What Condition Is Your Hair In?

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  3. What Condition Is Your Hair In?
Our hair can be categorized in three different ways:

  • Healthy

  • Dry

  • Damaged

Characteristics of Healthy Hair

  • Smooth texture and feel

  • Shiny

  • Hair loss is 75?100 strands per day

  • Hair loss consists of entire hair strands (contains bulb)

  • Holds curl well

  • Relatively easy to comb while wet

  • Good elasticity (hair strand stretches when pulled)

  • Healthy scalp

  • No breakage

  • Minimal split ends

Characteristics of Dry or Stressed Hair

  • Hair loss is 75?100+ per day

  • Hair is dry to the touch but responds well to moisture

  • May have some scalp problems

  • Dull appearance

  • Itchy scalp

  • Loses curl easily

  • May be frizzy

  • Hair has poor elasticity (does not stretch before breaking)

  • Breakage (hair strands are short)

  • Split ends

Characteristics of Damaged Hair

  • Dull

  • Dry

  • Coarse

  • Frequent use of oil does not help retain moisture and/or the effects do not last long

  • Tangles easily, difficult to comb while wet

  • Frizzy

  • Breakage is severe in spots

  • Visible split ends

  • Scalp may be unhealthy

  • May have excessive dandruff

    About The Author

    Nicole Elizabeth Smith, the author of "Healthy Black Hair" (2003), is a freelance health and beauty writer and a graduate of Michigan State University. She and her son Zack live in Michigan. Currently, she is beauty editor for .

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