Ever looked in the mirror and wondered why your hair feels thin even though you have a lot of it—or why your strands feel thick but your ponytail looks small? The answer lies in two key measurements: hair diameter and hair density. Most people confuse the two, but understanding the difference is the first step toward choosing the right products, styles, and routines for your hair.

1. What Is Hair Diameter?

• Definition: Hair diameter refers to the width or thickness of an individual strand of hair.
• Types:
• Fine hair → Smaller diameter, often feels soft or silky. Think of a thread      
• Medium hair → Average diameter, the most common. Think of a string

Coarse hair → diameter, feels stronger or more rigid. Think of a rope

• Why It Matters: Hair with a larger diameter tends to hold styles better and resist breakage, while finer strands can be more fragile but may feel smoother.

Quick Test: Take a single strand and roll it between your fingers. If you can barely feel it, it’s fine. If you feel noticeable thickness, it’s medium or coarse.

2. What Is Hair Density?

• Definition: Density measures how many strands of hair you have per square inch of scalp.
• Categories:
• Low density: Scalp is easily visible.
• Medium density: Scalp is somewhat visible when parting hair.
• High density: Scalp is hard to see, even when parted.
• Why It Matters: Density affects how full or voluminous your hair looks. Someone can have fine hair but very high density, creating the appearance of thick hair overall.

Quick Test: Part your hair in the middle. If you can see a lot of scalp, you’re low density. If you see some, you’re medium. If you see very little scalp, you’re high density.

3. The Key Difference (and Why People Get Confused)

• Diameter = thickness of each strand.
• Density = how many strands you have.
  This means you can have fine hair with high density (lots of small strands = full look) or coarse hair with low density (thick strands but fewer of them = less volume).

4. Why Understanding Both Matters

• Product Choice:
• Fine hair often needs lightweight products to avoid weighing down.
• Coarse hair may need heavier creams or butters for moisture.
• Styling:
• High density may require sectioning for manageability.
• Low density may benefit from volumizing techniques.
• Hair Health: Choosing the wrong approach (e.g., heavy products on fine low-density hair) can make hair feel flat, greasy, or stressed.

Conclusion

Knowing your hair diameter and hair density is like knowing your shoe size—it makes everything else easier. From choosing the right products to setting realistic style goals, these two factors explain a lot about how your hair looks and behaves.
 

Want to find your perfect routine based on your hair’s unique profile?

Before we get into styling your hair & what products will work best for you, you must prep it to achieve the best results. Preparation is key to ensure your hair will respond correctly to products & styling.
 

1. Hair gets buildup from environmental exposure - much like the buildup on your shower curtain (or door) due to hard and soft water . 

Quick test: Go to a window (or outside) with the sunlight - shining on your hair. Brush your hair upside down. If you see flaking, you have buildup. Buildup kills your shine and weighs your hair down. Before styling, remove the buildup.
 

2. Hair care and styling products also contribute to buildup.
 

3. Exfoliating skin is key to remove buildup and dead skin cells. The same applies to exfoliating the hair and scalp to achieve desired results. 
 

So... your first step is to exfoliate your hair and scalp using Michael Christopher Erase (mixed with our Peppermint Shampoo). Follow with our Michael Christopher Peppermint cream conditioner.

Your hair is now properly prepped for styling and styling products.
 

Our next blog will cover the correct products for the right type of hair: YOURS