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What are the main hair types?

Hair comes in loads of colours, textures, lengths and curl patterns. This means there are also loads of different products and techniques that can be used to care for it. But choosing whatโ€™s best for you can be difficult if you donโ€™t know your hair type ๐Ÿ˜•Thatโ€™s why luna's rounded up the main ones out there, plus some top tips to manage it.

There are 4 main categories of hair, these are:

๐Ÿ‘‰ Type 1: straight ๐Ÿ‘‰ Type 2: wavy ๐Ÿ‘‰ Type 3: curly ๐Ÿ‘‰ Type 4: kinky

In each of these categories there are 3 subtypes (A, B, C) that separate hair according to its shape and thickness. Itโ€™s helpful to know these because what may work for straighter hair may not be best for curlier hair (and vice versa).

Type 1: straight This wonโ€™t typically have any curls or waves once air dried. You can identify which subtype your hair is closest to by checking how well the strands hold a curl.

๐Ÿ‘‰ Type 1A: fine and thin hair that usually doesnโ€™t hold a curl very well ๐Ÿ‘‰ Type 1B: fuller and thicker hair than 1A, may curl at the ends ๐Ÿ‘‰ Type 1C: thickest hair subtype, can hold curls very well but is also likely to frizz (become fuzzy and irregular from normal hair pattern)

๐Ÿ’กluna tip: hair brushes are your best friend! Take a few minutes to brush your hair for a clean, silky look.

Type 2: wavy Wavy hair contains S-shaped curls, meaning itโ€™s neither straight nor curly hair, but somewhere in between.

๐Ÿ‘‰ Type 2A: thinner hair with loose waves that are on the straighter side ๐Ÿ‘‰ Type 2B: thicker hair than type 2A, more defined waves with a bit more frizz ๐Ÿ‘‰ Type 2C: thickest hair subtype, waves are more on the curlier side

๐Ÿ’กluna tip: using products that help to improve volume and moisture is key to bringing out those waves.

Type 3: curly Curly hair ranges from larger and looser spirals to smaller, tighter and more bouncy curls.

๐Ÿ‘‰ Type 3A: largest curls and spirals, some waves may also be within the hair, hair strands are also finer and thinner ๐Ÿ‘‰ Type 3B: tighter curls than type 3A, they can hold their curly shape after being pulled out, fuller and frizzier hair ๐Ÿ‘‰ Type 3C: thick, tight and well-defined curls that hold their shape well

๐Ÿ’กluna tip: avoid touching your hair too much. Itโ€™s better to style it when wet with fingers, and use products such as leave-in conditioners and hair masks to help curls naturally maintain their shape.

Type 4: kinky This hair type tends to be very textured and has springy, S-patterned coils.

๐Ÿ‘‰ Type 4A: small curls with semi-defined coils that are good at retaining a bit more moisture than other hair types ๐Ÿ‘‰ Type 4B: tighter coils with a zig zag pattern in many different directions, prone to lots of frizz ๐Ÿ‘‰ Type 4C: dense, very tightly packed coils with no well defined curls

๐Ÿ’กluna tip: type 4 hair can be very dry and tangle a lot. Gently detangle with your fingers and wide tooth combs when damp. Also try using conditioners and oils to maintain good hydration and moisture.

It may take some trial and error before finding the best hair care routine that meets your needs, but thatโ€™s okay โ€“ what works for others may not work for you. Take some time to familiarise yourself with your hair, and why not Ask luna or check out Learn for more content if this has sparked questions ๐Ÿ’–


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