Type 2 Hair: Our Full Guide To Styling & Caring For Curly Hair

You likely know how to classify your hair type under broad strokes—is it stick straight, loose waves, springy curls, or lush kinks and coils? Certainly a good place to start. But as any hair care fanatic would know, there are several other, smaller classifications that can help you better care for and style your hair. Enter hair types, which range from 1 (straight) to 4c (tight kinks). These subtypes can help us further describe hair using a common language so we can better understand what's happening on our heads. Here, we're looking at Type 2, or the wavy end of the spectrum. 

As a rundown: Type 1 is straight, with the variance usually coming to how flat your hair lies. Type 2 is wavy, with the major differences depending on how loose the S-pattern is. Type 3 is curly, which changes depending on how tight the curl is. And Type 4 is kinky or coily, which changes depending on whether the shape of the pattern is more zigzag or springs. 

"I cannot stress studying your hair enough. A stylist can only give you recommendations, but essentially you go home with your hair," says Danielle Malary, owner of Lumiere Vive Salon. "Feel your hair out, document how it reacts. Essentially, keep a journal for your hair and learn to love it."

This is the loosest of the patterns and is usually only a handful of slight bends in the hair. These tend to lie pretty flat on the head and can be easily straightened with hot tools, like flat irons or blow dryers. 

You'll see a touch more bend to the S-shape, particularly from the midshaft to the end. The root still lies pretty flat against the scalp. 

Here, there will be a very defined S to the strands. This is the closest to curly hair, and most often people with 2c hair have a few sections with proper ribbons of curls. There's more lift at the root, and it's also (usually) more frizzy. 

Hair type is not the only thing to consider when styling and caring for your hair. Many variables play a factor in overall appearance and should be kept in mind as you look for products, styling tools, and advice. 

"Hair porosity describes how the hair's cuticle absorbs and holds on to moisture in its pores—hence, the term porosity," says hairstylist Miko Branch, co-founder of hair care brand Miss Jessie's. Hair porosity is a spectrum, ranging from high to low. High porosity means the cuticles are more open, so hair absorbs water easily. But it also means it evaporates easily. Hair that has low porosity has dense cuticles. This means the hair has a harder time absorbing water, product, or even your scalp's natural oils, and you'll see buildup faster. It also takes longer to dry after getting wet as it's holding all that water in. Then you can fall somewhere between these two ends of the spectrum, which is considered medium porosity. You can take our hair porosity quiz for more information. 

Hair density is basically how full your head of hair is. According to celebrity hairstylist Ryan Richman, "The density of the hair is determined by how close your hair strands are to each other. This, in turn, determines how thin or thick your hair appears." Scalps with more hair follicles can often appear lush—but may also be drier (especially at the ends) and harder to manage. Scalps with low density may mean wider parts and thinner styles but can usually pull off blunt cuts, says Richman. 

This refers to the diameter of the strand. Thin strands have a small circumference, while thick strands are larger. 

Here are our favorite products for curly hair.