The most common reason for having multi-textured hair is genetics. If you're desiring hair that is completely different from yours, you are sure to get frustrated. If you have multiple textures, it is normal and you're not alone. Vitamin deficiencies or medication can cause a change in hair texture, but not always.
But here's the thing: Most people actually have a combo of curl patterns on their head. It likely doesn't deviate too much, maybe a section or two strays from the rest, but your texture could feature a range of sorts: mostly coils with a few S-waves, kinky hair with some tight corkscrews throughout—you get the idea.
Each person has a unique texture. There are four main types of hair texture: Type 1 - straight, Type 2 - wavy, Type 3 - curly and Type 4 - tightly curled. The hair type and texture can be further broken down into a, b and c based on the hair's curl pattern, density, porosity, width and length.
If your curls easily wrap around the sidewalk chalk, then you have type 3A hair. If the permanent marker is the best fit, then your hair type is 3B. If your spiral curls are the size of a pencil, you have type 3C hair.
3A hair is made up of well-defined and springy curls that have a loopy, “S” shaped pattern. Their circumference is the size of a piece of sidewalk chalk. 3A ringlets have a fine to medium texture. This curl type benefits from lots of body and movement, but is prone to frizzing and dryness.
Type 5 hair typically refers to natural, multi-textured hair with a mixture of frizz and curls within its fine strands. In its natural state, you'll find that type 5 hair ranges from loosely coiled to tightly coiled, usually with S or Z-shaped curls that would typically fall under the 3A to 4C hair type categories.
4c hair type has the tightest curl pattern of all the curly hair types. Strands are formed in tight, springy, ringlets. 4c hair tends to clump more at the ends and is even more prone to shrinkage than 4b hair. According to CURLS, 4c hair can shrink up to 75% of its length!
"Co-washing in the shower and working the product throughout your hair using a detangling brush under cold water is such a great way to add luster all the way through, hydrate, and deeply define the multiple textures of your hair. By doing this, you're making sure that each texture is replenished with the good stuff."
The texture of a person's hair is determined by the shape of their hair follicles. Your follicle shape is partly determined by what genes you have. Your DNA might cause you to have perfectly round follicles. In this case you would have straight hair.
One of the most common reasons for texture change is androgenic alopecia, or pattern hair loss. Androgenic alopecia occurs when hair follicles on the scalp are genetically predisposed to be overly sensitive to normal levels of androgens (male hormones).
Hormonal changes and systemic conditions can slow down the hair growth cycle or change the texture of the hair. If you have experienced trauma to the scalp in that area (from styling, use of chemicals, or injury), follicles may be producing shorter finer hairs.
3C hair strands have larger curls than 4A hair, which are a bit more tightly coiled. 3C hair has a reputation for being tightly densely packed, but otherwise soft to touch.
Compared to silkier hair African-American hair contains more lipids, or fats, but the lipids are less bonded which is why the hair loves oils so much. Along with that, the follicle size is much thicker and it has a flattened elliptical cross section causing it to be curlier than other hair types.
The curls in 4B are tighter and less defined, with strands ranging from fine, coarse, wiry and thin. While the 4c hair type is densely packed, its curls are less defined and experience more shrinkage. It's also more fragile, with strands ranging from super fine and soft to coarse and wiry.
1C hair is straight but thick and coarse. It has a natural tousled look and tends to frizz. Type 2 is wavy hair. Wavy hair follicles tend to have an “S” shape. Wavy strands are bendable, lay flatter than curly or coily hair, and can be fine, coarse or in between.
5C hair refers to hair that has been relaxed or chemically straightened to remove or loosen the curl pattern. 5C hair is initially very dense, with thick and tight curls, coils, or kinks.
4D hair is extremely coarse and has a very tight curl pattern and cotton texture that may take on the shape of a Z (also referred to as a Z pattern), tight coils, or a combination of both. It tends to be very dry, and as such, this hair type requires a regimen that prioritizes deep moisture.
Caucasian hair is generally straight or wavy and is the thinnest, while its cross-section is relatively elliptic.
According to Personal Health via the New York Times, Caucasians are the hairiest ethnic group, with Semitic and Mediterranean people being the hairiest out of all Caucasians. On the other end of the spectrum are American Indians and Asians, who have the least hair on their bodies out of all ethnicities.
Hair Growth Rate
Asian hair shows the fastest growth rate in comparison to the other two hair types. African hair has the lowest growth rate.
Since your hair texture is hardwired in your DNA, there isn't much you can do to change your hair texture from one type to another. What you can do however is improve the current texture of your hair to guarantee that it's the healthiest possible.
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.
During puberty, the hair follicles can change and cause your hair to become curly. Your hair follicle shape is determined by your genes but curly hair isn't necessarily a dominant gene. Hair type is an interesting case of something called incomplete dominance meaning neither the straight nor curly gene is dominant.
Hormonal changes like pregnancy, puberty or menopause can cause your curl pattern to change drastically. The shape of your hair follicles defines your curl pattern and texture, so when your body goes through a major hormonal overhaul, it can also change the shape of your follicles, thus changing your curl pattern.