Identify your Hair Type
The real beauty of identifying your hair type is that you're better at understanding how to care for your texture so you can have more versatility
The sub-classifications of A to C are based on the width or diameter of your wave, curl, or coil. Type As have a wider pattern size, Type Bs medium, and Type Cs the smallest of the three.
1A
1B
1C
2A
2B
2C
3A
3B
3C
4A
4B
4C
TYPE 1
Straight Hair
1A
1B
1C
Hair that lies flat, or straight. Straight locks tend to be on the shinier side because the hair’s natural oils are able to travel from root to tip.
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Type 1A is “stick” straight hair that has no hint of curl or wave. In fact, it’s hard for people with type 1A hair to even hold a curl. It’s the rarest hair type and is common mostly among Asian women.
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Type 1B is not as flat as type 1A and has extra body. When left unstyled it is generally straight, but it can hold curls, which gives the hair more movement and texture.
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Type 1C achieves the tousled look when air dried, while still lying mostly flat. This straight hair type is also usually thick and coarse, which can cause fizziness depending on the climate or environment.
Wavy Hair
TYPE 2
Classified as hair that is naturally wavy, type 2 hair forms an S shape in the hair, and the stronger the ‘S’ shape, the curlier the hair is
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Type 2A hair is the loosest wave, those with hair type 2A have a fine, barely-there tousled texture that's very easy to straighten. People with this texture must be wary of using heavy styling products that can easily weigh their strands down, rendering them limp and lifeless.
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Type 2B hair consists of curlier waves with a more defined ‘S.2B hair lies flatter at the crown with defined S-shaped waves starting from the mid-length.
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Type 2C hair is the waviest with the most definition between the three categories -The most wavy and thickest type of hair in this category 2C hair is close to forming curls rather than just waves and it is the most voluminous of the three types 2C waves are thick and more susceptible to frizz. The S-bends are well-defined and begin at the roots. In between shampoos, use a non-lathering, sulphate-free co-wash so as not to strip essential moisture from strands.
2A
2B
2C
People with type 2 hair will also find that their hair seems more likely to frizz than type 1 hair.
TYPE 3
Curly Hair
3A
3B
3C
Identifying your curl shape and pattern(s) is best determined while your hair is sopping wet.
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Type 3A strands, end to be shiny with large, loose curls that have a diameter about the size of a piece of sidewalk chalk. Use a curl cream into your dry hair to help emphasize the curl texture. To maintain those juicy springs, simply spritz your hair with a curl refresher.
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Type 3B have springy ringlets with a circumference like that of a Sharpie marker. This texture can get dry, so look for curl gels that have humectants in them to attract moisture to strands. Apply when [your hair is] wet so you'll get definition without frizz.
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Type 3C curls are tight corkscrews that range in circumference from a straw to a pencil. Strands are densely packed together, giving way to lots of natural volume. Fizziness is common with this type; if that's not a look you're into, use a sulphate-free, creamy cleanser co wash that won't dry out your hair even more.
TYPE 4
Kinky & Coily Hair
Coily hair, commonly referred to as Afro-textured or kinky hair, is naturally very dry and spongy in texture and can be soft and fine or coarse and wiry. Strands form very tight, small curls of zigzags right from the scalp and are prone to major shrinkage.
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Type 4A strands, with hair type 4A have dense springy, S-patterned coils that are about the same circumference as a crochet needle. Styling should be done more frequently to keep this coily texture popping with soft, pliable strands. A curling cream with a leave-in moisturizer is a must for adding more moisture to daily wash-and-go styling.
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Type 4B strands, are densely packed and can bend in sharp angles like the letter Z. All kinks, Hydrating Curling creams are good for this hair type.
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Type 4C strands, textures are like 4B textures, but the tightly coiled strands are more fragile and have a very tight zig-zag pattern that is sometimes indiscernible to the eye. This hair type experiences the greatest amount of shrinkage — about 75 percent or more — than the other textures. Shrinkage and dryness are major concerns for this type, use a liberal amount of leave-in moisturizer. Castor oil is also a great hydrator and sealant for this very dry texture as well as Shea butter and Jamaican black castor Oil.
