Am I type 2 or 3 hair?

If it dries with a slight curve or “S” shape, then it's considered wavy hair (type 2). If your hair dries with a defined curl or loop pattern, you have one of two curl types. Type 3 curly hair has springy ringlets or corkscrew curl patterns but is not as dense as coily hair.


What is Type 2 and Type 3 hair?

Type 1 hair is straight. Type 2 is best described as wavy. Type 3 hair is curly, and type 4 is coily. You may have different curl patterns on different parts of your head. To keep curls healthy, bouncy, and defined, you'll need to experiment with products to find the ones that work best for your hair.

What does Type 3 hair look like?

Type 3: Curly Hair

This category encompasses hair that curls into springs and corkscrew shapes. When hair is wet, curls usually look like waves but take on a three-dimensional swirl shape as they dry. Each strand of this hair type can be unique.


How to figure out your hair type?

Hair structure

Take a piece of hair in between your fingers and rub it back and forth. If you don't feel anything, your hair type is considered fine. If you can feel the hair in between your fingers your hair type is medium. If your hair feels thick in between your fingers , then your hair type is coarse.

Do I have Type 3 hair?

If your curls easily wrap around the sidewalk chalk, then you have type 3A hair. If the permanent marker is the best fit, then your hair type is 3B. If your spiral curls are the size of a pencil, you have type 3C hair.


Find Out What Your Hair Type Really Is



What does Type 3 curly hair look like?

Type 3 hair is a curly hair texture with a definitive 's' pattern. They are also spiral curls, ranging from loose and bouncy loops to tight and springy textures similar to corkscrews. The hair follicles are oval, resulting in each strand's curl.

What does c3 hair look like?

Type 3C hair has a defined curl that holds a tight, S-shaped pattern. "3C hair is dense, and most people who have this hair type have curly and coiled strands blended into their hair pattern," Williams says.

What does 2B hair look like?

They tend to be straight at the crown and start forming a defined wavy texture at the midpoint of the locks that continues down to the ends. It has a moderate amount of volume and thickness and doesn't lose its shape easily. Even wet hair still maintains a noticeable wavy pattern.


How do I know if my hair is 2C or 2B?

Type 2B hair is wavy and slightly frizzier than Type 2A hair. When dry, individual strands create an “S” shape with some frizz. Type 2C hair waves start from the scalp and are thicker than other Type 2 subcategories. This coarse hair type is the most prone to frizz and forms an “S” shape when dry.

Do I have 2B or 2C hair?

2B hair consists of 'S' shaped waves in the lengths, but sits relatively straight at the roots. 2C hair has even more defined 'S' shaped curls that start from the root and continue down the lengths of the hair. Once you've identified you have wavy hair, you should also explore your hair's porosity.

How often should Type 3 hair be washed?

Shampoo once a week

This is common for type 3 hair, and it's why you'll need a moisturizing shampoo and conditioner. We'd recommend cutting back your routine and washing your hair only once a week if you're doing it more often. Shampoo can really dry out your hair by stripping the natural oils from your scalp.


How should I sleep with Type 3 hair?

Freshly washed ponytail. To do a cute, wet ponytail overnight, you'll have to define your wet curls with the product of your choice, plop, and then create a high, loose bun. Secure the style with a satin or silk scarf to prevent frizz as you sleep. In the morning take the bun down and put your hair in a ponytail.

What is the most difficult hair type?

Thick (Coarse)

Thick or coarse hair texture is the strongest hair texture and typically feels coarse or thick to the touch. Coarse hair contains all three hair layers – the cortex, cuticle and medulla.

Does Type 3 hair shrink?

Type 3b Curls

Each curl is about as wide as a tapered candlestick. Because 3b curls are fairly tight and springy, this hair type experiences a lot of shrinkage when it goes from wet to dry. Since these curls are more defined than that of a looser texture, it takes a lot of time and effort to change their curl pattern.


Can Type 2 hair be curly?

Type 2 Characteristics

The type 2 pattern is neither straight nor curly, but instead sits in the middle of the two, ranging from loose loops to large S-shaped waves. The waves sit close to the head and become curlier from the ears onwards.

What does type 2a hair look like?

Type 2a hair tends to lie flat at the roots and starts to form waves at eye-level. This gradual change in texture can make hair look inconsistent. The shape of these strands don't take on the slight curl pattern of 2c hair types nor do they have the definite wave texture of a 2b hair type.

What does 2c curls look like?

Type 2C can be described as a deep wave, or “a true definition of S-waves,” says celebrity hairstylist Marcus Francis. Almost curly, your hair is manageable to style but prone to frizz—still with a smooth texture to each strand. That means it's also more vulnerable to heat damage, especially when chemically treated.


What 2c hair looks like?

Like all type 2 hair, 2c hair is wavy, but that often feels like a technicality. Your S-bend hair is thick and the waves start at the roots. If you've ever been confused about whether your hair is wavy or curly, it's likely you have the 2c hair type.

What does type 3a hair look like?

Type 3a hair is characterized by well-defined spiral curls that are typically the size of a piece of sidewalk chalk. Although the circumference of 3a curls is wider than that of 3b and 3c hair, it can be difficult to tell the three curl types apart.

Should 2B hair be layered?

“Layers are important to encourage the curl and add volume. I find this technique works best as it allows the texture to support itself without creating a triangular shape.” If you want to encourage stronger waves, then keeping the texture at its optimal length will help to do this.


Is 2B considered Curly?

2B Hair type is best described as wavy hair. This hair type is not quite curly and it's not quite straight. If your hair is mostly flat and straight at the roots but gets wavier and more “S” shaped toward the bottom, then you have 2B hair!

Is 2B curly or wavy?

2B hair refers to wavy hair with a moderate curl diameter. The curl pattern is straight at the roots and wavy at the tips. From the center of the strand until its end, the S-shaped curl is evident. This type of hair might develop frizz at the crown and get unmanageable, especially when exposed to humidity.

Why is my 3C hair so frizzy?

Due to the more extreme curves and bends in 3c hair, this curl type experiences the most shrinkage. Natural oils (sebum) also find it difficult to traverse the twisting trajectory of your hair shafts. That's why 3c hair is the most vulnerable to dryness and frizz amongst the curly hair types.


What does c4 hair look like?

Type 4c. 4c hair is the queen of thick, bold afros. From afar, 4c hair looks like a thick fro, but if you look closely, you'll notice very tight, small springs or coils on each strand. Coils are pretty different from curls.

Is Type 3 hair afro?

The Andre Walker Hair Typing System classifies afro-textured hair as 'type 4' (there are other types of hair, defined as type 1 for straight hair, type 2 for wavy, and type 3 for curly, with the letters A, B, and C used as indicators of the degree of coil variation in each type), with the subcategory of type 4C being ...