Understanding Your African Hair Type and it’s Unique Needs.

Being able to answer the question: “What is my hair type?” is invaluable for maintaining optimal hair health and hair growth. With so many hair types, comparing yours against a hair type chart (like the one you’ll see below) can be helpful in getting healthy hair and picking out the best hair products.

Hair types are divided into 4 based on its curls or lack of curls. This hair typing system was generated by Andre Walker. A celebrity hairstylist.

Type 1: straight hair

Type 2: wavy hair

Type 3: curly hair

Type 4: coily hair

Your next question probably is;

How do I know my hair type? 

It’s very simple. You know your hair type by comparing your curls with the hair type chart above. Make sure to compare when your hair is wet. That’s when you can see the curls properly.

However, if you are reading this, chances are that you’re most likely African and your hair will vary between type 3 and type 4. It’s also important to note that you can have more than one type of  hair on your head. Usually you may notice your nape hair (hair at the back of your head) has more loser curls (type 3) than the hair in the middle of your head which usually has tight type 4 curls.

How do I care for my African Hair?

Strand health is super important with type 3 and type 4 hair because curly and coily hair require more maintenance than straight hair.

1. These hair types are usually dry because the sebum doesn’t travel down the hair shaft. This means you need to moisturize it often to prevent breakage. We recommend Deeva moisturising kit for your types 3/4 hair. As well as Deeva Saty-On-All-Night Silk Bonnet to keep the moisture in for as long as possible.
2. These hair types have curls and kinks. Each turning point is a potential breakage point. This means you should not comb it without caution as you would type 1 hair. You have to be gentle to prevent pains and breakage. We recommend a wide tooth comb for this. We also recommend that you comb your hair in sections as opposed to all at once.
3. These hair types shrink! It can shrink as much as 70% of its actual length! Thankfully, shrinkage is a sign of healthy hair. On the other hand, shrinkage also causes your hair strands to tangle and form knots which may lead to breakage. That’s why we recommend that you wash your hair in sections and put them in twists or bands to keep them straight and avoid tangles.
4. Lastly, these hair types are very versatile! You can make several hairstyles with it. From twists, to buns, to braids. You can decide to define the curls in cute wash and gos, strawset, twist out, braid outs. You may even decide to straighten your hair with blow outs and silk presses. 

In conclusion, understanding your hair type means that you know that your hair is fragile so you have to be gentle with it, have good hair practices and use appropriate hair care products in order to achieve your hair goals.

Did you find this article helpful? Let us know by leaving a comment