Hair Care For All
Products for each hair type

Straight or curly, thin or thick, long or short; everyone’s hair is different. With this diversity comes an equally diverse selection of products for different types of hair. It can be easy to get lost in the aisles upon aisles of hair care products. To solve this problem, hairstylist Andre Walker created a system to group different types of hair into general categories. Using this hair-typing system, people with all different hair types can find the best products to take care of their hair, according to cosmopolitan.com.

The system is based on the thickness of one’s hair, as well as how straight or curly it is. Within each type, there are slight variations based on the thickness of the hair or the tightness of the curl pattern. For example, hair that is classified as type 1a is straight and thin, while type 1c is thicker and more prone to frizz and some slight waves, according to cosmopolitan.com.

Due to the great variety of hair types and textures, there are numerous products made to help condition, style and/or protect hair, however, products that may help to manage one hair type may damage another. Understanding one’s type of hair is the first step to healthy hair.

Type 1 hair is straight and shiny. While it may sound like the easiest hair type to manage, it comes with its struggles just like wavy or curly hair. One of the biggest problems people with type one hair face is volume. Type 1a hair tends to be flat and shiny, so for a little more volume, one could try a texturizing spray or dry shampoo. Type 1b will constantly face the struggle of greasy roots and dry ends. Dry shampoo on the roots or a moisturizing oil on the ends can help balance this combination. As the frizziest of the straight hair types, 1c hair needs a little more attention. Hair masks and leave-in conditioners will help 1c hair healthy and moisturized instead of dry and frizzy.

People with type 2 hair have soft waves. This hair type reaps the benefits of both straight and curly hair, but it also faces similar difficulties. Wavy hair types struggle the most with defining their waves. Type 2a hair is the straightest of the wavy hair types. A sea-salt spray can help define 2a waves when they are looking a little flat. Slightly thicker than 2a, 2b waves are tighter and less defined than their predecessor. A light curl-enhancing mousse or leave-in conditioner can help turn pouf into perfection. Type 2c hair consists of the thickest and tightest waves and some loose curls; however, they tend to flatten and lose their shape quickly. In order to make the waves last longer, one could try a water-activated curl-enhancing gel. When waves become flat, dampen hair with water and scrunch to re-activate the gel and redefine the wave.

Hair type 3 is thick and curly. Type three hair has no problem when it comes to volume and lots of problems with frizz. Most people with type three hair struggle with dry ends as well. Type 3a hair consists of mostly loose curls along with some waves. This type is the most sensitive to its environments such as humidity and dryness, so to combat these elements, one may use a frizz-ease mousse or leave-in conditioner. People with hair type 3b have tight curls that are about an inch or smaller in circumference. In order to manage such tight curls, a thicker curl enhancing cream is recommended. The driest of the hair types, type 3c has even tighter coils than type 3b, about the circumference of a pencil. Because of the many twists and turns between the roots and the ends of type 3c hair, the oils from the scalp struggle to reach the ends, leaving them dried out. A moisturizing oil applied to the ends of 3c hair will help keep the hair moisturized and healthy.

The last type of hair is the thickest and coarsest of all hair types. Type 4 hair has many different textures and curl patterns, making it the most versatile for styling, but also the most prone to damage and dryness. 4a hair has a combination of tight ringlet curls and little zig-zag patterned coils. The coils can easily lose definition due to the tiny circumference. A good product for 4a hair is a moisturizing curl cream. Instead of a curl pattern, 4b hair forms sharp zig-zags and is very prone to shrinkage, according to cosmopolitan.com. A styling gel can be helpful to style and moisturize voluminous 4b hair. Finally, 4c hair has the tightest zig-zag pattern and has the least amount of protective cuticle layers. In order to protect and moisturize this vulnerable hair, rich cream or oil is recommended.