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ALFREDO DE BENEDICTIS FOUNDER | HAIRSTYLIST
Alfredo De Benedictis is an Italian-British hair stylist and salon owner with over 40 years of experience. Since 1989, his passion for innovation has led him to create groundbreaking hair tools that minimize stress on the hair while delivering flawless results. From the iconic Rootpermer and Wellformer of the ’90s to the global hit Babyliss Curl Secret, Alfredo’s mission remains the same—developing tools that protect hair health without compromising style.
Avid readers of our blog will know we often mention hair types when discussing styling and hair health. But how do you find your hair type, and does it make that much difference to your hair care routine?
The short answer is yes!
Different hair types respond to specific products, ingredients, and treatments. The way you wash, condition, and style your hair depends heavily on its type and texture. The temperature at which you can style it also changes depending on your hair type.
So, how do you determine your hair type and find out how best to care for it?
You’ve come to the right place. At KEEO, we prioritise healthy hair, and that starts with getting to know your hair and scalp intimately.
We’ve created this quick guide to the most common hair types, the pros and cons of each, and how to care for each type as you age and your hair changes.
There are four main hair types:
These are also, somewhat confusingly, known as your curl pattern. This doesn’t just refer to curls but is the name used for the natural shape of your hair follicles. You still have a curl pattern with straight hair.
Most people have a mixture of two or more hair types, and it is easy to get them mixed up, i.e. thinking your wavy is curly.
Here’s a quick step-by-step guide to discovering your curl pattern
Hair is generally predominantly one of the following textures:
Texture is the thickness of your tresses and how they feel. You can determine your hair’s texture by rubbing a strand or two between your fingers.
Lots of ‘baby hairs’ or ‘flyaways’ usually means you have fine hair, while thicker, coarser hair will hold a style for much longer.
Knowing your hair texture helps you choose a flattering cut and style your hair better.
Last but not least is how porose your hair is - how well it absorbs and holds moisture. This is determined by how open or closed your hair cuticles are.
High-porosity - open cuticle, absorbs moisture easily but doesn’t retain it. Tends to feel dry and brittle and can break easily. Requires a gentle touch and intensive hydration and moisturisation.
Medium-porosity - half-open cuticle, absorbs and retains moisture easily. Hair is usually healthy and is compatible with most products.
Low-porosity - closed cuticle which struggles to absorb moisture. Products tend to sit on top of the hair leading to build-up. Requires clarifying shampoo and water-based products that don’t weigh your locks down.
There are two ways to test your hair porosity:
Hair porosity is usually genetic but can increase with heat styling, bleach and other chemical treatments. All the more reason to choose a gentle heat styling tool, such as the KEEO Genius Straightener.
| Hair Type | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| Straight | Smooth, shiny, easy to achieve a sleek look. | Can look flat or greasy quickly, lacks volume. |
| Wavy | Natural volume, easy to style in waves or loose curls. | Prone to frizz, texture can be inconsistent |
| Curly | Defined curls, lots of body and bounce. | Frizz-prone, needs lots of moisture, high maintenance. |
| Coily | Rich texture, and holds a style well. | Dryness, shrinkage, harder to detangle |
We’re big advocates of scalp health, which comes from knowing whether you have a dry, normal, oily or combination scalp.
Hair density refers to the number of individual strands that make up your hair and how tightly the hair follicles are packed together. High-density hair looks thick, even if the individual locks are fine.
You can determine your hair density by parting your hair to see how much scalp is visible. Low-density hair will expose more of your scalp.
Ageing and hormone changes can fundamentally alter our hair. The density, colour, curl pattern and texture can all change over time.
It can be a little jarring if you have always had straight hair to realise it is now wavy or curly, or vice versa. Then there is thinning, colour fading, and changes in porosity.
The key is to embrace your new hair type and care for it appropriately. As with damaged hair, that means embracing a healthy lifestyle, protecting your hair from the elements and using the right products.
To recap, you can have more than one hair type, which will determine how to achieve the best results for your hair.
You should also get to grips with the texture, porosity and density of your hair to ensure you are using the right products and styling tools to maximise your mane. The KEEO Genius Straightener is suitable for all hair types, with gentle heat making styling effortless, no matter your curl pattern.
Every aspect of your hair can change with age, hormones or climate, so pay close attention to how your hair looks and feels.
We hope this blog has given you more insight into your tresses, helping you achieve your ultimate hair goals.
Yes, it is very common to have what is known as multitextured hair, particularly wavy and curly or curly and coily. Since your hair type and texture are largely determined by genetics, you can inherit different hair types from your ancestors, which can develop and present simultaneously on your head.
Climate changes can cause your hair to become dry, dull and frizzy or greasy and tangled. Different hair types are more susceptible to certain conditions. For example, someone with curly, coily or coarse hair might be more prone to frizz in high humidity, and dryness and breakage in low humidity.
Wind can cause tangles, while high temperatures can result in greasiness or a loss of definition.
Knowing your curl pattern will help you protect your hair from the sun and inform your winter hair care routine.
Yes, as noted above, hair type changes for many reasons, including age, climate and hormonal changes such as pregnancy, illness, perimenopause and menopause.
Since healthy hair growth relies on a careful balance of hormones, any disruption in hormone levels can change the curl pattern, texture and porosity. The colour can also be altered.
We have delved into perimenopausal hair thinning and some of the other effects of hormonal changes on your hair in a previous blog.
No, although you may describe your hair as ‘frizzy’, it is not a hair type. Frizzy refers to the condition of your hair and how unruly and dry it is. Frizz is essentially hair that lacks moisture and becomes misaligned due to various factors, including humidity, hair health, and styling. Some hair types are more prone to frizz, but it can affect anyone.
Hair type and scalp type are crucial for overall hair health, but healthy hair starts with the scalp. The type and health of your scalp directly influence the type and condition of your hair, so understanding your scalp type is arguably more important.
