Is providing more info. re: hair type useful ?

[northernbelle]

As I was sitting under my "hoodie" (hood dryer) this morning during my wet roller set, I reflected on the following: would providing information, beyond such things as the Andre codes, be useful for Forum members?

I ask because my hair, for example, is thin and fine, genetically. Which is to say, that given this fact, certain formulations which may work for a person with thick, coarse hair may not work for me, and vice versa.

Just some food for thought.

northernbelle

 

[dontspeakdefeat]

Something to think about isn't it?!

 

[BamaFro]

I agree. There is so much more to black hair than the 'typing system' that ignorant Andre likes to enclose them into.

I don't use that silly typing system myself ... how can you classify my hair when I have about two or three different 'types' of his classification on my head, disproving his theories?

Instead, I focus on finding products that work for my kinky hair because why should I take seriously the 'hair typing' system of a man who's never worked on natural black hair?

 

[dontspeakdefeat]

Welcome BamaFro!

 

[Stormy]

Re: Is providing more info. re: hair type useful

Hmmm...well according to his book he has worked on natural black hair. Oprah was once natural. She sported an afro.

 

[pebbles]

Re: Is providing more info. re: hair type useful

[ QUOTE ]
Hmmm...well according to his book he has worked on natural black hair. Oprah was once natural. She sported an afro.

[/ QUOTE ]

That's what I heard too.

 

[sassygirl125]

Andre' has worked on natural black hair, IIRC. I'm pretty sure I read that in his book somewhere...

What about Fia's Hairtyping System? I got this from longhaircommunity.com. I'm 4a/4b/m/i.

Fia's Hairtyping System

First classifier - Your curliness (or lack thereof)
The straight ones
1a - stick straight
1b - straight but with a slight body wave, just enough to add some volume, doesn't look wavy
1c - straight with body wave and one or two visible S-waves (e.g. nape of neck or temples)

The wavy ones
2a - loose, stretched out S-waves throughout the hair
2b - shorter, more distinct S-waves (similar to waves from braiding damp hair)
2c - distinct S-waves and the odd spiral curl forming here and there

The curly ones
3a - big, loose spiral curls
3b - bouncy ringlets
3c - tight corkscrews

The really curly ones
4a - tightly coiled S-curls
4b - tightly coiled hair bending in sharp angles (Z-pattern)

Second classifier- What (most of) your individual strands look like
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.

M - Medium
Strands are neither fine nor coarse. Similar to hair found on many Caucasians.

C - Coarse
Thick strands that where shed strands usually are easily identified against most backgrounds. Similar to hair found on many people of Asian, Hispanic or native American descent.

Third classifier - Your overall volume of 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.

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

--------------------------------------------
If you are having difficulty determining the thickness of individual hairs (this is the second classifier), this might help:

Take a strand of hair from the back of your head. Roll the strand between your thumb and index finger.

Fine Hair -- Your hair is difficult to feel or it feels like an ultra-fine strand of silk

Coarse Hair -- Your hair feels hard and wiry. As you roll it back and forth, you may actually hear it!

Medium Hair -- Your hair feels like a cotton thread. You can feel it, but it isn't stiff or rough. It is neither fine or coarse