5 Reasons Why Hair Typing Is Not Helpful

We’re all familiar with the hair typing chart. Early in our natural hair journeys, we studied our curls and coils in the mirror, trying to figure out if we were 3c, 4a, 4b, 4c, etc. A lot of people have found comfort in the hair typing system. It helps us find content creators with hair like ours. It helps us feel seen and represented in the curly community. But despite these benefits, there are a lot of reasons why the hair typing chart can be more of a hindrance than a help. Here are five for you to keep in mind.  

1. We Have Many Different Types Of Curls On One Head 

Sometimes people can have generally the same texture throughout their head, but more often than not, if you study any natural curly head, you’ll find a couple different textures all present and accounted for. You could have anywhere from 2, to 3 or more textures in your head at the same time. That makes it a little difficult to identify with any one type. 

2. Technique Matters, Not Hair Type 

In most cases, proper definition is a matter of technique, not necessarily hair type. A defined curl looks different for everyone because no two heads of hair are the same. It’s better to focus on getting your product application technique down to a science than to fret about curl type. This will allow you to get the best out of your hair. 

3. It Doesn’t Determine What Your Hair Actually Needs 

You may have thought your curl type told you everything you needed to know about how to care for your hair, but you would have been sadly mistaken. Hair typing is significantly less important than things like porosity, thickness, density, etc. Knowing these things about your hair can give you more information about what your hair needs and how to care for it properly. 

4. It Won’t Be Helpful In Selecting Products 

Just like hair typing offers little information on what your hair actually needs, it does little to point you in the direction of the best products for your hair. When it comes to choosing the right products for your hair. We recommend choosing well formulated products that are high quality, nutrient rich and effective for all hair types. A really good place to start is our Intense Moisture Collection. 

5. It Can Cause Division In The Curly Hair Community 

All this talk about hair types can split us into unnecessary and unhelpful factions. The reality is in a lot of cases it's really not that useful and doesn’t mean much about what routines, techniques, and products will help your hair thrive. 

@toffyolowo

How do you feel about the hair typing system? Share with us in the comments.