What is Your Hair Type? and Why It's Important
Hair types come in a variety of shapes, spirals, curls, and textures. Finding your hair type is key to your success in this epic hair journey you've embarked on. Most of the hair charts on the internet can be confusing and sometimes downright frustrating. Not to worry; Here's a simple, more to the point rundown of the most common curl patterns and hair textures, and how to care for them. Feel free to toggle these key points and generalizations to your liking for your own personal hair type.
2A, 2B, and 2C
These are the wavy hair categories, and they are most common in those whose hair is primarily of European descent. They tend to be light and wavy, both in texture and feel of the hair, and curl shape. They commonly do not take on oils and heavy creams very well, and "overnight oil treatments" and thick curl enhancing creams can weigh the hair down and even promote dirt and oil build up. Products should be used that are very light weight serums or hairspray, and small, dime or quarter sized amounts of oils. Also, things such as head lice can be more of a problem with people of this hair texture if there happens to be an outbreak or community issue.
3A, 3B, and 3C
These are commonly known as your classic "mixed girl" look (generally speaking for the sake of description). This hair pattern is of those soft, wavy, crimples that turn into that full, fluffy and vivacious curly hair. These hair types tend to be more bouncy, and commonly take on a texture of European influenced, Hispanic, or other Ethnic origin hair that tends to lean more towards the silkier, soft side of hair strands and touch ability. Yet, it has a tendency to be full, thick, and more dense, also increasing in tightness of curl definition and kink as you go down the grading scale (From A to C).
I personally have not had the experience of meeting people of this hair texture that have had lice as a child or suffered from it as an outbreak or infestation in school, workplace etc. Not to say they are immune by any means, and it may just be by chance, but it was not really a common thing. 3A hair should be treated similar to 2 grade hair, but with more emphasis on curl retention if desired. Lightweight curl defining serums and mousse are the 3A's best friends. Moderately thick serums and light curl defining creams at a small amount could suffice for 3B and some 3C hair, however most of 3C hair should not be afraid of using moderate to generous amounts of cream products for curl definition, as their curls tend to be more defined and thick, in need of generous thirst quenching.
4A, 4B, and 4C
Okay, now these are the hair textures for my kinky headed, full, luscious, and thick Afro wearers! Typically known as "Black hair", these hair types tend to go from more defined, to more 'fro like as we go down the spectrum. 4A ladies retain some of their hair curl pattern, but as the texture progresses down into 4C category, the curls become more fluffed out and replaced by a fluffy, kinky, and more dense hair. It becomes more tightly coiled as you go down into that 4B and 4C category hair, until the definition is more prominent in the individual strands and commonly less noticeable in the overall appearance of the hair as a whole. It is that hair type that is typically well hydrated by thick creams, overnight oil treatments, thick shampoos and conditioners with higher amounts of oil and plant extracts. If left unattended or not detangled, it has a tendency to become more compact to the scalp, and in the most extreme cases, 'loc' up and become stuck together in little balls or cone shaped clumps. These hair types tend to be perfect for hairstyles such as braiding (cornrow braiding), dreadlocks, box braids, etc.
There you have it! The most common types of hair curl patterns and textures in a simplified, and hopefully, easier to apply way 😂. Of course all hair types come in all shapes, colors, and sizes of the spectrum, and no one hair type is exclusive to that hair generalization or ethnicity. However, the examples provided are just a base point to give you an easier method of thinking about how to categorize your hair, instead of bogging you down with a lot of different 'S curl' and 'Zig zag' and how much 'zig' vs. 'zag' you need to qualify for a 4C or 3B type of category etc. nonsense. I hope that this can truly provide you with a more simple starting point on how to take care of your hair, even if you have no idea what makes curl patterns different, or how to style for your hair. Have a great day and good luck on your styling journey! 😉
~Be Blessed. Be Curly, Be Cherished.
2A, 2B, and 2C
These are the wavy hair categories, and they are most common in those whose hair is primarily of European descent. They tend to be light and wavy, both in texture and feel of the hair, and curl shape. They commonly do not take on oils and heavy creams very well, and "overnight oil treatments" and thick curl enhancing creams can weigh the hair down and even promote dirt and oil build up. Products should be used that are very light weight serums or hairspray, and small, dime or quarter sized amounts of oils. Also, things such as head lice can be more of a problem with people of this hair texture if there happens to be an outbreak or community issue.
3A, 3B, and 3C
These are commonly known as your classic "mixed girl" look (generally speaking for the sake of description). This hair pattern is of those soft, wavy, crimples that turn into that full, fluffy and vivacious curly hair. These hair types tend to be more bouncy, and commonly take on a texture of European influenced, Hispanic, or other Ethnic origin hair that tends to lean more towards the silkier, soft side of hair strands and touch ability. Yet, it has a tendency to be full, thick, and more dense, also increasing in tightness of curl definition and kink as you go down the grading scale (From A to C).
I personally have not had the experience of meeting people of this hair texture that have had lice as a child or suffered from it as an outbreak or infestation in school, workplace etc. Not to say they are immune by any means, and it may just be by chance, but it was not really a common thing. 3A hair should be treated similar to 2 grade hair, but with more emphasis on curl retention if desired. Lightweight curl defining serums and mousse are the 3A's best friends. Moderately thick serums and light curl defining creams at a small amount could suffice for 3B and some 3C hair, however most of 3C hair should not be afraid of using moderate to generous amounts of cream products for curl definition, as their curls tend to be more defined and thick, in need of generous thirst quenching.
4A, 4B, and 4C
Okay, now these are the hair textures for my kinky headed, full, luscious, and thick Afro wearers! Typically known as "Black hair", these hair types tend to go from more defined, to more 'fro like as we go down the spectrum. 4A ladies retain some of their hair curl pattern, but as the texture progresses down into 4C category, the curls become more fluffed out and replaced by a fluffy, kinky, and more dense hair. It becomes more tightly coiled as you go down into that 4B and 4C category hair, until the definition is more prominent in the individual strands and commonly less noticeable in the overall appearance of the hair as a whole. It is that hair type that is typically well hydrated by thick creams, overnight oil treatments, thick shampoos and conditioners with higher amounts of oil and plant extracts. If left unattended or not detangled, it has a tendency to become more compact to the scalp, and in the most extreme cases, 'loc' up and become stuck together in little balls or cone shaped clumps. These hair types tend to be perfect for hairstyles such as braiding (cornrow braiding), dreadlocks, box braids, etc.
There you have it! The most common types of hair curl patterns and textures in a simplified, and hopefully, easier to apply way 😂. Of course all hair types come in all shapes, colors, and sizes of the spectrum, and no one hair type is exclusive to that hair generalization or ethnicity. However, the examples provided are just a base point to give you an easier method of thinking about how to categorize your hair, instead of bogging you down with a lot of different 'S curl' and 'Zig zag' and how much 'zig' vs. 'zag' you need to qualify for a 4C or 3B type of category etc. nonsense. I hope that this can truly provide you with a more simple starting point on how to take care of your hair, even if you have no idea what makes curl patterns different, or how to style for your hair. Have a great day and good luck on your styling journey! 😉
~Be Blessed. Be Curly, Be Cherished.
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