What does the term "texture" refer to in hair?

The term "texture" in the context of hair primarily refers to the diameter of the individual hair strand. Hair texture encompasses the thickness or thinness of a single strand, which can influence how the hair behaves, its styling potential, and its overall appearance. Different textures can range from fine to medium to coarse, impacting attributes such as volume, frizz, and how well the hair holds a style.

Focusing on this aspect helps hairstylists recommend appropriate products and techniques tailored to the client's hair type. For instance, finer hair may require lighter products to avoid weighing it down, while coarser hair might benefit from heavier moisturizing formulations.

Other terms mentioned in the options relate to different characteristics of hair, such as color intensity, length, and curl pattern, but none of these capture the concept of texture as specifically as the diameter of the hair strand does. Understanding hair texture is fundamental for achieving desired results in coloring, cutting, and styling processes.