Hair Types Chart: The Differences Among 3C, 4A, 4B, And 4C Hair

3C, 4A, 4B, and 4C Hair are terms that are used to describe the hair types, which are frequently mentioned among beauty enthusiasts. 

You may have heard of these terms before, but you still don’t know the exact meaning of them.

Don’t worry. The following blog will explain the definition of hair types and hair textures to you in detail.

What’s more, you will also learn the differences among 3C, 4A, 4B, and 4C Hair.

1. What do hair types mean?

Generally speaking, hair types refer to the curl patterns of your hair, which can be divided into four hair types, including type 1, type 2, type 3, and type 4.

In order to classify these 4 types specifically, each type can be subdivided into three categories, including A, B, and C, which are based on the tightness or looseness of the curls and coils.

With this detailed classification method, you can have a clearer and more comprehensive understanding of your own hair type.

The following part will explain hair types to you in a simple way.

If you want to learn more about the differences between each hair type, please scroll down to see more information.

(1)Type 1 hair refers to straight hair, without any bends or weaves.

①Type 1a hair is classified as the straightest hair type, which is extremely sleek and smooth. 
As a consequence, it is difficult to be restyled, due to its straight nature.

②Type 1b hair is still straight, but obtains a few bends or weaves compared to type 1a hair. If you observe type 1b hair and type 2b hair carefully, you can find the difference between them easily.

③Type 1c hair looks wavy to some extent, but only a little. That is to say, type 1c hair obtains more body and waves than type 1a hair or type 1b hair.

(2)Type 2 hair refers to wavy hair, with more obvious body and waves than type 1 hair.

Generally speaking, type 2 hair obtains an “S” shaped pattern, which looks fluid and flowy.

①Type 2a hair has loose and beachy weaves, which usually start a few inches from the hair roots. 

For the lack of volume at the roots, if you use heavy styling products, the strands of your hair will be weighed down easily, looking a little limp.

②Type 2b hair has defined and prolonged “S” shaped waves, starting from the mid part of your hair, which is more obvious and noticeable than type 2a hair.

③Type 2c hair has more defined and voluminous “S” shaped waves, starting from the roots of your hair until the ends.

(3)Type 3 hair refers to curly hair, with bouncy ringlets or spirals, usually ranging from loose loops to tight corkscrews. 

①Type 3a hair has broad and loose loops or curls, obtaining the circumference of a quarter.

②Type 3b hair usually has defined and springy ringlets, obtaining the circumference of a penny, which looks more obvious than type 3a hair.

③Type 3c hair usually has tight, defined, and spiral curls, obtaining the circumference of a pencil, which is tighter and more defined than type 3a hair or type 3b hair.

(4)Type 4 hair refers to coily hair, with extremely tight and small zig-zags, starting from the scalp.

①Type 4a hair usually has dense and springy “S” shaped coils, obtaining the circumference of a crochet needle.

②Type 4b hair has tighter and smaller curls than type 4a hair, with the curls of an angular zig-zag shape.

③Type 4c hair has pretty tight zig-zag shaped spirals, which are more fragile than other hair types. Honestly speaking, the zig-zags are difficult to see at first glance with the most shrinkage.

After a brief introduction of hair types, the following parts will explain the definitions of 3C, 4A, 4B, and 4C hair in detail, which can better help you to distinguish them.

2. What do hair textures mean?

Hair texture refers to the thickness of the strands of your hair, which can be divided into fine hair, medium hair, and coarse hair.

(1)Fine hair.

Fine hair refers to the thinnest and most fragile hair, which is pretty soft and silky, but becomes oily or greasy quickly.

It is easy for you to blow out and straighten the fine hair. However, the style can not last for a long time, and it usually falls out of shape in a short time.

Besides, it is more prone to damage and breakage due to its nature. 

(2)Medium hair.

Medium hair is thicker than fine hair, which is versatile in hairstyles. 

Compared to fine hair, it has more volume, and is less prone to damage and breakage.

(3)Coarse hair.

Coarse hair is the most resilient hair texture, which looks fuller than fine hair and medium hair.

Generally speaking, coarse hair is less prone to damage and breakage than fine hair and thin hair.

However, it is more likely to be dry and frizzy in humid weather.

What’s more, coarse hair is more tolerant in heat and product.

3. What is 3C hair?

Type 3C hair refers to a kind of curly hair, which usually has defined and obvious “S” shaped curls.

With tight curls and obvious volume, 3c hair can create beautiful texture.

However, as the strands of 3c hair are not as flat as type 1 hair or type 2 hair, type 3c hair is prone to frizz, tangles, and dryness.

At the same time, type 3c hair is not as shiny as type 2 and type 3.

To tell the truth, the reason why type 3c hair is created is that there is obviously a missing between type 3a and type 4a.

What’s more, women who possess type 3c hair often don’t know what to do with their hair, due to the neglect of this hair type in the hair care system.

Just as it has been mentioned before, type 3c hair belongs to the curly hair type. 

If you want to tell the type of your hair, you can observe the curl pattern of your hair.

The hair can still keep an “S” shaped pattern, even if it has been stretched.

All in all, type 3c hair consists of tight and obvious coils, which are arranged closely.

Besides, the circumference of it is about a penny, with the texture of it ranging from fine to medium.

4. What is 4A hair?

Type 4A hair refers to a kind of coily hair, which usually has defined, springy, and bouncy “S” shaped spirals, with the circumference of a crochet needle.

Compared to type 4b hair and type 4c hair, 4a hair is loosely arranged, which makes it easier to style and handle. 

Due to the loose curls, 4a hair is also less prone to breakage.

Although 4a hair is looser than 4b or 4c hair, it is also tighter and denser than any other hair type.

What’s more, the texture of type 4a hair ranges from fine to coarse.

5. What is 4B hair?

Type 4B hair refers to a kind of coily hair that has the curls of an angular zig-zag shape. 

Compared to 4a or 4c hair, the “Z” shaped curls of 4b hair can be easily distinguished.

Due to the dense and tight curls, type 4b hair is more prone to damage or breakage than type 4a hair.

Besides, the curls of 4b hair are not as tight as 4c hair.

Generally speaking, the hair texture of 4b hair ranges from fine to coarse.

As the curls bend in many directions, 4b hair looks more voluminous than 4a hair.

Last but not least, 4b hair is more prone to dryness, tangles, and breakage, because the scalp oils can not reach the ends.

6. What is 4C hair?

Type 4C hair refers to a kind of coily hair, which has extremely tight and springy zig-zag shaped spirals.

Due to the tightest curls, the “Z” shaped curls of 4c hair are difficult to see at first glance, with the most shrinkage.

Just like 4b hair, 4c hair is also more prone to dryness, damage, and breakage, which requires you to pay more attention to the regular maintenance of your hair.

Besides, 4c hair is also easier to shrink than 4b hair.

Generally speaking, the hair texture of 4c hair ranges from fine to coarse, varying from person to person.

Due to the maintenance of 4c hair requiring time and patience, this is why the protective styling is becoming more and more popular.

Our 4C Edges Hairline Wig is the perfect solution to protect your natural hair, providing you with a seamless and flawless appearance.

It is handcrafted with pre-plucked 4C kinky hairline, giving the illusion that the hair is growing directly out of your scalp.

7. The differences between 3C and 4C hair:

(1)Curl pattern.

First and foremost, the curl shape between 3c hair and 4c hair is different.

Type 3C hair usually has defined and obvious “S” shaped curls, while type 4c hair has extremely tight and springy “Z” shaped spirals.

(2)Hair texture.

Generally speaking, the hair texture of 3c hair ranges from fine to medium.

The hair texture of 4c hair ranges from fine to coarse, varying from person to person.

(3)Fragility.

Thirdly, the fragility between 3c hair and 4c hair is also different.

As we all know, 4c hair is the most prone to dryness, breakage, and damage, so it is considered to be the most fragile hair type.

In conclusion, 4c hair is more fragile than 3c hair.

(4)Hair luster.

To tell the truth, 3c hair looks more glorious than 4c hair, because the strands of 4c hair are poor in light reflection.

(5)Shrinkage.

Last but not least, the shrinkage between 3c hair and 4c hair is also different.

Usually, 3c hair shrinks 25-50% in length, while 4c hair shrinks 75-80% in length.

8. The differences between 4B and 4C hair:

(1)Curl pattern.

Although both 4b hair and 4c hair possess “Z” shaped curls, their appearance is different.

For example, you can easily tell the “S” shaped curls of 4b hair.

However, due to the tightest curls, the “Z” shaped curls of 4c hair are difficult to see at first glance, with the most shrinkage.

(2)Fragility.

Just as it has been mentioned before, 4c hair is more prone to dryness, breakage, and damage than 4b hair.

In conclusion, 4c hair is more fragile than 4b hair.

(3)Hair luster.

Generally speaking, 4b hair is more glorious than 4c hair.

(4)Shrinkage.

Type 4b hair usually shrinks up to 70% in length, while 4c hair shrinks 75-80% in length.

9. The differences between 3C and 4A hair:

(1)Curl pattern.

First of all, the curl pattern between 3c hair and 4a hair is different.

3C hair possesses “S” shaped curls, while 4a hair has “Z” shaped curls.

(2)Hair texture.

Generally speaking, the hair texture of 3c hair ranges from fine to medium, while the hair texture of 4a hair ranges from fine to coarse.

(3)Fragility.

Thirdly, 4a hair is more prone to dryness, breakage, and damage than 3c hair.

That is to say, 4a hair is more fragile than 3c hair.

(4)Hair luster.

To tell the truth, 3c hair is more glorious than 4a hair.

(5)Shrinkage.

Last but not least, the shrinkage between 3c hair and 4a hair is also different.

Usually, 3c hair shrinks 25-50% in length, while 4a hair shrinks about 50% in length.

The following is a chart that can help you better understand the differences among 3C, 4A, 4B, and 4C Hair.

Conclusion:

After reading this blog, you must have a clearer and more systematic understanding of hair types and hair texture, which can help you better distinguish the differences among 3C, 4A, 4B, and 4C Hair.

If you want to buy a human hair wig, you should decide which hair type to purchase based on your budget and your demands.

Please remember that the most expensive one is not necessarily the best, and the one that suits you most is the best.

It’s my pleasure if this blog can really address your concerns and problems about hair types and hair texture.

If you have any questions about human hair wigs, please feel free to leave a comment, and I will respond to you as soon as possible.