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Understanding your hair type and texture can be a helpful starting point when building a hair-care routine. Hair type describes the natural pattern of your strands, but it’s only one part of understanding your hair. Strand thickness, density, porosity, hair condition, styling practices, and individual needs can also affect which products and techniques work best for you.
The Hair Typing System
A commonly used hair typing system groups hair into four main patterns: Type 1 (straight), Type 2 (wavy), Type 3 (curly), and Type 4 (coily), with A, B, and C subcategories used to describe variations within those patterns. Hair typing can be a helpful visual guide, but it does not determine porosity, density, strand thickness, or exactly which products your hair needs.
Type 1: Straight Hair
Type 1A: Fine, very straight hair that lies flat against the scalp. It's typically shiny but can become oily quickly.
Type 1B: Medium-textured straight hair with more body and volume than 1A.
Type 1C: Coarse, straight hair that may have a slight bend and more resistance to styling.
Care Tips: Straight hair can vary in strand thickness, density, oiliness, and product needs. If your hair becomes weighed down easily, you may prefer lighter products and smaller amounts. The Glow Luxe Hair Growth Serum can be used as a lightweight option for scalp and hair conditioning. Choose products based on how your individual hair responds rather than hair type alone.
Type 2: Wavy Hair
Type 2A: Fine, thin waves that form an S-shape. Easy to style straight or wavy.
Type 2B: Medium-textured waves that are more defined and prone to frizz.
Type 2C: Coarse, thick waves that start at the roots and are prone to frizz.
Care Tips: Wavy hair can have different moisture and styling needs depending on strand thickness, density, porosity, and individual hair condition. If your waves become weighed down easily, start with smaller amounts of product and adjust as needed. The Glow Luxe Hair & Skin Glow Oil can be used to help condition the hair and add shine. Choose the amount and products based on how your hair responds.
Type 3: Curly Hair
Type 3A: Loose, well-defined curls with a circumference similar to sidewalk chalk.
Type 3B: Medium curls with a circumference similar to a Sharpie marker. More volume and prone to frizz.
Type 3C: Tight curls or corkscrew curls with a circumference similar to a pencil or straw. Dense and full with lots of volume.
Care Tips: Curly hair can vary widely in moisture needs, strand thickness, density, porosity, and styling preferences. Some curls respond well to richer conditioning products, while others do better with lighter application. The Glow Luxe Hair Growth Balm can be used as a richer conditioning option to help soften the hair and add manageability. Adjust the amount based on how your individual hair responds.
Type 4: Coily/Kinky Hair
Type 4A: Tightly coiled S-pattern curls.
Type 4B: Z-shaped pattern with sharp angles and a less defined curl pattern.
Type 4C: Tightly kinked hair with minimal to no curl definition and significant shrinkage.
Care Tips: Coily hair can vary widely in strand thickness, density, porosity, shrinkage, dryness, and product needs. Some coily hair responds well to richer conditioning products, while other coily hair may prefer lighter application. The Glow Luxe Strengthening Hair Growth Serum (Batana Oil) can be used for scalp and hair conditioning, while the Glow Luxe Strengthening Hair Growth Balm is a richer conditioning option for lengths and ends. Choose products and amounts based on how your individual hair responds.
Understanding Hair Porosity
Porosity describes how hair interacts with and retains water and products. It is separate from curl pattern. Straight, wavy, curly, and coily hair can each have different porosity characteristics, and even different areas of the same head may behave differently. Hair condition, heat use, chemical processing, environmental exposure, and other factors can also influence how hair behaves.
Rather than relying on curl type alone, pay attention to how quickly your hair becomes wet, how it responds to different product amounts and formulations, whether buildup occurs easily, and how well it maintains a conditioned feel.
Glow Luxe Hair Care for Different Needs
Glow Luxe hair products can be incorporated into routines for straight, wavy, curly, and coily hair. Rather than choosing a product based only on curl pattern, consider what your hair and scalp currently need.
- Glow Luxe Hair Growth Serum: A lightweight option for scalp and hair conditioning.
- Glow Luxe Strengthening Hair Growth Serum (Batana Oil): Another scalp and hair-conditioning option with a richer oil blend.
- Glow Luxe Hair & Skin Glow Oil: Helps condition hair, add shine, and help reduce moisture loss.
- Glow Luxe Hair Growth Balm: A richer conditioning option for lengths and ends.
- Glow Luxe Strengthening Hair Growth Balm: Another richer option for hair that responds well to balm-based conditioning.
Start with small amounts and adjust based on your hair, styling routine, buildup, and how your hair responds.
Finding Your Hair Type
To determine your hair type, wash your hair and let it air dry without products. Observe the natural pattern that forms. Keep in mind that hair typing is a visual guide rather than an exact test — you do not need a precise 1A–4C classification to build an appropriate hair-care routine.
Remember, many people have multiple hair types on different parts of their head — this is completely normal! You may have Type 3B curls in the back and Type 3C curls at your crown. Adjust your routine to meet the needs of each section.
The Bottom Line
Understanding your hair pattern can give you a useful starting point, but your curl type is only one part of your hair story. Pay attention to your strand thickness, density, condition, porosity, styling habits, scalp needs, and how your hair responds to different products. Whether your hair is straight, wavy, curly, coily, or a combination of patterns, the goal is to build a routine that works for you.
Explore the Glow Luxe hair-care collection and choose products based on your individual hair and scalp needs.
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Disclaimer:
The information provided in this blog post is for educational and informational purposes only. While we strive to provide accurate and helpful beauty and hair care advice, this content is not intended as medical advice and should not be used to diagnose or treat any health conditions. Always consult with a qualified healthcare provider or dermatologist before starting any new hair care routine, especially if you have scalp conditions, allergies, or sensitivities.
Individual results may vary based on hair type, texture, porosity, and overall health. What works for one person may not work for another, and we encourage you to listen to your hair's unique needs.
This post may contain links to products available at Underneath The Makeup. We stand behind the quality of our Glow Luxe products and only recommend what we genuinely believe will benefit your hair care journey.
