Hair Density and Elasticity Explained
We often hear the common phrase, “if you look good, you feel good.” But we’d like to slightly tweak that phrase to the one thing we know best: hair. If your HAIR looks good, you will feel good!
The first step to having hair that makes you feel confident is to understand it. Once you know what your hair needs, you will be able to give it the best care with the right products. Not many people understand the terminologies that’s attributed to hair. That’s why we’re here to explain the two that are super important to understanding your natural hair type.
Hair Density
Hair density is the width of your individual hair strand. By simply pulling your hair strand while it’s dry, you will discover whether your hair has a thin, medium or thick density.
Thin hair: If you pull your hair strand and it’s so thin that you can barely see it, then you have thin hair. Thin, flat hair can be transformed quickly by using TRESemmè products like the 24 Hour Body Volumising Shampoo and Conditioner from the 24 Hour Body Range. They’re specially designed for fine and thin hair as they add moisture and extra body.
Medium hair: If you can feel a strand of hair slightly between your fingers and it feels thicker in texture than fine hair, then you have medium hair.
Thick hair: Thick hair may be easier to identify with a simple glance. If you can distinctly feel your hair strand between your fingers, you have thick hair.
Hair Elasticity
Hair elasticity refers to how long a single strand of hair can stretch before it returns to its normal state. In order to find out what the elasticity of your hair is, wet a strand of hair and stretch it as much as you can. This will determine whether your hair falls under high, medium or low elasticity.
Low elasticity: In most cases you can tell that hair has low elasticity by just looking at it as it appears quite brittle. This hair snaps instantly after stretching it. If your hair falls under this category, you should avoid shampoos with harsh chemicals in them. Use the TRESemmé Platinum Strength Shampoo and Conditioner. It has been specifically designed to repair, strengthen and deeply nourish your hair from root to tip.
Medium elasticity: Most women’s hair falls under this category. You’ll know this is your hair type if your hair stretches partially before breaking.
High elasticity: This is the strongest of all the hair types as it stretches a long way before breaking. It’s also usually shiny and bouncy.
Hair density and elasticity determines what kinds of products you will use. So, be kind to your hair by feeding it with nourishing products. If you want to increase the elasticity of your hair, you’ll have to increase its level of moisture.
Val aka Sunshyne, founder of Hairlicious Inc., shares 3 ways to improve the elasticity of your strands.
1. Incorporate Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Extra Virgin Olive Oil is known to penetrate the hair cortex up to at least 25%. The fatty acids aid in improving the strength and elasticity of the hair strand. With frequent use as a pre-shampoo or mixed into your deep conditioner, you will notice improved stretching power in your hair.
2. Frequent washes and treatments
Wet hair is naturally more elastic than dry hair. Frequent washes and moisture conditioning treatments will help moisten your strands and relax the hydrogen bonds in the cortex improving the hydration levels and elasticity in each strand. Note, proper protein dosages are also needed to resist breakage.
3. Steaming vs dry heat
Steaming releases warm water vapours as opposed to dry heat. Those vapours easily seep into the strands increasing hydration and the penetration of conditioner.
Once you’ve got your elasticity sorted, make the most of your locks by getting the right haircut for your hair type.
What’s the best hairstyle for thicker hair?
If you have thick hair, then you’ve got some great choices. Go for a long, layered cut, a blunt fringe, a rounded bob with a side fringe, an undercut, pixie cut, wavy pixie bob or choppy layers. All of these styles are a great way to manage thick hair and have it looking gorgeous.
What’s the best way to make thinner hair look thicker?
In general, blunter lines are always a good choice for thinner hair. Try a chic blunt bob or lob. If you want some layers, make sure to keep them minimal. Another way to create the illusion of thicker hair is to add some waves or curls. Also make sure that you’re caring for your hair with the right products. TRESemmé’s volumising shampoo and conditioner can also help you achieve a look that’s full of bounce and volume.
A final word of wisdom….
Remember that healthy hair stems not only from the hair products you use, but also from a healthy diet. The nutrients inside of your body play a critical role. It’s important to know that as well as your hair products, healthy eating is an essential tool to hair health. So, eat that bunch of Kale, which is loaded with iron and snack on tangerines which are loaded with Vitamin C. Bring on those eggs because they’re packed with B vitamins and Biotin which assist in strengthening your hair. You should even throw some blueberries into your favourite smoothie as they’re loaded with antioxidants which keeps your scalp happy and healthy.
