Every hair tells a story, and each one whispers tales of resilience, rebellion, and radiant beauty! Our hair is not just a feature; it’s a masterpiece. There are several types of hair, from the smoothest silken tresses to the wildest, most intricate coils.
These hairs reflect creativity, our unique personalities, and our cultural identities. Do you know what are the types of hair? Commonly, we only know about straight, wavy, and curly hair types, but there are actually 12 types of hair. However, different kinds of hair are good, but their care also differs, and sometimes it becomes extremely challenging to make them look shiny and healthy. To better understand how to care for and style our hair, it’s crucial to recognize the vast diversity of hair types that exist.
Do you know your hair type? If not, keep reading this post! Today, in this blog, I’ll take you into the world of hair, where we explore and learn about different types of hair, their characteristics, and the best ways to care for each type. With the help of this guide, you can easily identify yours based on the curl pattern, hair texture, and thickness of your strands.
So, let’s get started with the different types of hair.
Straight hair looks absolutely stunning and gorgeous; however, it lacks volume and depth. This type of hair is one of the most common types of hair, which can be found in a variety of ranges, from silky thin to thick poofy. Sometimes, it’s quite hard to add thickness and texture, and they’re also prone to getting oilier as compared to other hair types. Straight hair is also classified into 3 sub-categories,
Type 1a
The first subtype of straight hair is known as type 1a, which consists of the most flat, thin, and silky of the straight hair types. This simply means this type of hair doesn’t have natural curls or waves. It requires a lot of work and some magical power to keep them in place. Why? Because curling and volumizing products don’t work here. You can use hair gel, spray, or cream to style your straight hair.
Type 1b
Type 1b hair is again super straight, but it has slightly coarser volume and bends. However, with its goodness of thickness and bends at the ends, it also comes with greasy roots. But they’re a bit easier to style and hold curls better than type 1a hairs.
Type 1c
The last subtype of straight hair is type 1c, which has a bit of thick and voluminous hair as compared to the other two types. The good news is that these hairs have texture and can hold curls well. Moreover, these hairs are less prone to getting oily and flat but can be a bit poofy and dry.
Type 2: Wavy Hair
The easiest way to understand the wavy curls is that these hairs lie just between straight hair (Type 1) and curly hair (Type 3). Wavy hair has s-shaped waves or loose curls, making it extremely beautiful. You can easily style them with a few styling tools and products. The only concerning thing is that they usually get oily and dirty as compared to straight hair.
Here are the subtypes of wavy hair:
Type 2a
This type of hair type has a gentle, flat s-pattern, which gives a gorgeous wave hair look. You can easily style and manage them without much effort. So, if you’re going on a date or shopping with friends, these hairs can be blown out and straightened pretty easily. This way, you’ll get a natural-looking bounce and volume, which will surely catch everybody’s attention.
Type 2b
Now, let’s understand what type 2b is in wavy hair. Here, the hair has more defined S-shaped waves. If you have a bit of thick strands along with this pattern, you have type 2b wavy hair. You can either go with a natural wavy look or use a straightener to get a more sleek, straight hair look. The only thing you should look out for is the frizz, as these hairs often get frizzy and dry. To tackle this, you can use a wave-enhancing mousse or an anti-frizz serum.
Type 2c
Check in the mirror to see if the S-pattern in your hair is more defined. If it is, congrats, you have wavy hair type 2c, and if not, keep reading to find out! These thick and coarse hairs are a bit challenging to manage without any styling products.
You also have to give them extra care and attention to tame the frizz, especially in humid weather conditions. Use a lightweight curl cream and serum to give some definition and prevent damage.
Type 3: Curly Hair
Curly hair, just don’t care!
This type of hair doesn’t require any introduction, as you can easily recognize it with just one look. Here, the curls can vary from tight to loose. These hairs consist of waves and curls, along with lots and lots of texture. The only disadvantage is that not every hairstyle will work on these; you have to go with specific hairstyling tools and products to get the desired look.
Now let’s quickly take a look at its types:
Type 3a
This one has loose curls, which look somewhat like large corkscrews. Look at the above picture; you will get a fair idea of how curly 3a hair type looks in real life. This one is slightly thicker, finer, and smoother as compared to type 3b and 3c hair. These hairs look beautiful naturally, but if you want to style them differently, you can use a straightener and some hair straightening gel. The only drawback of curly hair is that it’s sensitive to humidity and wind, which can lead to frizz and dryness.
Type 3b
If the circumference of your curls is similar to the width of the barrel of a Sharpie marker, you have type 3b curly hair. It has a bit tighter and more defined curls from the roots, which gives them more volume. However, they’re prone to frizz, but this can be cured with proper care. So, if you want to make your ringlets look good and in a spiral shape, you have to regularly apply hair moisture.
Type 3c
Look at these tight and springy curls—don’t they look gorgeous?
Curly hair in this category looks pretty similar to coily hair (Type 4). These curls are way more noticeable than the other curly hair subtypes (Type 3a, Type 3b, and Type 3c). They are the size of a straw or pencil and are kind of thick, too! This is why this hairstyle also looks quite voluminous and sexy at the same time!
The only thing you have to take care of is to give the curls lots of moisture and treatment to keep them in perfect shape. To manage them, use moisture-rich products, natural oils, and chemical-free shampoos. This will reduce the frizz, and there will be less chance of hair breakage.
Type 4: Coily Hair
Sorry, I can’t hear you over the volume of my hair!
Yes, we’re talking about stunning coily hair, which is also known as kinky or Afro-textured hair. These hair features range from extremely tight, coiled spring-like patterns to a zigzag pattern. These tight, kinky curls look amazing, but because of their angles, it isn’t easy to oil the scalp. That’s the reason this hair type faces the most hair issues, like dryness, damage, and breakage. But the good thing is that it is curable with a few hair care routines and tips.
Type 4a
Let’s explore the first subtype of coily hair, which can be easily determined by a tight and zigzag pattern. Many times, people confuse them with the type 3c hair type. They might look fine and delicate, but these hairs are highly resilient. To keep them healthy and their curls in good kinky condition, detangle and moisturize them on a regular basis.
Type 4b
Type 4b hair features tight, densely packed coils in a zigzag pattern with kinky textures. As compared to type 4a, this one is more fragile and prone to damage, thus requiring extra attention and care. To prevent hair problems like shrinkage and dryness, you can use an elongating gel and a good hair moisturizer.
Type 4c
The last or 12th type of hair is the type 4c hair, which is quite coarse and has one of the tightest coils. If you take a look at the above picture, you’ll know that they have a kinky or zigzag pattern. And just like the other coily hair types, this one also needs hair care, such as deep conditioning and protective styling. Use an emollient-rich cream to give more moisture to the ends of the hair.
Care and Maintenance For Different Types of Hair
Now that you know the various types of hair, it will be easy for you to determine which type of hair you have. So we can move forward to care and maintenance; as it’s important to take care of hair properly to keep it healthy and shiny for a long time.
Here are some tips for all types of hair that you should follow:
Straight Hair
Overall, straight hair is the easiest type of hair to care for, but you still have to follow some hair care routines to get the best hair.
Use a gentle, sulfate-free shampoo to wash your hair at least 2 to 3 times a week.
Use a high-quality conditioner after every wash to hydrate and moisturize your hair.
Avoid or minimize using heat styling tools to reduce the hair damage caused by excessive heat.
Even if you’re using it, try to use a heat protectant and oil-free styling product to add shine and control frizz.
Wavy Hair
The next hair type is wavy, which requires some work as compared to straight hair, but still, it’s manageable.
To achieve healthy and shiny wavy hair, use a hydrating shampoo and conditioner.
You should wash your wavy hair every other day or third day to prevent dryness.
Try to dry your hair naturally, or use a diffuser. Doing this will help you to prevent frizz in humid weather.
If you’re facing frizz hair issues, try a leave-in conditioner or anti-frizz serum.
Curly Hair
Compared to straight and wavy hair, curly hair is more dry and fragile. This is why they need special hair care.
Use a moisturizing, sulfate-free shampoo and conditioner that is made specifically for curly hair. This will help to maintain its health and minimize tangling.
Apply a leave-in conditioner or curl-enhancing cream to define curls.
However, if you style your hair more often using heat styling tools, it’s highly recommended to use a heat-protectant serum first.
Detangle gently with a wide-tooth comb or fingers when wet.
Coily Hair
Coily hair thrives with regular moisture and gentle detangling.
To keep your tight curls or coils in the s-pattern, use a curl gel for finger-coiling.
For this hair type, it’s best to go with protective types of hair styles such as twists and braids. Doing this will be highly beneficial for the growth of the hair, and it also prevents breakage.
FAQs
Are there different types of straight hair?
Yes, there are different types of straight hair, ranging from Type 1a (finest and straightest) to Type 1c (thickest and coarsest).
What is the rarest hair type?
The rarest hair type is often considered to be Type 4c coily hair, which features tightly coiled curls and a kinky or zigzag pattern.
What does Type 3 hair look like?
Type 3 hair has tight curls, and it is divided into 3 categories: Type 3a (fine and smooth), Type 3b (loose and springy curls), and Type 3c (thick and coarse).
All You Need Is Love and Great Hair!
Every hair is unique and beautiful in its own way! This is why understanding your hair type is crucial so that you can use products that suit you best. Whether you have straight, curly, or coily hair, you can make them silky, smooth, and frizz-free just by doing a proper hair care routine and styling. So, first, find the type of hair, follow the hair tips that we have mentioned in the blog, and you’ll get healthy, lustrous hair that will perfectly reflect your personality.
