Glossing 5-Min Lamination Hair Mask—when used alongside the shampoo and conditioner, this intensive treatment helps lock in glass-like shine for up to five days. 

How to style thick hair

Bouncy blowouts, voluminous updos, and beachy waves all complement thick, voluminous strands beautifully, so don’t be afraid to experiment with different styles. Keep in mind, however, that thicker hair may take a much longer time to dry than thinner strands. Adding in strategic layers can help remove some of the bulk and make styling your mane simpler. 

Damaged hair

Damaged hair is unique from other hair types in that anybody can experience it—it’s not tied to how much oil your scalp produces or how thick your individual strands are. Instead, damaged hair occurs when your hair is subjected to intense stress, like repeated chemical treatments or frequent heat styling. There are several ways damage can manifest, but split ends, brittleness, and breakage are all telltale signs that your hair isn’t in its healthiest condition.

How to care for damaged hair

The best way to care for damaged hair is to avoid whatever is causing the damage in the first place, whether it's one too many rounds of bleaching or a close relationship with your blow dryer. Aside from that, you’ll want to look for strengthening products that can help repair and fortify your brittle strands. Start with the L’Oréal Paris EverPure Bond Repair Pre-Shampoo Treatment. This pre-shampoo hair treatment helps to fortify weakened hair bonds, strengthening fragile strands from the inside out. For the best results, we suggest pairing it with the coordinating L’Oréal Paris EverPure Sulfate-Free Bond Repair Shampoo, which gently cleanses, and the L’Oréal Paris EverPure Sulfate-Free Bond Repair Conditioner, which smooths, hydrates, and detangles damaged strands. If you have a lot of split ends, you may also want to consider getting a trim—doing so can help prevent the splits from traveling further up the hair shaft.

How to style damaged hair

When styling damaged hair, it’s best to take a less-is-more approach—any unnecessary manipulation (including heat styling) can contribute to further damage. Try low-manipulation styles or protective styles when you can, and if you must style your hair, be sure to shield your strands with a high-quality heat protectant. The L’Oréal Paris EverPure Bond Repair Hair Oil-in-Serum is among our top picks for damaged hair, as it helps to smooth, strengthen, and fortify weakened strands—all while protecting your hair from temperatures up to 450 degrees Fahrenheit.

Next Up: How To Care for High Porosity Hair

Photo courtesy of L’Oréal Paris