It’s common knowledge that understanding your skin type is vital when it comes to properly caring for your skin. However, did you know that the same applies to your hair too?

Your hair type is mainly influenced by the natural curl pattern of your hair. There are four main hair types out there, but each one can be divided into further subcategories. What makes things even more complicated is that some of us may have more than one hair type, such as straighter hair at the crown and then curly hair at the ends. 

It may take a little time to correctly identify your hair type but, once you do, you’ll be able to better understand exactly what your hair needs to look and feel its very best. Read on as Evalectric talks you through the different hair types, along with tips on how to care for and style each one.

Type 1: Straight

If your hair is straight and doesn’t have a natural curl to it, then this would put your hair type at Type 1. This usually means that your strands fall in a straight way from root to tip, although you may still experience the odd bend. 

Type 1 hair can be further split into three categories. The first is 1A, which refers to fine straight hair that feels soft and smooth, but also a little thin. This may sound ideal to some, but the downside to this hair type is that it usually lacks volume. Type 1B is similar but slightly thicker and bouncier. As a result, it can sometimes have a bend in it. Hair type 1C is much thicker and coarser but, again, is straight overall.

Caring for Type 1 Hair

Compared to the other hair types, straight hair, meaning Type 1 hair, is more prone to feeling excessively oily. This is due to the lack of natural waves and texture. When sebum is produced by the scalp, it quickly slides all the way down the hair shaft, whereas this process takes much longer to occur when the hair is naturally wavy.

For this reason, you’ll need a good shampoo in your hair care arsenal, just like Evalectric’s Moisturizing Shampoo. You’ll likely need to wash your hair every 2-3 days to prevent it from looking greasy, but don’t go overboard on your hair washing either. The sebum produced by your scalp serves a purpose, so it needs to be present in small amounts.

Studies have found that straight hair also requires a gentler touch. So, in addition to using mild hair care formulas, don’t be too rough with your locks when washing or styling them. Gently pat your hair with a soft towel when drying it, instead of vigorously rubbing it. Be gentle when brushing or combing your hair too, especially if you need to detangle.

Styling Hair Type 1

Since hair type 1 usually lacks natural volume, the best way to remedy this is with a hair curler. This will enable you to give your hair some fullness and texture while also making it easier to style.

If your hair type is 1A or 1B, then you need to be careful about the curler that you pick. Using the wrong styling tools on hair that’s quite thin or fine could cause some serious damage. Find a model that’s designed with features aimed at protecting the feel of the hair, such as the Evalectric 25-18 Curling Black. It comes with far infrared technology and negative ion technology to keep its styling efforts feeling gentle.

Type 2: Wavy Hair

The next hair type on the list is Type 2, which refers to wavy hair. 

The first subcategory for this hair type is 2A. This refers to hair that’s usually pretty straight near the roots, but then turns into a gently tousled pattern toward the ends. Next, we have 2B. This is similar to 2A, but instead of the hair going from straight-ish to wavy, it falls on the curlier side. Finally, there’s Type 2C. This refers to hair that features defined, S-shaped curls from root to tip. Hair type 2C is also usually thicker than 2A and 2B, meaning that it’s more prone to frizz.

Caring for Type 2 Hair

Since Type 2 hair naturally has a beautiful wave to it, the best way to ensure that your hair looks its best is to try to enhance that wave pattern as much as possible. One way to do this is by using a hair serum. Rather than a heavy, creamy, oil-based serum, which would only weigh your hair down, look for a lightweight formula, such as Evalectric’s Hair Serum. This oil-free formula brings together aloe vera leaf extract and vitamin E. It will leave your natural waves looking flawlessly defined while also helping to eliminate frizz.

Of course, another way to keep frizz at bay is to use a diffuser when blow drying your hair. Evalectric’s Pro Beauty Dryer comes with two. These will allow you to focus the flow of the heat being emitted from the dryer, meaning that you’ll be able to smooth away the look of frizz.

Styling Hair Type 2

Some people with Type 2 hair find styling a breeze. All they need to do is run a serum through their locks while they’re still damp, and then blow dry their mane to perfection.

However, others aren’t fans of that natural wave pattern, meaning that they’re constantly battling their hair with a hair straightener. There’s nothing wrong with swapping your wavy locks for straight and sleek strands. However, look for a straightener that’s capable of providing long-lasting results to save you from having to re-straighten your hair each day, which will only cause damage. The Evalectric Pink Soft Touch Professional 1.25” is ideal for this. It comes with a temperature control setting that allows you to adjust the heat to perfectly suit your hair type.

Type 3: Curly Hair

If you have curly hair, then this puts your hair type at Type 3. 

First up is Type 3A. This is hair that forms S-shaped curls, resulting in loose loops. Next up is Type 3B. These curls are springier and more voluminous than Type 3A. They’re usually also a little thicker and can look quite spiral-like. Type 3C refers to even tighter curls – basically, corkscrew curls. These curls are usually blessed by being naturally defined, but the downside is that they’re prone to breakages.

Caring for Type 3 Hair

Just like when caring for wavy, Type 2 hair, you need to be extremely gentle when looking after Type 3 hair. It doesn’t take much for curly strands to snap and break, especially when they’re wet and even more fragile than usual.

This means that you’ll need to take it easy when brushing your hair. If your hair is wet, or even just damp, avoid using a brush. Rake your fingers through your strands instead to prevent tangles, and then wait until your hair is dry before running a brush through it. Even at this stage, don’t be too harsh with your locks – you want to preserve your natural definition, rather than brushing it out.

To keep the appearance of damage to a minimum, make sure that you’re regularly fortifying the feel of your strands with a good conditioner. Evalectric’s Moisturizing Conditioner is perfect for caring for curls. Infused with argan oil, this formula will leave your curly strands feeling stronger and more elastic. Not only will your hair look healthier, but it will also be much easier to style.

Styling Hair Type 3

Curly hair can sometimes be quite tricky to style. As a result, many choose to go down the easy route and simply pull their hair into a tight ponytail or bun for the day. However, this is something that you should avoid doing. Not only will it cause your natural curls to lose their formation, resulting in hair that looks frizzy and unkempt, but tight hairstyles can also lead to hair loss.

Instead, follow the tips above when it comes to keeping your hair moisturized and you should find that it soon feels much more manageable. Having a good hair curler or straightener to hand can also be a big help. A curler will enable you to give your natural curls some extra structure and definition, while a straightener will take things in the opposite direction to keep your mane looking smooth and sleek.

Type 4: Coily Hair

Type 4 hair refers to hair that forms natural coils. Again, this can be broken down into three further categories:

First up is Type 4A. These are tight, S-shaped coils. They’re usually quite small, meaning that you could technically wrap them around a chopstick. Type 4B is more zig-zag-like in nature. This means that it’s more prone to tangles. Finally, we have Type 4C. Compared to all of the other hair types described so far, 4C is the most fragile. These coils are extremely tight, meaning that it doesn’t take much for them to break.

Caring for Type 4 Hair

Earlier, we mentioned how straight, Type 1 hair is prone to greasiness because of how quickly the sebum from the scalp travels down the hair shaft. Well, if you have hair type 4, then you’ll be dealing with the opposite problem; dryness. It takes sebum a very long time to work its way down each of those coils, resulting in overly dry locks.

So, your biggest focus should be on restoring moisture to your mane. Regularly conditioning the hair is often the best way to do this, but coily hair usually needs a little more than what a conditioner can offer. This is where hair masks can be a game-changer. Rich formulas, like Evalectric’s Hair Mask, will repair the look of damaged hair while thickening the feel of your strands. It’s a great way to deeply condition your hair on a weekly basis.

Styling Hair Type 4

It’s common for people with hair type 4 to opt for protective hairstyles, such as braids or weaves. These enable you to tuck away those fragile ends, so surely they’re a good move, right?

Wrong. While protective styles do help to protect the hair from certain forms of external damage, they also protect the hair from all of the conditioning treatments that you should be applying. Be it a hair mask, a leave-in conditioner, or anything else, your strands will be missing out on all of this goodness if they’re tightly wound into a braid. 

So, instead, choose a style that allows you to easily keep your hair moisturized. Loose, wash-and-go styles tend to be the easiest, and they also look pretty fabulous if you’ve been giving your hair the care that it deserves.

Summary

As you can see, there is so much variety when it comes to the different hair types out there. Understanding exactly where your hair falls on the scale will allow you to adjust your hair care and styling techniques accordingly to ensure that you’re giving your hair exactly what it needs.

Click here to check out more bestselling hair care products and styling tools from Evalectric.