Type 3C hair is the type of hair with the tightest curl pattern of all hair types. This is why when it comes to caring for this hair type, you have to know what routine to adopt, hair products to use, and the best suitable styling options. In this article, you will be learning how to give your 3C hair all the love and care that it deserves so keep reading.
What Is 3C Hair?
As stated already, 3C hair is the tightest curl pattern of all type 3 hair. It has S-shaped curl patterns that if you fit a regular single straw inside one of its curls, wrap snugly around it. The curls of 3C hair tend to be dense and thick which makes it prone to frizz, dryness, and breakage.
How Do You Care for Your 3C Hair?
1. Clean Your Hair Often
Leaving your 3C hair for weeks or months without a proper wash can lead to dull and dry hair. Your curls need to remain soft, healthy and moisturized. To wash your 3C hair, you will need:
- A sulfate-free shampoo
- A conditioner
- A leave-in conditioner
Step-by-Step Guide to Washing Your 3C Hair
Step 1: Shampoo Your Hair
It is important to use sulfate-free shampoos as sulfate shampoos tend to strip your hair and scalp of their natural oil. Wash your 3C hair using your shampoo and warm water. The warm water helps the shampoo to get rid of the dirt clogged on your scalp by opening your hair cuticles. When washing, make sure you use the flesh underneath your fingers and not your fingernails to gently scrub your scalp. This way, you do not cause injuries to your scalp.
Step 2: Condition Your Hair
After rinsing the shampoo off your hair, apply your conditioner from roots to tips. The conditioner will help to soften your hair, making it easy for you to detangle. Leave the conditioner in your hair as directed by the instructions on the product label. After that, rinse thoroughly with cold water. The cold water will help close up your hair cuticles. Next, dry your hair with a t-shirt and apply your leave-in conditioner to your damp hair.
2. Moisturize Your Hair
Your 3C hair needs lots of moisture because it tends to dry up much more quickly than other hair types. Dry hair leads to breakage, split ends, and in extreme cases, damaged hair. To moisturize your 3C hair, you will need water in your spray bottle, a good hair moisturizer, and natural hair oil. First, spritz your hair with water from your spray bottle. Next, massage your hair with moisturizer followed by oil to help lock in the moisture.
3. Use A Hair Bonnet
Before you lay your head on your pillow, ensure your hair is covered in a satin bonnet. Satin bonnets help to keep your hair moisturized all through the night.
4. Do Protective Styles
Protective styles help to protect your hair from breakage, split ends, and hair damage that could occur as a result of constant manipulation. When it comes to protective styling, the perfect texture match for 3C hair is the kinky coily texture. It can be gotten as human hair wigs, virgin hair clip-ins, ponytail extensions, twists and locs.