3 different textures??!!!

I have been natural since 2/08. Initially due to lack of education, I wore sew ins and braids alot. When I began to learn how to style and maintain my hair I realized my hair is 3 different textures. Is this a common issue and is there anything that can be done about it?

Its very common. I myself have 3 hair types (3c/4a/4b) and I had to just experiment with different products to see what worked. The Neutragena Triple Moisutre Leave-In worked for me.

I have 3 textures wavy top middle front area, curly sides middle back, and kinky at my hairline between my ear and temples on both sides. Each area reacts differently to the same styling product...it can be annoying, but I've learned to work with it.

Its very common sis. Most natural heads have a combination of hair types to my understanding. Its normal.

mchlljy wrote:Its very common. I myself have 3 hair types (3c/4a/4b) and I had to just experiment with different products to see what worked. The Neutragena Triple Moisutre Leave-In worked for me.

from what I have learned this is my combo as well, I am quickly becoming a product junkie but I am also learning from my trial and error so I will add this product to my growing list and embrace my new addiction!

so1913 wrote:I have 3 textures wavy top middle front area, curly sides middle back, and kinky at my hairline between my ear and temples on both sides. Each area reacts differently to the same styling product...it can be annoying, but I've learned to work with it.

annoying it is!!! that is my biggest issue, what works on what sections. honestly i have been either braiding or pinning up my sides because it has been easier to manage this way. i guess that is working with it...or avoiding it, lol.

I agree, very common to have multiple everything in your hair. My hair is different shades of brown and red, varying porosity, more curl retention on my right side and I'm 3b@ the hair line 3c@ the crown and 1@the nape. I always have to modify what I'm doing or be careful what I choose to do to my hair because I can come out looking crazier than usual if i'm not careful!

GREAT I was concerned myself. I just finished transitioning and the front of my hair is very wavy. the crown is kinda kinky, so like 3c and the back is very loose curls like 3b so I have all the 3s in my hair and don't know WHAT to do with them.

Does anybody have similar? How do you all style your hair with a kinky middle?

Didn't mean to jack your question EarthyChic77!

D.

I have 3 dif textures...the crown has a very loose-no curl pattern
the edges are about a 4b the back is like a 3c and the rest is like a 4a....and I have shrinkage like CRAZY!!! my hair is a little longer than chin length when curly, when straight the back is bra strap length and the front is armpit length!

I have more than 3 textures! I would say there are 5-6 distinct textures, probably more that I can't detect. I think it's because I have 3c,4a, and 4b but then those same types only in the wave form. It amazes me that the first inch of my edges is 4b but then right behind that with no transition at all is 3c waves and sprinkled in that 3-4 inches of hair is little 4a coils.I still have relaxed ends, but my hair grows the same as it did when I was 13/14 so I know what it will be like. I don't know where I got these hair genes from, because my mom has a full head of directly between 3c,4a hair. She did have a fro when she was in college though. . . lol

I am curious to see if I will have a fro all over or just in certain parts. Before my hair was permed I didn't really have a fro, but my hair was never at the length mine will be when I BC. I just remember it being a tangled mess. hahahaa

pwatem wrote:I have more than 3 textures! I would say there are 5-6 distinct textures, probably more that I can't detect. I think it's because I have 3c,4a, and 4b but then those same types only in the wave form. It amazes me that the first inch of my edges is 4b but then right behind that with no transition at all is 3c waves and sprinkled in that 3-4 inches of hair is little 4a coils.I still have relaxed ends, but my hair grows the same as it did when I was 13/14 so I know what it will be like. I don't know where I got these hair genes from, because my mom has a full head of directly between 3c,4a hair. She did have a fro when she was in college though. . . lol

I have a similar issue [if that what yall want to call it]. I've been natural have my life but it wasn't till a couple years ago that i started doing more natural styles. I realized early on that i couldn't really do wash and go styles because my top middle sections is really wavy like maybe a 2c but the rest ranges from 3c to 4a [its crazy] i do alot of wet sets when i wear my hair out [i braid or twist the 2c parts in smaller pieces to help the curls last as long as the other texture] and use a little more holding product when i do two-strand twist, so they won't unravel. I love my hair but sometime im very envious of curlys and natural ladies who can do the wash-n-go.

I know I have different textures but I'm not very good at hair typing. What do the letters mean? Does anyone know of a website explaining different hair types and textures.?

Mllebutterfly wrote:I know I have different textures but I'm not very good at hair typing. What do the letters mean? Does anyone know of a website explaining different hair types and textures.?

You can go to naturallycurly.com. They have Andre's hair typing system there and explain the different types. I personally think hair typing is very subjective. What one may think is 3b another may think it is 3c? Here is a quick break down.

1 - Straight hair
2 - Wavy (a - c ranges with 'a' being the less wavy more straight)
3 - Loose curl (a - c ranges from big curls, 'a', think large barrel curling iron to size of pen, 'c')
4 - Tight curl (a - b range from coffee stirrer size, 'a', to no curl)

As far as texture, a great resource for me was http://livecurlylivefree.com/. The author explains how important texture, elasticity and porosity are to selecting the correct hair products. I rarely have a bad hair day because I follow her advice. When I do not, I have not so good hair days (bobby pins come to my rescue on those days) [You must be registered and logged in to see this image.] .

I have 4a I hair in the front, 4b hair in the back and 3c hair at the crown. I think the thing that helps my hair the most is weekly deep conditioning with Neutrogena Triple Moisture Deep Recovery Mask.

Your hair is quite fabulous btw earthychic

i have major issues with different textures and their various degrees of FRIZZ (which should be a 4-letter word when it comes to hair!). i've spent the last 14 months transitioning and i've never worn my hair out because of how difficult it is to style the different textures of my hair without certain sections becoming big frizzballs. soooo, thank you earthychic for starting this discussion! i'm taking notes

Very common, I also have three textures. I'm 4a in my front, 3b in my top or middle and 3c in my back.

vintagenarcissa wrote:I have 4a I hair in the front, 4b hair in the back and 3c hair at the crown. I think the thing that helps my hair the most is weekly deep conditioning with Neutrogena Triple Moisture Deep Recovery Mask.

Your hair is quite fabulous btw earthychic [You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]

thanks!!!

NoPhonyPony wrote:i have major issues with different textures and their various degrees of FRIZZ (which should be a 4-letter word when it comes to hair!). i've spent the last 14 months transitioning and i've never worn my hair out because of how difficult it is to style the different textures of my hair without certain sections becoming big frizzballs. soooo, thank you earthychic for starting this discussion! i'm taking notes [You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]

No problem, I knew someone here could give suggestions as well as encouragement knowing I am not the only one. I have gotten alot better with dealing with it and as my hair continues to grow it has become less of a headache...still a headache just not a migraine!

I too struggle with multiple textures. My left side is 2c/3b! How that happened I do not know! The rest of my hair is 4a/b

I'm so glad this is common! [You must be registered and logged in to see this image.] With the amount of textures i have in this one head of mine, the 1234abc classification makes it no easier [You must be registered and logged in to see this image.] lol! my head consists of the following:
- kinky/curly hair in the back
- wavy hair in the middle
- the best description for the front is a frizzball.. its not curly, its not straight... its just there and and its up and out lol
- curly and soft at the sides (NOT a good thing... braids have ruined these poor things!)

I have 4 different textures

4a/b/c and a bit of 3c at the crown

it is very common!

I have several textures also.

if you were to split my head down the middle, the left side is 3a/3b, and the right side is 3b/3c.....my hair is short right now so its kinda noticeable, so i try to stretch the heck out of the right side lol

This is very common. I also have 3 different textures.