When it comes to hair care, there is no one-size-fits-all solution. As a guy, knowing your hair type can help you create the best possible routine to maintain your hair, and know which products can help you achieve the look you want.
As with women’s hair, there are four main hair types for men. These four main types are then broken down into 12 types in total, each with unique characteristics and needs. In this article, we will explore:
Hair types for men range from type 1A hair to type 4C. Straight hair is at one end of the spectrum, and at the other is tightly coiled locks.
The main hair types are:
Each type is broken down into three further types – type A, B, and C. Type A is straighter, while type C has a more pronounced wave or curl.
The easiest way to identify your hair type is to take our comprehensive hair type quiz. This quiz includes questions to help you identify your main hair type (1 to 4) and your hair type subset (A to C).
Before taking the quiz, you’ll need to wash and condition your hair and then allow it to air dry. You should examine your hair when it’s completely free of product and freshly washed.
Type 1 hair is the straightest hair type — it’s smooth and flat from root to tip. 1A hair often has a lower density than 1B or 1C, which means there are fewer hairs per square inch on your scalp.
Type 1 hair comes with a few challenges for men. This type of hair tends to:
Getting the right hair care routine can help you get the most out of your hair type. Here are some tips to keep your hair looking its best:
Use a mild shampoo or conditioner every two or three days to prevent a buildup of natural oils. Don’t worry about overwashing — research shows that concerns around hair damage from overwashing are unfounded [1].
Avoid shampoo with harsh sulphates, which can cause dry, brittle hair. If your hair appears thin or you’ve got the first signs of thinning and balding, consider trying hair thickening shampoo.
Use conditioner from the middle of your hair shafts and smooth it down to the tips to highlight your hair’s silky texture. Avoid applying conditioner to the roots, as it could weigh your hair down and make it look greasy.
Lightweight products can add volume and definition to your type 1 hair without making it look too flat or heavy. These include serum, mousses, or light hairspray. Heavy products aren’t designed for straight hair and may be the reason your hair looks greasy.
Type 1 hair is prone to split ends, which can be removed with regular hair trims. This stops them from travelling further up the hair shaft and causing hair breakage.
Regular haircuts also prevent your hair from tangling and knotting, making it easier to style and reducing the risk of rough hair brushing, which can cause hair shedding.
Men with type 1 hair could consider a style like skin fade or a French crop. Going short on the back and sides can create the illusion of volume through the length of your hair, even if it’s straight and flat. Avoid long, layerless styles, which can make your hair look lifeless.
Jared Leto has type 2A hair
Type 2 hair is wavy. Subtypes range from type A (thin and fine) to type C (frizzy and coarse [2].
Type 2 hair comes with its own challenges. Difficulties you may face as a guy with type 2 hair include:
Getting your type 2 locks to look their best is often a matter of the right products and care routine. Here are some of our top tips.
Type 2 hair needs more moisturising and conditioning than straight hair but less than curly hair. Overusing hair product, or products that are too thick or heavy can make your hair look greasy and limp.
Add some body to your hair with volumising products, but keep it lightweight. You can also try blow drying your hair upside down.
Brushing wavy hair when it’s dry can mess with your natural wave pattern. It can also cause frizz because brushing dry hair can create static.
Remove knots and tangles from your hair when it’s wet using either a wide-tooth comb or your fingers. This helps to keep your waves intact and is less likely to damage your hair than fine combs or bristles.
Harry Styles has type 3A hair
Curly type 3 hair is drier than types 1 and 2. It can be challenging to keep type 3 hair well moisturised, but it’s possible with the right routine.
If you’re a guy with curly hair, here are a few of the common challenges you might face:
Here are our top ways to keep your curly hair feeling healthy:
Brushing your hair too harshly or too often can cause hair breakage at the crown and around your hairline, especially for guys with curly hair. If you struggle with knots and tangles, use a leave-in conditioner or try a detangling solution to get rid of them without pulling or tugging. It’s best to comb or brush your hair when it’s wet, because brushing when dry can spoil your curl pattern.
Cotton pillowcases can cause friction between your hair and the fabric, damaging your hair shafts. A silk pillowcase not only feels luxurious, it protects your hair while you sleep by reducing friction.
Hyaluronic acid is a hydrating agent often used for skin, but it can also be used in your hair. It’s great for reducing split ends and frizz for people with naturally dry type 3 or 4 hair. One study showed that applying an optimised hyaluronic acid blend to hair could reduce spontaneous frizzing by 11% [3].
Type 4 hair is the most tightly coiled of all hair types. This hair type tends to be thick and coarse with a lot of volume.
While it’s less likely to become greasy than straight hair, type 4 hair comes with its own issues. Here are a few of them:
Type 4 hair looks amazing when you treat it right. Here are some of the best ways to keep your coils looking healthy.
With type 4 hair, you’ll need a specific leave-in conditioner designed for coils. Deep conditioning masks are also a must to keep your hair looking its best. Divide your hair into small sections to apply moisturiser — tight coils can stop the product from penetrating the outer layer of your hair.
Rough styling can break your type 4 coils, so your hair should be styled as little as possible. Only detangle your hair in small sections with plenty of conditioner in place.
Protective styles like dreadlocks and tight braids are often popular with Afro hair, but these can be damaging if they’re too tight. They can even lead to a form of hair loss called traction alopecia. This condition affects one-third of women of African descent who wear hairstyles that put prolonged, excessive pressure on their hair follicles [4].
More men are using heat and chemical treatments to style their manes than ever before. Unfortunately, these treatments are just as bad for men’s hair as they are for women’s hair.
No matter your hair type, using heat tools like hair dryers or straighteners at a high temperature can lead to heat-damaged hair. Repeatedly using chemical treatments like bleach can also damage your hair.
This could lead to split ends, dry, brittle hair, and breakage. To keep your hair in its best condition, air dry and allow your hair to go natural when possible. Air drying can protect you from the damaging effects of hair dryers, which can cause dryness, roughness, and loss of hair colour [5]. If you must use heat and chemicals, try to keep them to a minimum or try adding colour to your hair without the use of chemicals.
Hair transplants can usually be performed for all hair types, including straight, curly, wavy and coily hair textures [6]. However, hair transplants can be more challenging for men with tightly curled or coiled hair.
For example, Afro hair has relatively high transection rates (damage to the hair bulb during surgery) during follicular unit extraction (FUE) hair transplants because of the shape of the punch tool [6].
This means follicular unit transplantation (FUT) may be more suitable for guys with type 4 hair, or FUE with a curved non-rotary punch to accommodate the curliness of Afro hair. Learn more about the difference between FUE and FUT hair transplants here.
However, men with type 3 and type 4 hair can be excellent candidates for FUT hair transplants as long as you meet the other criteria, such as:
Learn more about hair transplants for curly and wavy hair.
At the Wimpole Clinic, we treat men with all hair types. Our trichologists are experts in treating hair loss in guys with straight, curly, wavy, or tightly coiled hair.
If you’re experiencing hair loss, your hair type may affect which treatment is best for you. Therefore, an assessment with an expert hair doctor can ensure you get the treatment you need. You’ll receive a comprehensive evaluation at the Wimpole Clinic, including diagnostic trichology tests if needed.
We consider your hair type when recommending treatments, which may include Minoxidil, Finasteride, low-level laser therapy, PRP hair treatment, or even a natural-looking hair transplant. To learn how we can help you get your hair looking its best again, book a consultation at your nearest clinic location today.
Type 2A hair is usually fine and has a loose S-shaped pattern. Type 2B usually has a clearer S shape and is medium thickness. It’s more prone to frizz than type 2A hair, especially in humid conditions.
1A and 1B are straight hair types, but 1A is completely flat without any waves or curls. It tends to be fine, soft, and shiny. 1B hair has a bit more thickness and volume, and may have slightly more shape.
2A hair has a loose and subtle shape to it. It’s the straightest type of wavy hair and is often fine and thin. 2A hair tends to be low maintenance with minimal frizz — learn more about what causes frizzy hair.
4B hair is tightly coiled and highly textured. Coils tend to have a Z-shaped pattern rather than an S. 4B hair tends to be dry and benefits from deep conditioning, although it’s not as dry as 4C, which is the most coily of all hair types.
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