Hair Texture: How to Identify Your Hair Type & Build the Right Routine

Hair texture refers to the thickness and feel of each individual hair strand. It influences how your hair behaves, how much moisture it retains, and how easily it can be styled. Hair texture is often confused with hair type. While hair type describes whether your hair is straight, wavy, curly, or coily, texture refers to the diameter of each strand, typically classified as fine, medium, or coarse.

Everyone's hair is unique, but most textures fall into a few broad categories. Recognising where your hair fits can help you make better choices when selecting products and styling techniques.

• Fine Hair

Individual strands are thin and lightweight, making hair feel soft but often lacking in volume. Fine hair can become oily more quickly and is more prone to breakage if over-styled.

• Medium Hair

This is the most balanced of the types of hair texture. It usually holds styles well, maintains moisture more easily, and is less susceptible to damage than fine hair.

• Coarse Hair

Thicker strands make coarse hair naturally fuller and stronger, but it may also feel drier or frizzier because natural oils take longer to travel down the hair shaft.

Although your natural texture is largely determined by genetics, several external and internal factors can influence how your hair looks and feels over time.

• Heat styling

Frequent use of straighteners, curling irons, and blow dryers may leave hair feeling rough, dry, or less defined.

• Chemical treatments

Colouring, bleaching, relaxing, and perming can alter the hair's structure, affecting both texture and manageability.

• Ageing

As we age, hair may become finer, drier, or lose some of its natural elasticity.

• Hormonal changes

Pregnancy, menopause, thyroid conditions, and hormonal fluctuations can temporarily affect hair texture.

• Environmental exposure

Sunlight, pollution, humidity, hard water, and harsh weather conditions may contribute to dryness and frizz.

• Product buildup

Styling products, dry shampoo, and mineral deposits can coat the hair, making it feel dull or coarse.

• Poor haircare habits

Overwashing, aggressive brushing, or skipping conditioning can gradually affect the overall look and feel of your hair.

While hair texture describes the thickness of each strand, hair porosity refers to how easily your hair absorbs and retains moisture. The two work closely together and play an important role in determining how your hair responds to products. Low-porosity hair tends to resist moisture, meaning products can sit on the surface rather than absorbing properly. High-porosity hair absorbs water quickly but also loses it just as fast, often leaving strands feeling dry or rough. Medium-porosity hair is generally the easiest to maintain because it retains moisture more effectively. Understanding your porosity can help you select products that suit your hair's needs and create a routine focused on long-lasting hydration rather than temporary softness.

Healthy-looking hair develops through regular maintenance, thoughtful product choices, and minimising unnecessary damage.

• Choose a gentle shampoo

Cleansing removes excess oil and product buildup without stripping the hair. The Love Beauty & Planet Rice Water & Angelica Seed Shampoo is a good option for everyday cleansing, helping leave hair feeling refreshed while supporting smoother, healthier-looking strands.

• Condition every wash

Conditioner replenishes moisture after shampooing, helping improve softness, manageability, and shine.

• Treat your hair weekly

A nourishing treatment mask can help improve the feel of dry or damaged hair. The Dove 10-in-1 Peptide Bond Strength Hair Treatment Mask is well suited for hair that has been exposed to frequent heat styling or colouring, while the Love Beauty & Planet Olive Oil & Peptide Bond Repair Hair Mask offers an intensely nourishing treatment for dry or frizz-prone hair.

• Reduce heat styling

Limiting the use of hot tools helps minimise moisture loss and supports healthier-looking hair over time.

• Trim split ends regularly

While trims don't change the actual structure of your hair, removing damaged ends helps improve its overall appearance and texture.

• Protect your hair while sleeping

A silk pillowcase or satin bonnet helps reduce friction that may contribute to frizz and breakage.

• Eat a balanced diet

Hair health is influenced by overall nutrition, so consuming adequate protein, healthy fats, vitamins, and minerals supports stronger, healthier-looking strands.

The right ingredients can help support smoother, softer, and healthier-looking hair when used consistently as part of your routine.

• Rice water: Rich in amino acids and antioxidants, rice water for hair is commonly used to improve the appearance of smoother, shinier hair. Products like The Love Beauty And Planet Rice Water & Angelica Seed Oil Silicone-Free Curl & Waves Shampoo incorporate these ingredients into everyday routine.

• Peptides: Peptides help support damaged hair fibres, making them a valuable ingredient in strengthening and repair-focused haircare products.

• Olive oil: Known for its nourishing properties, olive oil for hair helps soften dry strands and improve manageability.

• Argan oil: Lightweight yet deeply conditioning, argan oil for hair helps reduce frizz while adding shine.

• Coconut oil: Coconut oil for hair is a popular pre-wash treatment that helps minimise moisture loss and improve softness.

• Shea butter: Ideal for coarse or curly hair, shea butter provides rich nourishment and helps improve the feel of dry strands.

• Glycerin: A humectant that attracts moisture to the hair, helping it stay hydrated in balanced environmental conditions.

Improving hair texture is about building consistent habits rather than relying on a single product. Small changes to your routine can make a noticeable difference to how your hair looks, feels, and responds to styling over time.

• Wash according to your hair's needs. Fine or oily hair may benefit from more frequent cleansing, while coarse or curly hair often prefers fewer wash days to help retain natural moisture.

• Use lukewarm water instead of hot water. Hot water can strip the hair of its natural oils, leaving it feeling dry and rough. Lukewarm water helps cleanse while preserving moisture.

• Avoid overloading your hair with styling products. Too many creams, oils, or sprays can weigh hair down and lead to product buildup, making it appear dull rather than healthy. Detangle gently. Use a wide-tooth comb or a brush designed for wet hair, starting from the ends and working upwards to minimise breakage.

• Protect your hair from heat. Always apply a heat protectant before using styling tools, and keep temperatures as low as possible while still achieving your desired style.

• Deep condition regularly. A weekly treatment helps replenish moisture and improve manageability, especially if your hair is dry, colour-treated, or exposed to frequent heat styling.

If you're trying to improve the look and feel of your hair, it's important to set realistic expectations. Hair doesn't transform overnight, but a consistent routine can gradually lead to healthier-looking strands.

• Within one to two weeks: Hair may feel softer, smoother, and easier to detangle, particularly after introducing conditioning treatments or hair masks.

• Within four to six weeks: Many people notice improved manageability, reduced frizz, and a healthier-looking finish as moisture levels become more balanced.

• Within two to three months: With regular care, including gentle cleansing, weekly treatments, and minimising heat damage, improvements in overall hair texture often become more noticeable.

• Long-term: Healthy hair habits support lasting results. Protecting your hair from damage and choosing products suited to your types of hair texture can help maintain smoother, stronger, and more resilient strands over time.

Understanding your hair texture is one of the simplest ways to build a routine that truly works for your hair. Whether your strands are fine, medium, or coarse, each texture has its own strengths and care requirements. Instead of trying to change your natural hair, focus on supporting it with the right products, nourishing ingredients, and healthy daily habits.

If you've been searching for how to improve hair texture, remember that consistency matters far more than quick fixes. Gentle cleansing, regular conditioning, targeted treatments, and minimising unnecessary damage can all contribute to healthier-looking hair over time. By learning how your hair responds to moisture, styling, and different ingredients, you'll be better equipped to create a routine that leaves your hair looking smoother, shinier, and easier to manage every day.