u/AusssieHairCareUSA

Alright, we keep seeing people mix up curly vs coily hair, so here’s a super simple breakdown that might actually help you figure out what your hair needs (and why some routines just don’t hit).

Curly hair (Type 3A–3C)
Think: looser spirals, bounce, a bit more swing to it.

• 3A: Big, loose curls that start up near the crown. Usually softer and smoother, but can get weighed down pretty easily if you go heavy on products.
• 3B: Tighter ringlets (like marker-sized). Loads of volume because the curls stack on each other. You’ll probs notice shrinkage once it dries.
• 3C: Tight corkscrew curls (around pencil size). More dense and textured, but also way more prone to drying out.

Coily hair (Type 4A–4C)
Think: tight, springy coils with more shrinkage and a bit more fragility.

• 4A: Small, defined coils with an “S” pattern. Still super full, but a bit less shrinkage compared to other type 4s.
• 4B: More zigzag than spiral. Coils look less defined and the hair’s usually more fragile + porous, so moisture is everything.
• 4C: Tightest coils of the lot. Can look less defined unless stretched, heaps of shrinkage, and needs the most TLC to avoid breakage.

Why it actually matters

This isn’t just hair typing for fun, it changes how you should care for it:

• Looser curls (3A–3C) → usually better with lighter products so you don’t flatten your curl pattern
• Tighter coils (4A–4C) → need way more moisture, layering (leave-ins, creams), and gentle handling
• As you move from 3 → 4, you’ll generally see more shrinkage, dryness, and breakage risk

End of the day, no one fits perfectly into one box, but knowing where you roughly sit makes a massive difference.

Where’s everyone at on this? And what routines/products actually worked vs totally flopped 👀

Alright, we keep seeing people mix up curly vs coily hair, so here’s a super simple breakdown that might actually help you figure out what your hair needs (and why some routines just don’t hit).

Curly hair (Type 3A–3C)
Think: looser spirals, bounce, a bit more swing to it.

• 3A: Big, loose curls that start up near the crown. Usually softer and smoother, but can get weighed down pretty easily if you go heavy on products.
• 3B: Tighter ringlets (like marker-sized). Loads of volume because the curls stack on each other. You’ll probs notice shrinkage once it dries.
• 3C: Tight corkscrew curls (around pencil size). More dense and textured, but also way more prone to drying out.

Coily hair (Type 4A–4C)
Think: tight, springy coils with more shrinkage and a bit more fragility.

• 4A: Small, defined coils with an “S” pattern. Still super full, but a bit less shrinkage compared to other type 4s.
• 4B: More zigzag than spiral. Coils look less defined and the hair’s usually more fragile + porous, so moisture is everything.
• 4C: Tightest coils of the lot. Can look less defined unless stretched, heaps of shrinkage, and needs the most TLC to avoid breakage.

Why it actually matters

This isn’t just hair typing for fun, it changes how you should care for it:

• Looser curls (3A–3C) → usually better with lighter products so you don’t flatten your curl pattern
• Tighter coils (4A–4C) → need way more moisture, layering (leave-ins, creams), and gentle handling
• As you move from 3 → 4, you’ll generally see more shrinkage, dryness, and breakage risk

End of the day, no one fits perfectly into one box, but knowing where you roughly sit makes a massive difference.

Where’s everyone at on this? And what routines/products actually worked vs totally flopped

Alright, we keep seeing people mix up curly vs coily hair, so here’s a super simple breakdown that might actually help you figure out what your hair needs (and why some routines just don’t hit).

Curly hair (Type 3A–3C)
Think: looser spirals, bounce, a bit more swing to it.

• 3A: Big, loose curls that start up near the crown. Usually softer and smoother, but can get weighed down pretty easily if you go heavy on products.
• 3B: Tighter ringlets (like marker-sized). Loads of volume because the curls stack on each other. You’ll probs notice shrinkage once it dries.
• 3C: Tight corkscrew curls (around pencil size). More dense and textured, but also way more prone to drying out.

Coily hair (Type 4A–4C)
Think: tight, springy coils with more shrinkage and a bit more fragility.

• 4A: Small, defined coils with an “S” pattern. Still super full, but a bit less shrinkage compared to other type 4s.
• 4B: More zigzag than spiral. Coils look less defined and the hair’s usually more fragile + porous, so moisture is everything.
• 4C: Tightest coils of the lot. Can look less defined unless stretched, heaps of shrinkage, and needs the most TLC to avoid breakage.

Why it actually matters

This isn’t just hair typing for fun, it changes how you should care for it:

• Looser curls (3A–3C) → usually better with lighter products so you don’t flatten your curl pattern
• Tighter coils (4A–4C) → need way more moisture, layering (leave-ins, creams), and gentle handling
• As you move from 3 → 4, you’ll generally see more shrinkage, dryness, and breakage risk

End of the day, no one fits perfectly into one box, but knowing where you roughly sit makes a massive difference.

Where’s everyone at on this? And what routines/products actually worked vs totally flopped.