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The *ultimate* guide to your hair type

Hair texture is a unique part of who you are. Knowing the type of texture you have will help you establish what products to use and which styles could ultimately cause breakage for you hair. It's important to work with your hair texture rather than against it. Read on for our *ultimate* hair guide.

Type 1:


 

Straight
Straight hair is the hardest hair to damage of all the hair types (but still, don’t put too much heat on these tresses!). It’s also the oilest, so if you have Type 1 hair it’s best to wash it daily. The positive to the excess oil is that straight hair has the most sheen and rarely gets dull. Most shampoos and conditioners will work fine for you.

Type 2:
Wavy


2A
These are the loosest of the wavy type hair. Your waves start at the ends of your hair. 2A hair is similar to straight hair but it’s prone to frizziness and slightly less sheen. Most hairstyles should stay intact, just don’t run your fingers through it. You may have problems with volume so make sure you use gel or mousse to keep it plump.

2B
Your hair is mostly straight at the root but from the mid-section towards the bottom you get a loose body wave. It gets more frizzy than 2A. To keep frizziness at bay, after you wash your hair, add a leave-in conditioner and wrap your hair in a towel to dry.

2C
These waves start at the crown of your head and move all the way down. 2C hair is resistant to style changes and would rather stay in its natural state. Try to rock looks that don’t heavily rely on heat.

Type 3:
Curly

3A
3A hair is very full and bodied. Your curls are tighter than waves but still relatively loose. You can see very large S-shapes throughout your curl pattern. Finger twirling your hair with you favorite styling product should keep them defined throughout the day.

3B
Tighter and curlier. 3B hair is made up of tight curls about the circumference of your forefinger. Product buildup may be a problem since your hair is so dense. Natural cleaners should help keep buildup at bay.

3C
These curls are very coily. They will start to curl into each other and the amount of frizz you get will go up. Most describe this curl pattern as corkscrew. The curls will also shrink a lot when you get them wet. Do not use heat to stretch 3C hair. Look into twist outs or braid outs to get the length you want.

Type 4
Kinky

4A
The pattern of 4 type hair moves from S shaped to z shapes. 4A is a hybrid between s and z. The hair is very fine and fragile and you must treat it with great care. It is also the most versatile of hairs and can be styled in almost any way. Wash n’ go hairstyles are the best for this type of hair, make sure to remember to lock a lot of moisture in it.

4B
This hair is fluffy and resembles cotton candy. It has a firm z pattern and is subject to dryness and damage. You also experience 70 percent shrinkage. Deep conditioners are a must for your hair development.

4C
4C is the most unique of all the hair textures because it doesn’t have a defined pattern. You must braid it or twist to get the curls you would like. This hair shrinks more than any other kind of hair and it also dries out easier than other hair so make sure to keep it moisturized. A great method to add moisture: After your hair is wet add your favorite natural curl activator or leave-in conditioner then top it off with a sealant oil like castor oil or olive oil.


All hair is beautiful. It is important to take care of the hair that you have and not worry about what anyone says about your hair texture.

What is you hair texture? Let us know in the comments!

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by India Afriyie | 3/18/2018
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