Overview:
Just like the skin, your hair holds a lot of importance in terms of it's type, texture, and specific hair care regimen. And just like with skin types, there is also a specialized way to identify and categorize different types of hair. This formulaic way has been used by trichologists, hairstylists, and other hair professionals as well.
If you want to achieve shiny, lustrous, and healthy hair, then you must know your hair type first and have adequate knowledge about the proper hair care routine and the right products for your hair type. But if you’re completely unaware and clueless about all these tiny details then don’t worry, we have your back.
In this blog, we’re going to cover some of the important aspects of hair and the types as well as a specific hair care regimen for each hair type. So without further ado, let's get started.
What does hair type mean?
If we look at the structure of hair, we come to know that hair is made up of two parts, hair bulb – a root inside our scalp skin and hair shaft – hair strand that we see on the outside.
Hair type typically means the shape of a person’s hair and this shape is determined by the shape of its hair bulb or hair follicle. Always remember your hair type greatly depends on the genetic factors that you cant change.
Hair shape means the degree of curliness of a person’s hair. The more oval or asymmetrical your hair follicle is, the curlier your hair will be and if your hair follicle is symmetrical that means your hair is straight.
Types of Hair:
Based on the shape of the hair bulb, your hair is divided into four main types and these types are further sub-categorized into a, b, and c types.
Type 1 – Straight:
Straight hair is the strongest of all other natural hair types. It is usually glossy in appearance and reflects light to the eye. Unlike other curly types, straight hair greases faster because the natural oil from your scalp travels down quickly making the hair oily. In addition to this, It is resistant to curling due to its symmetrical pattern that’s why this type of hair needs extra chemical treatment to achieve the desired results. Straight hair type requires heat styling as it does not hold hairstyles on their own. Straight hair is further divided into three subcategories.
Type 1A – Hair that falls in this subcategory is dead straight, and fine with no hint of a wave or curl. Holding curls for this type is also very difficult. This type of hair is quite rare to find but, Asian women are classified to have type 1A straight hair.
Type 1B – This type is not that much flat as compared to type 1A but still is very straight. This type of hair is thick with medium texture and has more volume hence giving it more body. Type 1B is generally straight if left un styled but still, it can hold the curls if styled properly.
Type 1C – This type still falls under the flat category but if air-dried after the shower, it gives an untidy look. Unlike the other two subtypes, type 1C hair looks coarser and shinier which makes it prone to frizz depending upon the environmental factors and climate change.
Type 2 – Wave:
Wavy hair texture is thicker than type 1 hair and may serve as a medium between straight hair and curly hair. Much of the hair in this type may appear straight with slight bends towards the ends forming an S-shaped curl.
Wavy hair looks gorgeous, but it is more prone to frizz which requires extra care to achieve the perfect waves. As it possesses a certain shape and texture, it is not as oily as type 1. Wavy hair is also divided into three subcategories.
Type 2A – This hair type is very fine and thin. It ranges from loose loops to S-shaped waves. Styling is so easy in this type because the hair lacks volume and definition.
Type 2B – Here, the hair is mostly straight at the roots but achieves more defined S-shaped curls from the mid-length. It has a medium texture and is frizzier compared to type 2A.
Type 2C – Is the gorgeous one because the curls start from the roots and are more defined. The texture is thick and more prone to dryness and frizz.
Type 3 – Curly:
Curly hair type is quite common among women. These curls start from the roots and go down to the entire length of the hair shaft. This type of hair has a kind of curls that go straight when your hair is wet but goes back to being curly when hair gets dry.
Type 3 hair usually forms ringlets that are clearly defined and easy to style. The texture is mostly fine but shows thick texture as well and that’s why it is more prone to frizz, tangles, dryness, and shrinkage. Curly hair type is also further divided into three subcategories.
Type 3A – This type of hair has loose curls, a thick texture, and has a lot more shine. Type 3A hair is easy to style without using hair styling products but it is prone to slight frizz.
Type 3B – It has tighter curls with a combination of textures and is made up of well-defined spiral curls that range from bouncy ringlets to corkscrews. Type 3B hair has a volume and is prone to frizz and dryness just like type 3A.
Type 3C – This type of hair has another name called curly-coily. It has very tight curls and is easy to style. Type 3C is quite voluminous but tends to experience the most shrinkage.
Type 4 – Coils:
Type 4 hair is also known as kinky hair and is most common in Africans and African Americans. This type of hair, has the tightest curls ranging from fine to coarse texture. The curls show S-shape to Z-shape and everything in between. The curls are wiry and delicate and need a gentle touch and hair care routine. Due to the shape of individual hair strands, natural oils are unable to travel down the hair shaft. This is one of the many reasons that people with kinky hair experience dry and itchy scalp. They are also divided into three subcategories.
Type 4A – This type has a soft texture and has very well-defined tight kinks or curls. It is dense, stringy, and wiry in texture with a visible S shape.
Type 4B – This type of hair has very tight curls in a Z shape pattern. Type 4B is soft, prone to breakage, and is less defined as compared to type 4A.
Type 4C – This type is densely packed just like type 4B but with less definition, more shrinkage, and is highly delicate. The curls are tightly coiled and have strands ranging from fine and soft to coarse and wiry. The curls are so tight that they may not look curly at all.
So, this is all about the 12 hair types and their characteristics. This way of classifying hair is used by hairstylists mostly but not doctors and researchers.
Determining your hair type is essential to choosing the right hair care products. There is no such thing as one-size-fits-all. Every hair type has a specific hair care product that is exclusively designed to cater to all its specific concerns. For example, kinky hair needs a lot of conditioning, but straight hair doesn’t. So now let's discuss how to take care of your hair using the right products and a proper hair care regimen.
Tips for Straight Hair Care:
The good thing about straight hair is its’ low maintenance because very few hairstyling products are required to style those flat strands as compared to other hair types. It is also very easy to detangle as it has no twists and turns just like other hair types.
On the negative side, it lacks volume, is prone to become oily, and always falling flat. But don’t worry, we’re here to help you. Here we will discuss some tips and tricks on how to take care of your straight hair and make it lustrous and perfectly smooth by following a simple hair care routine.
