Understanding Hair Types: A Guide to Unique Hair Care Needs

Every person’s hair is as unique as they are. Whether you have straight, wavy, curly, coily hair, or locs, your hair type and texture define the way your hair behaves. Understanding your hair’s specific characteristics will help you choose the right care routine and products. Let’s dive into hair types and learn how to properly care for each one.

Hair Types:

1. Straight Hair (Type 1a, 1b, 1c)

• Appearance: Sleek, straight strands without any curl or wave.

• About: Straight hair tends to be shiny, resilient, and often more resistant to damage. It’s the least prone to frizz but can become oily quickly due to its direct connection to the scalp’s natural oils. Curls can be hard to achieve, and the hair is generally easier to style.

2. Wavy Hair (Type 2a, 2b, 2c)

• Appearance: Forms a loose “S” shape and is versatile enough to switch between straight and wavy.

• About: Wavy hair has a subtle wave that gives it movement and texture. It has a natural sheen but is also prone to frizz, especially in humid conditions. Type 2A is easily altered between straight and wavy, while Type 2B and 2C may be more resistant to styling and prone to frizz.

3. Curly Hair (Type 3a, 3b, 3c)

• Appearance: Forms well-defined corkscrew curls with a definite “S” shape.

• About: Curly hair can be dry and more prone to damage due to its structure, which can make it more difficult for natural oils to travel down the hair shaft. Climate, humidity, and products used can all impact its condition, making moisture and proper care vital to maintaining healthy curls.

4. Coily Hair (Type 4a, 4b, 4c)

• Appearance: Extremely tight curls or zigzag patterns that become even more defined when stretched.

• About: Coily hair is often the most delicate and fine in texture, making it highly susceptible to breakage. Careful cleansing, gentle detangling, and avoiding harsh chemicals are key to keeping coily hair healthy. It’s important to nourish coily hair with moisture-rich products to avoid dryness.

5. Locs

• Appearance: Hair strands are coiled and fused together into distinct units, forming a locked pattern.

• About: Locs thrive when the scalp is healthy and nourished. Regular maintenance is essential for keeping locs clean and hydrated. Proper scalp care and using natural, residue-free products are important to prevent buildup and maintain healthy locs.

Customizing Hair Products for Your Hair Type

Hair care isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach. Beyond hair type, each individual’s hair may also have different levels of porosity, density, thickness, and length. These factors, combined with your unique hair type, determine the specific care and products your hair needs.

To truly understand and customize hair products for your unique hair type, enrolling in The Pro Natural Hair Care Formulation Course is the perfect next step. In this course, you’ll discover which ingredients work best for each hair type, porosity level, and curl pattern. Read Formulating Men’s Haircare Products.

Get Your Understanding Hair Types Guide

Learn Hair Care Formulation
Tailored Products for Every Hair Need:

• Locs Care Products

• Wash-and-Go Essentials

• Edge Control 

• Styling Gels

• Refresher Sprays

• Hair Treatments: Including Masks and Protein Rinses

• Shampoos and Conditioners for Various Hair Textures

• Wax Pomade

• Hair Butter

• Nourishing Hair Oils

   

  Hair Care Formulations for every hair need available in the Pro Natural Hair Care Formulation Course

  Type	Pattern	Texture	Description	Course Formulations
  1A	Straight	Fine	Stick straight, absent of curl soft, shiny, fragile, more difficult to styleHair Concerns: dull, weighed down due to build-up, split ends	Volumizing Shampoo and Conditioner, Plant Keratin Shampoo and Conditioner, Clarifying Shampoo, Baby Shampoo, Shampoo System #1, Shampoo System #2, Conditioner System #1, Conditioner System #2, Hydrating, Repairing & Strengthening Hair Mask, Sea Moss Mask, Hydrating Mist, Refresher Spray, Styling Gel, Smoothing Serum, Fortifying Hair + Scalp Serum, Scalp Soother, Rice Water Hair Rinse Treatment, Botanical Hair Rinse Treatment, Royal Crown Hair Rinse Treatment
  1B	Straight	Medium	Straight but with slight body and wave, just enough to add some volume, doesn’t look wavy, soft, and shiny Hair Concerns: dull, weighed down due to build-up, split ends	Volumizing Shampoo and Conditioner, Clarifying Shampoo, Hydrating Shampoo and Conditioner, Plant Keratin Shampoo and Conditioner, Baby Shampoo, Shampoo System #1, Shampoo System #2, Conditioner System #1, Conditioner System #2, Deep Conditioner, Leave-In Conditioner System #1, Leave-In Conditioner System #2, Curl Cream-Defining Styling Cream, Hydrating, Repairing & Strengthening Hair Mask, Sea Moss Mask, Hydrating Mist, Refresher Spray, Styling Gel, Smoothing Serum, Fortifying Hair + Scalp Serum, Scalp Soother, Rice Water Hair Rinse Treatment, Botanical Hair Rinse Treatment, Royal Crown Hair Rinse Treatment
  1C	Straight	Coarse	Straight with body wave and one or two visible S-waves (e.g. nape of neck or temples) volume, thick, shinyHair Concerns: dry, frizz, split ends	Hydrating Shampoo and Conditioner, Plant Keratin Shampoo and Conditioner, Volumizing Shampoo and Conditioner, Clarifying Shampoo, Baby Shampoo, Shampoo System #1, Shampoo System #2, Hydrating Mist, Refresher Spray, Conditioner System #1, Conditioner System #2, Deep Conditioner, Leave-In Conditioner System #1, Leave-In Conditioner System #2, Hydrating, Repairing & Strengthening Hair Mask, Sea Moss Mask, Styling Gel, Edge Gel, Smoothing Serum, Fortifying Hair + Scalp Serum, Nourishing Hair Oil, Hair Growth Drops, Scalp Soother, Rice Water Hair Rinse Treatment, Botanical Hair Rinse Treatment, Royal Crown Hair Rinse Treatment
  2A	Wavy	Fine	Loose, stretched out S-waves throughout the hair some shineHair Concerns: dull, weighed down due to build-up, split ends	Volumizing Shampoo and Conditioner, Clarifying Shampoo, Plant Keratin Shampoo and Conditioner, Hydrating Shampoo and Conditioner, Baby Shampoo, Shampoo System #1, Shampoo System #2, Conditioner System #1, Conditioner System #2, Deep Conditioner, Leave-In Conditioner System #1, Leave-In Conditioner System #2, Curl Cream-Defining Styling Cream, Hydrating, Repairing & Strengthening Hair Mask, Sea Moss Mask, Hydrating Mist, Refresher Spray, Styling Gel, Firmer Hold Gel, Smoothing Serum, Fortifying Hair + Scalp Serum, Nourishing Hair Oil, Hair Growth Drops, Herbal Hair Growth Oil, Scalp Soother, Rice Water Hair Rinse Treatment, Botanical Hair Rinse Treatment, Royal Crown Hair Rinse Treatment
  2B	Wavy	Medium	Shorter, more distinct S-waves (like waves from braiding damp hair) Hair Concerns: frizz, dryness, split ends	Plant Keratin Shampoo and Conditioner, Hydrating Shampoo and Conditioner, Volumizing Shampoo and Conditioner, Clarifying Shampoo, Baby Shampoo, Shampoo System #1, Shampoo System #2, Conditioner System #1, Conditioner System #2, Deep Conditioner, Leave-In Conditioner System #1, Leave-In Conditioner System #2, Curl Cream-Defining Styling Cream, Hydrating Mist, Refresher Spray, Smoothing Serum, Fortifying Hair + Scalp Serum, Hydrating, Repairing & Strengthening Hair Mask, Sea Moss Mask, Nourishing Hair Oil, Hair Growth Drops, Herbal Hair Growth Oil, Scalp Soother, Rice Water Hair Rinse Treatment, Botanical Hair Rinse Treatment, Royal Crown Hair Rinse Treatment
  2C	Wavy	Coarse	​​Distinct S-waves and the odd spiral curl forming here and there Hair Concerns: frizz, dryness, split ends	Plant Keratin Shampoo and Conditioner, Hydrating Shampoo and Conditioner, Baby Shampoo, Shampoo System #1, Shampoo System #2, Conditioner System #1, Conditioner System #2, Deep Conditioner, Leave-In Conditioner System #1, Leave-In Conditioner System #2, Curl Cream-Defining Styling Cream, Hydrating, Repairing & Strengthening Hair Mask, Sea Moss Mask, Hydrating Mist, Refresher Spray, Styling Gel, Firmer Hold Gel, Smoothing Serum, Fortifying Hair + Scalp Serum, Nourishing Hair Oil, Hair Growth Drops, Herbal Hair Growth Oil, Scalp Soother, Rice Water Hair Rinse Treatment, Botanical Hair Rinse Treatment, Royal Crown Hair Rinse Treatment
  3A	Curly	Medium	Big, loose spiral curls Hair Concerns: frizz, dryness, split ends	Plant Keratin Strengthening Shampoo and Conditioner, Hydrating Shampoo and Conditioner, Clarifying Shampoo, Baby Shampoo, Shampoo System #1, Shampoo System #2, Conditioner System #1, Conditioner System #2, Deep Conditioner, Leave-In Conditioner System #1, Leave-In Conditioner System #2, Curl Cream-Defining Styling Cream, Hydrating, Repairing & Strengthening Hair Mask, Sea Moss Mask, Hydrating Mist, Refresher Spray, Styling Gel, Firmer Hold Gel, Edge Gel, Edge Control, Smoothing Serum, Fortifying Hair + Scalp Serum, Nourishing Hair Oil, Hair Growth Drops, Herbal Hair Growth Oil, Scalp Soother, Hair Styling Butter, Pomade, Rice Water Hair Rinse Treatment, Botanical Hair Rinse Treatment, Royal Crown Hair Rinse Treatment
  3B	Curly	Coarse	Bouncy ringlets Defined curls, spiral curls, stretchy curlsHair Concerns: frizz, dryness, tangles	Plant Keratin Shampoo and Conditioner, Hydrating Shampoo and Conditioner, Clarifying Shampoo, Baby Shampoo, Shampoo System #1, Shampoo System #2, Conditioner System #1, Conditioner System #2, Deep Conditioner, Leave-In Conditioner System #1, Leave-In Conditioner System #2, Curl Cream-Defining Styling Cream, Hydrating Repairing & Strengthening Hair Mask, Sea Moss Mask, Hydrating Mist, Refresher Spray, Smoothing Serum, Fortifying Hair + Scalp Serum, Styling Gel, Edge Gel, Nourishing Hair Oil, Hair Growth Drops, Herbal Hair Growth Oil, Scalp Soother, Hair Styling Butter, Pomade, Rice Water Hair Rinse Treatment, Botanical Hair Rinse Treatment, Royal Crown Hair Rinse Treatment
  3C	Curly	Fine	Tight corkscrews Tight curls, S pattern, flexibleHair Concerns: dryness, tangles	Plant Keratin Shampoo and Conditioner, Hydrating Shampoo and Conditioner, Clarifying Shampoo, Baby Shampoo, Shampoo System #1, Shampoo System #2, Conditioner System #1, Conditioner System #2, Deep Conditioner, Leave-In Conditioner System #1, Leave-In Conditioner System #2, Curl Cream-Defining Styling Cream, Hydrating, Repairing & Strengthening Hair Mask, Sea Moss Mask, Hydrating Mist, Refresher Spray, Styling Gel, Firmer Hold Gel, Edge Gel, Edge Control, Smoothing Serum, Fortifying Hair + Scalp Serum, Nourishing Hair Oil, Hair Growth Drops, Herbal Hair Growth Oil, Scalp Soother, Hair Styling Butter, Rice Water Hair Rinse Treatment, Botanical Hair Rinse Treatment, Royal Crown Hair Rinse Treatment
  4A	Coily Really Curly	Fine, Tight	Tightly coiled S-curls Tight corkscrewsHair Concerns: prone to dryness, tangles	Hydrating Shampoo and Conditioner, Plant Keratin Shampoo and Conditioner, Clarifying Shampoo, Baby Shampoo, Shampoo System #1, Shampoo System #2, Conditioner System #1, Conditioner System #2, Deep Conditioner, Leave-In Conditioner System #1, Leave-In Conditioner System #2, Curl Cream-Defining Styling Cream, Hydrating, Repairing & Strengthening Hair Mask, Sea Moss Mask, Hydrating Mist, Refresher Spray, Smoothing Serum, Fortifying Hair + Scalp Serum, Styling Gel, Firmer Hold Gel, Edge Gel, Edge Control, Nourishing Hair Oil, Hair Growth Drops, Herbal Hair Growth Oil, Scalp Soother, Hair Styling Butter, Pomade, Rice Water Hair Rinse Treatment, Botanical Hair Rinse Treatment, Royal Crown Hair Rinse Treatment
  4B	Coily	Fine to Coarse (mostly fine to medium) (wiry)	Tightly coiled hair bending in sharp angles (Z-pattern) delicate, also referred to as kinky, denseHair Concerns: prone to dryness, tangles	Hydrating Shampoo and Conditioner, Plant Keratin Shampoo and Conditioner, Clarifying Shampoo, Baby Shampoo, Shampoo System #1, Shampoo System #2, Conditioner System #1, Conditioner System #2, Deep Conditioner, Leave-In Conditioner System #1, Leave-In Conditioner System #2, Curl Cream-Defining Styling Cream, Hydrating, Repairing & Strengthening Hair Mask, Sea Moss Mask, Hydrating Mist, Refresher Spray, Styling Gel, Firmer Hold Gel, Edge Gel, Edge Control, Smoothing Serum, Fortifying Hair + Scalp Serum, Nourishing Hair Oil, Hair Growth Drops, Herbal Hair Growth Oil, Scalp Soother, Hair Styling Butter, Pomade, Rice Water Hair Rinse Treatment, Botanical Hair Rinse Treatment, Royal Crown Hair Rinse Treatment
  4C	Coily	Fine to Coarse (mostly fine to medium) Tight	Tightest curl pattern, also referred to as kinky, delicate Hair Concerns: prone to dryness, tangles, frizz	Hydrating Shampoo and Conditioner, Plant Keratin Shampoo and Conditioner, Clarifying Shampoo, Baby Shampoo, Shampoo System #1, Shampoo System #2, Conditioner System #1, Conditioner System #2, Deep Conditioner, Leave-In Conditioner System #1, Leave-In Conditioner System #2, Curl Cream-Defining Styling Cream, Hydrating, Repairing & Strengthening Hair Mask, Sea Moss Mask, Hydrating Mist, Refresher Spray, Smoothing Serum, Fortifying Hair + Scalp Serum, Styling Gel, Firmer Hold Gel, Edge Gel, Edge Control, Nourishing Hair Oil, Hair Growth Drops, Herbal Hair Growth Oil, Scalp Soother, Hair Styling Butter, Pomade, Rice Water Hair Rinse Treatment, Botanical Hair Rinse Treatment, Royal Crown Hair Rinse Treatment
  Locs			Hair strands coiled around each other into fused units. Hair Concerns: build-up, itchy scalp	Clarifying Shampoo, Plant Keratin Shampoo and Conditioner, Baby Shampoo, Shampoo System #1, Shampoo System #2, Conditioner System #1, Conditioner System #2, Leave-In System #1, Leave-In System #2, Hydrating, Repairing & Strengthening Hair Mask, Sea Moss Mask, Hydrating Hair Mist, Refresher Spray, Firmer Hold Gel Loc and Retwist, Edge Gel, Smoothing Serum, Fortifying Hair + Scalp Serum, Nourishing Hair Oil, Hair Growth Drops, Herbal Hair Growth Oil, Scalp Soother, Rice Water Hair Rinse Treatment, Botanical Hair Rinse Treatment, Royal Crown Hair Rinse Treatment

   

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