Type 4 Hair
Type 4 hair, known as kinky or oily, has wide coils or coil patterns. It tends to be dry and requires thicker natural products with thick emollients. These hair types have medium to low porosity and are prone to frizz. To maintain them, use a shampoo that won’t strip essential oils from the strands and follow with treatments like masks, oils, or leave-in conditioners for nourishment.
Type 1 Straight Hair
Type 1 straight hair has no natural wave or curl. The strands lie flat against the scalp, ranging from fine to medium thick. Type 1A hair is straightforward, while type 1B has a medium texture for more volume and bounce. Type 1 hair requires lighter products as it can become heavy quickly.
Type 2 Wavy Hair
Wavy hair falls somewhere between straight and curly. It has subtle textures and shapes, thicker than type 1 hair but less oily. There are three subcategories of wavy hair: 2A, 2B, and 2C. Type 2A features soft “barely there” waves near the scalp, while type 2B has defined waves that are medium thick. Wavy hair requires constant moisture to avoid frizz, so choose volumizing shampoo and conditioner formulas and use leave-in conditioner and deep conditioning masks for hydration and shine. Type 2B hair is slightly finer but still has bouncy waves with easy definition.
Type 3 Curly Hair
Curly hair, known as type 3 hair, has spiraling coils ranging from loose ringlets to tight corkscrews. It is often dry as oil from the scalp cannot effectively reach all strands. Type 3 hair is categorized into three subtypes: 3A, 3B, and 3C. Type 3A has loose, s-shaped curls, while type 3B features medium to tight springy coils. Type 3C has the most closed corkscrew coils. Moisture is crucial for healthy type 3 hair, so use hydrating leave-in conditioners, clarifying shampoos, and enriching hair oils.
Type 4 Coily Hair
Type 4 hair, known as kinky or oily, has tightly wound strands in an S-shape or zigzag pattern. It tends to be dry and damaged as scalp oils don’t easily reach the strands. For type 4 hair, use sulfate-free shampoo and conditioner, and regularly employ a scalp massager for detoxification and increased circulation. Coily hair can be categorized into 4A, 4B, and 4C. Type 4A has dense, springy coils with visible S-patterns, type 4B has more dense and wiry curls resembling the circumference of an ink pen, and type 4C experiences the most frizz and shrinkage.
