When bad hair days are your everyday reality, it really zaps the fun out of your morning
routine. Thankfully, all you need to do to make your hair perfect is know your hair type
and how to operate with it! And, as your hair guru for a day, I'm here to tell you all about
it...
Let's start with a quick backstory: in the 90s, Andre Walker, one of the most talented
hairstylists who worked with Oprah Winfrey and Halle Berry, came up with his own hair
typing system. It was originally created for his hair care line but quickly became widely
popular. Basically, Andre Walker classifies not one or two but 9 different types of hair!
And it's time to find out which one of them is yours.
The best way to do it is to wash your hair, comb it gently and let it dry naturally. But
since you know your hair better than anybody else, you probably don't need to do any of
that. So in the Andre Walker hair typing system, everything comes down to how curly your hair
is naturally. Perfectly straight with no sign of curls? Then you're type 1. Kinda wavy but
nothing crazy? Good, you're definitely type 2. Really curly with a strong S-shaped curl
pattern? Type 3 sounds exactly like you. And finally, tightly curled and “kinky” hair
fall into type 4 category. But wait, there's more! Each of these types can be divided into
3 subtypes: A, B, and C. And here's where the most interesting part starts...
Let's begin with the first type: perfectly straight hair:
• 1A hair is usually not thick at all and extremely soft and fine. Its biggest advantage
is that it naturally looks really shiny but its huge drawback is that it quickly becomes
oily and dirty. • 1B hair, on the other hand, is kinda thick
and has great volume near the roots, so it looks way more full than 1A hair type.
• And 1C hair is really thick and has impressive volume. However, it's almost impossible to
curl! This type is pretty common among Asian women.
Next up is wavy hair: • 2A hair is right in between wavy and straight.
Without any styling, it tends to form weak S-shaped strands, curling a bit at the ends.
It reacts pretty well to styling; it's not a problem to make it either super straight
or really wavy. • 2B hair has way more visible and prominent
S-shaped curls. It can be slightly frizzy as well, adhering to the shape of your head.
• Finally, 2C hair combines wavy and curly hair. It's very frizzy, quickly curls up in
humid environments, and has tons of volume and generally thicker waves.
Now let's learn more about curly hair: • 3A hair is shiny and great at taking any
form you want it to. This type has a very definite S-shape which makes it appear full
and healthy. • 3B type has a smaller curl pattern than
3A, ranging from spiral-like curls to tight corkscrews. It also has a combination texture.
• 3C hair is actually thinner than 3A and 3B but its curls are smaller which makes it
appear thicker. Plus, it's very tight, almost to the point of being kinky.
Now that I mentioned kinky hair, it's time to explore this last hair category:
• 4A hair has an S-shaped pattern if you stretch it, but usually it's just tight coils.
It tends to be thin, brittle, and fragile. • 4B hair bends with really sharp angles
and often has a Z-shape and zigzag-like curls. Just like 4A, this type is pretty fragile
as well. • And 4C type is the hardest to style and
take care of. It doesn't have a definite curl pattern which makes it look awesome but extremely
hard to comb. It also has the greatest shrinkage out of all the types.
So, figured out your hair type yet? Good, 'cause I'm about to tell you exactly what
you need to do to make your hair look bomb 24/7! As always, let's start with hair group
number 1.
First and foremost, throw all your essential hair oils away. Your hair is already as soft
and shiny as it can be, so the only thing you should worry about is volume (especially
if you have 1A type of hair). Straight and soft hair like yours gets dirty and oily pretty
quickly, so try to pick the shampoos that have curative clay as one of the components.
It will make your hair stay clean longer. Another thing that can make a huge difference
is exfoliating your scalp at least once a week.
As for the hairstyling, the best choice for type 1 hair are cascade haircuts of any kind.
They will make your hair appear thicker and fuller. The good news is that your strands
have nothing against blow dryers, so go for it! However, if you have 1A type hair, you
probably already know that it usually doesn't stay curly or hold volume for long. And this
is a great opportunity to get creative with a feminine braid or a high-fashion ponytail.
Now, if you fall into the second hair group, your hair care should be completely different.
Your main task is to make your hair look thick without it looking crazy and messy. Try to
look for shampoos and conditioners with a moisturizing effect. If they also have fruit
extracts or herbs as components, grab them and never let go – this is exactly what
your hair needs! If you notice your hair getting dry throughout the day, just put a tiny bit
of grape or mustard oil near the ends – this trick will make your waves look alive.
Your hair drying ritual should also change – try to leave your hair at least a little
bit wet after blow drying or use cool air if you don't want it to look too fluffy. The
natural approach also applies when choosing the perfect haircut. Make sure to stay away
from dramatic transitions in your hairstyle, otherwise you'll be stuck at home with your
straightener every single morning.
Curly-haired guys and girls from hair group number 3 have pretty much the same end goal
as people with type 2 hair – keeping their curls hydrated. Your best options are essential
oils, though; they'll keep the moisture in your strands and prevent them from getting
too dry. When picking shampoos or conditioners, always make sure that they don’t have sulfates
– these guys will only make your hair fluffy and wild. Silicone is also your enemy; it
basically “locks” your hair and doesn't allow any moisture in. Hairdressers actually
recommend people with this hair type buy a silk pillow – it'll protect your hair from
friction. Hairstyling rules for type 3 hair are also
similar – try to dry your hair naturally more often and use cool air if you need to
speed things up. Hair straighteners are no good for your hair either, as they make it
even more fragile. As for the perfect curly hair haircut, you have to remember one simple
principle – the shorter the hairstyle, the curlier your hair will be. And don't let your
hairdresser wet your hair before cutting it! Curly hair may have a completely different
form as it dries, so it's better not to wet it at all.
And, finally, type 4, it's your turn! Your hair doesn't get oily that easily, so unlike
hair type number one, you don't have to wash it that often. However, this doesn't mean
that you shouldn't pick your haircare products wisely. The softer your shampoo and conditioner
are, the better. With a good enough conditioner you can sometimes even go shampoo-free for
a day – just wet your hair, apply some conditioner, rinse it off, and let your hair dry. Believe
me, it'll look fantastic! Essential oils should be your best friends as well – it's better
to apply them to the ends, as they're the most fragile.
On a positive note, blow drying shouldn't be too hard for you – cold air, 10-15 minutes
of your time, and it's done! Just don't forget to do some towel action before that or your
dreamy curls will lose their form. Your best haircut options are shoulder-length or below
shoulder-length, since “the shorter, the curlier” rule applies to you too. Still,
no matter what hair type you have, you should always do two things – take care of it and
own it – this way you'll always look a million bucks!
And what's your secret to making your hair luscious? Let me know down in the comments!
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