When you think of hair textures, the words ‘straight’, ‘wavy’, and ‘curly’ might come to mind. But did you know there are actually many curly hair types? Each type looks a bit different coming out of the head.
In this guide, we’ll talk through the different types of curls out there. After all, a better understanding of this topic will help you care for and style your locks in the best way possible.
What Are the Different Types of Curls?
Fact: we’re all built differently, which means there are several curly hair types to get familiar with. The first thing you should do is take a piece of hair and identify the curl pattern. Is the strand of hair straight, wavy, curly, or coily?
In short, there are four curl pattern types:
Type 1 is straight hair.
Type 2 is more of a wave.
Type 3 shows a more distinct curl pattern.
Type 4 is coily hair.
To identify which of the different types of curly hair you have, it’s essential to look at your hair patterns, especially the width between each wave or curl. There are three sizes to look for:
Type A is a wider pattern size.
Type B is a medium pattern size.
Type C is the smallest pattern size.
As you can see, there are many different types of curly hair.
Type 2 Curly Hair
Type 2 may not seem like an obvious curl type, but these gentle waves look as though they have a beachy texture, like S shaped waves. ‘The hair usually sits on the smoother side; however, the hair texture can be fine or coarse,’ says Emily Olsson, senior stylist at Shibui in Victoria.
What to use on type 2A hair:
ELEVEN Sea Salt Texture Sprayis lightweight and offers a touch of volume. Plus, this salt spray is Australian-made, cruelty-free, and vegan.
What to use on type 2B hair:
A hydrating shampoo like Philip Kingsley Moisture Balancing Shampoo 250ml ffectively cleanses oil from the scalp without causing irritation. This shampoo is perfect on medium-to-thick hair and detangles with ease.
What to use on type 2C hair:
Goldwell Stylesign Curls & Waves Curl Control Creamhas a gorgeous consistency that melts into the hair to hydrate it. This styling cream also offers light hold that can curb frizz.
Top tip: ‘Dry the hair naturally if you can. Use a diffuser if not and scrunch hair if you want to increase volume. Or if not, dry the hair where it falls naturally,’ continues Olsson.
Type 3 Curly Hair
Type 3 is what most people think of as a curly hair type. Type 3 curls range from ringlets to loose curls. ‘It can also have a wavy pattern in it, resembling a tighter S-bend,’ continues Olssen. ‘Hair can be fine to coarse in texture. This hair type tends to create more voluminous, thicker hair.’
What to use on type 3A hair:
Vegan, cruelty-free, and sulphate-free, Virtue Curl Shampoo 240ml can boost the bounce of curls and aid with detangling.
What to use on type 3B hair:
A smoothing lotion can reduce frizz and make curly hair look really sleek. Something that feels nourishing but not sticky is Pureology Smooth Perfection Smoothing Lotion, which can also be used as a heat protectant.
What to use on type 3C hair:
MOROCCANOIL Intense Curl Creamnot only smells amazing. It also does an excellent job in smoothing out waves and curls thanks to the addition of vitamin E-rich argan oil.
Type 4 Curly Hair
Type 4 is a curly hair type that’s generally coily and can be fine to medium in texture. ‘Coily hair tends to be dry; therefore, hydration is very important with this hair type, [and] you need to be more gentle,’ says Olsson.
In particular, type 4A hair is prone to lots of flyaways. ‘Stretching out [these tight curls] will result in frizz,’ says Ali Holmes, co-owner of Wildlife SOGO Surry Hills. On the other hand, type 4B hair has a tight coil and is really kinky. When you stretch out this type of hair, the hair takes on a zigzag shape.
What to use on type 4A hair:
An anti-frizz shampoo such as sulphate-free ALTERNA HAIR Smoothing Anti-Frizz Shampoo 250mlcan promote smoother texture for up to 72 hours post wash.
What to use on type 4B hair:
To make coily hair look really healthy and shiny, a lightweight hair oil is the way to go. Aveda Nutriplenish Multi-Use Hair Oil hydrates without weighing hair down. ‘Curly hair tends to be more prone to dryness, so [this oil] can be used wet for a hydration shot, on scalp if [it’s’] dry, on styled hair to define, and to reactivate curls on non-wash days,’ says Mathew Wickham, Aveda artistic lead.
What to use on type 4C hair:
Running a brush through this hair type comes down to a fine art. ‘Only brush [this hair type] when it is dry,’ continues Olsson. ‘Dry brushing is recommended, using a soft brush before shampooing hair, as hair becomes more elastic when it is wet and prone to breakage.’ So, it’s a good idea to untangle your hair when it’s wet.
The Air Motion Detangling Hair Brush is one not to be missed if you need to get knots out of your hair, quick. Semi-flexible bristles in three different sizes glide through your hair without the need to tug hard.
Top tip: ‘Cutting the hair will help to avoid split ends, which cause knotting and dryness,’ continues Holmes. ‘Freshly cut hair is full of life and will exaggerate the curl in coily hair.’
As you can see, with so many different types of natural curls, figuring out your exact hair type and how to look after it can be a bit of a mission. But we hope this guide has started you on your way to wavy, curly, or coily hair that’s manageable, healthy, and shiny.
