• 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.

N – Normal
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 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 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

YOUR PATTERN

L

You are daughter L if…

Hair bends

Has right angles

Has little to no curve

O

You are a daughter O if…

Hair resembles an O or several O’s when rolled up

I

You are a daughter I if…

Hair lies mostly flat

Does not have a distinctive curves or bends

S

You are daughter S if…

Hair strands resemble a wavy line

Has hills and valleys

Your hair may not belong exclusively to one type and may be a combination of the various categories, ie. LO, IL or OS, etc.

YOUR STRAND SIZE

Compare a strand of your hair to a frayed piece of thread – which is considered medium size strand of hair.

• If your hair is thicker, you have thick hair

• If you hair is thinner, you have thin hair

YOUR TEXTURE

Sheen is dull light reflection

Shine is sharp light reflection

Cottony

• Low sheen
• High shine if hair is taught
• Lots of frizz
• Absorbs water quickly

Silky

• Low sheen
• Very High sheen
• Varying degrees of frizziness
• Easily wet with water

Spongy

• High sheen
• Low shine
• Compacted frizz
• Needs to absorb water thoroughly before it gets wet

Thready

• Low sheen
• High shine if hair is taught
• Low frizz
• Wets easily with water
• Dries relatively quickly

Wiry

• Sparkle like sheen
• Low shine
• Low frizz
• Water droplets bead up when wet with water

I think i’m SO, med/thick hair – but I’m sure if I am spongy or silky.