Understand what type of hair you have and how to manage it

If your hair is giving you grief and you feel like everyday is a bad hair day, it might just be because you have not found the correct hair care routine for your type of hair. You’d think it might be easy to determine your hair type – after all, curls are curls, and straight is straight, right? Wrong! There is so much to know and learn about textured hair, and it’s easy to get confused, especially when it’s possible for several different types to be present on one head of hair.

Hair is broadly divided into four categories: straight (type 1); wavy (type 2); curly (type 3); and coily (type 4). The hair’s shape is determined by the shape of the hair follicle itself. So straight hair emerges from a round follicle, while wavy and curly hair emerges from oval or twisted oval follicles. The more oval the follicle, the more curly the hair. Follicles also play a role in the hair’s thickness (texture) – the thicker the strand of hair, the larger the follicle.

Now you need to look at the sub-classifications of A – C, which are based on the diameter (or width) of your wave, curl or coil pattern. In essence, type A’s have a wider pattern size, type B’s medium and type C’s the smallest of the lot.

Hair types 3 and 4 are sometimes the trickiest to identify, so let’s get stuck in. Type 3 curly hair ranges from loose curls, to springs to corkscrew shapes. When type 3 hair is wet, the curls often look wavy, but take on a tighter swirl shape when they have air dried:

Type 3A

Type 3A curls are some of the easiest curls to manage and are usually large, soft curls that roll down from the crown. These curls are bouncy and soft to the touch.

Type 3B

Type 3B curls are more defined than 3A and look like springy ringlets or corkscrews. The hair appears full and bouncy, but is vulnerable to frizz and breakage.

Type 3C

Type 3C curls resemble tight corkscrews as the strands are densely packed together. This hair type is prone to plenty of natural volume…and frizz.

Type 4 (kinky or coily) curls can have a compact zig-zag pattern, or tightly-wound s-shaped curls. This hair type may be naturally dry and the curls are prone to shrinkage depending on the porosity of the hair

Type 4A

Type 4A hair is dense and springy with distinctly-shaped, s-patterned curls in tight rings.

Type 4B

Dense and characterized by a tiny zig-zag pattern, these curls which may be accompanied by compressed and s-shaped coils.

Type 4C

Similar to type 4B textures, type 4C coils are the most fragile of all curl patterns and have a very tight zig-zag shape. This hair type is most prone to breakage, dryness and shrinkage, therefore lots of moisture is needed.

Found your hair type? Now you need the suitable hair care products. We love The Perfect Hair Mango & Marula Hair Care Range, a proudly local brand using natural, curl-loving ingredients. And their products are perfect for curl types 3 and 4! Take a look: .

The Perfect Hair Mango & Marula Moisturizing Leave-In Butter (R99.99): The perfect all-natural curl care, this product helps keep hair strong. A rich leave-in styling butter, it is enriched with mango and marula extracts for 24-hour moisture and curl retention.

The Perfect Hair Mango & Marula Anti-Frizz Curl Activating Gel (R99.99): A defining, frizz-control gel that gives your hair a long-lasting hold, leaving no white residue behind. This gel locks in moisture for perfectly popping curls and coils and is infused with a wonderful long-lasting tropical scent.

The Perfect Hair Mango & Marula Detangling Deep Conditioner (R89.99): Enriched with mango butter, castor oil and marula oil to give your hair an intense moisture boost, this deep conditioner leaves your hair wonderfully soft. It’s free from petroleum, parabens and sulphates.

Find the products at Clicks, Foschini, Spar, Takealot, Everyshop & Cosmetic Connection.