When most people go to a store to pick up a hair care product for themselves, they are often flummoxed and dumbstruck when the salesperson asks them – what is your hair type? Not only are they taken aback, but they are also unable to answer the question. It is important for people to know what their hair type is because only then will they be in the position of purchasing the right kind of hair care products for themselves.

To begin with, hair types, quality, and kinds differ from individual to individual, even if they’re from the same family and no matter however closely related two people may be. When one knows the type of hair one has, it will also be helpful in assisting the person in deciding what could be the root cause for various issues related to the hair. This will make the treatment given to the person to work more effectively. The categories and type of hair are divided based on various factors. Below are mentioned some of the criteria based on which hair can be differentiated:

• Density
  The amount of hair one has on their scalp determines the density of the hair. The density of the hair can be classified into three levels based on the number of individual hair strands that cover the scalp of a person. To determine one’s level of hair density, the mirror test is an appropriate measure. This is done by grabbing a big portion of one’s hair and pulling it to a side. Based on the extent of the scalp that is visible, it helps in determining the density of the person’s hair.
• Diameter
  The width that each hair strand has helps in determining the diameter of the person’s hair. The diameter of hair can either be thick, medium, or fine which can be figured out after doing the strand test. This test is done by holding a single strand of hair between the middle finger and the index finger. Based on the thickness of the presence of the hair felt in this test, it will help in arriving at the type of diameter the individual’s hair has.
• Porosity
  The ability of the hair to retain moisture as well as absorb it is known as the hair’s porosity. This ability of the hair also determines the amounts of products that can be absorbed by the hair. This ability of the hair has to be known by the individual so that they can purchase the right kind of hair care products. The ability of the hair can be determined by submerging an individual hair strand in a water-filled cup.
• Greasiness
  One needs to very important know the level of greasiness of their hair, as this will help in deciding how often one is required to wash their hair. This aspect once cleared in a person’s mind can help the person to decide the type of conditioners and shampoos they are required to pick up from the store. To determine the level of greasiness that one’s hair has the best thing to do is wash the hair well and let it air dry as the person is off for a nap. One should do the patch test on the scalp. In this test, the person is required to press a paper tissue on the scalp especially at the back of the ears and on the crown area. The amount of oil that is found to be deposited on to the paper tissue will help the person figuring out how oily their hair is.
• Elasticity
  Before the strand of hair comes back to its normal state, how much it can be stretched will tell the elasticity of the hair. The is a good indicator in determining the health and quality of the person’s hair. The person who has hair that is highly elastic often has a good level of bounce and shine. The hair with the highest level of elasticity is considered to be the strongest. To determine how elastic, one’s hair is the person has to pull out a wet strand of hair and requires stretching it to the maximum. Based on the findings of this test, a person will be able to judge under which of the three categories of hair elasticity does their hair elasticity come under.

Based on the shape and fall of the hair, the hair of a person can be categorized as – wavy, curly or straight. This is the most common way of categorizing the type of hair. However, here we have seen that this is not the only aspect that differentiates hair from person to person. Under each of the type of hair shape, there are even more subcategories. So, the next time one walks into the store for hair care products shopping, they should be in a position to tell the salesperson what product they are on the lookout for based on the category their hair comes under.