Hair Types

Andre Walker is the man who came up with the most communly used classification system for hair types based on the curl pattern.

To read an interview with Mr Walker visit Long Hair Don't Care .net at the following URL: http://www.longhairdontcare.net/long_hair_dont_care-deleted-2009062...

In his book 'Andre Talks Hair' he implies that there are 9 different hair textures. Below is a list of these textures along with a brief description:

Type 1-

Type 1b - Straight (Medium) - Hair has lots of volume & body.

Type 1c - Straight (Coarse) - Hair is normally bone straight and difficult to Curl. Asian women usually fall into this category.

Type 2 -

• Sticks Close to head; it won't bounce up, even when layered

• Three subtypes

• Use lighter products such as mousses or gels that enhance curls, but don't weigh them down

• Let hair air dry or use a diffuser

• Do not use a brush or comb on your dry curls

• Reduce tangles by sleeping on a satin pillowcase

Type 2a - Wavy (Fine/Thin) - Hair has a definite "S" pattern. Normally can accomplish various styles.

Type 2b - Wavy (Medium-textured) - Hair tends to be frizzy, and a little resistant to styling. Has a tendency to frizz.

Type 2c - Wavy (Thick and Coarse) - Hair is also resistant to styling and normally very frizzy;tends to have thicker waves.

Type 3 -

• There is definitely a loopy "S" pattern

• Curls are well-defined and springy

• Type 3 has a lot of body; it is easily styles in its natural state or straightened with blow-dryer

• It isn't coarse, like many believe, but soft and very fine-there's just a lot of it

• Combination of Type 3a and 3b curls are common

• Let hair air dry or use a diffuser

• Do not use a brush or comb on your dry curls

• Reduce tangles by sleeping on a saturn pillow or sleep with a satin cap

• Use styling creams, butters and oils for type 3c hair

• 3c hair needs extra moisture and tlc because it can be fragile

Type 3a - Curly (Loose Curls) - Hair tends to have a combination texture. It can be thick & full with lots of body, with a definite "S" pattern. It aslo tends to be frizzy. Curls are naturally big, loose and usually very shiny. Use cream moisturisors that offer light moisture and curl definition.

Type 3b - Curly (Tight Curls) - Also tends to have a combination texture, with a medium amount of curl.

Type 3c - (ADDED BY HAIR CARE INFUSIASTS) - (Tight Curls in corkscrews) - The curls can be either kinky, or very tightly curled, with lots and lots of strands densely packed together. Getting this type of hair to blow dry straight is more challenging than for 3a or 3b, but it usually can be done. The very tigt curls are usually fine in texture. Detangle hair with a lot of conditioner in your hair and use a comb or detangling brish.

Type 4-

• Type is kinky, or very tightly curled, with a clearly visible curl pattern.

• The hair is very wiry, very tightly coiled and very, very fragile.

• Type 4 hair as fewer cuticle layers than and other hair type, which means that it has less natural protection from te damage you inflict by combing, brushing, curling, blow-drying and straightening it.

• Type 4 hair is known to shrink up to 75% of the actual hair length

• Use styling creams, butters and oils for type 4 hair

• This hair type needs extra moisture and tlc because it can be fragile

• Detangle hair with a lot of conditioner in your hair and use a wide tooth comb or detangling brush

• Let hair air dry or use a hood dryer

• Do not use a brush or comb on your dry curls

• Reduce tangles by sleeping on a satin pillowcase or wrap hair in a satin cap

Type 4a - Kinky (Soft) - Hair tends to be very Fragile, tightly coiled, and has a more defined curly pattern. When stretched, hair has a "S" pattern, much like curly hair. It tends to have more moisture than 4b.

Type 4b - Kinky (Wiry) - Also very fragile and tightly coiled; however with a less defined curly pattern -has more of a "Z" pattern shape.