Why You Need To Know Your Curl Pattern (And How To Figure It Out)
Find Out What Your Curl Pattern Is Using Our Gina Approved Guide.
- Type 1 - Straight
- Type 2 - Wavy
- Type 3 - Curly
- Type 4 - Coily
- 2A - People with 2A hair have a naturally tousled texture to their hair, but lack volume at the root. If this is your curl type, steer clear of heavy styling products as these will weigh your strands down! Instead, use a light product like a water-based mousse to add volume to your hair and to keep your strands moisturised.
- 2B - Fun Fact, I’m a 2B! The 2B curl pattern is defined by S-shaped waves that tend to start from the mid-length of the hair strand, with hair at the crown of the head tending to be straighter and flatter. 2B hair has a medium texture, tends to be frizzy at the crown, a bit dryer at the ends and can be a little resistant to styling. Top tips to look after and style 2B hair is to apply conditioner to the ends of the hair only when washing your hair, and enhance those waves by spritzing a moisturising sea salt spray through the mid-length of your hair.
- 2C - If you’ve got a 2C curl pattern you are rocking waves for days! 2C waves are thick with a defined S-shape that starts at the crown on the head all the way down. 2C hair types are also prone to frizziness. To maintain your locks, use a sulphate-free shampoo to keep your strands moisturised. Using a leave-in conditioner will also help. Finally, like your 2A counterparts, use a light product like a water-based mousse to keep your waves styled and
- 3A - You’ll be rocking loose curls that have the circumference of a piece of thick chalk if you’ve got a 3A curl pattern. 3A hair tends to have a combination of textures, and the longer your hair, the more defined your curl is. Hair can have an S pattern and be shiny but frizzy at the same time. It also tends to be thick and full with a ton of body. To maintain curl definition twirl small sections of curls around your finger while your hair is still damp. Give your dry hair a boost with a leave-in conditioner spray and scrunch curls with your fingers.
- 3B - Say hello to springy and voluminous curls that range from ringlets to corkscrews. The 3B curl pattern tends to be similar in circumference to a sharpie. While dense and voluminous, 3B hair also tends to be coarse and try, so moisture is key! To look after and style your strands, use an anti-humectant (humidity blocking) styling cream or gel in your hair, especially when it’s wet. This will help give your curls definition, minus the frizz!
- 3C - This curl pattern is also known as ‘curly-coily’. 3C curls are tight corkscrews that range in circumference from a straw to a pencil. Hair tends to be densely packed together and is full of volume, yaaaas! The key to keeping your 3C curls happy, coily and bouncy is, you guessed it, moisture! Use a sulphate-free, creamy cleansing balm when washing your hair to avoid drying it out. To help define curls, use a combination of a styling cream and a mousse in your wet hair and let those curls dry naturally as much as possible. The 3C curl pattern tends to experience a lot of shrinkage from wet curls to dry and the best way to let your curls keep doing their thing is to avoid heat styling!
- 4A - If you have dense, springy, S-patterned coils that are the circumference of a crochet needle then you are definitely a 4A! Using thicker natural emollients (aka ingredients that are incredibly moisturising and softening) like mango and shea butters will help keep your hair looking fabulous, and will keep your strands in a soft and pliable state.
- 4B - A curl pattern that bends in sharp angles like the letter Z is typical of a 4B. Your curls will be tighter and less defined and will be roughly the circumference of a pen. 4B strands range from being fine and thin to wiry and coarse. Because the curl pattern starts from the scalp, you want to retain moisture in your scalp. Use a coconut or castor oil treatment on the scalp and through your lengths to lock in that moisture! For styling, use a moisturising curl cream to distribute the product through your hair before palm-rolling or shingling to help stretch out coils and clump them for curl definition and elongation.
- 4C - Your hair will be similar to 4B, but the tightly coiled, zig-zag patterned, strands have less definition and experience a lot of shrinkages. Your strands are super delicate and will range from super fine, thin and soft to wiry and coarse. To keep your hair looking stunning, you want to keep it moisturised and keep it protected from the elements. Use a creamy leave-in moisturiser to lock in as much hydration as possible, and to help maximise the length of your strands.
I need to know how to get ur hair from straight to curly but frizzy so if u can help that would be a big thanks but when u do that I would not like u to use hair curlers or anything like that because I’m not aloud that at this point of stage, so if u could help me with that, that would be great.
Loved reading your post. I would put myself in the 3c hair type group and what you said about using a cream and mousse is exactly what l do and then let my hair dry naturally. The results are amazing. My name is also Gina so l think this blog was specifically for me!
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