Type 2: Wavy Hair

What makes hair type 2

A type 2 strand bends into S-shapes along its length but never wraps around itself into a spiral. That is the whole boundary between wavy and curly: bend, without the wrap.

The cleanest read comes from air-drying. Left alone, without brushing or heat, this family settles into loose S-shaped waves that lie relatively close to the head rather than springing up into ringlets. Soft S-bends sitting near the head after a hands-off dry is the signature.

The subtypes, from 2a to 2c

The letters track how strong the wave is and where along the strand it starts.

• 2a: loose, stretched-out, barely-there waves, typically in fine hair.
• 2b: more defined S-waves that start from the midlength, and more prone to frizz.
• 2c: strong waves that begin at the root, with some genuine curl mixed in.

The pattern tightens as the letters climb: 2a barely registers, 2b commits from the midlength down, and 2c waves from the root with curl appearing in places.

How this family is usually cared for

The convention for type 2 is lightweight moisture and minimal handling. The aim is to encourage the wave that is already there without weighing it down, and without roughing it into frizz along the way.

Density is a separate question

Density is how many individual strands grow per area of scalp, and it is separate from how thick each strand is. A quick check: gather dry hair into a ponytail and measure its circumference. Under about two inches reads as low density, two to three inches as medium, and four inches or more as high.

If your hair does not fit one box

Plenty of heads carry more than one pattern: waves at the crown, something closer to curl underneath. That is normal, not a mis-reading. It is exactly why the finder shows its point spread instead of handing you a single answer.