How you style and treat your hair should be informed by weather you have thin hair! Every time I tell this to my clients in the Hair Course they ask "how can I tell if I have thin hair" so this blog is for you if you’ve ever wondered whether your afro hair is thin.
Many people mistake fine hair (individual strand thickness) for low density (amount of hair on the scalp), but they’re different. Here’s how to assess your hair type and determine if it’s truly thin—plus what that means for your styling routine.
Fine vs. Thick Hair This checks the thickness of individual strands (diameter).
How to Do It:
1. Pluck one strand of hair, erm actually, no don’t do that use shed hair. 😝
2. Hold it between your fingers: If it feels barely noticeable, like a thin thread, you likely have fine hair.
3. If it feels thick and strong like sewing thread, your strands are thick maybe even coarse. 4. If it’s somewhere in between, your hair is medium.
Science Fact: Fine hair is typically less than 60 microns in diameter, while thick hair exceeds 80 microns (Journal of Cosmetic Science)
The Ponytail Test: Density Check This measures how much hair you have on your scalp (low vs. high density).
How to Do It:
please note this is not a fact proof test just a guide.
Pull your hair into a neat ponytail Measure the circumference with a soft measuring tape: 2 inches indicates low density (thin hair overall).
3 inches indicates medium density.
4 inches indicate high density (thick hair overall).
Note: You can have fine strands but high density (lots of hair) or thick strands but low density (less hair overall).
✔ Scalp visibility? If your scalp is easily seen even when hair is down, you likely have low-density (thin) hair.
✔ Flat styles? Thin hair loses volume quickly and struggles to hold big twist-outs or braids.
✔ Breaks easily? If your hair snaps with minimal tension, you may have fine, fragile strands.
Know the Difference:
✔ Naturally thin hair = Genetic, consistent over time.
✔ Thinning hair = Sudden shedding, widening part, or bald patches (could signal alopecia, stress, or health issues)
If you notice sudden hair loss, see a dermatologist or a Trichologist! 
✔ Avoid heavy products (they weigh hair down).
✔ Use gentle styles ( two strand twists , low-tension updos).
Next week we will delve deeper into how to treat and style thin hair!
Do you have thin afro hair? What’s your go-to style? Share below!