2C Hair Guide: What Is it, How to Take Care of It, & How to Style It
Whether you know you have 2c hair, you just learned you have this hair type, or you are still unsure and doing some research, we’re here to help. Type 2c hair is the waviest of all hair types; this natural wave is ultra-defined, hard to ignore, and wavy even when wet!
Never take 2c hair for granted, even when it's wild. Many straight-haired people need to use mousse and stiffening products to achieve the hairstyles that 2c hair types naturally enjoy. Instead, utilize this guide to style your hair to complement your 2c wave pattern.
What is 2c hair?
Type 2c hair is a subcategory of type 2 hair. Where type 2a is almost straight hair and type 2b is S-shaped waves, type 2c hair is the waviest of all type 2s. Each wave almost has a ringlet shape, but compared to type 3 (curly) hair, type 2c is certainly an S-shaped wave.
Type 2c hair is just one of the classifications within the hair typing system. Hair typing is a system that separates hair textures into four categories: straight, wavy (type 2), curly, and coily.
The dense natural hair texture of type 2c gives it a very thick and voluminous appearance. It withstands tugging, dampening, and blow-drying without losing its shape.
Due to the texture of these locks, those with type 2c hair often suffer from lots of frizz, a ton of volume, and, unfortunately, damage and dryness. This also differentiates this hair type from the other subcategories of type 2 hair.
Because of the non-straight texture, 2c hair is by nature more difficult to color, straighten, or blow-dry. To have this luxurious volume and lift is definitely a double-edged sword.
How to take care of 2c hair
The frizz factor is a common issue with 2c hair. Luckily, our team has perfected an effective haircare routine for 2c hair.
Check out these tips for reducing frizz, controlling volume, and minimizing damage for this borderline curly hair type.
To achieve the perfect 2c mane, follow these 5 tips.
1. Control frizz with lightweight products
Since your almost-curly hair likely gets pretty frizzy, lightweight products that control frizz are your best option. They add moisture back into your hair and will also keep the flyaways well away.
You can even add hair oil to this routine. Rub a dime-sized amount in the palms of your hands, brushing them through the middle and ends of your hair. Avoid the roots, as they may get greasy!
2. Moisturize with a leave-in conditioner
Leave-in products are a 2c’s best friend! Using a leave-in conditioner gives your hair a good drink of moisture while detangling any strands that have knotted together. This vastly improves hair manageability and keeps your ‘do going strong all week long.
3. Dry hair with a diffuser or microfibre towel
Since 2c hair is naturally on the drier and frizzier side, avoiding heat styling is one of the best ways to show your hair you care.
This can be as simple as drying your hair with a diffuser, patting it dry with soft cotton or a microfibre towel, or letting it air or wrap dry. These strategies, combined with our other tips, are great options for preventing breakage, frizz, and tangles.
4. Cleanse routinely
It might take some time to figure out your perfect cleansing routine, but we assure you, it’s worth it. Cleansing regularly helps prevent build-up of the previously mentioned products in your hair.
But only cleanse if you’re going to do it right! Use a hydrating shampoo and conditioner to infuse moisture back into your locks and find the perfect balance of washing your hair, usually 2-3 times a week. You can always give your hair a spritz of dry shampoo to freshen it up between washes.
5. Use a hair mask once a week
2c hair can be dehydrated; use a lightweight hydrating hair mask once a week to avoid weighing hair down. This helps nourish your strands without weighing down your hair and making it look flat.
Mane Club’s Cha Ching Moisturizing Hair Mask is a deep conditioning hair mask for dry hair – perfect for 2c types. And you’ll sure feel like a million bucks after!
How to style 2c hair
2C hair types are generally best suited for styles that highlight their natural patterns. Your waves will look best if you lean into them – feel free to enhance them using curlers or products!
On the other hand, if you opt for a heated straightened look, it will require a looot of work. Does it take you an hour to straighten your hair? Thought so.
Pro tip: No matter your hair type, you should NEVER straighten your hair without a heat protectant!
Also, whether you’re wearing it straight or curly, try not to touch your hair too much. This is a guaranteed way to increase frizz.
Not sure how to wear your 2c hair? Here are our top 3 suggestions.
1. The deep side part
Not that you need it, but a deep side part is a super fun way to add some volume to your waves. For when you just feel like whipping your hair back and forth! ✨
2. The wild style
Let your strands do what they do best. With waves like yours, there’s no need to style them that often. Sometimes it’s nice to take a page out of Lili Reinhart’s book and let them exist as they are.
If you want to enhance the natural textures of your 2c hair, since yours has more loose waves, you can use rollers paired with a curl-defining product for Insta-worthy results.
3. Get a shoulder-length snip
Hair that is sometimes unruly is often much easier to style when it’s a bit shorter. You won’t need to worry about your layers growing out and weighing your hair down with a shoulder-length ‘do. Plus, the waves make your hair look longer than it is – bonus!
Our Favorite Products for 2c Hair
These products will help you embrace your 2c hair while avoiding frizz, dryness, damage, and “poofiness” that sometimes comes with it. Let your waves and volume be the star of the show by using products with a lightweight hold like these:
This curl-defining cream uses the natural powers of coconut oil to soften curls while injecting moisture into the locks. The formula is crunch-free (goodbye, 90’s hair gel) and is humidity-proof, so you can wear it on vacation to tame frizz.
A 10-in-1 leave-in conditioner with Cannabis Sativa Seed Oil will leave your hair hydrated and heat-protected, should you choose to style your waves. The formula does it all, including ending breakage, conditioning, detangling, and smoothing frizz – it’s like it was MADE for 2c hair!
This light hair oil provides a conditioning treatment with Abyssinian oil to lock in that moisture. While this Voodoo oil is ideal for all hair types, 2c’s love to drink it up for an instantly smooth and shiny look. Excellent for freshly washed, dry hair.
