You’ve probably seen those vague hair texture charts before, with the squiggly lines and letters and numbers… confusing right? Figuring out your hair type can be super tricky! But despite the decoding mission, it can feel like, identifying your curl pattern can be super useful for knowing where to start when you're shopping for hair-care products or creating a hair care routine. Keep reading to find your curl pattern and how best to care for it.

DID YOU KNOW?

Your curl type is actually determined by the shape of the follicle that your hair grows out of!

• Flat or oval-shaped follicles lead to curly hair.

• Circular follicles create straight hair.

Your curl pattern depends on the shape that the strands of your hair make. Does your hair kink, curve, or spiral?

This is how the hair texture system breaks down:

There are broad categories (1 to 4), with 3 sub-groups in each category (A to C).

• Type 1s are straight

• Type 2s are wavy

• Type 3s are curly

• Type 4s are coily

Then, the sub-groups of A to C are based on the diameter of your wave/curl.

• Type A’s have a wider pattern size

• Type Bs medium

• Type Cs the smallest of the three.

I hope this has helped you to understand the groups a little better. Now on to identifying your curl pattern

Type 2

Type 2 hair is what’s generally referred to as “wavy”, it has a distinctive S pattern but lays quite close to the head.

Type 3

Type 3 is your usual ‘curly’ hair! This can range from loose, round loops to tight, springy spirals. These hair textures are particularly prone to frizz.

Type 4

Type 4 characterises coily/kinky hair, commonly referred to as Afro. This curl pattern is naturally very dry in texture but can be soft and fine or coarse and wiry. Strands form very tight, small curls of zig-zags right from the scalp and are prone to shrinkage.

For tighter curls and courser textures, it is super important to make sure that the hair is hydrated. You are able to use heavier products. A leave-in conditioner, cream and a gel can be used on tighter curls

Congratulations! You’ve identified your curl pattern, now go and enjoy your new routines.

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