The type of hair you have depends on how much oil, also called sebum, your sebaceous (sih-BAY-shus) glands produce. These glands open into each hair follicle, and their flow and distribution is influenced by the same factors that affect skin. As a result, many people have the same hair type as their skin. Hair types are: normal, dry, and oily. Normal hair is usually soft and shiny, containing enough moisture in each strand to keep it from breaking, and having enough oil coating the shafts to protect against moisture loss. If cared for properly, normal hair is relatively resistant to damage. On the other hand, dry hair has too little moisture and not enough oil. Some people have naturally dry hair, while others acquire it from over-processing and styling or from a slowdown in the sebum process that may occur as one gets older. To treat dry hair, wash it less frequently, condition after each wash, and deep condition it once a week. Oily hair is caused by excess sebum production and should be washed more frequently than normal or dry hair with a shampoo made especially for oily hair.
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