Learning how to care for your curls is no easy feat. Type 3 hair can be difficult to pinpoint because it encompasses a range of curl patterns, along with some waves and coils. It’s typically broken down into three subcategories (Type 3A, 3B, and 3C hair), each of which boasts a slightly different curl pattern and texture. Each subtype is prone to its own set of concerns; however, dryness, frizz, and a lack of definition are common issues that affect those with Type 3 hair. Using Type 3 hair products designed to tackle these concerns can help ensure your curls, ringlets, and coils look—and feel—their very best. If you’re not sure what your Type 3 hair needs to maintain a healthy, bouncy appearance, keep reading. We’re sharing all of the details ahead, plus a look at some of our all-time favorite products for each Type 3 curl pattern.
The Best Hair Products for 3A Hair
Type 3A hair features wide curls that form an elongated S-shape. Typically, the curls fall somewhere between a wave and a tight ringlet, creating a spiral with a diameter similar to that of a wine cork or a piece of sidewalk chalk. Though the hair may look thick, 3A hair is usually fine to medium in texture. The most common concerns for this hair type are dryness and a lack of definition. Below, discover a few of our favorite 3A hair products to help tackle those concerns and keep your loose curls looking their best.
Pureology Hydrate Shampoo and Conditioner
Every great haircare routine starts with a solid shampoo and conditioner, and this duo is among our top picks for cleansing 3A hair. The creamy shampoo, made with green tea and rose extracts, cleanses without stripping, while the jojoba oil-infused conditioner helps restore shine and hydration for healthy-looking hair. Like all of Pureology’s offerings, this shampoo and conditioner pair is color-safe and formulated with an anti-fade complex, so you don’t have to worry about it affecting your salon (or DIY) color.
Redken Hydrating Curl Cream
One of the defining characteristics of Type 3A hair is that it appears wavy when wet, then springs into more defined curls when dry. Working the Redken Hydrating Curl Cream through your hair while it’s damp can help ensure that your curls don’t fall flat. The hydrating formula helps tame frizz and provides up to 72 hours of curl definition. Plus, it doubles as a heat protectant, shielding strands from temperatures up to 450 degrees Fahrenheit.
L’Oréal Professionnel Serie Expert Curl Expression Curls Reviver
Leave-in products can be great for all hair types, but they’re particularly beneficial for curls. The L’Oréal Professionnel Serie Expert Curl Expression Curls Reviver is a leave-in treatment designed to help curls dry faster (read: less heat damage!) while boosting shine and taming frizz. Spritz it onto damp hair as the final step in your haircare routine before letting it air-dry, or use it as a heat protectant before diffusing.
Shu Uemura Art of Hair Delicate Comfort Deep Cleanser
If you use styling products on a daily basis, you may experience product buildup. This buildup can make your roots appear greasy and weigh down your curls, making them flat and undefined. To help remove buildup—without stripping your hair of much-needed moisture—reach for this luxe clarifying shampoo. It features an intensely hydrating formula that deeply cleanses while nourishing the hair for soft, healthy-looking strands.
The Best Hair Products for 3B Hair
Type 3B curls are tighter and bouncier than 3A patterns, with a circumference roughly equal to that of your index finger. 3B hair is also a bit coarser in texture than 3A hair. Although 3B curls have plenty of volume and dimension, they’re prone to dehydration, frizz, and a lack of definition, though the right 3B hair products can help minimize these concerns.
Pureology Smooth Perfection Anti-Frizz Shampoo and Conditioner
Kick off your wash day routine with this nourishing shampoo and conditioner duo from Pureology. As the name suggests, the pair works to tame frizz, a common concern for those with curly Type 3B hair. The shea butter-infused pair also helps nourish dry strands and aids in detangling, so you don’t have to struggle with stubborn knots post-shower.
Redken Sculpting Curl Gel
If you’re wary of using gels for fear that they’ll make your curls stiff, try this hydrating pick, and you’ll be a convert in no time. The non-sticky formula with squalane and jojoba oil nourishes, tames, and defines curly hair, providing up to 72 hours of lightweight hold, sans any flaking or crunchiness. To use it, rub the gel between your hands and work it throughout damp hair. From there, you can let your hair air-dry for bouncy, defined curls with next to no effort.
Kérastase Curl Manifesto Crème De Jour Fondamentale Hair Cream
This luxe hair cream from Kérastase’s Curl Manifesto collection is a must-have if your 3B curls tend to lose definition in muggy or humid weather. It’s made with manuka honey and ceramides and works to lock in moisture, keeping your curls frizz-free and defined, even in up to 80% humidity. It also provides heat protection against temperatures up to 450 degrees Fahrenheit, so you can use it before blow-drying to help minimize damage.
Matrix A Curl Can Dream Lightweight Oil
Round out your curly hair routine with this lightweight hair oil for curly hair. The hydrating formula acts as the perfect finishing touch, sealing in hydration and helping to enhance shine for glossy, bouncy-looking curls.
The Best Hair Products for 3C Hair
3C curls are the coarsest of the Type 3 bunch and feature a tight, S-shaped curl roughly the diameter of a pencil. Because of the tight curl pattern, 3C hair is often prone to dryness, brittleness, and—in some cases—breakage. Below, we’ve rounded up a few of our favorite 3C hair products for hydrating and protecting tight 3C spirals.
Redken All Soft Mega Curls Shampoo and Conditioner
If you’re looking for a shampoo and conditioner designed explicitly for curl care, this sulfate-free duo is a must-try. The nourishing shampoo provides a gentle yet effective cleanse, while the conditioner helps seal the hair cuticle to lock in moisture (and lock out frizz) for bouncy, defined ringlets and spirals.
Matrix A Curl Can Dream Moisturizing Co-Wash
If your hair is extremely dry, you may want to alternate between using a standard shampoo and a co-wash (in other words, a cleansing conditioner). This one gets our vote: It provides an effective yet gentle cleanse, nourishes, and preserves your curl pattern all in one fell swoop. You can use it alone or follow up with a deep conditioning mask for added hydration as needed.
Biolage Professional Ultra Hydra Source Deep Treatment Mask
Many hair masks need to be left in for a prolonged period of time to work their magic, but that’s not the case with the Biolage Professional Ultra Hydra Source Deep Treatment Mask. In as little as three minutes, the cupuçu butter-infused formula intensely conditions and boosts shine, and restores the manageability of thick, coarse hair. At the same time, it also helps reduce buildup to let your natural texture shine.
Mizani True Textures Curl Define Pudding
If you find that your 3C curls need a bit of a nudge to look their best, add this curl activator to your lineup, ASAP. The coconut and marula oil-infused formula helps define curls and coils, providing lightweight hold without any stiffness or crunchiness. You can use it on damp hair to help enhance your curls and lock out frizz or work a small amount through dry hair before styling for soft, touchable strands.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is Type 3 hair?
Type 3 hair is a hair type defined by the presence of S-shaped curls, which may range in size from loose spirals to tight corkscrews. This curly hair texture can also vary from fine to coarse, usually depending on the tightness of the curls.
What does Type 3 hair look like?
Type 3 hair is broken down into three subcategories: 3A, 3B, and 3C. 3A curls are typically the finest and loosest of the bunch, generally forming an S-shaped curl about the width of a piece of sidewalk chalk. 3B curls are slightly coarser, with tighter, more defined curls around the size of an index finger. The final curl type in the set is 3C, which is has the tightest curl pattern of the three. 3C curls are usually about the width of a pencil.
What is the difference between 3A, 3B, and 3C Hair?
The main differences between the three subtypes of Type 3 curls are their shapes, textures, and densities. 3A curls are looser than B or C types, and may even appear wavy when wet before spiraling as they dry. On the other hand, 3B hair has tighter curls that become more voluminous as they dry—though both A and B types can range in texture from fine to medium. 3C curls are typically coarser with even tighter, springier corkscrews that grow horizontally from the head.
How do I identify my Type 3 subtype (3A, 3B, or 3C)?
Determining your curl type can be tricky, especially if you’re using unhelpful products or dealing with more than one hair type at once. Experts recommend washing and air-drying your hair without any additional products to best determine your hair type. Once it’s dry, examine different sections of hair to identify your curl pattern. Keep in mind that many people have more than one type of curl on their head—if that’s the case for you, assess which curl pattern seems to be the most dominant and base your styling routine on that.
How does Type 3 hair differ from Type 2 and Type 4 hair?
Curly Type 3 hair falls between Type 2 and Type 4. Type 2 hair is characterized by the presence of waves rather than defined coils or ringlets (though the waviest Type 2 hair type, 2C, can look a lot like 3A curls). Type 4 hair, meanwhile, refers to coils rather than curls. This natural hair type typically features an ultra-tight curl or a zig-zag-shaped curl pattern, rather than bouncy ringlets.
How do I care for my Type 3 hair?
Type 3 curls are often prone to dryness, so a targeted routine designed to hydrate the hair can help curls look their best. Wash routines can vary depending on your hair density and scalp condition, but it is generally recommended to shampoo Type 3 hair once or twice weekly to avoid over-drying the strands. Deeply hydrating products, such as conditioners, masks, and oils, are game changers for nourishing curls and reducing frizz, while curl creams and gels help to activate and maintain their shape. If your curls are prone to breakage, it's also a good idea to sleep on a silk or satin pillowcase or wrap your hair in a silk scarf before bed. This can help reduce friction and keep breakage and frizz to a minimum to ensure your texture shines day after day.
Next Up: What Is Clarifying Shampoo and How Do You Use It?
Header image credit (left to right): @redkenpro, @pureology
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