Nkosi Mpofu 08 August 2022

The 4 Types of Hair: How to Identify Your Hair Type

Have you struggled to identify what hair type your hair falls under, and you’re unsure which hair care products are perfect for your hair?

Like most people, you’ve probably browsed the internet for hair care advice and listened to countless videos on “how to” identify your natural hair type.

With the internet flooded with information, it can be a little confusing to find the right source of information.

We’ve put together this article to help you identify your natural hair type and guide you in choosing the right products for your specific hair texture.

Firstly, let’s discuss what defines hair type.

What defines hair type?

Your hair type is defined by the curl pattern of your natural hair and your curl pattern forms based on your hair follicle.

As your hair grows, it takes the shape of your hair follicle and grows out straight, curly, wavey, or coily. Straight hair follicles produce straight hair whereas curvey hair follicles produce curly hair.

Genetics also play a role in determining your hair type and each time your hair goes through its growth cycle, the genetic elements such as curl pattern are reasserted.

The 4 types of hair and how to maintain them

Type 1: Straight hair

This type of hair has no curl pattern, the hair strands can be fine or coarse and fall loosely without waving. Type 1 hair is often very oily and if you have this hair type, be cautious not to use heavy serums and butters on your hair.

Also, avoid over-shampooing as it causes the scalp to produce more oils, instead, dry shampooing is a better option for people with oily hair.

Type 2: Wavy hair

Also, avoid over-shampooing as it causes the scalp to produce more oils, instead, dry shampooing is a better option for people with oily hair.

Type 2 hair is categorized into three:

Type 2A

Type 2A hair is fairly straight from the roots and has an undefined wave.

To prevent this type of hair from flattening out, avoid creamy or oil-based products, instead use a light mouse or gel when styling to define the waves.

Type 2B

Like type 2A, this hair type is fairly straight from the roots and starts to curl from the midpoint of the hair to the ends.

Because of its moderate volume and thickness, type 2B hair doesn't lose its shape easily but it’s prone to frizz. If you have this hair type, use a sulfate-free shampoo which is much gentler on your hair and scalp.

Also, ensure that you use a wide-toothed comb to detangle and enhance your waves.

Type 2C

Type 2C has a more defined S-shape, often very thick and its waves start from the crown right to the ends.

This hair type tends to be frizzy during damp weather which can be frustrating. To enhance and control waves, use anti-humidity products such as the Design Essentials Almond & Avocado Mousse when styling.

Type 3: Curly hair

Like type 2 hair, type 3 is divided into 3 categories:

Type 3A

Type 3A hair has loose curls that react easily to elements such as weather. One thing you should never do to this type of hair is brushing it as it leads to frizz and kills the natural curl pattern.

The best way to manage type 3A hair is to style it while it’s wet to prevent frizz and to allow for better product coverage.

After patting dry your hair, apply a small amount of curl-defining cream.

For an even distribution of the product, use a wide-toothed comb.

Type 3B

Type 3B curls are tighter and coarser than type 3A and do not easily lose their curl pattern, but they are the most prone to dryness and frizz.

With this type of hair, your focus should be on dehydration and frizz. Your curls need a fair amount of moisture, and the best way to keep them hydrated is to apply a lightweight curl-defining cream. As tempting as it is to use a heavy cream for extra moisture, your hair will just end up with a greasy residue.

Avoid products with silicone when styling type 3B hair as they dry the hair and lead to breakage.

Type 3C

Type 3C curls are tighter than type 3B curls and tend to be finer in texture which makes them prone to dryness and breakage.

The good news is that with the right oils and conditioners, you can reassert your curls and give them the perfect shine and definition.

For lighter curls, curling creams are a better option. If your curls are coarse, a curling pudding is a better option as it is heavier than a curling cream.

Type 4A

If you have small, tight coils, you probably fall under type 4A hair. Because of its S pattern, type 4A hair tends to retain moisture better and experiences less shrinkage than the other type 4 hair.

To keep your coils hydrated, the use of oils such as jojoba oil, avocado oil, Jamaican black castor oil, and curling creams will enhance your natural hair texture. Always ensure that your hair is damp before styling it will make it easy to work through it without ripping the strands apart and also give you better product coverage.

Type 4B

Type 4B hair has a zigzag-like shape and experiences more shrinkage and moisture loss than type 4A.

The best way to maintain type 4B hair is to ensure your hair stays hydrated whilst maintaining defined coils. Type 4B loves rich formulas, so don’t be shy to feed it with a rich hair butter.

Type 4C

Type 4C has similar characteristics as type 4B, however, its zigzag pattern is tighter and almost invisible to the eye. This type of hair is also the most delicate and prone to dryness and shrinkage.

To maximize moisture retention on type 4C hair, always work on damp hair, using the LOC method ( leave-in, oil, and cream), section hair into smaller chunks, and apply leave-in conditioner from root to tips, using your fingers to detangle the hair.

Layer the leave-in with oil like castor oil, jojoba oil, or grapeseed oil depending on how porous your hair is. For an easy stretch out without the application of heat, twist out your hair after moisturizing. This also enables your hair to lock in moisture.

For softer hair grapeseed oil and jojoba oil work best and for coarse type 4C hair a thicker oil like castor oil is a much better option.