How can you create the ideal hair care routine? Your hair’s characteristics can tell you everything you need to know, from what products you use or how to style it. The best way to establish a proper hair care routine is by analyzing your hair type.
Hair types go in depth about your strand’s characteristics because there is so much more that meets the eye than just straight or wavy hair. For example, there are up to 12 different hair types that can help determine how your strands will function.
While there are four categories of hair types and 12 subcategories, some hair types are more popular than others. You may notice that curly hair care routines are growing in popularity because more people are becoming aware of their hair type.
However, what are the rarest hair types? The rarest hair type is type 1A straight hair. The straight hair category as a whole is the most common, but its first subcategory, type 1A, is the rarest.
Also, it can take time and practice to understand your hair and which hair type category it fits into the best. Other factors also play a role in how your hair functions besides hair type, like porosity and density.
What Are Hair Types?
Your hair type is one of the many factors that indicate the makeup of your hair. For example, it shows whether your hair is curly, straight, or somewhere in between. The hair type will also tell you the best way to nourish and care for your strands.
Healthline states, “Your hair type is primarily based on your hair’s curl pattern. The amount of curl in your hair is determined by your hair follicle…the more oval or asymmetrical your follicle is, the curlier your hair will be.”
Hair Type Categories
There are four general hair types categories which include straight, wavy, curly, and coily. However, each hair type category contains three subcategories. Each hair type has a number associated with it; the subcategory is defined by letters.
For example, straight hair is type 1, wavy is type 2, curly is type 3, and coily is type 4. Then, each subcategory is 1A, 1B, 1C, and so forth. This is the standard tool that’s used to determine your hair type.
Straight
Straight hair has almost no curls or waves. It also has the most circular follicle that determines its curl pattern, which in this case, is virtually nonexistent. However, straight hair can sometimes have a slight bend or wave, primarily type 1C.
Straight hair may be more prone to getting oily because the hair follicle will produce oil, and the lack of curl pattern allows the oil to travel faster down the strands.
Wavy
Wavy is the next hair type, and it’s a combination of straight and curly hair.
It can have more texture than straight hair but doesn’t have as defined curls as curly strands. Depending on your hair, you can also have a mix of straight/wavy or wavy/curly hair.
Wavy hair can look like it has an S-shaped curl pattern. The wave pattern may be more focused on the midshaft or ends if it’s type 2A/2B, or you can have a wave at the roots that fit into 2C characteristics.
Curly
Curly hair can be tricky to identify because not everyone will have the same curl pattern throughout the hair. Having some pieces that are tighter or looser than others is normal, but it can make identifying your hair type challenging.
Your curly hair can border wavy/curly hair if it’s looser or curly/coily if the curl pattern is tighter. Curly hair can be prone to frizz and can often have more defined S-shaped curls.
Coily
Finally, we have coils or coily hair. This hair type has the tightest and springiest curls. However, it’s also the most fragile or delicate hair type.
You won’t be able to care for coils the same way you would straight hair. You can notice compact corkscrew curls.
Again your hair can border curly/coily hair if you have a mix of varying curl patterns. This also means the hair follicle is more asymmetrical, making it challenging for the scalp oils to travel down the hair shaft, which can leave coily hair feeling dry.
Most To Least Common Hair Types
Which hair types are the most common and which are the rarest? This can be tricky to answer, especially in the rise of curly hair journeys. It’s been said that straight hair is one of the most common hair types.
However, one subcategory in straight hair is the rarest hair type. So, let’s take a look at the most to least common hair types. Wavy, curly, and coily are common, so they are listed in their usual order.
1B
1B is considered the most common hair type and is also in the middle of the straight hair category. Straight hair types are usually easy to care for and maintain, so you don’t have to do much to keep it styled or free of frizz.
1B can have medium volume and thickness, so it has the potential to hold a curl. However, like most straight hair types, it has little to no curl pattern and is prone to oiliness.
1C
The next is 1C. This hair type is interesting because it borders the wavy hair types and can contain a mix of type 1 and 2 hair. You can determine if you have 1C hair if you find your straight hair feels coarse and is slightly prone to frizz.
Also, 1C hair can potentially have more volume, thickness, and hold than 1A and 1B.
2A
Type 2 hair refers to the wavy category. Like 1C, 2A also borders the straight and wavy hair categories.
So, it’s common that 2A hair types will share characteristics with 1C hair. You’ll notice this hair type has the loosest curl pattern.
It’s often defined by an S-Shaped curl pattern that can be the most prominent around the mid-shaft or ends.
2A wavy hair is easy to style and takes well to product to boost volume or define your curl pattern.
2B
Next is 2B wavy hair. This subcategory is the sweet middle of the wavy hair section because it’s not considered straight, but it’s also not curly.
So how can you tell if you have 2B hair? You’ll have a more noticeable S-shaped curl pattern without random spiral curls.
Also, this hair type can have more thickness or a medium to coarse texture and be prone to frizz.
2C
Finally, in the wavy hair category, we have 2C. What makes this hair type unique? It can have a mix of waves or loose spiral curls because it borders wavy and curly hair types. 2C wavy hair will have a more defined curl pattern starting at the roots.
It also has a defined S-shaped curl pattern like 2B and is prone to frizz. However, you may decide to care for your hair as if it was on the curly side.
3A
The first subcategory for curly hair is type 3A curly hair. Like 2C, 3A curls can share similarities with wavy strands. It’s common to see a mix of different curl patterns, so don’t fret if your curls aren’t one uniform pattern.
However, curly hair categories are where you can notice a more defined spiral rather than a wave. Curly hair requires different care than wavy and straight hair, like avoiding brushing curls while they are dry.
3B
3B type curls don’t have many similarities with wavy hair. Instead, this hair type can feel thicker, coarser, and have tighter curls. 3B curly hair won’t lay flat towards the scalp either and are more likely to have volume right at the root.
This curly hair type can be prone to dryness, so it will be essential to boost hydration for softer curls and to combat frizz.
3C
Lastly, in the curly category is 3C. The hair types that border other categories are more likely to share similar characteristics. For example, type 3C curly hair will have the tightest curls within its category but also lean more towards 4A hair.
This hair type can have more volume, bounce, and movement. Also, you’ll see a more defined corkscrew curl pattern.
4A
The final hair category we have are coils. Coily hair is considered the most delicate and fragile hair type. It requires special care and attention to keep curls lively. 4A is prone to shrinkage, so it can appear longer when wet and have springy curls.
Also, 4A hair has tight curls, making it challenging for the scalp’s natural oils to reach the shaft.
4B
The curls within coily hair can be easily broken up when dry, so it’s crucial to maintain a curl-friendly hair care routine.
4B curls can range in texture like fine, medium, and coarse, but it has a defined curl pattern. Unfortunately, it’s also prone to dryness and frizz.
It has tighter curls than 4A and can also have a smaller diameter than type 3 curly hair. They may also appear with a zig-zag or Z-shaped pattern.
4C
The last subcategory is 4C hair, which has the tightest and most defined curls. It’s prone to shrinkage and shrinks when the strands go from wet to dry. Also, it’s the most vulnerable hair type that requires extra nourishment to combat damage.
This hair type can also feel relatively coarse and, like all curls, prone to dryness and frizz.
What Is The Rarest Hair Type?
1A
The rarest hair type is type 1A straight hair. Straight hair is the most common, but its first subcategory, type 1A, is the rarest.
This hair type is usually excellent in texture, making it soft and has absolutely no curl, wave, or bend.
This stick straight hair will lay flat on the scalp and has more circular follicles, making scalp oils travel quicker down the shaft.
It also has no volume and is difficult to curl. Type 1A hair is prominent in most Asian cultures.
How Can You Find Your Hair Type?
There are multiple ways you can determine your hair type. The most obvious and straightforward way is by looking at your curl pattern.
Straight hair has almost no curls or waves, and the roots often lay flat on the scalp. Next, wavy hair can have some texture and a slight S-shaped curl pattern. Then, curly hair has a loose curl diameter with a more defined S-Shaped pattern.
Finally, coily hair has the tightest, corkscrew-esque curls that are delicate. You can have a lot of volume and shrinkage but also be prone to dryness and frizz.
How Can You Find Your Porosity?
The porosity level refers to the hair’s ability to soak and retain moisture. The porosity categories include Low, medium/normal, and high porosity.
Low porosity hair will make it hard for moisture to get into the shaft, but it will retain it. If a strand of your hair floats at the top of a glass of water, you will likely have low porosity hair.
High porosity can soak up moisture fast but have trouble retaining it. If your strand of hair sinks at the bottom of a glass of water, you could have high porosity hair.
Finally, normal porosity will have a generally good time retaining and keeping moisture. If your hair floats in the middle of a glass of water, you likely have normal/medium porosity.
Other Factors That Affect Your Hair Type
Multiple factors can affect or alter your hair type and porosity levels. For example, chemical treatments can quickly make the hair feel brittle or damage curl patterns. Your scalp health also plays a vital role in your hair type.
Color/Chemical Treatments
Hair coloring or chemical treatments can take a severe toll on the hair, mainly if it’s misapplied. For example, a harsh relaxer or bad bleach job can severely damage curly hair, making it challenging to truly care for your hair type.
These treatments can also alter your porosity levels. So, it’s crucial to visit a trusted stylist for these services to maintain the integrity of your strands.
Scalp Health
Your scalp health and characteristics are also significant factors. The scalp can be oily, dry, or deal with conditions like eczema. The hair is only as healthy as the scalp, so it’s essential to take extra time to treat your scalp.
Elasticity
Elasticity can also become an issue, especially for hair types prone to dryness.
Healthline and Norris Ogario state, “that moisture gives the hair stretch and flexibility, otherwise known as elasticity… if the hair is dry, the outer layer of the hair known as the cuticle can lift. When the cuticle lifts, that results in moisture loss from the cortex.”
Takeaway
Hair types can tell you exactly what your hair needs and how it functions. There are four hair type categories that include straight, wavy, curly, and coily. Each category has three sub categories making up 12 hair types in total.
The most common hair type is straight hair, quickly followed by curly hair types. However, the rarest hair type is actually the subcategory 1A straight hair. This is the most straight, flat, and fine hair that can’t hold a curl and is prone to oiliness.
In addition, other crucial factors that are just as important as hair type are porosity, elasticity, scalp health, and chemical treatments.
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