Evolving Textures Education

Welcome to the Evolving Textures guide to understanding textured hair!

Whether you're rocking natural styles, locs, twists, or braids, it's essential to know your hair's unique characteristics and how to care for it properly. In this guide, we'll explore the differences in hair textures and types, as well as provide tips on how to use and how much product to use for optimal results.

Understanding Textured Hair

By understanding your hair's unique needs and using the right products and techniques, you can embrace and celebrate your textured hair with confidence. Evolving Textures is here to support you on your journey to healthy, beautiful hair!

Black hair types refer to the different textures and curl patterns of hair commonly found in individuals with African or African-American ancestry. There are generally four main types of black hair, each with its own characteristics: 

Understanding Hair Textures and Types

Textured hair encompasses a wide range of curl patterns, from loose waves to tight coils. Here's a breakdown of the main hair textures and types:

1. Type 1: Straight hair - This hair type is very rare among individuals of African descent, and is characterized by hair that is straight and lacks any natural curl or wave pattern.

2. Type 2 (Wavy): This hair type has a defined S-shaped pattern and tends to be prone to frizz. It ranges from fine to coarse.

3. Type 3 (Curly): Curly hair forms ringlets or corkscrew shapes and has more volume than wavy hair. It can range from loose curls to tight coils.

4. Type 4 (Coily): Coily hair has a tight, spiral or zigzag pattern and is the most delicate of all hair types. It ranges from fine to coarse.

It's important to note that many individuals with black hair may have a combination of these hair types on different areas of their head, and that proper hair care and maintenance can help to enhance and define their natural curl pattern.Within each hair type, there are subcategories that further define the curl pattern and texture. 

Understanding your specific hair type can help you choose the right products and techniques for your hair care routine.

Any successful natural hair service should begin with a consultation and a hair analysis. Recent services must be considered in the consultation (the last color, the last relaxer, the last thermo style) because they change the hair's authenticity.

Curl patterns or wave patterns refers to the amount of movement in the hair strand. and Curl pattern can be described as straight, wavy, curly, and coily. Wave patterns are a result of genetics or racial background. 

However, in a proper hair analysis, the most important factors are usually texture, porosity, elasticity, and density.

Hair texture is the thickness or diameter of the individual hair strand. It can be classified as coarse, medium, or fine. One head can have several different textures.

  • Coarse 
    •
  • Medium
    •
  • Fine
    •

    Hair density is the number of individual hair strands on one square inch of scalp. Hair density refers to hair being thick, medium, or thin.

  • Thick 
    •
  • Medium
    •
  • Thin
    •

    Hair porosity is the ability of the hair to absorb moisture. The degree of porosity is directly related to the condition of the cuticle layer. Healthy hair with a compact cuticle layer is naturally resistant to penetration. Porous hair has a raised cuticle layer that absorbs water.

    Hair elasticity is the ability of the hair to stretch and return to its original length without breaking. Hair with low elasticity is brittle and breaks easily. Hair with high elasticity is strong and grows longer.

    How to Use Evolving Textures Products

    Now that you understand your hair texture and type, let's explore how to use Evolving Textures products for natural styles, locs, twists, and braids:

    • 1. Natural Styles: For natural styles like wash-and-go or twist-outs, start with clean, damp hair. Apply a small amount of Evolving Textures leave-in conditioner or styling cream, focusing on the mid-lengths and ends. Use your fingers or a wide-tooth comb to distribute the product evenly, then style as desired.
    • 2. Locs: Locs require gentle cleansing and moisturizing to maintain their integrity. Dilute Evolving Textures shampoo with water and apply it to your scalp, massaging gently to cleanse without disturbing the locs. Follow up with Evolving Textures conditioning spray or oil to moisturize and nourish the locs, paying attention to any dry or brittle areas.
    • 3. Twists: Start by washing and conditioning your hair with Evolving Textures shampoo and conditioner. Apply a small amount of Evolving Textures twisting cream or gel to each section of hair before twisting. For added hold and definition, seal the ends with Evolving Textures styling butter or oil.
    • 4. Braids: Prep your hair with Evolving Textures shampoo and conditioner, then detangle thoroughly with a wide-tooth comb. Apply a dime-sized amount of Evolving Textures braiding gel or cream to each section of hair before braiding. For extra shine and moisture, finish with a light misting of Evolving Textures conditioning spray or oil.

    How Much Product to Use

    When it comes to using hair products, less is often more, especially for textured hair. Here's a general guideline for how much product to use based on your hair length and thickness:

    • Short Hair: Start with a nickel-sized amount of product and adjust as needed.
    • Medium-Length Hair: Use a quarter-sized amount of product to ensure thorough coverage.
    • Long Hair: Begin with a quarter-sized amount and increase if necessary, focusing on the mid-lengths and ends.

    Remember to emulsify the product between your palms before applying it to your hair to ensure even distribution and avoid product buildup.

    Hair Locking Techniques

    • Comb twist is a hair coiling technique used to start locks by mocking the natural coil pattern of the hair strands.
    • Lock Smything is a technique used to maintain locks in the budding, mature, and adult phases by wrapping the loose and fuzzy hair around the lock to create a smooth, cylinder-coiled lock.
    • Lock Stitching is a technique that can be used to start locks as well as maintain them in all the phases. Lock Stitching is best described as a crochet stitch up the shaft of the hair strands.
    • Lock Repair is a technique usually used in the atrophy stage. Human kinky hair can be inserted and tightly wrapped around a weakened area in the lock shaft to secure the process of breakage.

    Lock Maintenance & Care

    • Your clients should visit their loctician every 3 to 5 weeks for a lock Smything service and 6 to 8 weeks for a lock stitching service.
    • If your client must shampoo their hair between visits, they should use a cleansing shampoo (not a conditioning shampoo) and a clear liquid rinse or leave-in conditioner.
    • For maximum healthy hair, the client's at-home regiment should consist of oiling the scalp and hair 3 times a week with nutritional hair oil.
    • Locks and twists should be covered with a doo rag, silky scarf, or bonnet when sleeping. While exercising, wrap locks in a cotton scarf to absorb perspiration.
    • Mature locks should be treated with a hot oil treatment once a month or deep condition.
    • Between visits to the salon, the scalp can be cleansed with a light astringent. Rub on the scalp in between the parts.

    Maintenance No No’s

    • During the pre-lock and budding stage, your client should not shampoo their hair in between visits.
    • Avoid using heavy greases, beeswax, holding sprays, and gels with alcohol because these products create build-up in the lock shaft. Product build-up in locks can cause them to dry out, have white spots, break off, and look overall unhealthy.