The 3C Hair Type Quick Reference Guide & Care Tips

Table Of Content

• Hair Type Chart: How to Find Your Curl Pattern with Pictures
• Shingling Method: Enhance Curls and Define Hair (
• Use heat responsibly.
• Best Hair Gel for Curly Hair: The Key to The Curls of Your Life
• What’s Missing? Now, Let’s Discuss Hair Type 3C, Type 4C, and 4D
• Step 2: Deep-condition.
• How often should individuals with 3C hair deep condition their hair and what techniques work best?

The curls are tight (about the diameter of a #2 pencil) and usually densely packed, making it more difficult to style than some other hair types. With curly or textured hair, the first day always begins with a good washing. Choose a moisturizing shampoo and conditioner that removes oils and grease without stripping the curl of crucial nourishment. 3C curls respond well to wet styling using curl-defining products. According to our experts, the best techniques for 3C hair involve minimal heat, minimal manipulation and minimal tension to preserve the integrity of the hair strands.

Hair Type Chart: How to Find Your Curl Pattern with Pictures

The inside of a curl is considered the funnel—a 3C funnel is the smallest of type 3 curls, making it sometimes difficult to distinguish between a curl and a coil. “As the funnel of a curl gets bigger, you move down in number on the curl type categories, and as it gets smaller, you move up in number,” explains Dudley. “3C curls need more moisture but have good curl memory because of the strength of the curl, and as a result, you’ll find that styles last longer. Due to the staying power, there is less need for constant manipulation,” says MYAVANA chief hair officer Robin Groover.

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Shingling Method: Enhance Curls and Define Hair (

Washing more than twice a week strips the hair and scalp of its natural oils, which leads to more drying and frizz. The best products to use for dry and fragile hair should include hydrating and moisturizing shampoos, conditioners, curl creams, oils, and gel-creams, sprays, and mousses. We reviewed some of the best products for type 3C hair and came up with the following picks. Checking hair porosity is one of the easiest ways of narrowing down your hair type especially if you want to get the right hair products and hairstyles. Porosity in short refers to how well or easily your hair absorbs moisture.

Use heat responsibly.

Make sure you don’t overload your mane at the roots but rather apply a bit of product from the middle of your strands up to the end to shape the curl. Shingling is a technique for applying a curl cream, gel, or leave-in conditioner, where you separate your curls with your fingers and smooth the product onto each curl. As well as knowing your hair type and porosity, it’s also important to know your hair texture. Detangling is easier on wet hair, and this is one time when it’s OK to run your fingers through your hair. But be sure to saturate your hair with a detangler or conditioner first so that your fingers glide easily through the strands. Air drying is best for your 3C curls, but if you want to use your blow dryer, attach a good diffuser and use a heat protectant before heat styling.

Your go-to spot for the latest in beauty, lifestyle, and all things fabulous. But as this process may take time, you may also aim to detangle the knots at least once a week. Not only will it keep hair away from your face, but it will also allow the rest of your hair to hang loose and carefree. Given this, it’s better to look for those that are more lightweight but still capable of hydrating and styling your hair well.

Help give your curls a boost of energy in their appearance with products such as TRESemmé One Step Styler Curls Crème-Gel. What better way to embrace your curls than allowing them to sit in the way it naturally grows and forms onto your mane? A 3B Afro is the cutest way to showcase your girls without the excessive styling and extra use of products.

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Also, think about whether silicones are a good fit in your routine. The bottom line is that there is no right or wrong answer when caring for your hair because everyone’s strands are unique. Lightweight stylers such as gel-creams, sprays, and even mousses work wonders on type 3 hair. Because this curl pattern is not quite as coarse as type 4 hair, products with a heavier consistency–like shea butter or olive oil–may coat and weigh the strands down. However, remember that what works for 3a may not work for 3c and vice versa.

This is because it creates a barrier and lacking sufficient oils on the scalp increases dryness and frizz, two other characteristics of type 3C hair. To avoid lifeless, dull-looking hair, it’s integral to take steps to care for it. Due to the more extreme curves and bends in 3c hair, this curl type experiences the most shrinkage. Natural oils (sebum) also find it difficult to traverse the twisting trajectory of your hair shafts. That’s why 3c hair is the most vulnerable to dryness and frizz amongst the curly hair types.

Meanwhile, either opt for finger detangling or a good seamless wide-tooth comb to avoid creating additional tangles. So, the routine that works best for one 3C head may not apply to all 3Cs! Caring for your precious strands means you need to get to know them.

However, 3C hair tends to follow the same general care rules as most other natural hair types. And while they're still technically 3C, relaxers permanently alter your hair's chemical composition. So, hair care tips for 3C naturals will be different from someone who's relaxed with 3C hair. This multi-tasking formula guarantees soft hold and maximum moisture.

The beauty of type 3 curls lies in their versatility and unique texture. Type 3 curly hair ranges from a light curl to tight, curly tendrils and usually has a combination of textures. They are defined and springy, with more height than other curl types. Styling type 3 curls can be done in various ways depending on the desired look. This curl type can get weighed down with too much product that stretches out the curls.

3C hair tends to have tons of body and volume, yet can show shrinkage because of its coily nature. One way to fight against shrinkage is to stretch and enhance gently without heat by using a flexi-rod set, a set of perm rods or rocking a twistout. If you’re dealing with hair damage and need a refresher, or just want to change your style, cutting your hair into a short bob is the way to go. Shorter hair is less weighed down by density, meaning your curls might get a little more bounce.

So avoid the highest setting but be sure to choose a temperature that will straighten your hair in one pass. It might take a while before you see an improvement in your curls, so stick with your 3C haircare routine. But if you notice something isn’t working, feel free to try something different. You may need to make a few changes to your care routine, and you’ll also need to determine if your hair has high or low porosity. Our Ultimate Guide to Hair Porosity will help you to decide which you have.