You can find a hair care solution for your unique needs when you shop by hair type

Different hair types require specially formulated hair products tailored to their needs. At LovelySkin, we make it simple to shop products for different hair types, from coarse hair and hair products for curly hair, to thin, straight, fine, wavy and color-treated hair care, we’ve got you covered. We also make it simple to learn how to best take care of your specific hair texture type with dozens of insightful articles at the LovelySkin Hair Care Blog!

You can browse and compare hair type specific products from leading hair care brands like L’ANZA, Redken, Pureology, Surface, Viviscal and others today to build your new and improved hair care routine. For product information or help understanding how to tell what type of hair you have, please contact our Customer Care Team.

What are the different hair types?

To choose the right hair products for your needs, you’ll need to learn how to tell what type of hair you have. That’s where we come in! The first step in how to tell what type of hair you have is knowing the difference between hair type and hair texture types.

Determine hair type

There are four different hair types determined by hair’s curl pattern: straight (type 1), wavy (type 2), curly (type 3), and coily (type 4). Your natural hair type is determined by genetics and can be managed using shampoos, conditioners and styling products designed to support your specific hair type and goals. Here is how they differ:

Identifying straight hair types

Straight hair has no natural curl or wave. Those with straight hair types tend to struggle with more oily hair versus other hair types, yet they benefit from strands that naturally stay more moisturized.

Identifying wavy hair types

Wavy hair types are often categorized as type 2A, 2B or 2C. Type 2A wavy hair tends to be fairly straight from roots to eye level and changes into a loose wave from the eyes to the ends. Type 2B wavy hair curls from the hair’s midpoint down to the ends with a defined S-shape, and type 2C wavy hair has a defined S-shaped wave pattern beginning close to the crown and down to the base.

PRO TIP: If regular straightening or styling is a common part of your hair care routine, chances are damage and dryness are too. To help, we recommend always supplementing your hair care routine with heat styling products to protect your strands while providing them with an extra boost of hydration.

Identifying curly hair types

Like wavy hair, curly hair types are often categorized into three types: 3A, 3B and 3C. Type 3A curly hair will have S-shaped curls that form into loose loops, while type 3B curls feature springy, volumized loops with a circumference similar to that of a standard permanent marker. Type 3C curly hair is tight and springy and often referred to as “corkscrew curls.”

Regardless of which type of curly hair you have, you are naturally at an increased chance of frizzing out, especially after brushing. You can help reduce frizz with the right styling products designed to help make curly hair more manageable. Some of our favorites include the Kenra Professional Platinum Blow-Dry Spray and Curl Defining Cream and the PHYTO Anti-Frizz Blow Dry Balm.

Identifying coily hair types

Last but not least is coily hair. Coily hair types come in the form of very tight, small curls beginning at the scalp. Often referred to as kinky, coily hair has a sponge-like texture that’s typically prone to dryness. There are three types of coily hair, Type 4A, 4B and 4C. Type 4A coils are S-shaped and small enough to wrap around something like a pen. Type 4B coils are small curls in more of a zig-zag pattern. Type 4C coils are the tightest of the three coil types and also the hair type most prone to breakage, making moisturizing and restorative products a must for coily hair. One of our favorites is the K18 Leave-In Molecular Repair Hair Mask.

Determine hair texture

Choosing hair products doesn’t just come down to hair type, it also comes down to hair texture type, of which there are three: fine, medium and coarse (thick). Hair texture types are determined by hair strand thickness rather than shape and benefit from special attention during washing and styling. Here are the main differences between the three:

Identifying fine hair texture types

Delicate and silky to the touch, fine hair strands are naturally smaller in diameter than medium and coarse hair. To tell if you have fine hair, take one strand of hair and lay it on the table or turn it between your fingertips. If you can barely see or feel it, chances are your hair texture type is fine. Fine hair often has a harder time holding a curl, is easily weighed down by hair product, or looks thin. In this case, we would recommend lightweight protectant styling and thickening products when necessary to help best support fine hair.

It’s also important to note that fine hair is not the same as thin hair. Hair texture types are not how much hair you have but how thick the strands are.

Identifying medium hair texture types

Thicker than thin hair yet still silky to the touch, medium hair tends to hold style well and appears thick. Medium hair is the most common hair type, and a strand rotated between the fingertips can be felt. The best way to support medium hair texture types is with hydrating, hair-loving shampoos, conditioners and heat styling products to help prevent damage, dryness or frizz.

Identifying coarse hair texture types

The thickest and strongest hair texture type is coarse hair. Coarse hair feels thick to the touch and usually takes longer to dry than fine or medium hair. However, coarse hair can tolerate heat and styling well and resist breakage better than fine or medium hair. This also means that coarse hair can be harder to penetrate, which translates to it becoming dry. Therefore, hydrating hair products are coarse hair’s best friend!

No matter your hair type or texture, LovelySkin has the professional hair care products you need to keep your hair happy, healthy and properly hydrated. Through thick and thin, you can count on LovelySkin.