I don’t know. And no. That’s the short answer. The curl-typing system most people are familiar with was created by Andre Walker, Oprah Winfrey’s longtime hairstylist. This was to "help women" purchase products that was appropriate for their hair. The problem is, it worked and now it has the community in a death grip.
As a professional, I sometimes use curl-type language when communicating with other professionals because it gives us a quick way to describe what the hair looks like without bringing race or ethnicity into the conversation. But for actually caring for your hair? I think the chart is far too simplistic. Knowing that you’re a 3C or 4B tells me something about the shape of your curl, but it doesn’t tell me nearly enough about your texture, density, porosity, lifestyle, styling habits, or what your hair actually needs.
I also think curl typing has convinced a lot of people that there is a perfect product somewhere out there specifically designed for their exact curl number. That can send you down a very expensive rabbit hole. I don’t have a separate collection of products for 3A, 3B, 3C, 4A, 4B and 4C hair. I use a handful of products on almost everyone. I have three levels of moisture and two types of hold. That’s it. I choose the option that seems most appropriate for the hair in front of me, then I focus on being thorough and consistent with cleansing, conditioning, detangling, moisturizing and styling. Technique usually tells me a lot more than a curl chart ever will. If you’re tired of guessing what your hair needs, book an appointment at The CurlSpa and let’s work with the hair that’s actually on your head—not a picture on a chart.
So instead of asking, “What’s my curl type?” I’d rather have you ask: How does my hair feel? How dense is it? Is it fine or coarse? How does it respond to water? What style am I trying to achieve? Am I actually using my products thoroughly and consistently? Those answers are far more useful when we’re building a routine. You probably don’t need a special shampoo, conditioner, moisturizer, gel, cream and oil for every letter and number somebody assigns to your curls. You need a simple routine, products appropriate for your hair, and enough consistency to learn how your hair responds.
Need products? Shop The CurlSpa’s recommended hair-care collection for the same types of products I use behind the chair. Need more help than a bottle can give you? Book an appointment and we’ll figure it out together.
