I was wondering, does everyone here use a typing system on their hair?  Like Fia's system or the Curly Girl Book system.

It seems hard for me to try to assign a mathematical value to qualities that are aesthetic.  I'm  beginning to think more along the lines of being a point on a continuum rather than a narrowly defined, by necessity, category.

It's like placing straight on one end and very curly on the other.  Then you would seem to need a string with fine on one end and coarse on the other.  And a color line as well from white, to light, through reds, dark, black hair.

It is kind of like symbolic logic.  It is difficult to work through a mathematical equation where the numbers have been replaced by words.  It's hard to define the words narrowly enough to make the categorization meaningful.

I feel like my hair shape-shifts or morphs.  Sometimes the color looks different.  Sometime the texture looks different.

I've noticed a lot of people do not list a hair type on their posts.  Others, like myself have a hard time choosing just one category 1C-2a Fi-ii.

So for the next six months, I am going to abandon hairtyping and only describe my hair in words and see if I feel any differently about it at that time.  That will be next June 4th, 2005.

I do ramble on...

Hmm...I don't really type my hair. I'm sure that it falls into a catagory somewhere, but I honestly couldn't be bothered to figure out which one. Mainly because my hair "shape-shifts and morphs" too.

I couldn't keep up with it if I tried! For the sake of my own personal sanity, it's better if I don't think about it too much.

I don't wanna scare away the few wee strands I have.  ;)

I did type my hair. At first I thought it was 1a, because from the description, 1b would show up as "body wave". My hair has no body, being fine. Later I noticed I had a flip on the last few inches, and my hair shows some wave when wet. Now I realize that the hair typing system doesn't describe fine hair as well as it does coarser hair, which holds its wave when dry rather than straightening out by gravity.

I also typed my thickness as ii, as my ponytail measures 3-1/4" around. I have noticed, though, that many women who also type their hair as ii have much less hair than I do. Also on the LHC board, a thread a while back discussed how tightly women pull their ponytails when measuring around. I was surprised to find that many wavy or curly-haired women do not pull tight at all. So a thickness measurement for a woman with straight hair may mean something very different than the same measurement for a woman with hair that has natural volume.

I used to.

and I have my hair type right by the avatar...

but the system doesn't seem to fit me as well as it used to. No one can categorize their hair, just as no one can categorize their own selves. I have trouble describing my hair with letters and numbers too, but... how else would we standardize it? I see it as similar to age, where we only use a number system because we must. If everybody typed their hair the way we do, describing it aesthetically and qualitatively... just imagine.

If anything, I think there ought to be more classifications such as "ease of forming" and variation in wave/curl. Because body wave, slight body wave like a 1b, is often due to the curve of my shoulders and back... but that's debatable, especially when my hair is just as comfortable when wavy as when it is straight. Waves last up to 10 days. For some other people, wave is varied throughout the hair. My clan sister has hair that is curly on the top/outer layers but gradually turns stick straight as it reaches the underlayers.

Fia rocks, but hair is just so hard to fit into a box!

Anais

wrote on Dec 4^th, 2004 at 11:00pm:

I also typed my thickness as ii, as my ponytail measures 3-1/4" around. I have noticed, though, that many women who also type their hair as ii have much less hair than I do. Also on the LHC board, a thread a while back discussed how tightly women pull their ponytails when measuring around. I was surprised to find that many wavy or curly-haired women do not pull tight at all. So a thickness measurement for a woman with straight hair may mean something very different than the same measurement for a woman with hair that has natural volume.

EXACTLY!!! and what is worse: i noticed strange differences in measurements on myself ... like sometimes it's as much as 4", but usually less (especially if i pull the string as tight as i can). i wonder if the coating by conditioner or oil or purely the moisture level doesn't influence the whole thing either. if moisture could make hair swell, of course it can count since there are tons of them! i am quie sure if you squeeze hard you could measure a difference if you have recently washed them.

I, too, think Fia rocks and it is a good system.  I just think for the next little while, I'll be less precise with my hair.

And I had long wondered about the ponytail diameter thing.  I put an elastic on mine and measure as tight as possible and come out with 2.75"-3.0".  But my hair seems thinnish to me.

I think I'll use the typing as more of a guideline than an ironclad law, for now, maybe.

And I think fine hair does react differently when it morphs; at least I know mine does.

So for now I'm
strawberryfine
FineReddishThinnishStriaghtish/parttime wavyish
or shapeshifting fine
or hanging out of the box

I really appreciate everyone's replies.  Maybe we'll get some more!

Happy growing 8)

I think Fia's and Curly Girl's hair typing systems allow people to make general comparisons regarding their hair.  This then allows us to "qualify" the comments and recommendations someone makes and consider if they might apply to our own hair or not.

Everyone's hair is different.  Combine the hair with the climate, living conditions, water conditions, and genetics, and it would be next to impossible to for anyone to have exactly the same hair.  

I've never been totally sold on the hair typing, but I have "typed" my hair only so others here might know how my hair would compaire to theirs.  Using the typing can be a "shorthand" method of describing your hair, but it only works if everyone knows the "key".

I tried to type my hair, but I got fed up when I realized I'm in between every category.

My hair type varies (daily) with:

• the part of my hair you're looking at
  
• the weather
  
• my hair products
  
• how I dried it
  
• how I've been wearing it that day
  
• how recently I washed it
  
• my health
  
• ...ad infinitum...

So I agree with you, StrawberryFine.

I am Kate (hear me gripe),
blondish-reddish-sometimes-dishwater-mostly-copper,
curly-ringlets-wavy-straight-and-sensitive-underneath,
flyaway-frizzy-fine-as-spider-silk-but-not-as-sticky-just-dry.

(currently PowerPoint brainwashed)

Wow! what Bikerbraid said so makes sense to me now!

But Kate, I hear ya, Sister!lol
And I can sooo relate.

I guess if used as general descriptive classifications they have value, but I was tending to get obsessive about what 'type' I was.

So I guess I'm in the neighborhood of 2aFii but I'm not certain of my exact "address".

These replies were awesome!

strawberryfine
neighborhood of 2aFii-"ish";
straightish, reddish, fine, thinnish, etceteraish, etc ::)

I have not typed my hair at all.  Where can I find the guidelines for typing my hair?

Lynn :)

Find it here:

http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/showthread.php?t=357

I type myself as 2bMiii. Now that my hair is getting longer it is probably closer to 2a, though.

I type myself as a 1c-2aFi.  Looks like I'm very close to
you, Strawberryfine! (Fia's System)  However, I can't
really decide how straight or wavy my hair is.  It's not
curly, but it's not straight.  It gets straighter in arid climes and if I put some products in it (silicone).  In the
humid summer it gets wavier and frizzier.  One side of
my hair (left) has more waves than the right.  Wierd, huh?
I have trouble measuring my pony tail, but I know it's
thin.  I have very heavy bangs, which I'm growing out.
Maybe they'll contribute to the volume of my pony tail
when they get long enough and bump me up to a Fii?
I can only hope.

wrote on Dec 8^th, 2004 at 8:58am:

I type myself as 2bMiii. Now that my hair is getting longer it is probably closer to 2a, though.

i would just type your hair as perfect  ;)

Yay Babyfine!

I think it was one of your posts that made me first post on this board, about "too fine to be long"- it really helped me decide to grow it out; thanks!

Since you have thick bangs, can you make a ponytail high up on your head, almost to your forehead to get the bangs included?

Or

You could gather your bangs up and measure the circumference and add that to the circumference of your ponytail to get a more true picture of what you've really got growing there.

My hair does a lot of shape-shifting in the curl department, too.  Sometimes it travels, sometimes it hangs.  But that's okay.  I have my mood swings too.  Shouldn't my hair be entitiled to a little moodiness now and then? ::)
Okay, maybe I don't exactly have wavy hair, maybe I have moody hair!lol

strawberryfine

Thanks Strawberryfine! That makes me feel good that
I encouraged you on your long hair journey! Maybe we
can encourage each other, I get so frustrated! Thanks
for the advice on the measuring, I'll try that!  Yup, Moody
hair!  I love it!  LOL  Mines DEFINATLY moody!  It gets
frizzy, straight, wavy, clumpy-stringy, you name it.
On rare days its nice and fluffy!

Babyfine,
You really did encourage me and still do.  It was your sign-on name that helped me decide on mine.

It's nice to have a 'partner in hair crime'! LOL

We'll just keep on encouraging each other and soon we'll be a couple of those fine-haired ladies with gorgeous 44"+ hair or wherever we chose.

strawberryfine

Thanks Strawberryfine! Yeah, 44"!!  When I saw that post of Anne Maries it made me put the scissors away.
I was going to chop off all my coloured hair,now I'm trimming off a little at a time.  My stylist told me my
ends don't look that bad, the last time I went in for
a micro trim(considering what they've been through-think bleach,curling iron, ect)  But it's all the care I've
taken since I've found this board that's turned my hair
aroung.  By the way, your hair looks beautiful in your
avatar!  Very nice and full!

Thanks, Babyfine!

I took notice when I saw Anne-Marie's post here and it was inspiration for me not to cut, too.

And when I think of all the torture the ends of my hair have been through, I feel thankful I have hair.  I just need to be a little nicer to it, I guess.

Thanks for the compliment!  You made my day!

strawberryfine

Your welcome!! Yep, sometimes when I think of all the
highlighting, perming, heatstyling, its a wonder I'm not
bald!! Then again, maybe that's why my hairs so thin!

You know, I wonder sometimes if many years from now since using the things I've learned here, I wonder if maybe my hair might not get thicker.  If it doesn't its okay, but I would sure be happy if it did!

Happy thoughts are good for your hair! ;D ;D ;D

strawberryfine

Hey Strawberryfine and Babyfine!

If you're talking about individual hairs being thicker, I definetly notice a difference between whats been chemically treated and what hasn't.  I'd say the hair on my head that hasn't seen any chemicals or heat products is almost twice as thick as the rest.  

Hi Valerie!  You know, I've often wondered the same
thing myself.  It's been a loooong time since I had
completly "virgin" hair, and then I had it cut short.
It's ironic, isn't it, that the things we do to make our
hair appear thicker (perming, highlighting) could actually
be the culprit in making it thinner?  I want to try to go natural.  I don't like my natural colour, though.  I have
to try to learn to love my hair the way it is.

wrote on Dec 19^th, 2004 at 3:15pm:

I want to try to go natural.  I don't like my natural colour, though.  I have to try to learn to love my hair the way it is.

I totally understand!  I will probably color the 19 inches of blonde I have to match my roots, but other than that I'm really going to try to stay away from hair coloring.  

Thanks for the link - I've been wondering my "type" for ages...

I suppose I'm a 2aFii under normal weather conditions
and a 2bFii when the fog rolls in - ha ha

I have my first few gray hairs showing up now - and all in the front/bang area - 5 or 6 strands now - all 1.5 inches in length.  I'm 41, so I'm surprised they have waited so long!  My cousins and sister - all hair stylists are SHOCKED that I intend to leave them alone - thinking that against my brown/chestnut hair "it will look simply awful!".... actually - I think they lend a little sparkle, myself.  I don't really care what color my hair is - as long as it stays healthy and keeps growing!  I've never taken such care of my hair as I have in the past year - and I really notice differences!  Texture, strength and growth.  I don't plan to do anything to upset it, as it's getting along so nicely ;D

nightowl

I'm pretty well decided on keeping my grey/silver/white hair natural, too.  They are shiny.

I was kind of in a panic a few days ago and was considering henna or color but with my hair as fine and as fragile as it is I'm sure it would do better without it.

I've got this birthday looming; and I've only worried about one other birthday and I quickly got over it, but for some reason I'm feeling kind of uncomfortable with this one.

wrote on Dec 22^nd, 2004 at 5:44am:

I've got this birthday looming; and I've only worried about one other birthday and I quickly got over it, but for some reason I'm feeling kind of uncomfortable with this one.

Don't worry about birthdays.  One is no more important that another.  How you feel about yourself each day is much more important.  Take care of your self and the birthdays take care of themselves.

Happy early birthday!

Thank you, Bikerbraid!

I keep telling myself I won't really be a year older, I'll just be a day older than the day before. lol
sf

Don't worry about age, StrawberryFine, it's all arbitrary ;) Besides, birthdays are GREAT fun! You get to be the center of attention and demand lots of presents! I love 'em!

/Kate

Thanks,  Kate!

You are a sweetie!

I think I'll start that b-day wish list RIGHT NOW!

SF

I follow this discussion closely because I, too, find the general approach toward measuring hair for volume to be unfocused and inaccurate, and unless everyone consistently measures tightly, the volume classifier loses importance and meaning to some degree.  If the wavies and curlies don't pull very tightly to eliminate air, then we straighties might as well hardly pull our hair together at all, so we, too, can include air in our volume measurements.  If this sounds ridiculous, think about it; of course it's silly, but it would at least equalize the situation, or else I will continue to read with slight disbelief some extremely large measurements, unless the individual reports that s/he pulled very tightlyto eliminate air.

Overall, I do think hair typing can be a very valuable tool, the "shorthand" that Bikerbraid calls it (great term!), but it can work best only when everyone uses the same methods.  It's great because giving or receiving advice is strongly affected by noting the recipient's or speaker's hair type, and I wonder if adding the oily/normal/dry and length indicators would be helpful, too, in that this information is also valuable when determining whether or not to follow someone's advice or make suggestions.

I think that for those who struggle to type their hair should take an objective average and sort-of let the matter go.  No need to "obssess" about it (says she who gives this matter too much thought, LOL!) ;)  Really, this is all in fun! ;D

The thread at LHC has been updated, if any are interested:
http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/showthread.php?t=12529&page=2&pp=15

Well put, LadyG!

Both here and on the other board, which I did read.

I think Bikerbraid's shorthand description is good; I also like to think of hairtyping instructions as really just guidelines.

I do think it is a helpful tool, but I think it is easy to get caught up in, too.  I have obsessed to no end over this from time to  time!

Moderation, in most things, perhaps?

SF

uhm yeah ... if everyone is measuring like that ... so very unscientific!
i think the only decent way to measure would be using a rather fine cord you pull as tightly as you can in front of the holder.

No...I find Fia's system inaccurate to describe my moody hair (stick straight mostly, but sometimes the ends become a bit wavy), and besides after learning to care my hair well, its quality has changed so much -for the better.

As for ponytail, I've always thought that it means circumference of a ponytail that has been actually made, and made such that it could last. If I just held my hair loosely in my hand, heaven knows how flattering results I would get  ::) .

I prefer description in words. Otherwise, any hairtyping system should have clear, detailed instructions on how to make measurements and estimations. And still left some room for people's hair individual oddities.

wrote on Jan 5^th, 2005 at 4:53am:

As for ponytail, I've always thought that it means circumference of a ponytail that has been actually made, and made such that it could last. If I just held my hair loosely in my hand, heaven knows how flattering results I would get  ::) .

The problem is that the curlier your hair is, the looser you are able to put in that elastic and have it stay. So the measurement of a "normal" ponytail depends on things that are not reflected in the typing system.

Sorry to hijack this thread, but Kate, I heard so many Swedes died in the disaster that I began to wonder what happened to you, but it's good to see that last post of yours. Take care  :-*

Anais

Okay, I really need some help with this hair typing.

My avatar picture was taken after I had shampooed, conditioned, rinsed, combed out once in the rinse water with a shower comb, gently towel blotted and left hanging there to dry.  I combed through once with a wide toothed comb after it was dry and took this picture.
Other than that it is completely untouched.  I took a picture before combing and it looks very similar.

I know my hair is fine: F
I know my ponytail circumference is about 2.75" pulled tight: ii

But I have no idea of the first indicator.
1b?
1c?
2a?
other?

I know I am obsessing but this is driving my crazy.

Any help would be so very welcome!

TIA and Hugs,

strawberryfine ??? ??? ???

Wow, your hair looks so different, Strawberryfine.

I consider myself to be a 1b because I have a wave at my ends that would probably be a 4" diameter circle. 1a I would reserve for those who have always had stick straight ends.

When my hair was short it had a bit of a wave, but nothing like yours. I'd say you are probably a 2a.

Thank you eKatherine!

2a is what I'm beginning to think, too.  I rinsed it and put in several drops of jojoba oil and then soaked it pretty good with aloe vera gel.  I squeezed the ends with an Aquis towel twice and air dried w/o touching it.

It was much wavier, almost curly.  DH called it curly-wavy.

2a F ii is going to work for me I think.

Thank you for your help!

Your braid always looks so pretty.

SF

:o :o :o

Wow Strawberryfine! I love that new avatar! (shows ya what ya miss when away from the boards from only a couple days)

Anais

Thanks, Anais!

That's my hair as au natural as can be.

SF