Whatever your hair texture from straight to coily, we have the advice and products that will ensure you have a good hair day, every day.  

Our hair has a personality of its own. Sometimes it sits just as we’d like, and other times it does the unexpected: a wave that won’t lie flat, ends that suddenly feel dry, or roots that seem to turn oily overnight. The key to truly loving your hair is learning what type of hair you have, understanding its needs, and finding a routine that brings out the best in it. To guide you, we asked leading stylists to share their expert tips for every type of hair. 

The Main Hair Types 

Every head of hair is a unique combination of texture, porosity, and even lifestyle. But most hair is described by texture: straight, wavy, curly, or coily. Within that, strands can be fine, medium, or thick, and they can also behave differently depending on porosity (how well your hair absorbs and holds moisture). 

If you’re not sure what your type is, hairstylist Louis Byrne suggests you “wash your hair, comb it into the style you want, whether that's a side or middle parting, and then let it dry naturally. Once the hair is dry this will give you a true representation of what hair type you have.” 

Porosity: Why It Matters 

Porosity is often overlooked but makes a big difference to how products work for you. 

Low porosity hair has a tightly sealed cuticle, which means water and product can sit on top rather than sink in. It often takes longer to dry. As haircare expert Josie Gould, who works with Foxy Locks explains, “low porosity hair has tightly packed cuticles and can resist absorbing moisture, so lightweight, water-based products work best.” 

Medium porosity hair absorbs and retains moisture well and usually feels the most balanced.  

High porosity hair, on the other hand, lets moisture in easily but also loses it quickly, often due to natural texture or chemical or heat styling. As Gould says, it “absorbs moisture quickly but loses it just as fast, so heavier creams and sealing oils are helpful.” 

A simple way to test hair porosity is the “float test”: place a clean strand of hair in a glass of water. If it floats, it’s likely low porosity. If it sinks slowly, it’s medium. If it sinks quickly, it’s high. Keep in mind this method isn’t 100% reliable, and a hairdresser can give you a more accurate read on your hair’s porosity. 

The Right Cut 

You can be doing everything right when it comes to treating and styling your particular type of hair, but a good haircut is key. “I would advocate everyone to invest in an amazing haircut, this is the base for everything else,” says hairstylist Tracie Cant. 

But there is no one size fits all haircut. Byrne suggests: “Generally finer hair should be cut more structured, using heavier lines, as this will make it feel thicker and fuller. Whereas thicker hair can take a looser cut.” 

For curly and coily textures, registered trichologist Deborah Maguire advises working with the hair rather than against it: “Some textures require precision cutting techniques to avoid disrupting the curl pattern, while others benefit from dry cutting or weight balancing to keep hair light and manageable. The golden rule is always: honour the texture, don’t fight it.” 

Approach Your Hair Holistically 

A good haircare routine isn’t just about the products we apply, “make sure to eat a good diet, organic where possible, and drink plenty of water. We really are what we eat,” says Cant. “Feeling truly beautiful is a much deeper story than simply taking care of the outside, it’s a vibrancy that transcends from deep within. Our hair and skin simply reflect what is being created on the inside.” 

Hairdresser and salon owner Andrew Mulvenna agrees, “the secret to great hair is very much like skin. It’s about the balance of hydration inside and out. Get it balanced and your hair will not only behave but be glorious.” 

You may wish you had a different hair type but the secret to hair happiness is embracing what you’ve got. Byrne reminds us, “Love your hair for what it is and enhance its natural texture, instead of trying to fight it.”  

Find Your Ideal Hair Routine 

Once you’ve identified your hair type, styling becomes so much easier. Experts will tell you that the haircare routine starts in the shower with your shampoo and conditioner.  

Rituals now offers four high-performance shampoos and conditioners designed to meet different hair needs. Choose Restoring to repair damage and strengthen strands, Hydrating to quench dry hair and boost shine, Scalp Balancing to soothe and regulate the scalp, or Volumising to add lift and fullness. Each formula is enriched with nourishing ingredients like argan oil, hyaluronic acid, fermented rice water, and bamboo extract.  

Scroll down to your hair type and you’ll find tailored hair care advice, plus the Rituals shampoos and conditioners that feel made for you. 

For Thick Hair 

Thick hair is naturally dense, which means it often benefits from extra moisture and conditioning to stay supple and manageable. Look for slightly richer, oil-based products that nourish and smooth while keeping natural movement intact. Masks like the 30 Seconds Ultra Shine Hair Mask can help maintain softness and shine. 

Thick hair doesn’t need to be washed every day; a simple rinse in the shower is often enough to refresh it. “After rinsing apply a little leave-in product and repeat your drying process as normal. Some people can leave washing their thick hair to just once a week, which is great for making your products last longer. If you can limit washing and leave it to air dry more often, your hair should become healthier and more manageable over time too,” says Mulvenna. 

If you’re in a hurry, use dry shampoo to mop up excess oil at the roots and leave hair smelling clean. 

Tips to remember: 

• Your hair loves: Rich creams and oils to keep it soft and nourished, just be mindful to keep the scalp clean and free from buildup. 

• Wash: Once or twice a week is plenty, with rinses in between if it feels like it needs it. 

• Add to your routine: A restoring shampoo and conditioner, a leave-in cream, and a weekly mask. Try the restoring shampoo and conditioner from Rituals, enriched with fermented rice water, argan oil, and sunflower sprout extract to help repair damage, boost elasticity, and strengthen thick strands.  

For Fine Hair 

“Fine hair requires lighter products, avoid anything with oil as this will weigh it down and make it look greasy,” advises Byrne. “Fine hair needs volumising products that are lightweight but lend the hair support and encouragement.” 

Mulvenna suggests looking to salt-based products like beach sprays, rather than leave-in conditioners and creams. “These will give the hair more body and fullness and stop an oily root/stringy end situation from happening.”  

If you’re blow-drying your hair, Mulvenna advises using a lightweight conditioner applying it to the ends only, along with a good heat protector all over. 

“The main rule with fine hair is not to overload it, less is definitely more,” notes Cant. 

Tips to remember: 

• Your hair loves: Lightweight, volumising products that lift without weighing it down. 

• Wash: Every 2–3 days, with dry shampoo in between if needed. 

• Add to your routine: A volumising shampoo and conditioner, a scalp scrub, and a heat protector. Use the scalp scrub once a week to remove any unwanted oils and leave the hair at the root super clean and volumised. Try the volumising shampoo and conditioner from Rituals, enriched with pea protein, chia seed extract, and bamboo extract to strengthen hair, enhance density, and leave it looking fuller and more vibrant. 

For Curly and Coily Hair 

Curly and coily hair thrives on moisture. These textures are happiest when they’re well-fed with hydration, which keeps them supple, defined, and full of life. Gould says: “Curly hair forms more defined spirals with natural volume and shrinkage, and coily textures create tight curls or zig-zags that are often more fragile and drier because moisture has a harder time traveling down the strand.” What this means is curls and coils are naturally designed to hold shape and volume, but they need added moisture from rich creams, oils, and masks to keep that shape at its strongest. 

Registered trichologist Deborah Maguire adds that wavy and curly hair often thrives with fewer washes, but leaving it too long can cause oils, sweat, and dust to build up on the scalp, leading to irritation. “The balance lies in respecting your texture while keeping the scalp clean, nourished and calm.” She also notes that if your hair tends to frizz in humidity, it can be a sign of high porosity. “In these cases, weekly routines using moisture and protein-rich masks are essential to help restore elasticity and resilience.” 

Tips to remember: 

• Your hair loves: Creamy conditioners, leave-ins, curl balms, and rich oils. 

• Wash: Once a week or less, refreshing with water or leave-in between. 

• Add to your routine: A hydrating shampoo and conditioner, curl balm, hair oil, and a weekly mask. Try the hydrating shampoo and conditioner from Rituals, enriched with hyaluronic acid and betaine to deliver deep hydration and shine, keeping curls and coils soft, smooth, and easy to style. 

For Straight Hair 

Straight hair naturally looks shinier because oils can travel quickly down the hair shaft, but this also means it can get too oily, quickly. Lightweight conditioners and balancing masks will help keep it fresh without weighing it down. 

Hair expert Gustav Fouché says, “very straight, silky textures like Chinese or Japanese hair may feel strong to the touch, but actually don’t cope well with chemical treatments like bleaching. They benefit from protein-based products, which help harden the cuticle, add volume, and give the hair more texture. Too much moisture, however, will just make this type of hair hang even flatter.” 

Try alternating between richer conditioners and lighter formulas depending on how your hair feels. Treatments like the Keratin Hair Mask can help protect against split ends, while the 30 Seconds Ultra Shine Mask enhances smoothness and gloss. 

Tips to remember: 

• Your hair loves: Lightweight shine-boosting products and the occasional protein treatment. 

• Wash: Every 2–3 days, with dry shampoo in between if needed. 

• Add to your routine: A scalp-balancing shampoo, conditioner, a shine mask, a light serum, and a keratin treatment. Try the scalp balancing shampoo and conditioner from Rituals, enriched with manuka, provitamin B5, and a moisturising plant sugar complex to balance natural oils, soothe irritation, and keep straight hair fresh and healthy-looking.  

The real secret to healthy, happy hair is simple: stop working against it and start working with it. Now that you know more about what your needs, you can give it the care it’s been waiting for and spend less time taming it and more time enjoying it.