Dumb Question.... Sorry In Advance

[Whimsy]

But, how do I tell if my hair is thick or fine?
Is there a test or some way to guage?

 

[LivingDoll]

I don't know how to explain it. It's possible to have both. For example, I have fine strands but lots of them...so my hair although fine, is dense. Its hard to tell from the avi pic but it looks like you may have fine strands as well with good density or thickness.

I don't know if there is a gauge. Stylists always told me how dense my hair is.

 

[Eisani]

I don't know how to explain it. It's possible to have both. For example, I have fine strands but lots of them...so my hair although fine, is dense. Its hard to tell from the avi pic but it looks like you may have fine strands as well with good density or thickness.

I don't know if there is a gauge. Stylists always told me how dense my hair is.

Mine is the same way. Sometimes I think people get fine confused w/thin, or associate one with the other. I like to look at it kind of from a textural POV. For instance, my BFF has very thick, coarse hair and one day she said she always thought my hair was thicker than hers. We had the same stylist and the stylist said we pretty much have the same thickness, it's just that my individual strands are finer and there are more of them per square inch. Her strands on the other hand are much coarser/heavier. Hope that made sense.

 

[DaRealist]

This is the test I used, based on information I found on the Long Hair Community site

F - Fine
Thin strands that sometimes are almost translucent when held up to the light. Shed strands can be hard to see even against a contrasting background. Similar to hair found on many people of Scandinavian descent. You can also try rolling a strand between your thumb and index finger. Fine hair is difficult to feel or it feels like an ultra-fine strand of silk

M - Medium
Strands are neither fine nor coarse. Similar to hair found on many Caucasians. You can also try rolling a strand between your thumb and index finger. Medium hair feels like a cotton thread. You can feel it, but it isn't stiff or rough. It is neither fine or coarse.

C - Coarse
Thick strands that where shed strands usually are easily identified against most backgrounds. Similar to hair found on many people of Asian or native American descent. You can also try rolling a strand between your thumb and index finger. Coarse hair feels hard and wiry. As you roll it back and forth, you may actually hear it.

HTH

 

[Lin]

I wonder about that, too. Does it have to do with the diameter of each individual strand - or with the number of hairs per square inch on one's head?
eagerly awaiting responses,
Lin
eta- several great answers while I was still asking. Many thanks

 

[Jetblackhair]

I wonder about that, too. Does it have to do with the diameter of each individual strand - or with the number of hairs per square inch on one's head?
eagerly awaiting responses,
Lin

Yes, it is the diameter of each individual strand. Fine haired folks can have a lot of hair per square inch but the diameter of each individual strand is small.

I held up a strand of my fine hair to dh's hair and my strand was really hard to see whereas his looks like thread. The thickness of his strand was almost double mine.

 

[Whimsy]

OK i think i get it.
Thanks girls.
I think i have fine.

 

[LivingDoll]

Mine is the same way. Sometimes I think people get fine confused w/thin, or associate one with the other. I like to look at it kind of from a textural POV. For instance, my BFF has very thick, coarse hair and one day she said she always thought my hair was thicker than hers. We had the same stylist and the stylist said we pretty much have the same thickness, it's just that my individual strands are finer and there are more of them per square inch. Her strands on the other hand are much coarser/heavier. Hope that made sense.

Yes, like my dear sis. She has thin, extremely coarse hair. The strands are coarse but she doesn't have a lot of them per square inch. When she was relaxed and her hair was styled you could see her scalp. Now she's natural and BC'd to a TWA and is growing out under a wig in an attempt to maintain some fullness.

 

[LivingDoll]

OK i think i get it.
Thanks girls.
I think i have fine.

Whimsy, this WAS NOT a dumb question!!! Great thread!

 

[JustKiya]

There's also a measurement for the density of your hair on TLHC too - it has to do with the circumference of your ponytail. You measure around the base of it (with all your hair in it, obviously), and *thinks* I THINK under 2 inches is thin, 2-3 is medium and 4+ is thick. I think. I need to go and find that, again.

ETA: Here is one I find with a quick google - To determine the quantity of hair you have, pull your hair back into a ponytail. If the diameter is approximately 10mm (0.40 inches) , you have thin hair; 15 mm (0.5 in) , you have normal hair; and 20 mm (0.70 in) , you have thick hair.

TLHC's server is being funky, so I can't find the other measurements (circumference) that I was thinking of.

 

[DaRealist]

There's also a measurement for the density of your hair on TLHC too - it has to do with the circumference of your ponytail. You measure around the base of it (with all your hair in it, obviously), and *thinks* I THINK under 2 inches is thin, 2-3 is medium and 4+ is thick. I think. I need to go and find that, again.

Here's the information you are referring to. It's for overall volume of your hair.

Put your hair in a ponytail with as much hair as possible in it. Don't bother with the way it looks - the goal is to have most/all of your hair in there. If it means it sits smack dab on top of your head, put it there. Measure the circumference of the ponytail. If you have bangs and/or you can't get all of your hair in there adjust according to how much of your hair you have measured.

thin (less than 2 inches/5 centimeters)
normal (between 2-4 inches or 5-10 centimeters)
thick (more than 4 inches/10 centimeters)

 

[JustKiya]

Here's the information you are referring to. It's for overall volume of your hair.

THank you!!! I just found it too - I need to add this to my blog, so I have it as reference going forward....I can't wait til I can actually MAKE a ponytail so I can measure....