The world of curly hair is a diverse one.
While some people might have loose corkscrew curls, others might look much tighter.
And don’t get us started on shrinkagewhich can be the bane of every natural head out there!
What are the hair types?
Let’s take a step back and start by talking about hair types.
For more help identifying your curl key in, takembg’s curl key in quiz.
So, what is 3C hair?
3C hair is considered the densest of true curly hair (ortype 3 hair).
Shrinkage is when the hair length is technically lost in the curl pattern.
It’s not uncommon for shrinkage to be measured in percentages.
What does 3C hair look like?
However, this hair is often categorized as a classic corkscrew curl.
So, someone could mostly 3C but may have 3B at the front hairline or 4A at the nape.
Hair care tips for 3C hair.
So, the routine that works best for one 3C head may not apply to all 3Cs!
However, 3C hair tends to follow the same general care rules as most other natural hair types.
Keep in mind that someone can be 3C but relax their hair.
And while they’re still technically 3C, relaxers permanently alter your hair’s chemical composition.
So, hair care tips for 3C naturals will be different from someone who’s relaxed with 3C hair.
For this article, we’re focusing on natural heads only.
Determine your porosity.
Porosity determines how easily your hair can retain moisture.
Low or high porosity impacts what products work best on your texture."
There are three porosity levels:high, medium, andlow.
High porosity hair struggles to retain moisture which slips out of the hair shaft through fully open cuticles.
Medium porosity has less of an issue with moisture retention as the hair’s cuticles are regularly aligned.
Note that medium porosity hair is often referred to as “normal” because it retains moisture well.
This means that moisture can’t penetrate the hair shaft easily.
If you’re wondering how to determine porosity, all you have to do is try this quickone-minute test.
Cleanse your hair properly.
But you should be regularly washing your hair.
Be gentle with your hair.
Curly hair is usually considered more fragile.
Meanwhile, either opt for finger detangling or a good seamless wide-tooth comb to avoid creating additional tangles.
Invest in a good brush.
As with detangling, don’t brush your hair dry, as this will encourage frizz.
Avoid boar-bristle brushes and instead opt for a good nylon-bristle brush with soft tips.
Detangling brushes are perfect for this task.
Embrace heatless styling techniques.
Natural hair is amazing for its versatility.
you’re able to easily shift between straight, super curly, or soft bouncy curls.
But it’s important to remember that frequent heat use can put your curls in danger.
Excessive heat exposure, similar to relaxers, can permanently change your curl pattern.
More importantly, this means that the only remedy is to cut the damaged hair.
Avoid this heartache by prioritizing heatless styling methods and reaching for hot tools occasionally.
Focus on moisture retention.
And don’t forget that if you have high or low porosity hair, this struggle just got worse.
As a general rule, curly heads are encouraged to focus on products such ashumectantsthat help to boost hydration.
But don’t forget that water is the original moisturizer.
Use heat responsibly.
Diffusers ensure that the air doesn’t disturb your curls and encourage frizz.
Similarly, every time you reach for a hot tool, ensure you first use a good heat protectant.
This will help to minimize the risk of heat damage.
Likewise, don’t crank your hot tools to the highest setting.
Don’t skip trims.
Within the natural community, a secondary goal besides “curl poppin'” is length retention.
And unfortunately, many people forgo regular trims because they’re concerned about losing length.
However, skipping routine trims can sabotage your overall growth goals.
Had you trimmed regularly, you would haveprevented those split ends from growing.
Pineapple to preserve styles.
confirm those curls stay poppin' beyond the first day by “pineappling” before bed.
Go the distance by using eithersilk pillowcasesor a bonnet to further protect your tresses from losing moisture.
Products for 3C hair.
Haircare is personal; we can’t stress this enough!
Similarly, you may find that some routines are too tedious to maintain.
Finding the right products can take some trial and error.
So, consider the following recommendations as a starting point for your hair care routine journey.
If you prefer a cleanser that won’t strip your hair, this sophisticated number is a great solution.
This vegan-friendly formula is free from sulfates, parabens, and silicones, as well as dyes.
It relies on coconut ingredients to properly clean the hair while cationic guar boosts detangling efforts.
Along with providing a bit of light hold, this silicone-free product is perfect for enhancing your curl pattern.
And these tools are perfect for keeping in your hair care arsenal.
A diffuser is great if you want to heat-style your curls.
And the collapsible design makes it a great travel-friendly solution.
Better still, it’s a universal size that should fit most blow dryers.
This kit comes with a silk-lined sleep turban and matching pillowcase, eye mask, and three hair scrunchies.
you might easily transition from straight to wavy to curly styles depending on your mood.
Similar to other naturals, you’ll have your pick of protective styles.
Avoid going longer than four to eight weeks with a protective style to reduce the risk of hair damage.
For more product picks, here are mbg’s favoriteproducts for curly hair.
