It’s a given that different types of natural hair will require different kinds of care. Have you ever tried a product that your straight-haired girlfriend raved about, only to be disappointed when it did nothing for your tight curls? Or maybe you didn’t realize that your specific natural hair type needs more moisture, or more frequent washing, or less protein-based treatments, while all of the above worked for someone else. If so, you're not alone!
Andre Walker (Oprah's Hairstylist), created a broad-spectrum hair typing system which classifies various hair textures and breaks each hair type down into 4 types with added sub categories. No matter your hair type (they’re all beautiful!), you’ll want to know how to take care of your strands. Below we'll be focusing on Type 2 - 4.
Wavy hair is classified as a 2. Wavy hair lies somewhere between straight and curly hair. It also imparts sheen, more than curly hair, but less than straight hair. The further down the wavy spectrum you go the less sheen the hair will impart. Wavy hair is typically more prone to frizz. While type A wavies can easily alternate between straight and curly styles, type B and C Wavy hair is resistant to styling.
Wavy Hair Styling Tip:Because wavy hair is more prone to frizz, anti frizz/humidity protective stylers are key for creating and keeping gorgeous waves. Keep your fingers out of wavy hair, the more you tousle the more frizz you experience.
Type 3 hair is curly hair. If you pull a strand of a type 3 curly, you will notice it has a definite S shape. Granted, the S may be a lower case s or upper case S, or it may even resemble a Z on some occasions, however, there is a definite curl pattern in place, with or without products. Type 3 hair brings us fully into the land of the curl, ranging from looser to tighter ringlets.This hair type is full bodied, climate dependent (humidity equals frizzy hair), and damage prone. Lack of proper care renders curls dull. That said, the most important tip for type 3s to remember is: moisture, moisture, moisture.
Curly Hair Styling Tip: Curly hair is the most temperamental hair type If you apply too much styling product, you get weighed down/greasy looking curls, apply too little styling product, you get Diana Ross’s 80’s afro! The key to guaranteeing effortless, frizz free curls is proper styling product application. Always start with a fresh, clean palette on day #1. Cleanse, Condition, Moisturize, then apply your styling product of choice. We recommend co-washing for type 3s, which is a method of simply washing your hair with conditioner instead of shampoo. "This often leaves hair smoother, softer, and easier to manage."
At the end of the curly hair spectrum is Very Curly hair. Very curly hair is oftentimes classified as 3C. 3C hair is a curly hair type that is made up of tight coils with volume and lots of strands that are packed together to create this texture. 3C was created and added to the hair type chart when it was clear that there was a missing type between 3B and 4A. Type 3C curls are much tighter in circumference. Type 3C hair texture has tight curls and is amply voluminous. The strands are densely packed together, tightly curled and borderlines kinky hair.
Most women have two different hair textures at various parts of their head.
Very Curly Hair Styling Tip:Because very curly hair is densely packed, you will first and foremost need to support the fuller volume, without weighing it down, while keeping your curly follicles moisturized and define. Since sebum from the scalp doesn’t have a direct highway down the lengths due to obstruction from ringlets, oil doesn’t get distributed as evenly. Curly hair is then said to be more prone to dryness, dullness and yes, damage than straighter types.
Type 4 is Kinky hair. Despite many misconceptions, this tightly coiled hair is quite fine and fragile. It is wiry, and delicate by nature. Each strand usually has a zig zag pattern. Kinky hair is the driest hair type, thus it is more prone to breakage and requires a gentle touch. A misconception exists that this hair type does not grow. Kinky hair grows at the same rate as other textures, however, if not treated properly it breaks more than other textures. Treat this hair type like a fine silk blouse – cleanse gently, detangle softly, and avoid harsh chemicals.
A subset of the Kinky hair family is Coily Hair. On the surface, coily hair may seem robust, but it is actually the most fragile of all hair textures because coily hair contains the fewest cuticle layers to protect from dryness. Type 4 coily hair is defined as fine, thin, wiry, and coarse while densely packed in coils. The main challenges coily hair women experience is lack of hair definition, dryness, tangles, shrinkage, and breakage. You can rock your beautiful coils if you take the right steps for hair health, moisture, and styling products that does not dry.
Kinky Coily Hair Care Tips:Because kinky coily hair is dry by nature, and therefore breaks easily, it needs added moisture, daily. Dry hair breaks…well moisturized hair is supple and has elasticity. The key to keeping these natural locks healthy, shiny, and beautiful is to moisturize every step of the way. Start with a creamy, sulfate free, moisturizing cleanser, follow suit with a super hydrating conditioner, prep with a rich moisturizer and style with a rich cream, full of natural oils and rich butters. Look for moisturizing humectants, natural conditioning agents, and exotic extracts to add moisture to these locks. Avoid mineral, and petrolatum oil and heavy waxes. Lastly, steaming is very good practice for type 4 hair. "Giving your hair a good steam will allow the cuticles to open up and help products penetrate.
Hair Types: 4A, 4B, 4C
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