When looking for hair care products, you’ve probably been faced with the question: do you have fine, medium, or coarse hair? Understanding your hair type can help you choose products that better support your hair’s needs and goals. Here are some tips on how to identify your hair type at home.
Hair Thickness vs. Hair Density
First, before determining your hair type, it’s important to understand the difference between hair thickness and hair density.
Hair thickness refers to the width of an individual strand of hair. When stylists describe hair as fine, medium, or coarse, they’re referring to the diameter of each strand, not how much hair you have. Hair density refers to the amount of hair growing on your head. For example, someone may have fine hair strands but a thicker, higher density of hair. Another person may have coarse hair strands but a thinner, lower density. Because individual thickness and overall density are separate characteristics, it’s possible to have many different combinations of hair types and textures.
Simple Test to Determine Your Hair Thickness
One of the easiest ways to identify your hair type is with a simple strand test. Take a single strand of clean, dry hair and roll it between your fingers.
Fine Hair:
If you can barely feel the strand between your fingers, you have fine hair.
Medium Hair:
If you can feel the strand but it doesn’t feel particularly thick or prominent, you have medium hair.
Coarse Hair:
If the strand feels noticeably thicker and seems to push back against your fingers when rolled between them, you have coarse hair.
Choosing Products Based on Your Hair Type
While hair thickness is important to identify, it’s only one part of the equation when selecting products. It’s also important to consider other hair concerns such as dryness, damage, frizz, texture, color maintenance, and/or scalp health.
Most of Milbon’s collections are designed to target specific hair concerns and are lightweight enough to work across a variety of hair types. However, understanding whether your hair is fine, medium, or coarse can help you choose formulas that feel best for your hair.
For Fine Hair:
Fine hair often feels soft and delicate and benefits from gentle, lightweight hair care products that support body and movement. For those seeking more fullness and lift, Milbon’s Volume Collection is specifically formulated for fine hair types to provide body, bounce, and structure without weighing the hair down.
For Medium Hair:
Medium hair tends to be versatile and responds well to a wide range of products and styling techniques. For those unsure where to begin, the Moisture Collection offers a balanced starting point for maintaining hydration and overall hair health.
For Coarse Hair:
Coarse hair often benefits from products that provide additional moisture, manageability, and control. Products such as the Reawaken Collection can help soften the hair while improving health, shine, and overall manageability.
The Smooth Collection: Formulations By Hair TYPE
If you’re looking for products formulated specifically for your hair type and want to remove the guesswork out of your routine, try Milbon’s Smooth Collection. The Shampoo and Treatment are available in three formulas specially for Fine, Medium, or Coarse hair types. The collection helps improve texture by smoothing the cuticle layer while providing a customized level of conditioning based on your hair type.
Complete your routine with the Smooth Collection’s leave-in treatments. They are some of Anh’s favorite products for creating smoothness and shine on set and in the salon. The Luminous Bodifying Oil for Fine-Medium Hair is infused with Baobab Oil and Collagen to help fortify and thicken hair with a plumping effect, while the Luminous Softening Oil for Coarse Hair combines Baobab Oil and Olive Squalene to soften and tame unruly strands with enhanced shine.
The Takeaway
By identifying whether your individual strands are fine, medium, or coarse, you can make more informed decisions when selecting hair care products for your routine. While density, texture, and curl pattern also play a large role in choosing the right products, knowing your hair thickness is a great first step toward building a hair care routine that works for you.
