Do you ever feel like you’re stumbling in the dark when it comes to understanding your own hair? People suggesting this product and that treatment, this shampoo and that conditioner but not bringing the results you want? Certain product working great for others may not work for you any close. search no more! you are in the right place to discover your hair type and start respecting your curl pattern and giving what it deserves. Because every hair type whether it is straight, wavy, curly or coily deserves to be treated with at-most respect.
In order to identify where your hair type falls, first wash your hair and let your hair air dry without applying any product. Lets get into it now!
An Introduction to Hair Types
There are 4 types of hair types. Straight, Wavy, Curly and Coily. These types are further categorised from looser to thicker as we go from Label A to Label C.
Your hair type is mainly determined by your Genetics. You are blessed with your curl pattern descended from your parents. But our natural curl pattern might be altered by using chemical treatments like relaxer and using too much heat on hair.
This label may not show a perfect definition of your hair type as you may have a 3C hair type on the back of your head and a 4A on the crown of your head. But it will give you great understanding how to treat your hair right.
Type 1 Straight Hair
Straight hair is flat and straight on the scalp. It reflects the most sheen because it has lots of natural oils that can travel from the scalp to the ends. People with this hair type should wash their hair regularly to avoid oily looking locks. There are three subcategories for straight hair:
Type 1A: This hair type is straight and fine. It has no hint of wave or curl. When natural oils travel to the ends, it tends to look like oily hair. Type 1A is extremely rare and is common among Asian women.
Type 1B: This hair type is straight but has more volume than Type 1A. The medium texture of this hair type can generally hold curls, giving it more texture and movement.
Type 1C: This hair type is is straight, coarse and thick. This type of hair can result in frizzy hair depending on the environment or climate.
Type 2 Wavy Hair
Wavy hair types are naturally wavy and form an “S” shape. They are thicker than straight hair and slightly curly, with a medium texture. Because of their slight texture and shape, they don’t get as oily as straight hair.
Type 2A: This hair type is fine and thin with individual strands forming an “S” shape when dry. It can be curled or straightened easily using styling products. This hair type is the flattest type of wavy hair.
Type 2B: This hair type has a curl pattern that defines “S” shapes and generally lies flat at the crown before rippling from midpoint to ends. More volume is also present in this curl pattern, making it easier to style into bouncy waves and ringlets.
Type 2C: This hair type is the waviest and has a clearly defined S-bends. This hair type is thicker than the other type 2 subcategory. It is more prone to frizz as well.
Type 3 Curly Hair
Type 3 hair is naturally curly, forming ringlets that tend to be defined and prone to dryness. Type 3 hair forms spiral curls, which are not flat, making the hair prone to tangles and breakage.
Type 3A: Type 3A hair is fine and shiny with loose curls. It is easily defined without the use of styling products and prone to slight frizz.
Type 3B: This hair type has springy curls that are medium in tightness. It is prone to frizz.
Type 3C: This hair type has tight and thick curls. The curls of this hair type are usually voluminous, with a lot of texture.
Type 4 Coily Hair
Coily hair, commonly referred to as Afro-textured or kinky hair, is naturally very dry and spongy in texture. Strands form small curls of zig-zags from the scalp and are prone to major shrinkage. As type 4 hair is the most dry hair type, the best way to care for it is by minimising wash days and moisturising more.
Type 4A: This hair type is usually in tight and springy coils. When dry, the strands shrink to half their length. This type of hair has the most definitive curl pattern of the Type 4 hair category.
Type 4B: This hair type has tight curls with a Z coil. This type of curl is less defined than Type 4A curls but clearer than Type 4C hair.
Type 4C: This hair type has dense and coarse curls. The curl pattern is not defined and has a lot of shrinkage.
Also Check This: How to Care For Type 1 Hair