The topic of natural hair typing can be controversial, having the potential to cause an unnecessary divide in the natural hair community. However, knowing your hair type can create a great framework for your natural hair journey by knowing where you are on the hair spectrum.
In my experience, knowing my hair type has helped me to understand why my hair needs certain things. Also, it helps me find my ideal products. Let’s get started!
Hair Type Overview:
There are four types of natural hair: types one (1), two (2), three (3), and four (4). And within each number there is A, B, and C. As you increase the number and go further into the alphabet, the tighter the curl pattern. A curl pattern is the structure of the hair and its relative shape.
Type 1 is straight hair,
Type 2 is wavy hair,
Type 3 is curly hair,
and Type 4 is coily hair
Note: You can have more than one hair type, but more often there is a majority of one hair type. So For example, I have type 4A hair with type 4B at the crown or the top of my head. Now let’s find yours!
Type 1 Hair:
Type 1 hair is straight hair. This category can be divided into type 1A, 1B, and 1C hair. They differ in the density and presence of mild bends in the hair strands. For example, type 1A hair has the finest, thinnest hair strands and type 1C has more dense hair strands with some bends in the hair strands.
Type 2 Hair:
The next hair type is type 2, which is your wavy hair. It can be divided into 2A, 2B & 2C. The bends in the hair create waves in the shape of the letter “S, become more pronounced moving from A-C. Hair strands become denser, and there is also more volume moving from 2A to 2C. This causes 2C waves to have more shrinkage, or ability to bounce back when stretched.
Another thing type 2C hair and beyond has to combat is dryness and frizz. Our scalp creates oils, and they move down our hair strands. As your curl pattern becomes tighter, it is harder to travel down your hair strands. This makes your hair prone to dryness, which sheds light on specific air needs.
Type 3 Hair:
Next, moving onto type 3 hair. It is curly hair that creates a defined spiral curl like a slinky. This hair type can be further divided into type 3A, 3B and 3C. Type 3A hair has looser, bouncier curls. Type 3C hair has tighter, springy curls. From type 3 and beyond, the hair cuticle does not lay flat. It is more prone to breakage and dryness due to the tighter bends of the hair strands.
Type 4 Hair:
And lastly, type 4 hair is coily hair. The bends in the hair tend to be smaller in diameter in comparison to other hair types. The curl definition is also less moving from 4A to 4C. Type 4 hair has a tendency to grow up and out rather than down due to shrinkage. They can be further divided into type 4A, 4B, and 4C. Type 4A is the loosest of type 4 hair and 4C is the tightest of type 4 hair.
I hope that this helps give you more information about your hair type!
Take care!
♡ Gwen