Ultimate Guide to Hair Hydration 2024

Hair hydration is indeed important, but it cannot be done in the same way for all types. There are variations of hair types which include straight, wavy, curly, coiled, etc. In this guide we will discuss how to achieve hair hyper-hydration, how to maintain hair of various types and how to enhance the roots of your hair (or base) which is the first step in hair type classification etc. Moreover, we will pay some attention to other hair types  2, 3, 5, 7 and 8 and rarer still Z type hair.

Hydration 101: Hair Hydration For Any Hair Type

In order for hair to be healthy and avoid breaking, manes need to be hydrated. If hair gets too dry, it splits and will fall apart so it is critical to figure out the best ways to hydrate your hair type. The purpose of properly hydrating hair is to keep water in its shaft and each strand supple and firm so it does not break.

How can you moisturize your hair in an efficient manner?

Super hydrated hair is a condition which means that moisture is sealed within the strands with good hair care products and hair care techniques.

Some of the ways to do this include the following:

Deep Conditioning Treatments: This reverse care for flat and dry hair has emollients like shea butter, aloe Vera, and coconut oil which penetrate the hair cuticles and hydrate the hair from within.

Leave-in Conditioners: These are quite handy as they can help deliver hydration and moisture on the hair throughout the day especially with respect to coiling or curly hair types.

Moisturizing Hair Oils: These include argon, jojoba, and avocado oils which assist to lock in moisture after conditioning.

Water-Based Hair Sprays: Dry hair can be easily revitalized with water sprays or light hydrating products but without over measuring to avoid making the hair  heavy.

Avoid Over-Shampooing: Less than two to three times a week washing hair is encouraged as shampoo can remove the natural oil from hair.

Best Practice Hair Care Routine for Different Hair Types

Almost all types of hair may behave differently, thus the care routine should be modified accordingly. In order to determine the proper care routine, let’s explore the four classifications of hair and possible ways of providing care for them.

Type 1 Hair (Straight)

Type 1 hair is classified as silky and straight hair with no waves or curls. Nonetheless, this type tends to get greasy quickly due to papilla being easily accessible on most parts of the scalp.

Recommendations for Moisturization: To prevent excessive greasiness, use conditioners that contain light moisturizers. Try using water-based serums or damping natural oil to prevent making the root oily.

Care Regime: To maintain oil levels, shampoo the hair 2-3 times in a week. Use only a small amount of a hydrating conditioner on the ends of the hair and try to avoid the center portion to reduce chances of split ends.

Type 2 Hair (Wavy)
Type 2 is sometimes referred to as wavy hair, which exhibits waves forming an S pattern. Wavy types can be classified as type 2a, with loose waves, to type 2c, which is thick and frizzy.

In what ways can moisture be added to Type 2 hair?

For Type 2 hair cuticles, moisture isn’t over employment of volumizers that help to enhance volume in twirled fluids.

2A Hair: Subtype A is known to have narrower strands and is likely to fall out easily. Apply light, water-soluble, and non-greasy conditioners while avoiding heavy cream in this case.

2B Hair: People with carpets and curled hair do have defined waves. It is advisable to use a good curl cream or curl building serum to manage moisture without losing it. For example, one such product would be the Curl Mousse, which helps define waves while sealing moisture.

2C Hair: This subtype is coarse and causes excessive frizz waves. A thicker cream type leave-in conditioner can help retain moisture in the hair and reduce overall frizz.

Type 3 Hair (Curly)

What is Type 3 hair?

Type 3 Hair is also known as a bulk of different curls which do range different sized coils together. These curls can be loose and tumbling or dogs coils. Due to the pattern that these curls create it can increases susceptibility to dryness as oils take much longer to load onto the specific strand.

Hydration Tips: Use up edge gouache butter to style thick hairs which are upwards-directed hairs relatively and applied along. Hydro Mass Intense should work well as a thick hair oil which can fit in between cushions.

Care Routine: Co-washing should happen more after any key harsh shampoos to guarantee water avoids the cuticles and prevent hair damages and fragility.

Type 4 Hair (Coily/Kinky)

Type 4 hair is a very dense and coarse hair type often found on black women. The crown of the head is the most dense region which holds the most amount of curls as well. The nature of this hair makes it very easy to tag how coarse hair is more often than not the driest amount of research wires and slacks.

Therefore moisture can be extremely important for this type for length retention as maintaining elasticity to aid against breakage is vital.

Hydration Tips: A rich moisturizing cream should be applied, followed by castor oil or shea butter to seal the moisture. Additionally, water-based sprays should be spritzed on the hair daily.

Care Routine: Engage in protective hairstyles that do not require touching the hair too much to reduce breakages and to preserve hydration.

Type 5 Hair

What is Type 5 hair?

Type 5 hair is one of the terms that doesn’t receive too much attention in the salons when people are getting their hairs’ types defined. This hair type can be thick and curly in nature yet seemingly not always fitting the Type 4 categories. It is usually described simply as hair that has big curls that do not really have a defined pattern and have a very voluminous look.

Hydration Tips: Apply creams or butters that are able to bring in moisture without making the hair too heavy and thus thick. Such products are good since they help maintain bounce and produce definition.

Care Routine: Make it a habit to deep condition hair at least once a week and sleep on satin or silk pillowcase.

Strengthening the Hair Base

A strong hair base translates into stronger hair growth and reduced breakage. The action of the roots of the hair, as well as the scalp covering the base of the hair strands, is what is referred to as strengthening the base of the hair.

How can I make my hair base stronger?

Scalp Massages: Scalp massage performed often improves blood flow and creates better hair in the process.

Note The Significance of a Balanced Diet A diet that has high intake of protein, omega-3 fatty acids and vitamins such as biotin and Vitamin D provides appropriate levels of strength to the hair starting from the inner structure.

Refrain From Wearing Tight Hairstyles Because of the excessive pulling of the hair roots, tight hairstyles weaken the hair base. Always prefer loose protective styles.

Scalp treatments are quite effective in hair restoration. The recommended serums contain caffeine, hyaluronic acid and nourishing vitamins tailored to hydrate and stimulate hair growth.

What is the rarest hair type?

Type 1A hair is categorized among the rarest of all hair types because of its very straight and fine hair texture. It is most often present in East Asian’s people and has luster because of the smooth cuticle.

What is Z type hair?

Z-type hair designates a curling pattern that appears in the shape of a zigzag. It is a lesser-known term that explains a type of hair structure that appears to be closely coiled. Z-type hair needs a lot of moisture and the hair must be combed carefully to avoid any extensive breaking.

What is Type 7 hair?

Type 7 hair as described is not included in the Andre Walker Hair Typing System and is therefore unknown to many. It is sometimes termed in the discussion boards to be ultra-dense and tightly coiled hair structure that cannot be classified into the 4A to 4C classification.

What is type 8 hair?

Just like Type 7, Type 8 is not official hair classification. It usually refers to hair that has coils denser than Type 4C or hair which is very thick and requires niche care for keeping it healthy and moisturized.

The Hair Typing System: A Brief History

Who invented hair typing?

Andre Walker, hairstylist to Oprah Winfrey, introduced the world to the hair typing system. The system he created aimed at assisting people in identifying their curl types and the products tailored to their curly hair. Many versions of the system have followed, including type 5 and greater.