How to Manage Type 3 (Curly) Hair

Learning your hair type is the key to unlocking the secrets of beautiful healthy hair. Once you know your hair type, discovering the best way to maintain your locks is a simple process. If you’re blessed with curly hair, many factors influence your specific hair type – curl pattern, porosity, thickness, and width to name a few.

 Finding the right solution for your hair can be a frustrating journey. At times your curls may feel more like a curse than a blessing. Your curly tresses mean you likely have type 3 hair. A little research will help you uncover which level of type 3 curls adorn your head.

1. Understand Your Type 3 Hair

Hair falls into four main categories, ranging from type 1 straight hair to type 4 kinky coils, according to celebrity hairstylist Andre Walker. Type 3 hair includes three distinct levels of hair curliness, from loose, S-shaped curls to tightly coiled ringlets.

• Type 3A hair is made up of loose, lustrous curls with a large circumference and wave-like appearance.

• Type 3B hair consists of springy corkscrew curls, a bit coarse but with good volume.

• Type 3C hair has extremely dense, tightly defined coils with a narrow circumference and a lot of volume.

Once you identify your specific hair type, the next step toward achieving healthy hair is figuring out your hair’s porosity.

2. Determine Your Hair Porosity

Rinse your hair with apple cider vinegar to remove any product build-up. Then shampoo and condition like normal. Once your hair is dry, preferably by air drying, take a single strand and drop it in a glass of water. Use a clear glass so you have a better view.

If your hair strand sinks, you have high porosity. If the hair strand floats, then the porosity is low. If it sinks halfway, then the porosity is normal.

Type 3 hair can hold a lot of moisture which can lead to a major frizz problem. On the flip side, type 3 curls often become extremely dried out, which causes split ends and breakage. This all depends on your hair’s porosity, the amount of moisture your hair lets in.

Hair type 3A has high porosity, so it’s always at the mercy of the weather. Humid and rainy days can trigger a frizz-fest in your type 3A curls. Maintain your curls’ lustrous sheen with a lightweight, frizz-controlling moisturizing product like Daily Dose Leave-In Conditioner.

Type 3B hair has medium porosity, so both frizziness and dryness are common struggles. A lightweight leave-in conditioner will help keep your ringlets moisturized while fighting back frizz.

Last but not least, type 3C hair is low porosity, leading to a lot of shrinkage and breakage. When too little moisture penetrates your hair follicles, you end up with dry brittle curls. Follow a regular moisturizing regimen including deep conditioning treatments once a week or so and a high-quality daily leave-in conditioner.

3. Give Your Hair Daily Dose

The right hair product can be your biggest ally in the fight for glamorous, well-defined curls. Daily Dose™ Leave-In Conditioner is lightweight, cruelty-free, and free of sulfates and parabens. Suitable for all type 3 curly hair, Daily Dose moisturizes your hair without weighing down your locks or causing buildup.

After washing your hair, use a paddle brush or a wide-tooth comb to detangle your curls. Then spritz with a mist of Daily Dose and twirl small sections of your hair around your finger while it’s still damp. Hold your ringlet around your finger for a few seconds while pushing upward with your hand, give a quick squeeze, and release for pretty, defined curls. Sleep on a satin pillowcase or wrap your hair in a satin scarf before bed to cultivate healthy, shiny, and beautiful curls.

Related Hair Type Articles and TIPS

Type 3 Hair (Curly) Overview

Type 4 Hair (Coily, Kinky) Overview and How to Manage Type 4 (Coily, Kinky) Hair

Type 2 Hair (Wavy) Overview

Type 1 Hair (Straight) Overview

Author: Lex Rodgers

Lex is a 25-year-old writer and graphic designer living in Breckenridge, CO. She has been on a healthy hair journey after quitting relaxers, cutting her hair back in 2012 and embracing her natural curls.