Curly Hair 101. What All Are The Different Types Of Curly Hair?

Why Do I Have To Identify My Curly Hair Types?

Different hair types have varying needs when it comes to care and maintenance. Different types of curly hair need special hair care products such as shampoos and conditioners. By identifying yours, you can determine the most suitable products, techniques, and hairstyles that will work best for you.

Moreover, It'll help you troubleshoot common hair concerns. Whether you struggle with frizz, lack of volume, or scalp problems, having a clear understanding of your unique hair type can direct you towards effective solutions specifically tailored to your needs.

Well-Known Hair Typing System

To identify your curl pattern, you have to know the hair typing system first. There are many systems created all over the world including LOIS, Andre Walker hair typing system and FIA's hair typing system. In this topic, we will discuss the widely popular and widely used Andre Walker one.

Andre Walking hair typing system categorized hair pattern into 4 main categories: straight, wavy, curly and coily. To put the hair type in simpler words and numbers, consider the hair types in the following number schemes.

- Type 1 is straight hair.

- Type 2 is wavy hair.

- Type 3 is curly hair.

- Type 4 is coily hair.

Different Types Of Curly Hair

Alan Walking's hair typing system categorizes curly hair types into three different types: type 2, 3, and 4. Let's go into details of each different types of curly hair.

I. Type 2 Wavy Hair

Type 2 hair is mostly like wavy hair with loose texture. In general, this hair type has an S-shape wave that defines it. This type of hair is very popular in Europe and America. When wet, Type 2 usually appears straight and forms undulations as it dries.

Type 2A

This hair type is straight at the root and becomes wavy from the middle to the ends of the hair strands. This type is one of the most popular hairstyles, you can see it everywhere on the street. The beauty of this hair comes from its loosely tousled and messy texture. However, it doesn't mean that you can let it messy and tangle without any treatment and styling.

Type 2B

2b hair is a higher level of curl pattern than the 2A one. The  S-shaped waves are closer with higher volume. When it comes to styling, those with 2b hair often find success with techniques that enhance and define their waves.

Type 2C

Type 2c wave hair features well-defined waves that begin at the roots and may also include attractive ringlet curls. This hair type is typically thick, but it can be prone to frizz.

II. Type 3 Curly Hair

Upgrading the waves to become more prominent shapes of springy corkscrews are the best examples of how curly hair is. Curly hair is often ranging from loose loops to tight loops of curly hair textures.

>> Read more: Top trending types of curly weave hair <<

Type 3A

Type 3A curly hair is characterized by its stretched spirals, which have a larger diameter and cascade down from the crown. Unlike coarse textures, this hair type is usually soft to the touch and exhibits bouncy and vibrant curls, even with minimal styling.

Type 3B

Type 3B curly hair is characterized by its well-defined corkscrew-shaped springs that are of medium size. These distinct coils create a beautiful and unique texture.

Type 3C

Type 3C curly hair is a different type of curly hair which is characterized by smaller, tightly-packed springs that differ from type 3B curls. These curls can range from precisely defined coils to loose helix shapes, adding versatility and uniqueness to the texture.

III. Type 4 Coily Hair

Type 4, as clear by now with the other hair types, is naturally coarse and spongy in hair texture. This hair type is also often known as kinky hair or afro-textured hair in the curly world of hair types with a zig-zag pattern starting right from the follicles. Type 4A are denser and have springy S patterns of coily hair-like textures

Type 4A

Type 4A hair is characterized by its dense and springy S-shaped patterns, forming tight coils with a coily texture. Proper application and care, including the use of leave-in moisturizers, can make managing this type of hair easier.

Type 4B

Type 4B hair is characterized by its distinctive sharp angles, which can even form Z-shaped patterns with its coils. This hair type is often thick and requires proper styling techniques. Using styling creams can help shape and manage type 4B hair, whether you're looking to achieve shingling or palm-rolling styles

Type 4C

Type 4C hair is characterized by tightly coiled strands that are highly fragile and have a distinctive zig-zag shape. These coils can make hair much shorter, which can make it difficult to style and take care of.

How To Take Care For Different Types Of Curly Hair

There are some tips for you to maintain the performance of the different types of curly hair.

- Moisturizing is a must-have step: The defining characteristic of curly hair is dry. So, in order to get the smoothness and reduce shedding, you have to focus on high quality moisturizing products.

- Comb with wide-tooth combs or your fingers: It's very easy for curly hair to tangle. To get a clean look, you have to detangle them by using wide-tooth combs or your fingers to avoid shedding.

- Don't overuse heat tools: I know that heat tools are very necessary for styling. However, heat tools are the main factors that cause your hair to lose moisture from deep inside.

Conclusion

Most of the curly hair will have some of the other differences when you would compare them. Understanding different types of curly hair will make curly heads have more faith in their hair care routine invariably. After learning about curly hair types, we expect you to understand how to care for your specific type.