How to Care for Your Hair Type with Natural Hair Products

Think you know your hair type but have no idea what products you should be using? Just like your skin, understanding the different types of hair can be confusing. But when it comes to choosing an effective routine, determining your hair type plays an essential part in understanding what products will work for you. Follow this article to find out everything you need to know about natural hair products and how to get the best out of your hair.

Hair type can be defined by two features – by its texture and porosity. By hair texture we usually mean whether the hair is straight, curly or coily – but it can also refer to the diameter of a single strand of hair. This can vary a lot, from very fine to very coarse.

Another factor that affects the appearance of hair and the choice of a product is the hair porosity. This refers to the hairs ability to absorb and lose moisture. Hair can be resistant or porus by nature, but porosity also increases when the hair is damaged on the mid-lengths and ends. Porosity is usually defined as being very resistant to very porus.

Typically what is meant by hair type, is the natural structure of the hair, and this can be determined simply by taking one single hair in between your fingers. If you can barely feel it, then you have fine hair. If you can significantly feel it, then you have hair with medium thickness. And, if you feel a strong, thick strand, then you have coarse or thick hair.

The easiest way to define the hair porosity is to, again, feel the hair in between your fingers. If your fingers move easily up the strand and it feels dense and strong, your hair has hardly any porosity. If the strand feels rough and dry or it breaks, you have high porosity hair. Finally, if the strand feels anything in-between the two, you have hair with medium porosity.

Another way to assess the porosity of your hair is to place a single strand of hair into a bowl of water. If the strand completely sinks, then it has high porosity – it’s dry and damaged and is absorbing all the moisture. If the strand sinks just below the surface of the water then your hair is well-balanced and has medium porosity. And lastly, if the stand floats above the surface, it has low porosity, is likely to be resistant, and doesn’t absorb moisture as easily. While it’s not as commonly discussed as hair texture, identifying the porosity of your hair will help you to determine which products you should be using.

Determining your hair type is not always easy, so if you are unsure in any way, don’t hesitate to visit a hairdresser and ask them for advice.

Using products correctly is also an important factor. The hair is usually very different around the root area compared the mid-lengths and ends, due to an increase in porosity as the hair gets ‘older’. Even if the hair is not coloured or treated, external factors such as the sun and styling can all add stress to the hair, increasing porosity and damage. The root area is typically very heathy in comparison, so when using a conditioner or mask, it should only be applied only on the mid-lengths and ends.

When shampooing the hair, shampoo twice with a moderate amount, rather than using a large amount all at once. Sulphate-free shampoos tend to foam up less than regular shampoo, and you will often see more foam on the second application. People also typically use too much product in their hair – specifically with treatments, which can lead to the build-up of excess product and weighing down of the hair. With leave-in products, start with a moderate amount and add more if you feel it necessary. If build-up does occur, adding a scalp scrub into your routine will help to maintain a clean and healthy scalp.

It’s important to choose the right care products for your hair type or level of damage. Products that are too rich or heavy might weigh down fine hair, making it lose volume. On the contrary, a product that is too light for coarse or damaged hair won’t do enough.

All our products at weDo/ are made with natural origin ingredients, dermatologically tested, cruelty-free and Vegan Society certified, making them kinder to your skin and better for the environment, but it’s still important to understand what specific products will work best for you.

weDo’s Light & Soft line, including the Light & Soft Shampoo, Conditioner and Hair Mask for fine hair. It’s lightly moisturising but doesn’t weight the hair down, leaving it soft and silky. The Detangler Spray is also a great leave-in product for fine hair, nourishing the hair and giving it that extra touch of shine!

For hair that is medium textured, so not fine nor very coarse, and for hair with some damage, we recommend using products from the Moisture & Shine line, made up of the Moisture & Shine Shampoo, our conditioner for shiny hair and our moisturising hair mask. The line has medium level of care – leaving the hair soft, vibrant and moisturised. We also recommend applying the leave-in Moisturising Day Cream on your lengths and ends – it leaves your hair feeling silky smooth all day long!

The Rich & Repair line is recommended for those with coarse or very damaged hair, which again includes a Shampoo, Conditioner and Hair Mask. The line has rich caring properties that nourish the hair and protect it against breakage, leaving it feeling smooth and helping to tame frizzy hair. The leave-in Natural Oil is also ideal for coarse or damaged hair, instantly nourishing it with an anti-frizz effect. It is however a very rich product, so use it sparingly.

There are a number of weDo/ products suitable for all hair types. Hero products include our award-winning sustainable champion in the formation of a bar, No Plastic Shampoo, which cleanses the hair efficiently while leaving the hair soft to touch. We’d then recommend adding a suitable silicone free conditioner or vegan hair mask into your routine to make sure the hair lengths get sufficient dose of care and moisture. The Protect Balm is a product that’s only used on the ends of the hair, working to protect and prevent the formation of split ends. It’s suitable for all hair types and can also be doubled up as a lip-balm.

The Moisturising Day Cream and Detangle Spray can also be used on any hair type, however less product is needed for fine hair, and more will be needed for coarse hair. It’s also important to remember that, just like conditioners and masks, leave-in products should also be used on the lengths and ends.

Lastly, you can finish off any hair type or style with a spritz of weDo/'s Spread Happiness Hair & Body Mist. The fresh zesty scent will instantly lift your mood and set you up for a positive day!

Learn more about our vegan hair care products that are all Vegan Society and Cruelty-Free International certified, and discover more tips and advice for all types of hair concerns on our weBlog.

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