What Is Your Curl Type?

What Is Your Curl Type?

As someone with curly hair, you no doubt know that finding the right products for your hair type can be a challenge. One way to overcome this is to figure out your curl type. Today we’re going to go through each of the classifications, which range from 2A to 4C. The number always refers to the curl family, whereas the letter indicates the tightness of your curls.

 

When determining your curl type, the porosity of your hair will be taken into account. This refers to how well your hair soaks up liquid, which you can test by dunking the ends of your hair in water to see whether it floats or sinks. Hair that floats is non-porous, whereas hair that sinks absorbs water very easily. You’ll also need to consider the elasticity of your hair, which you can do by stretching out a curl. If it snakes back quickly, your hair is more elastic, whereas hair that slowly goes back lacks moisture. When looking at your curl type, keep in mind that some people do fall between two categories or have two different variations of curls on their heads.

 

2A curls have a slight wave and plenty of body. This hair type has low to medium porosity, and frizz can be a concern.

Beachy waves would fall under the category of type 2B. They’ll have a loose S-shape with minimal bounce and will sometimes deal with frizz unless moisturising products are used.

Type 2C features distinct S-shaped waves, which are almost beginning to look like curls. Once again, this hair type can be quite frizzy, and you’ll need to use heat protectant products when styling your hair.

A loose spiral curl would fall under the category of type 3A, and this hair type doesn’t experience much shrinkage. Each curl would be less than an inch in size or just big enough to fit around a marker pen.

As we head up the scale, curls in this category are much tighter. They’ll need a good amount of attention, and 3B curls spring back roughly one or two inches once stretched.

3C curls usually combine corkscrew curls and some zigzag pieces of hair, and it’s associated with a coarser hair texture. This hair type needs looking after very gently and might experience more tangles.

As we enter the type 4 category, you’ll find that 4A curls are very coiled. They can even wrap around themselves in some cases, and you’ll need to focus on using hydrating products to avoid damage.

Type 4B curls look more like a zigzag than a traditional curl. This hair has high porosity and needs a good amount of attention to avoid breakage.

The final category, 4B, refers to tight coils which have a very zigzagged pattern. These curls often wrap around themselves, and they don’t have any drop.

 

By finding out your curl type, you’ll be able to choose the right products for your hair. Curly hair can look absolutely stunning with the right hair care products, so make sure you are offering your curls the care they need to look and feel their best.