The True Definition of “Thick Hair”
Is your hair actually thick or is it very dense?
Hair Care | October 25, 2020
How many of us would comment on someone’s hair saying, “look at all that hair” or “your hair is so thick”, and thinking you are talking about hair thickness. If you are one of those people (I was one of those people), then I have to tell you that you are referring to the wrong thing. Those comments are referring to hair density.
Then, What is Hair Thickness?
Hair thickness is the width of one single strand of hair. There are three types of hair thickness (thick, medium, or fine hair). Now, it is possible to have a mixture of two types, or all three, but to know you have to test your strands.
Feel It Out Test
Take a strand of hair (You do not have to pull it out!) between your fingers and try to get a feel of it. Now ask yourself, do you feel anything?
- If your answer is no, then you have fine hair.
- If your answer is yes, sort of, then you have medium hair.
- If your answer is a definite yes and it feels wide, then you have thick hair.
The Strand Test
What you will need is a piece of thread, a white background (Ex: A piece of paper), and a strand of hair. As always, start with clean, dry hair.
- Place your piece of thread and your single strand of hair next to each other on the white background (if your hair is curly you can tape the two ends of the strand of hair to the white background)
- Compare the widths between the two
Test results
Fine Hair: The strand of hair is thinner than the thread
Medium Hair: The strand of hair is the same size as the thread
Thick Hair: The strand of hair is thicker than the thread
Now that you know how thick your hair is, it is time to tell you what that means. You will know what to avoid and what you should do.
Fine Hair
Haircare: Your hair is considered delicate and can be prone to damage if you are not gentle with your hair. When combing or brushing your hair because you can easily lose more hair than you should. So, when detangling, washing, and styling be careful.
Products: It is said for people with this hair thickness to use lightweight products and not be heavy-handed, but if your hair type is type 3-4 and you have medium or high-density hair, then you can use thicker products. Now, if this is not the case for you, then definitely stick with the tip.
Avoid: Using too much heat or color (especially if it requires bleach). Try not to over manipulate your hair or be too ruff. You should not hear snapping and tearing every time you touch your hair.
Medium Hair
Haircare: You are in the middle, so you should follow the tips of fine hair to retain length and maintain healthy hair. Check your strands once in a while and use a deep conditioner or a protein treatment if they feel a little different.
Thick Hair
Haircare: Your hair is pretty strong, and it isn’t as vulnerable to damage as fine hair. You can experiment with colors and styles a bit more without the high chance of damage, but like all hair, you will need a regimen to maintain that strength and length.
Takeaways
- Knowing your hair thickness is better when it comes to handling your hair
- All hair needs a hair regimen
- It is possible to have high-density hair and fine hair and vice versa
