Healthy Strands

Knowing your hair type can be useful when learning how to care for it. It will help you when learning what is best for your hair type. When speaking in reference to hair types on blogs and forums you can utilize a universal hair typology that everyone will understand.

This hair typology system was created by Andre Walker, author of Andre Talks Hair! Her system was created to distinguish between the various curl types or patterns.

The first step to determining your hair type is to determine your hair number. The numbers, ranging 1-4 refer to the amount of curl or wave in the hair. Type 1 is straight, where type 4 is tightly coiled or kinky. In between there is 2 which refers to slightly wavy, then 3 which begins the curly hair pattern.

After discovering your number, you then must determine your sub classification of type a, b, or c. These letters are used to determine the thickness and tightness of the hair strand. Type A hair is fine and wiry. Type B curls are a little more defined and have an S shape. Finally, type C hair is coarser with a smaller curl pattern.

When giving your hair type, for example, you may say I have type 3C hair. This means that your hair is curly and coarse. Alternatively, type 4b would be tightly coiled fine hair.