We often look for natural hair care tips with the assumption that they apply to all naturalistas. However, natural hair textures and experiences vary from person to person. We all have different natural hair types. The texture of one’s hair makes a huge impact on how they must care for it, maintain styles and wash it. Knowing your texture is vital information, but it can be difficult to determine what your hair texture is. There’s no need to look any further: Here’s the 4-1-1 on the main natural hair textures, types and categories.
Type 1 hair is often just defined as straight hair.
Type 1A is bone straight and it’s not the best for holding a curl. It can often look a little limp. A lot of people with this texture also experience more oil than others.
Type 1B is still straight but with a little more volume. It will most likely have a slight curl at the end.
Type 1C hair is super thick and has a few waves. Because of that, it’s extremely prone to frizz.
Type 2 hair is basically defined as wavy hair.
Type 2A is referred to as “the classic bedhead look.” The waves are slight and pretty much just do their own thing.
Type 2B has a deeper wave to it. People with this hair type can wash their hair and just add some mousse for extra hold.
Type 2C hair is perfect for those of us who love to use a curling wand. 2C hair has super deep waves, but curls as well. These strands really come to life when they’ve been moisturized.
We’ve talked about the straight and the wavy, but curly’s up next.
Type 3 hair is all about curls for the girls.
Type 3A is a loose curl pattern that almost resembles that of a wave, but the diameter on these curls is pretty large.
Type 3B strands are stretched out spirals. These curls hang down to the shoulders, as opposed to sprouting outward from the scalp.
Type 3C has the thickest curls. They resemble a corkscrew and are definitely prone to frizz.
Type 4 hair has tightly coiled curls and kinks.
Type 4A is characterized by miniature curls. When the hair is wet, it can shrink down to less than half of its authentic length.
Type 4B strands are z-shaped kinks and s-shaped curls. This particular type of hair is more likely to experience frizz than 4A.
Type 4C resembles the afro of activist Angela Davis. These strands often have no specific curl pattern.
These are the four hair types to help you identify what kind of tresses you have. The key thing is to consider that you might have multiple hair textures on your head. I’m typically identified as having type 4A hair. But in certain parts of my head, my curls are looser, resembling a 3C curl pattern. Whatever the case, be sure to care for your hair properly. Use products and style your hair according to what works best for you. Being able to determine what category your hair texture falls under will surely make your hair — and the process — more manageable.
