Best Hair Colors and Types Of Hairstyles In 2024

In the following article, you will learn what hair colors and types are because the level of your hair—and even your hair type—is important in determining what color you want to have in the future or what products are suitable for your hair.

Hair colors and types

If we asked you what your real hair color is, would you know? If you’re like us, your “real” hair color isn’t so real anymore. Whether you dye, bleach, lighten, or do any other color treatment, your natural hair color can be a burdensome answer. But it’s important to know—especially if you dye your hair.

This is where “hair levels” come into play. Every hairdresser has a universal system (yes, all hairdressers use the same) for determining hair color. It consists of 10 numbers that categorize how light or dark your hair is—1 being the darkest black and 10 being the lightest blonde.

When you head to the salon for a little (or big) color change, the shade you choose will depend on your hair’s current “level” and where you want to go. You may be wondering what your current level is. To find out, carefully take a section of hair from the top of your head and hold it away from the rest. Compare it with the hair level chart.

Since the level of your hair—and even your hair type—is important in determining what color you want to be in the future, let’s take a look at the details.

HAIR TYPES:

Just like hair level, hair can vary greatly in texture, thickness, and curl pattern. These differences are called “hair types,” and knowing yours helps in choosing products as well as cutting and styling techniques.

Straight hair

You belong in this category if your hair is naturally smooth and straight, without waves or curls.

What is it called? We always want what we don’t have. Chances are, if you have straight hair, you’ve probably longed for curly hair at some point, but the same can be said for everyone, so it’s best to appreciate what you’ve got and figure out how to use those natural assets.

Wavy Hair

This hair type is somewhere between straight and curly, with subtle waves that can be of varying intensity.

Those beautiful beach waves? This is the type. Fortunately, even if we don’t have them, we can achieve them through styling.

Curly Hair

You’re a curly girl if your hair type ranges from loose waves to tight coils. It’s a broad category, and if you fall into it, you probably already know that it’s important to learn how to best edit them.

HAIR LEVELS:

As we said before, there are generally 10 levels of hair color, ranging from darkest to lightest; the higher the number, the lighter the shade. Understanding where you fall will help you choose the right hair color and get the results you want from your stylist.

HAIR POROSITY

Another current topic that relates to understanding your hair’s needs and what works best for your hair type is hair porosity. In short, porosity is basically what it sounds like—it refers to the hair’s ability to absorb and retain moisture.

There are three different types: high, medium, and low porosity. Here again, understanding your hair’s porosity will help you choose the right hair care products and treatments to keep your hair healthy, hydrated, and looking its best. Different types of porosity take color differently; for example, highly porous hair absorbs more color, so especially if you want to try a shade change, knowing the porosity is important.

To find out where you belong, take a few strands of hair and drop them into a glass of water. If the strands float after a few minutes, you probably have low-porosity hair. If it sinks, it is probably due to the high porosity of the hair.

High-porosity hair

High-porosity hair has more open cuticles, allowing moisture to easily enter and exit the hair shaft. This means that the hair can easily absorb moisture, but on the other hand, it has trouble retaining it. High-porosity hair can also develop over time as a result of damage from heat styling tools and excessive hair styling.

Medium Porosity Hair

Medium-porosity hair has partially open cuticles, allowing moisture to move in and out of the hair shaft at a moderate rate.

Low-porosity hair

Low-porosity hair (hair cuticles are tightly closed) is resistant to water, making it harder to absorb moisture. If this is you, you may have found yourself in the shower slathering more and more product on your hair in hopes of helping it look and feel more hydrated. However, this can lead to the formation of deposits. Remember that this hair type is waterproof, so using more products is not an option. The solution is to find the right product to use. For example, hair masks can be a big help if you have low-porosity hair.

HAIR TEXTURE

Last but not least, hair texture refers to the diameter or thickness of individual strands. Hair texture has a big impact on how your hair looks and behaves, as well as what hair care products and styling techniques are best for your hair. However, it is important to note that hair texture can vary throughout the head. So even if your hair seems coarse in some places, other parts of your head may have medium, coarse, or fine hair.

Fine Hair

Fine hair has a small diameter and is the thinnest hair structure, which can also make it difficult to manage. With the right care and products—specifically volumizing products specifically formulated for fine or frizz-prone hair—you can find optimal health and volume for fine hair.

Medium Hair

This hair texture is the most common. “Medium” means the hair is medium in diameter.

Coarse Hair

Coarse hair has a large diameter and is the coarsest hair texture. We all want thick and voluminous hair, right? However, this texture can be one of the most difficult to modify. Luckily, some specific haircuts and hairstyles work best for every texture, including this one.

No two heads are the same. Knowing the ins and outs of color level, texture, porosity, and the like is the real secret to beautiful and healthy hair.