We chatted to Salon owner and Senior hairdresser Pete Dunn of Frankie Salon about all things curls, coils and texture.
So we’ve heard that hair type is all about your hair’s curl pattern. Type 1 being straight all the way to type 4 being coily. Can you explain the subcategories of each hair type?
The simple breakdown of hair types are- Type 1s are straight, Type 2s are wavy, Type 3s are curly, and Type 4s are coily.
The sub-classifications of A to C are based on the width or diameter of your wave, curl, or coil pattern. Type As have a wider pattern size, Type Bs medium, and Type Cs the smallest of the three. The real beauty of identifying your hair type is that you’re better at understanding how to care for your texture so you can have more versatility
Is it true that the more oval or asymmetrical your follicle is, the curlier your hair will be?
Your curl type is determined by the shape of the follicle that your hair grows out of from your scalp. The flatter or more oval-shaped the follicle, the curlier your hair. The more circular the cross-section, the straight-er your hair. Your curl pattern is also identified by the shape that the strands of hair make, whether they kink, curve, or wind around themselves into spirals
So would I be correct in saying that curlier hair is more textured therefore it will soak up more product? Or can straight hair also have texture?
False! All hair types can have texture! Depending on if your hair has ever been coloured and the dryness, even the finer hair can soak up moisture if needed.
Okay so now that I better understand my hair type and the subcategories, what happens if I feel my hair is a mixture of types? I feel like at my roots I’m 2a but through the mids and ends I sometimes see 3a happening…
Lots of my clients have a mix of different textures throughout the length of the hair, if you find your hair isnt as thick/curly and gets weighed down with heavier products at the roots but the ends need more moisture you can mix and match! Having a slightly more cleansing shampoo to remove any excess oils on the scalp and using a more moisture based conditioner for the mid lengths and ends will make the world of difference! Good curl base styling products are also great to enhance a natural wave to a more of a curl and there are even products that help to reduce even the curliest hair to elongate and relax the intensity
Last but not least, why would you recommend HINU to anyone with hair?
HINU is a great product to add into your hair care routine, it’s nourishing and hydrating but it won’t weigh the hair down, even the finer types. It’s such a versatile oil that it can even be used as a scalp treatment too. My favourite ingredient in the HINU oil is the Amla which looks like a grape and is grown in India, this is the naturally derived secret to thicker fuller hair.
