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.
Type 2a hair tends to lie flat at the roots and starts to form waves at eye-level. This gradual change in texture can make hair look inconsistent. The shape of these strands don't take on the slight curl pattern of 2c hair types nor do they have the definite wave texture of a 2b hair type.
If you have hair that is straight from the roots to near the eyes and then falls into gently tousled waves, you have 2A type hair. It is best described as not quite straight and slightly curly hair. The slight S-shaped bends in the hair provide a natural bounce and body.
If you have type 2A hair, plan on washing your hair twice per week, advises Johnson. You'll want to use a hydrating shampoo and conditioner and rinse your hair with cold water to smooth strands' cuticles and seal in moisture, she says. Be sure to towel dry your hair thoroughly as soon as you're out of the shower.
In circumference, type 3A hair is commonly compared to sidewalk chalk (about one inch). You'll know you have this hair type if your curls are loose, bouncy, and spiraled from root to tip. Think Shirley Temple. This curl pattern is typically well-defined with or without product. Photo by Pouriya Kafaei.
The main difference is that 1C tends to be more coarse and thick, whereas 2A is a bit more fine and flat. 1C has some volume and body, but 2A doesn't. If you have more waves in your hair, you likely fall into the 2A category. If the waves are barely there and mainly underneath, you probably have 1C hair.
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.
Type 2A hair can also be more likely to frizz than other hair types, simply because there's naturally less moisture stored in the hair, Rilington explains.
Type 2a hair can be a versatile texture. While you have a slight wave, you can easily switch it up between straight or truly curly hair using heat-free techniques or hot tools.
Type 2A hair is fine and thin with individual strands forming an “S” shape when dry. It is easy to use styling products to curl or straighten Type 2A hair. Type 2B hair is wavy and slightly frizzier than Type 2A hair. When dry, individual strands create an “S” shape with some frizz.
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.
Then we get deeper into texture; 2a wavy hair, specifically, is really loose waves. Your waves are wide S-curves that can be straightened in a flash. Your texture may be described as “tousled.” You have very little volume at your roots and you've probably found that some products weigh down your hair.
Simply pull your hair through a scrunchie, but don't double-wrap it. You do not want to create a crease in the curls by tying too tightly. For extra protection, you can tie a silk or satin scarf around your head to keep your hair from rubbing on your pillow.
Type 4a hair has medium-sized, loosely packed curls. The curls have a springy S-shape and are about the size of a crochet needle. If you look closely at the 4a hair type, you'll notice the curls are not as interlocked as 4b or 4c curls. Each 4a strand independently curls or spirals away from other neighboring strands.
Type 2C waves are usually identified as small to medium size waves that form into a letter S shape as they grow. This shape borders between wavy and curly hair. Though for some this may already look like a typical curly hair, the 2C type does not form springs, a distinguishing feature between waves and curls.
Type 3 and 4 are hair texture types for African-American hair. People who have type 3 hair have S shaped bouncy curls that are well defined, dry and slightly rough. This type has further three hair texture types for African-American hair: type 3a, 3b and 3c. 3a curls are springy and have a definite S shape.
1A is the rarest hair type. It is usually found on people of Asian descent. 1B hair, on the other hand, is the most common hair type. It is straight and flat but has some volume.
Type 1A hair is the most straight and fine of the hair types. Typically, this hair type is found in individuals of Asian descent. Type 1B hair is typically straight with a medium texture but slightly thicker in volume than Type 1A. Type 1C hair is very straight, but also very thick and coarse.
Medium or Normal hair texture is the most common hair type and it is not as fragile as fine hair. It can feel silky to the touch when it is straight and in healthy condition. Medium textured hair tends to hold style well, but can be prone to damage from high heat styling tools.
Type 2A. Those with hair type 2A have a fine, barely-there tousled texture that's very easy to straighten. People with this texture have to be wary of using heavy styling products that can easily weigh their strands down, rendering them limp and lifeless.
2B hair is characterized by full, loose waves that start midway down the hair shaft with straight hair toward the roots. Frizz and lack of definition are the main concerns for this hair type. Encouraging lift with lightweight, volumizing products is the key to soft, healthy, well-defined waves.
2B Hair type is best described as wavy hair. This hair type is not quite curly and it's not quite straight. If your hair is mostly flat and straight at the roots but gets wavier and more “S” shaped toward the bottom, then you have 2B hair! With this wavy hair type, you pretty much achieve #hairgoals naturally.
Leave-in conditioners are the best heat-protectants for 2a, 2b, 2c hair types. Treat your locks with serum. Oil-based serums are an irreplaceable addition to daily hydration of your waves or curls. Apart from making your hair shiny throughout the day, serums also protect you from frizz.
Opt for sulfate-free shampoos and conditioners.
They offer a way to gently cleanse your scalp and hair without stripping them on their natural oils, so they'll feel cleaned without feeling dried out.