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While many people discount the importance of hair, the bottom line is that it’s almost inexorably linked to one’s self image, and is often a deciding factor in one’s beauty and attractiveness. While the definition of beautiful hair is highly flexible and varies widely from person to person, it doesn’t change the fact that people care a lot about their hair, and if this describes you, you’re probably looking for ways to keep it healthy.

Healthy hair has benefits that extend past being beautiful — if you maintain your hair, it’ll have more longevity, feel better, and be more flexible to whatever styling decisions you want to make. The problem that many people have is that they don’t know exactly how to gauge how healthy their hair is.

We’re here to help! At Pro|Gen Probe, we specialize in making sophisticated scalp analysis machines which can inspect your scalp and hair follicles at a near-microscopic level, giving you a comprehensive rundown of hair health in a way that’s supported by hard data and magnified imagery. Needless to say, we know a lot about hair. While we recommend scalp analysis as the go-to method for gauging hair health, there are also other things you can do on your own time.

Here are some ways to measure the healthiness of your hair!

Healthy Hair Has a Natural Shine

While it’s not the absolute defining measure of healthy hair, in general, if your hair is well-kept and not damaged, it’s likely to have a nice natural shine. Don’t expect the kind of glistening sheen you’d see from a Loreal ad — that kind of effect is typically only achieved through special conditioners which are designed to make your hair silky smooth. But nonetheless, if your hair is dull and coarse, the natural oil from your scalp may not be spreading through it and it could be a symptom of poor hair health.

Everyday lifestyle choices can also have an impact on this. Sometimes shiny hair is indicative of one’s health as a whole — if you’re getting good sleep, eating nutritious meals, and exercising your body appropriately, you’re likely to have this natural shine. Incidentally, it’s the same for pets — if you’ve ever seen before and after photos of unhealthy stray animals that have been taken in and cared for, you’ll notice a much more lustrous coat. Human hair is decidedly different than fur in so many ways, but this basic principle does, in fact, apply to us.

Healthy Hair Sheds...But Not Too Much

If you take a brush through your gorgeous locks, and then see that several have detached and stuck themselves to your brush, don’t panic — it’s completely natural, and even healthy, to lose hair on the regular. Hair is constantly growing and falling off, but when your hair is in top shape, these two things happen in such equal measure that you won’t ever have to worry.

There is, of course, a line. It’s possible for hair to shed too much, and if this is the case, it might be time to talk to a professional. It’s impossible to say how much is too much because it varies from person to person, but you generally know when you see it. If you feel like your hair is falling out too much, don’t hesitate to contact a doctor, certified beauty technician, or cosmetologist — a hair analyzer machine can go a long way into diagnosing the problem.

Healthy Hair Doesn’t Easily Tangle

If you can easily run your fingers through your hair — or even better, a brush — without it tangling very much, give yourself a pack on the back! It’s probably a sign that your hair is doing pretty well.

The reason for this is that tangling is a symptom of splitting hair, and splitting hair is a symptom of unhealthy hair. Hair strands can split which makes them more frayed and brittle in nature, and when this happens, it’s much easier for them to get caught on brushes. Healthy hair strands usually cooperate with each other during grooming sessions, whereas unhealthy strands are unruly and frustrating.

What’s even worse about tangled hair is that it can actually lead to more problems. Your hair will last longer and be in better shape if you’re not pulling on it or applying heavy stress. Unfortunately, the constant pulling and tugging that occurs with hair tangles has this effect.

Healthy Hair Stands Up to Moisture

One giveaway of hair health is how it responds to light moisture! Now, let’s make one thing clear — nobody’s hair can stand up to excessive amounts of water. Even the most righteous, gelled pompadour will eventually fall if enough water is poured onto it! So when we talk about moisture, we’re not talking about heavy rainfall or swimming in a pool, because no hair is a match for that.

But, consider your hair in humidity or light moisture. Does it retain its basic shape, or does it become lame and droopy? Do your hair strands act mostly the same, or do they get frizzy?

In a nutshell, the more healthy your hair is, the less moisture it retains. This is because damaged hair tends to be more porous. This allows for it to absorb more water, which is what causes it to lose its form in moisture-heavy environments. Want to test your hair’s absorbency? Try lowering some strands into a container of water. If your hair floats, it’s in good shape. If it sinks, you may want to consider some improvements.

Healthy Hair Doesn’t Have Dandruff

While this one is somewhat of a given, it’s still worth mentioning. If you care at all about your hair, both in health and appearance, accumulating dandruff is probably something you’re trying to actively avoid. And, well, you’re not wrong, because dandruff is a sign that your hair and scalp are in bad shape.

Dandruff is symptomatic of exceeding dryness, adverse sensitivity to hair care products, or more underlying problems in your skin and scalp health. No matter which way you look at it, none of these options are desirable if healthy, beautiful hair is your goal. If you’ve been having a dandruff problem that you just can’t seem to shake, it’s probably time to see your local cosmetologist or hair care professional. A scalp analysis appointment can go a long way in determining the root cause of those pesky white dandruff flakes!

Scalp Analysis

While the methods we’ve listed in this article are all great ways to keep a general pulse on your hair’s health, the absolute best thing you can do for your locks is to go in for a scalp analysis appointment.

There are all kinds of ways to speculate on why a hair might be splitting ends, why it’s falling out, or why dandruff just always seems to come back no matter what you do. But the one way to conclusively determine your hair problems is to go in for scalp analysis. Our Pro|Gen Probe scalp analysis machines can look at exactly what’s going on with your scalp, analyzing your hair follicles, pores, and skin on a level that far outmatches the human eye.

With the data our Pro|Gen Probe hair analyzer machines provide, your hair professional will be able to give you a comprehensive, detailed treatment plan that’s custom tailored to your unique needs. Are you ready to take the right steps for improving your hair health? See what our machines can do and consider making a scalp analysis appointment with a local expert! And, of course, if you work in the beauty or medical industry, we’d love to talk with you about supplying your practice with our skin and hair analysis devices. Contact us today! No one’s scalp is beyond saving, and it’s our goal to help everyone to achieve the hair of their dreams.