3C hair is the curliest of the type 3 curly hair pattern. And since type 4 hair is considered coily instead of curly, type 3C hair is the curliest of curly hair. If you have 3C curls, your curls have the width of a pencil and are shaped like corkscrew-like ringlets. Type 3C hair is also very dense and full of volume.
3C hair is made up of well-defined, tight corkscrews or coils with lots of strands densely packed together. Their circumference is the size of a pencil or straw. 3C curls have a fine to medium texture. This curl type is prone to dryness, tangles, and lack of curl definition.
Type 3C. 3C curls are tight corkscrews that range in circumference from a straw to a pencil, like you see her on Nathalie Emmanuel. Strands are densely packed together, giving way to lots of natural volume.
Each strand of 4A hair is more fragile and wirier than 3C hair, and hair is prone to dehydration and damage because of the texture. The hair shrinks significantly when it is dried. Although prone to breakage and dryness, you can sport a head of soft, shiny, well-defined, and bouncy curls with a bit of regular care.
Type 3B hair belongs to the curly hair family. Your ringlets are perfectly spiraled and about the width of a marker. Some curls may be a bit bigger than others, while some can be a bit tighter. But on average, the ringlets are a bit stretched out and have a circumference close to a Sharpie.
Type 1C hair is straight and is usually coarse and thick, which can result in frizzy hair depending on the environment or climate. When air-dried, this hair type can achieve a tousled look, while still lying flat on the scalp.
They tend to be straight at the crown and start forming a defined wavy texture at the midpoint of the locks that continues down to the ends. It has a moderate amount of volume and thickness and doesn't lose its shape easily. Even wet hair still maintains a noticeable wavy pattern.
The Challenges of 3c Hair
Due to the more extreme curves and bends in 3c hair, this curl type experiences the most shrinkage. Natural oils (sebum) also find it difficult to traverse the twisting trajectory of your hair shafts. That's why 3c hair is the most vulnerable to dryness and frizz amongst the curly hair types.
Hair structure
Take a piece of hair in between your fingers and rub it back and forth. If you don't feel anything, your hair type is considered fine. If you can feel the hair in between your fingers your hair type is medium. If your hair feels thick in between your fingers , then your hair type is coarse.
Type 3a hair is characterized by well-defined spiral curls that are typically the size of a piece of sidewalk chalk. Although the circumference of 3a curls is wider than that of 3b and 3c hair, it can be difficult to tell the three curl types apart.
The dry and breakage-prone nature of 3C hair means you should try to stick to shampooing only once a week but if you feel that your hair needs a wash more frequently then this, then try co-washing with a hydrating conditioner that will add moisture back into your curls whilst still feeling cleansed.
Deep treatments help boost definition
Since 3C hair has bouncy spirals, definition will take your hair from good to great. Applying a deep conditioner once a week will help keep moisture levels in the hair balanced and give your strands a reset.
As with detangling, don't brush your hair dry, as this will encourage frizz. But if you're focused on further defining your curl pattern, a good wide-bristle brush can help you create more obvious corkscrew curls. Avoid boar-bristle brushes and instead opt for a good nylon-bristle brush with soft tips.
Yes, you can wet natural hair everyday, and it is actually advised to do so to maintain moisture. Let's be clear though: by wetting your hair, we don't meanwashing it. We simply mean rinsing natural hair either in the shower or spritzing water over your hair.
You have type 3A hair if you can easily wrap your curls around sidewalk chalk. Your hair type is 3B if the permanent marker is the best suit. Finally, you know you have 3C hair type if your spiral curls are about the same size as a pencil.
In addition, 3C hair can tend to “shrink.” That means that it appears much shorter dry than wet. With type 3C, your hair might shrink up to 50%.
Human hair comes with all sorts of colors, textures and shapes. Notably, African hair is more coiled and dry; Asian hair is straighter and thicker; and Caucasian hair is somewhere in between with around 45% having straight hair, 40% having wavy hair, and 15% having curly hair.
2C type hair is extremely wavy but not coily. The S-shape bends in the hair start off at the roots. These waves are defined and thick. The bends are looser and wider than the tighter structure of curly hair.
Type 4c. 4c hair is the queen of thick, bold afros. From afar, 4c hair looks like a thick fro, but if you look closely, you'll notice very tight, small springs or coils on each strand. Coils are pretty different from curls.
Jojoba, lavender, Tea tree, and Almond will banish flakes and a dry scalp, while Rosemary help you to grow stronger hair. Castor and Avocado oils will smooth and seal the hair shaft to reduce breakage and help restore elasticity to dry strands.
Like all type 2 hair, 2c hair is wavy, but that often feels like a technicality. Your S-bend hair is thick and the waves start at the roots. If you've ever been confused about whether your hair is wavy or curly, it's likely you have the 2c hair type.
2A hair tends to have a tousled texture. 2B hair consists of 'S' shaped waves in the lengths, but sits relatively straight at the roots. 2C hair has even more defined 'S' shaped curls that start from the root and continue down the lengths of the hair.
Type 2A hair is the loosest of all wavy hair. Type 2A waves are loose and lax S-shaped waves and can sometimes be hard to determine if not styled properly. At the root, this curly type may be straight, but the shaft and/or ends of the hair have a slight bend that creates the wave.