Basics of Hair Type 3C

CurlsBot thinks you may have Very curly hair

Your hair has very tight strong curl pattern and moderate-high shrinkage. It may be one of several subtypes based on hair diameter, density, and porosity.

Want help mastering your curls or waves?

Get our free Curly Techniques Dictionary with 60+ methods to define curls, boost volume, and fight frizz—sorted by difficulty and curl-friendliness.

3B in the Andre Walker system

Our quiz is loosely based on the original Andre Walker system created in the 1990s. It has a lot of flaws but it is still the most popular hair typing system. It is based on characteristics of hair. The Walker system defines 3B as Corkscrew curls.

Andre Walker Hair Type Chart

3a to 3c in the Common system

The common hair typing system is one you might see on social media. It involves comparing your hair's appearance to a chart. We'd don't use this system because people usually have multiple curl patterns. For example you may have patterns ranging from 3a to 3c depending how tight the curls are, with 3c being the tightest

Common Hair Type Chart

Pattern Strength

High

Your hair pattern is strong and not easily loosened out or elongated.

Shrinkage

High

Your hair is between 50-75% longer wet vs. dry.

Strand Thickness

Any

Your hair type is not associated with a strand thickness, you may have fine, medium, or thick strands

Curvature

Small

You likely have tight curls, which need to be carefully protected from breakage

Volume

High

Your hair has a lot of volume, especially horizontally, but you still may have some lower volume sections at your roots

Shapes

Curved

Your hair has waves and/or curls

Tangling

Very High

Your hair tangles easily and can form single-strand knots that cause breakage

Similar Hair Types

Hair typing isn't an exact science. Your hair might share characteristics with these types:

Help Us Improve

Does this match your hair type?

Routine Generator

Based on your hair type we recommend these products that are formulated to give you shine and definition while protecting your hair from breakage

CGM
Minimal Routine

Loading recommendations...

Try sample sizes of these products
© 2025 CurlsBot. All rights reserved.

Disclaimer: We're here to have fun and learn about haircare ingredients! 🧪 While our tool can provide some basic insights, it's not a substitute for professional advice. Always consult with a hair care expert for personalized recommendations, especially if you have specific hair concerns or allergies. This web site is not endorsed by, directly affiliated with, maintained, authorized, or sponsored by The Curly Girl Method by Lorraine Massey™️ or her Curly Girl Handbook. Some links on Curlsbot are Affiliate links. Shopping through these links supports the further development of Curlsbot.