Help finding hair texture and product recommendations?

Question

Hi,
Im a 17 yr old African American female looking to find what is my hair texture.

As a kid, my hair was always really coarse, often puffy with kinks. I remember how tender headed id be because my mom had to comb through my kinked hair.

Anyway, as i grew older my hair got a lot finer. I havent had a lot of treatment done to my hair. I had a relaxer once years ago and it didnt turn out how it was supposed to. It didnt look like anything was even done to it. I took a break from trying to do anything with my hair until high school where I wanted my hair done. 
     
 When i go to the salon, i get a wash, condition, trim, and flat iron. Ive been doing the same treatment and style for 5 years now. My hair is a little past shoulder length. It is normally straight and it stays salon fresh for about a week, maybe a little longer if i keep it wrapped properly. However, when my hair tends to lose it's salon freshness..it gets oily in the body but really dry on my scalp. I always have dandruff atleast 2-3 days after i had it done which is annoying. It starts to itch and it gets really flaky. It looks really bad up close. But the body of my actual hair holds a decent amount of oil so it doesnt look extremely dry and dehydrated. I really want to know what my hair texture is so I can buy the appropriate products to keep it healthy and nice. I was unsure of mine because on a website for Natural hair gurus they only covered those with very coily, wavy, or kinky hair,(they use the 3c, 3b, 3a, classifications, etc). I guess i fell closest to the wavy sort of texture since it looks a little wavy when it gets oily and dirty. But they didnt have any classification for more straight hair. I looked into Trader Joe's natural nourish spa shampoo and conditioner, extra virgin oliver oil, argan oil, and other things. I just dont want to put something in that will mess my hair up.

PS. i dont think i have a serious dandruff problem that requires medicated shampoos..

Sur La Mer · Accepted Answer

Your hair is the most fragile of all hair types. They snap & break easily. So you need more TLCs than thin hair.  No chemicals. No relaxers specially!  No heating styling tools.  Finger comb is best or use a wide tooth comb.  Do what Oprah & Michelle Obama have been, going natural, using plastic curlers to set their hair. Use oil or conditioner to keep them moisturized.  Heat & chemicals are your hair's worst enemies.

"However, when my hair tends to lose it's salon freshness.. . . . "Anyway, as i grew older my hair got a lot finer."  AND if you continue to take care of your hair, the same way, it will CONTINUE TO GET FINER & FINER & FINER. SORRY, I'M just being honest with you.

The hair of many black women is very fragile and studies have demonstrated that normal brushing and combing the hair can result in breakage. Brushing your hair 100-times a day is a no-no for your hair. Only comb and brush your hair to style it. Also avoid rubber bands or other implements that can physically cut into and break the hair shaft.

Google: Hair Styling and Hair Care NOT THE SAME. 4-8-13.

She talks exactly like I preach! She's got good natural hair savvy! Oprah have been natural for 20 years. I've been for 30 years!

Example from YA member! "I saw your answer you gave to someone and it made a lot of sense. I just went natural Sept 2012 and I need advice and/or help. Having too much info can never be too much. My mother told me the same thing, African American products have harsh chemicals in them…etc"

Hair products are NOT made of glue to fix, prevent, reverse hair from getting damaged, or hair loss, or make them grow . . . . they are a trillion dollar business. They also do NOT give money back guarantee for damaged hair or hair loss caused by heat & chemicals - hair's worst enemies. • Hair products may claim one or more benefits, but usually they do not have scientific base. 
"No hair product can change the hair's biology," says Eric Bone, senior VP of global research and innovation @ L'Oreal USA. "Products that 'repair' them are like glue used to put a broken vase back together. At the end of the day, it's still broke," says dermatologist Paul J. McAndrews, MD, a clinical professor @ the University of Southern California School of Medicine. "Overall, products are a temporary fix, although some can help prevent damage. But your best bet is really to stop damaging hair, period."
Example 1: "Hello, my hair is bleached and I've colored it alot in the past.
I haven't retouched my bleached hair in a month or two and my hair is Constantly breaking off!!! I'm losing SOOO much hair!!! Especially in the middle of my hairline
Ive been using Moroccan oil conditioner, olive oil masks and my hair is still breaking off! PLEASE HELP ME."

"You find people oiling hair every single day, the hair sweats and it doesn’t get washed. What do you think happens? It goes limp and becomes thin because it is not breathing,” Shamillah Mohammed, a hairstylist at SUQA, says.

? · Answer

Use anything that has argan oil in it. I got some pro naturals moroccan argan oil for my hair, their products are sulfate, sodium and silicone free so they’re super moisturizing. They’re good for frizz too, plus they smell great.

Trending News

Help finding hair texture and product recommendations?

2 Answers