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If you have type 3c natural hair, you’ve probably been wondering how to make it thrive. You heard that moisture is a curly queen’s best friend, but keeping your hair hydrated while avoiding the greasy feeling is no easy task.
How do you know for sure if you have 3c hair? 3c curls resemble the size and shape of corkscrews. You’ll know for sure if you take a few strands of hair and wind them around the width of a pencil. If they wrap around well, you have 3c hair.
Taking care of your 3c natural hair will become easier once you get the hang of it. In this post, we’ll discuss some ways to care for your 3c hair to get the beautiful curls you’ve always wanted.
Caring for 3c Hair
Curly hair has no shortage of growth. It’s retaining the length that’s hard. Your hair can grow just as long as straight hair, if you can maintain the length by minimizing breakage.
Moisture is crucial for 3c hair, and it could mean the difference between having beautifully defined curls, or dry frizz. Keeping your hair hydrated will also lead to healthier, longer hair.
Many 3c naturals say heat damages their hair, so you should keep flat iron usage to a minimum. Straightening 3c natural hair should be a special occasion treat that you do once or twice per year only. When you do use a heated styling tool, you should use a protectant like Chi Infra thermal serum beforehand.
Stretching your hair using no-heat methods will give you length without hurting your hair. A hair roller style like a perm rod set will give you soft, bouncy curls. Try these curlers to get the length and straighter hair.
The way you care for your hair at night is the key to retaining hair growth and having healthy tresses. Leaving your hair loose to rub against your cotton pillow will dry out your hair and contribute to breakage. You may not see many small ringlets on the pillow when you wake up, but the hair strand will lose its structure when placed against friction, so you may see shedding and breakage on wash day.
Try putting your hair in a pineapple before retiring for the night. It will help you maintain your style by gathering your hair and placing it on top of your head. Then you can wrap and tie it with a silk scarf or satin bonnet. The pineapple will allow you to go for 2-3 days longer with the same style.
3c Natural Hair Regimen
Every 3c natural head of hair is different because hair texture can vary from fine or medium to coarse, and porosity can make a difference too.
Most 3c women find it sufficient to wash their hair with a moisturizing shampoo once per week. If you have high porosity hair, you should fill in the gaps by doing regular pro
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tein treatments. You can apply protein treatments like ApHogee’s Two Step Protein Treatment 1-2 times per month for optimal results.
Pay attention to your body if you want great hair. A healthy body makes healthy curls. Aim to drink at least half a gallon of water per day. Eating plenty of fruits and vegetables will give your hair follicles the nutrients they need to create strong hair.
Hair is made of protein, and one of the best ways to make sure you have healthy hair is to eat lean protein like chicken breast, salmon, eggs, and legumes. Make sure you tally your protein consumption to get the optimal amount. A 150-pound woman needs about 55 grams of protein daily.
You must adopt a moisture routine too. The LOC method will help hydrate your hair and lock moisture into the hair shaft. Read more about the LOC method below.
Moisturizer for Natural 3c Hair
One of the most important techniques to master with 3c natural hair care is the LOC method. This method works for most naturals, regardless of the curl pattern type. You can do the LOC method on wash day before styling, and you can do it once or twice during the week too.
Here is a breakdown of the LOC method:
Liquid. The best liquid on the planet is water. It’s the ultimate hydration, and it’s ideal for your hair and body. Using water is easy on wash day because you shower. But adding water to your routine during the week doesn’t have to be difficult either. You can place water in a spray bottle along with one or two of your favorite essential oils, like eucalyptus or peppermint oil. You can add conditioner to your bottle as a detangler. Another great detangler is Kinky Curly Knot Today.
Oil. Oils work to seal the hydration into the hair shaft. Some oils, like jojoba and avocado, penetrate well through the cuticle and protect the hair strand from damage. They’ll make your hair shiny and add nutrients your hair loves. Other favorite 3c oils are coconut, sweet almond, and argan.
Cream. Adding a cream or butter is the final stage in the LOC process. You may find excellent results with using a thick cream like Aphogee Curlific Curl Definer, but if the product weighs your hair down too much, consider going with a light leave in conditioner, like Kinky Curly original Curling Custard.
3c Natural Hair Styles
If you have 3c hair, you’ll want to take advantage of the wash and go. This will be your easiest and maybe even your best-looking hairstyle once you master the art of curl definition. This simple hair style works well with both short and long 3c natural hair.
There are several cute short 3c natural hair styles you can do to show off your curls. You can go with a faux mohawk, a high puff, a twist out, or a braid out.
You can even find a cute 3c natural hair weave these days. This might be helpful if you are transitioning or recently did the big chop, and you want the length that matches your curl pattern while you wait for your hair to grow. Look for a weave made with high-quality curly hair.
3c Natural Hair Products
Every head of hair is different, so it’s a good idea to experiment with various products until you find one your hair likes.
Use a moisturizing shampoo for natural 3c hair like TGIN’s moisture rich sulfate free shampoo or Mixed Chicks Sulfate-Free Shampoo. Avoid sulfate shampoos as they’re drying to your hair. Instead, go for shampoos that are as natural as possible. Having one or two chemicals in a product is fine, but the first three ingredients on a label should be recognizable and maybe even edible.
You might find you have a combination of curl patterns. Maybe you have 3c up front and on the sides, and 4a in the back.
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If you have a combination of natural hair types, you might try parting your hair and adjust the amount of product you use for each section. For instance, you could use a heavier amount for your 4a hair, and less for your 3c hair.
Moisturization is the key to growing long, luscious 3c locks. Even if you don’t care about length, adopting a good moisturizing routine will combat dryness and split ends. The result will be healthy hair.
Protein is essential for 3c high porosity hair because it strengthens and improves the integrity of the strand.
If you follow a natural hair care routine for healthy hair, you’ll likely experience the beautiful curls you’ve always wanted within months.
What about you? What are some ways that have worked for you when caring for your 3c hair?
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