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What is your hair type?
So, you have the letter part of the grade which goes as follows:
- The letter A would be a looser curl pattern.
- The letter B is a little more defined
- and the letter C is the tightest curl pattern of each group.
Now the numbers are graded from 1 to 4. Number 1 is straight hair without any curl pattern so curls start from the number 2 which is wavy textured hair, 3 is for curly hair, and 4 is for tightly curly to kinky* hair.
Type 4 – Kinky Curly Coily |
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4a – Mixture of ringlets and kinks, curls when wet, may dry into less defined curls |
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4b – Very tightly coiled or curled kinks are more distinct and curls may not be visible when dry. May look like zigzag curls. |
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4c – Extremely tight coils that shrink very close to the scalp when dry. Curls may not be visible when dry. |
Type 3 – Curly |
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3a – Defined slightly loose ringlets – 3a |
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3b- Deeper more defined S shape in coils |
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3c – Tight spirals or coils |
Type 2 – Wavy |
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2a – Very loose wave: almost straight |
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2b – Loose wave |
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2c – Wavy with deeper S shape |
Type 1 – Straight |
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1 – This hair is oily, resilient and has no discernible curl pattern. |
Now you can see from this hair classification system that you may have 3a hair in the back 2c hair in the front, I’ve even seen women with a combination of all three curl patterns on one head of hair!
If you still confused, here is how to tell just by looking at it. The best way to tell your curl pattern is by wetting your hair first. You make look like a 4c when you hair is dry, but really be a 4a because the hair can change in appearance when it is wet. And if your hair has been chemically treated, even if its been months or even years, you cannot accurately assess what your hair type is until you are fully natural.
I can’t tell you how many times I consult with clients about curl type and they want me to tell them their curl pattern when they haven’t cut off their relaxed or texturized hair. Ladies, in order to know for sure what you are working with, the chemically treated hair has to be removed, yes, even the texturizer.
If anybody was following my post on hair grading systems, you’d know I’m not that crazy about classifying my hair type into an a,b,c grade. I feel that the need for women to know there hair type has been carefully constructed by product manufacturers, the bottom line (to me) is it makes their pockets fatter. Think about it!
Non curl pattern specific brands are just as likely to give you the same results as curl pattern specific products. All you need to know is that for kinkier curls, choose a heavier product like a thick gel and for looser curls, light leave in conditioners or more liquid gels will do the trick.
Products work based on the curl pattern you already naturally have. No product will be able to change your curl pattern.
Alma, this article made me think about my mistakes about my hair type. Thought I was a 4c and you told me I was a 4a. Although this haven’t changed the needing of keeping on DCing my hair and waiting for its growth, it gave me hope – now I really know the way it looks now is not the way it is. This changes things. Thanks.
The Real Person!
No worries Nena!
I think from the chart, I am 4c. I would like to know if there is a hair store in Brooklyn, New York, close to flatbush, New Kirk and Foster.
I think hair typing can be much ado about nothing. You just try products til you find what works. Back in the late 60sthru the 70s, I wore a huge afro as did a lot of folks. There was no such thing as curl definition or hair typing. We all used Afro Sheen, grease, water, whatever conditioner worked, hot oil treatments, etc. We used “white” products if they worked as well as “black” ones. No big deal. I just call my hair type 4. If I wash it with one shampoo, it has little 4a ringlets mixed with some frizz; use another shampoo & it’s all frizz. I also have about 3 curl patterns on my head. Same goes for products. It looks straight up 4a with KinkyCurly & Taliah Waajid Curl Cream, use Shea Moisture curl smoothie & it looks like a birds nest. My hair hated that stuff as well as the souffle last year. With all this hair moodiness, & the fact that black women have a MYRIAD of textures within each type I refuse to get hung up on whether it’s 4a or 4b.. I usually say 4ab. I just look for products that work with my hair whether they’re for white or black hair.
Mine ain’t on here
Yours is prob a combo! Think mines is too… kinda 4a/3c looks nothing like any of the pics
That’s what I think my hair type is! Between 3C & 4A!
Mine too
Isn’t there 4D? My hair grows very close to the scalp.
Lol, u are so funny
The Real Person!
That’s 4c Kabelo, the lady pictured just has longer 4c hair do the fro is bigger
Yours is prob a combo! Think mines is too… kinda 4a/3c looks nothing like any of the pics
I think I’m any where from 3b to 4c I dunno
Hell, don’t see mine either
4c & 4b
This was very informative! Thank you!
I was just wondering about this, thanks for sharing!!!!!
2c dont look like a hair type that look like its been wand curled
Mine too
The texture of my hair is always changing . I’ve had 3C, 4A,4B and 4C ! Either way I love my natural hair !
I have different grades also….I agree I luv my natural hair…….
3c
There are a few hair types that are missing, right!
3c I think..
3c n the front 4a in the back
My new growth right now looks like it could be 3a since I am transitioning to natural. I hope. Lol.
Shoot I can’t tell between 4a, 4b or 4c
I honestly do not know my hair type. I would say 4b but I strongly think 4c.
Between 4b en 4c
Not helpful to me personally! I have 2-3 different types!
I’m so proud to be a 4c. Should I twerk about it or stay classy?
Between 4b and 4c
I’m a 3C
4b
I needed to see this! Now I know I’m 4a I never knew my hair type til now
I have a mixture. 3a, 4a, 4b, & 4c. It is possible, and I find, common for many people to have many textures threw out there head.
I was about to ask because I have the same combination as well
Yea, definitely. The more people I talk to in my life or meet, when hair comes up in conversation they will say there’s multiple textures (two or more). You can however manipulate your hair to show one pattern, whether you do braid outs, twist outs, perm rods, etc.
Me too!
None of these look like mine mine is kinda straight with a few waves
3c
Mine is just a 4 thats it because when it rains or gets wet there isn’t a curl anywhere it just turns into a straight up 70’s afro.lol
4a/4b
3b
I’m a 4a/b/c it’s cray up in my scalp
I have 3c 4a and 4c on different parts of my head
4b
I am 4b it’s zig zaggy
Some are missing
I also have a mixture of 3b in the back, 4b on the sides and front, the crown is 4c
3c/4a
The way my shrinkage be set up I’m definitely 4c
I say this is the best description and chart of hair types . I’m between 3c and 4a i have spirals and coils . I have a mix of both . Thank you for this .
Am between 4a and 3c
3c
3c/4a
That is not 4b hair
Can’t see mine lol
Im a 3 c
3c
Mine 4a/4b
I have a mixture of hair… 4abc
type 3 but mostly 3c
Now all i need is chart to tell me how to work my 4C!
Guess mine doesn’t exist
Why is straight and stringy ranked #1?
I wonder who created this “chart” in the first place
Yet another way to divide
It’s not # 1 as in the best. It’s #1 because Andre
( Oprah’s hairdresser who invented hair typing) decided to start with straight & progress to wavy curly & kinky. He could just as easily have started with kinky & gone to straight. What difference would that make? NONE.. The idea that #1 in this case is a value judgment exists only in the minds of people who like to sweat the small stuff. As I said in another post, I think hair typing of black folks’ hair is not all that necessary. For one thing we have waaayyy too many texture variations to make exact typing practical or even possible. I wore a huge afro in the 70’s & we all styled with just grease ,water & the few available products & had gorgeous ‘fros that had a wide variety of curl sizes & shapes. Now that we have all these products, typing is a big deal. Another crazy typing thing is that you can look at a particular photo & it’s called 3c or 4a,see the same photo on another site & it’s 4a or 4b; or 4 b or 4 c. Does that make sense?? I just tell folks I’m a type 4 because my hair can look like any of the 4s up there depending on what I put in it or what mood it’s in, the humidity level,whether or not I need moisture or clarification,etc,etc. JUST FIND PRODUCTS THAT WORK WITH YOUR HAIR !
o meu e 3c
I like them all!!! I wish there was an ap for that lol
3b&3c
4d lol
The front of my head is 3c & the back is 4a. Weird.
My hair used to be 4a now it’s 3c
Why from the heat?
Yeah I’m thinking I’m a 3c/4a
The answer to your question way long ago Froncessca Curry mine was growing 4A-ish
4c
Sorta kinda miss my 3b/c hair…but i much rather prefer my hair relaxed…no more hair/comb battles!
I think someone needs to create a chart for natural hair. I don’t understand how straight hair can get a full number alone. I have several types that are not on this chart.