Which curly hair type

Each strand of this hair type can be unique. Look for products that are specially formulated for curls and to prevent frizz. This category is the one most likely to involve different hair types fine, medium, or thick and also combine wavy and coily strands.

Curl type 3A features stretched spirals of curls that are large in diameter and roll down from the crown. With large soft curls, this hair is usually not coarse to the touch, and springs are bouncy and full of life even when minimally styled. Look for light styling creams to help control strands when styling and drying. Though this curl type can be straightened with a flat iron or a blow-dry brush , prepare to add a little elbow grease to get your desired look; try our GH Beauty Award winner Drybar The Double Shot Blow-Dryer Brush , which is proven to add volume while creating a smooth blowout.

Type 3B has well-defined medium size springs that resemble corkscrews. No need to boost volume for this curl type, as these spirals create fullness by bouncing off each other. Hair oils and serums that keep the frizz away and give shine may be all that is needed to keep 3B curls looking lush.

Type 3C hair has springs that are smaller and more tightly-packed than 3B, and they can vary from precisely defined to loose helixes. To keep these curls full and soft, use gentle shampoos such as cleansing conditioners a.

Hair gels generally can keep this type of curl in place and also provide frizz protection. We recommend alcohol-free Dove Amplified Textures Shine and Moisture Finishing Gel to enhance natural curly texture, made with softening jojoba and coconut oils. It can also incorporate the two shapes.

Type 4 curls can shrink when dried, so to determine if this is your curl pattern, give it a closer look when hair is wet and dried. Curl type 4A can be recognized by its small but distinctively S-shaped strands sequenced into looped, tight rings. To minimize any damage, use shampoos and conditioners that are rich with moisturizing agents and gently pat hair dry without excessive rubbing.

This type of hair will also benefit from additional nourishment from hair creams and oils to keep ringlets plush to the touch and protected from moisture.

To make matters easier, Breyer's company created an online quiz to easily help women identify their natural curl type. People can see at a glance what their hair type is and identify the best products from my collection for them. It's a universal visual language for hair: Just match the shape that your strands make with the shape on the icon: kinky, coily, curly, wavy, straight, or damaged.

And if you're still stuck, Bailey has a slightly different tip. She recommends examining your curls while they're wet—the texture will be evident.

Turns out, the answer is unanimously yes. That's part of the fun of being a curly girl. All of us are in-between, and no two textures are alike. The diameter of the hair may be different, the density of the strands may vary, and the porosity and growth cycles of the strands will change.

Everyone has more than one hair type or texture. In the back it may be one texture, very curly, fine and fragile; the midsection may be dense with less curl and more frizz; and the front hairline may be softer and less curly and have more breakage.

Breyer laid out her favorite, go-to products for each curl type :. Type 2: Make sure to use lighter products that won't weigh your hair down. Mousses, gels, and cream-gels work well for soft waves. To enhance your texture, sea salt sprays work especially well. Type 3a to 3b: Use an anti-humectant humidity-blocking styling cream, cream gel, or styling milk for less frizz but more definition. Type 3c: Use styling creams or puddings that moisturize. Deep condition at least once a week to retain elasticity and moisture.

Type 4: Use a creamy humectant as a leave-in treatment to maximize protection and moisture. A curl-defining custard or gelee can stretch the coil safely for twist-outs and braid-outs. The shampoo in particular is packed with hydrating plant oils and strand-strengthening ingredients such as green tea extract and chamomile flower. Whipped Deep Conditioner is a luxurious treat for restoring all stressed hair. A lot of my clients like to use this on a Sunday night every few weeks as part of their home pampering session.

Bailey touts this curl smoothie for its ability to enhance your curl pattern while lightly hydrating. Strands are densely packed together, giving way to lots of natural volume. Frizziness is common with this type; if that's not a look you're into, use a sulfate-free, creamy cleanser, like the Oyin Handmade Ginger Mint Co-Wash , that won't dry out your hair even more. Dickey also favors layering a mousse such as the Cantu Wave Whip Curling Mousse over a styling cream like the Eden BodyWorks Coconut Shea Curl Defining Creme when the hair is sopping wet to allow curls to clump together and dry faster.

Coily hair, commonly referred to as Afro-textured or kinky hair, is naturally very dry and spongy in texture and can be soft and fine or coarse and wiry. Strands form very tight, small curls of zig-zags right from the scalp and are prone to major shrinkage.

People with hair type 4A have dense springy, S-patterned coils that are about the same circumference as a crochet needle. Look to Megan Thee Stallion's texture here. If you're a fan of wash-and-gos , styling should be done more frequently to keep this coily texture popping with soft, pliable strands.

A curling cream with a leave-in moisturizer is a must for adding more moisture to daily wash-and-go styling. This hair type experiences the greatest amount of shrinkage — about 75 percent or more — than the other textures. Knowing your curl type can help you identify the best products, treatments and styling techniques for your curls.

The curl type system focuses on 3 types - wavy, curly and coily, which are then broken down in 3 further sub types that are determined by the shape and diameter of your curl. Match your curl type to the pictures below, and follow these curly ladies for lots of styling tips and product application techniques to make the most out of your curls.

Note that no curl is the same, so you may not fit perfectly into one category or subcategory. Having many different curl types is completely normal and what makes our hair unique!

Wavy hair lies somewhere between straight and curly, and falls in loose S shapes. It has less sheen than straight hair and is more prone to frizz. It needs some extra hydration, but not too much as this will quickly weigh the waves down. Avoid heavy leave-in conditioners, a light application of Curl Creme and Curl Gel works well to enhance and hold those waves in place. Hair texture is usually varied with some true curls in the mix.

Curly hair strands clump together and wind around in a spiral shape forming ringlets. This hair type can be dry, as the natural oil from the root struggles to make its way down the spirals. Curly hair will benefit from regular deep conditioning treatments. Follow our curly method for perfect ringlets.

These curls range from a very tightly coiled S-shaped to a Z-shaped kinky pattern. The hair can appear shorter than it is due to the tightness of the curl known as shrinkage and can feel soft and fine or coarse and wiry depending on the hair thickness.

Type 4 curls are prone to breakage, dryness and tangles.