3A Hair: Finding Your Curl Pattern and Best Products for Your Hair Type

Table Of Content

• Best Sulfate-Free Shampoo for 3A Hair
• Deep Condition
• Hair Rules Kinky Curling Cream
• How often should individuals with 3A hair deep condition their hair, and what techniques work best?
• Master Second-Day (And Even Third-Day) Curls
• Don't Miss This Rare Sale On My Favorite Product For Supple Skin & Healthier Hair

But that’s not to say 3a hair is entirely immune to the external elements. Humidity, pollution, and ultraviolet rays can still push your fibers into SOS mode. However, 3As will enjoy a hair care routine that relies less on setting styles overnight (or several nights) and more on prioritizing moisture retention while minimizing knots and tangles. Meanwhile, your curl pattern still affords you the versatility to easily switch between straight and curly hair when the mood strikes.

Best Sulfate-Free Shampoo for 3A Hair

In fact, using too much of any product will likely result in weighed-down curls that flatten out throughout the day. The curl itself, though, is both wider and looser than other ringlet curls. From washing and styling methods to refreshing and moisturizing, this guide has covered it all. Follow these tips from Vernon François himself to achieve optimal results with this hydrating mist specifically designed for 3A curls. Avoid stressing curls by handling gently and not combing or brushing when dry.

Deep Condition

The story of a shampoo bottle begins long before it arrives in your shower! At Davines, we study the most low-impact packaging solutions for all our products. Slide a few bobby pins into the base of each bun to secure your ends, and gently tug on your buns to loosen your curls. To start, create a deep center part and gather each half of your hair into a ponytail – you should have 2 ponytails.

Hair Rules Kinky Curling Cream

If you only wash your hair once a week or so, skip the shampoo (or co-wash) and repeat steps 1-4 as frequently as needed. Because 3a curls have less volume, your mane may appear flat at times, particularly after you’ve doused your strands with heavy creams and mousses. Think of the product buildup as the proverbial needle that deflates your bouncy curls. So go ahead and embrace your 3A curls’ unique charm, and let them thrive with the tips and products recommended in this guide. By providing curl enhancement, texture definition, volume boosting, and humidity control all in one product, Rucker Roots makes it simple to achieve your best curly style. Continuing our discussion on styling 3A hair, you’ll frequently find that Rucker Roots Texture Styling Mousse is a go-to product for enhancing and defining your beautiful curls.

And when done properly, this translates to Day 4 hair that looks as good as Day 1. If you're not familiar with hair typing, hearing someone say that they're a type 4B or a type 2A can seem like a weird cataloging system. 3A hair typically consists of loose spiral curls that often have a lightweight feel—especially for those with a much drier hair texture.

How often should individuals with 3A hair deep condition their hair, and what techniques work best?

However, you'll need to experiment and decide if you want a full wash day complete with shampoo and conditioner or if your curls respond better to gentle co-washes. The answer to this question will depend on preference as well as how much product or dirt buildup you experience between wash days. And similarly, you may find that certain manipulation methods are a nuisance or that a certain product leaves your hair feeling sticky or gross. So for people who are just starting to embrace their natural curls, understand that trial and error is the name of the game.

13 Best 3b Hair Products of 2022 According to a Professional Stylist - Cosmopolitan

13 Best 3b Hair Products of 2022 According to a Professional Stylist.

Posted: Fri, 06 Nov 2020 08:00:00 GMT [source]

Master Second-Day (And Even Third-Day) Curls

It defines the curl texture leaving the curl soft, light and elastic even in case of high humidity. Basically, low-porosity hair needs lightweight products; high-porosity hair needs rich, thick moisturizing products. The quickest way to find out your type is with a porosity quiz, and then come back here to find your best product lineup. Heat damage manifests as sections of hair that don't return to their natural texture on your next wash day. And when you do pick up a hot tool, never put it on your hair until you've properly covered your hair with a heat protectant.

Shea Moisture Coconut & Hibiscus Curl & Style Milk

But the single most important thing to remember about curly hair is that it’s naturally inclined to dry out and it craves moisture. If you’re a 3A hair type, maintain your curls with lots of hydration. It’s impossible to over-hydrate curly hair, so in addition to keeping our 3A curly hair guide on-hand, stock up on all your favorite Davines curly hair products to keep your hair healthy. Our hair care isn’t just good for your hair, it’s good for the planet.

Don't Miss This Rare Sale On My Favorite Product For Supple Skin & Healthier Hair

Aside from the basic principles of less washing and more conditioning, here are three important tips to put your best curls forward. Carefully scrunching and applying the right styling products helps keep the coils intact and defined. Experiment with curl-friendly methods while being gentle with your 3A strands. Embrace your texture by catering your routine to enhance definition. Celebrate your curls just as they’re – the key is working with them, not against them.

She brings nearly a decade of writing and editing expertise, and her work has appeared in Allure, Health, Fitness, Marie Claire, StyleCaster, and Parents. She also has an unhealthy adoration for Tom Hanks and would like to please meet him one day, if you could arrange that. Curly hair is naturally prone to dryness, even the looser curls found on 3A heads. This is because the enhanced curl pattern makes it harder for natural oils produced by the scalp to travel down your hair shaft. For days when you want to lay off the blow dryer, diffused, straightener, curler, and every other hot tool under the sun, there’s air drying. Giving your curls time away from heat is super important for their health and definition.

Sign up to our newsletter and get exclusive hair care tips and tricks from the experts at All Things Hair. This weightless leave-in hair mist helps to support hair growth, alleviates dryness, soothes the scalp and detangles your hair in just a few sprays. With just one deep conditioning treatment a week, you’ll see smoother ends and less breakage, flyaways, and frizz. When dealing with 3A hair, there are some things that you need to keep in mind. Doing so will help prevent damage and help keep your curls in tip-top shape. Then, carefully blot your hair with a T-shirt or microfiber towel, so it’s no longer dripping wet.

However, you should still detangle working up the hair shaft rather than starting at the roots. Even though your curl pattern is looser, starting from the roots can cause tangles to get worse. Type 3A hair is just one of 10 hair types outlined by celebrity hairstylist Andre Walker. Remember how we mentioned that once upon a time people only considered three hair types? Well, thanks to Mr. Walker, we've updated that outdated concept into a more comprehensive system with four hair types.

If there's one segment that often benefits greatly from wash 'n' go's, it's type 3s. Generally speaking, the looser your curl pattern, the more frequently you can have wash days. Individual mileage will vary, but 3A types can often wash their hair every three to five days. If you have type 1 hair, then your texture is straight, and no additional subtypes are included.

Type 3A hair has a lot of versatility as it tends to be a slightly silkier texture that can lend itself to less manipulation. However, it can also struggle with dryness if porosity isn't handled properly. However, as with any hair type, finding the perfect balance of products and techniques can take a bit of trial and error. As you work through your natural hair journey, you may find that popular "Holy Grail" products don't perform for you. If you’re looking for something that doesn’t have any sulfates, parabens, dyes, or silicones, you’ll want to use this on your 3A hair. When using this product, smooth it onto your hair while it’s wet from root to tip, and leave it on for the rest of the day, it’s that easy.

Embrace techniques like squish-to-condish, plopping, and finger coiling when styling wet hair to encourage curl formation. 3A strands are generally fine or medium, lacking volume or density compared to other curl patterns. Pineappling is an easy way to keep your 3A curly hair frizz-free while you sleep. Before bed, flip your head over, gather your curls on the top of your head, and tie them loosely with a scrunchie, letting your hair spill forward.

Use these products and styling tips specifically for type 3A hair to get the most out of your curls. 3A hair depends on moisture and lots of TLC, so make sure you maintain a proper curly hair care routine. Turns out hair is a lot more complicated than simply calling it "curly" or "straight". Beyond just identifying the texture, you know that if you have curls, they come in lots of different shapes, colors, and sizes. And once you do, it will make a world of difference when caring for your strands. One great option is TRESemmé Pro Pure Curl Define Shampoo and Conditioner, which is specifically created for curly hair types.