If you want to know what type of hair you have, this guide is just for you.
Hair Texture
The hair that you were born with may change during your life. The number of disulfide links between hair proteins in the hair shaft will decide the amount of curl or wave of your hair. If there is a high number of protein links, your hair will be more curly.
How Curls are Made
Hair fundamental contains keratin, and protein which extends from the follicle. The cells of the hair follicle formulate keratins, and also other proteins. After the protein becoming a part of the hair shaft, two sulfur atoms connect together and shape a disulfide bond. If the two sulfur atoms in the same protein get too close to each other, the protein will curve accordingly. Therefore curls are made.
Categorization of Hair Texture and Hair Type
Andre Walker is Oprah Winfrey’s favorite hairstylist who created a broad-spectrum hair typing system. This category lists each hair type into 4 types including subcategories.
Straight and Wavy Hair Type
Straight Hair Type
This type of hair goes into a 1 category. Straight hair has the most shine. It is steady against damages and curls. With the absence of any curls or kinks, the sebum (natural oil produced in the sebaceous glands of the scalp) goes all the way to ends from the scalp. Therefore, straight hair is the oiliest hair texture.
Wavy Hair Type
It is in the category of a 2. Wavy hair stands between straight and curly hair. It has also sheen more than curly hair, but not as much as straight hair. If your hair goes down of the wavy spectrum, you have less sheen. This type of hair is more vulnerable to frizz. If you have type A wavy hair, you can easily switch between straight and curly style, but for types B and C, styling is going to be harder.
A Tip For Wavy Hair Styling: As mentioned above, wavy hair is more vulnerable to frizz; Therefore if you want to have amazing waves, use anti-frizz/humidity, protective stylers. At CurlFans we have great stylers made for you to prevent frizz.
Hair Types: 1A, 1B, 1C, 2A, 2B, 2C
Curly Hair Textures
Curly Hair Type
It is of type 3 hair. If you look at this type of hair strand closely, you will detect an S or a lower case s shape. Some curly hairs may also have a Z shape. The amount of frizz in this type depends on the humidity. In addition, curly hair is vulnerable to damages and if you don’t take good care of it, it will become dull.
A Tip For Curly Hair Styling: Curly hair needs the most care of all hair types. If you want to have hair without frizz, you have to apply the right amount of styling product. First cleanse, condition, and moisturize the hair. Afterward, apply the styling product on a day one fresh clean palette.
Hair Types: 3A, 3B
Very Curly Hair Textures
Very Curly Hair Type
All the way down of the curly hair spectrum, you will see Very Curly hair. This type is sometimes categorized as 3C. In this type, lots of strands are stuffed together with a compressed coil with volume which creates its texture. 3C was added to the type chart to fill the missing type between 3B and 4A. Nearly all women have non-identical hair texture at different head parts.
A Tip For Very Curly Hair Styling: As mentioned above, this type of hair is packed tightly; Therefore, you have to use a product that protects hair volume and keeps your curly follicles hydrated, and also in great shape. Curly hair is more vulnerable to dryness because of the sebum not getting through the end of hair from the scalp. It is also prone to damages more than the straight type.
Hair Types: 3C
Kinky Coily Hair Type
Kinky Hair Type
This hair is type 4. Kinky hair can be damaged very easily. It is the driest type; Therefore, it is vulnerable to breakage and needs good care. Unlike the misconception, this type can grow like other types of hairs, but it requires proper care against breakage. To keep kinky hair in great shape, cleanse and detangle softly, and never use severe chemicals.
Coily Hair Type
Coily Hair is a subtype of the Kinky Hair family. It is the most fragile of all hair types because it lacks the needed cuticle layers to prevent dryness. If you have coily hair, you will face problems such as dryness, tangles, shrinkage, and breakage. Choosing a suitable styling product can moisture your hair and bring it back to life.
A Tip For Kinky Coily Hair Care: Because it is a dry type naturally, to reduce breakage it needs daily care and moisturizing. To keep the hair healthy you need to follow a few steps; First, apply a creamy and moisturizing cleanser that does not contain sulfate. Next, continue with a super hydrating conditioner. Use a moisturizer that is full of natural oils and butter. Never use products that contain minerals, and petrolatum oil, and heavy waxes. Finally, a hair vitamin can be a great option for hair health support and growth. You can find the best products for your hair at CurlFans.
Hair Types: 4A, 4B, 4C
Frequently Asked Questions About Hair Types:
Your hair can become curly as you age if you inherit both straight and curly hair genes from your parents. Some of these genes can be inactive at birth but become active later on due to hormones, aging, or other factors such as medication, nutrition, stress, illness, or pollution.
The misconception is that shaving your head will make your hair straighter or smoother. Even after shaving, curly hair will remain curly.
A lack of moisture commonly causes frizzy straight hair in your hair due to humidity, damage, and dryness.
The texture of 2A hair tends to be tousled. A 2B hairstyle has S-shaped waves in lengths but sits relatively straight at the roots. Hair with 2C curls has even more defined S-shaped curls that follow the hair shaft from root to tip.
Because your hair texture is hardwired into your DNA, you can’t change it from one type to another. However, you can improve the texture of your hair to ensure it is as healthy as possible.
Wavy hair is the best description of the 2B hair type. This hair type is neither curly nor straight. You may have 2B hair if your roots are mostly flat and straight, but at the bottom, your hair becomes wavy and more “S” shaped.
> Washing them in hot water.
> Using a regular towel.
> Not using a diffuser.
> Brushing them.
> Washing them too much.
> Not conditioning enough.
> Using regular hair ties.
> Touching them.
It is a sign that you don’t have straight hair if you see kinks. When drying your hair, try not to touch it and see how that goes instead of brushing your hair out and causing your natural waves to drop.
