Yet another hair typing query (picture heavy!)

[IndigoOptimist]

I've always been told I have straight hair and I agreed with that. I know it isn't 'poker straight', but I've never considered it wavy or curly.
Until now...
It's been a while since I took pictures from when I typed my hair so I thought I'd do it again, and this is what I got

When it's still wet, I get these waves:
http://img821.imageshack.us/img821/9311/dscn2300s.jpg

As it dries a bit more those go a little but I still have some:
http://img20.imageshack.us/img20/7984/dscn2301z.jpg

http://img855.imageshack.us/img855/9778/dscn2302r.jpg

When dry and untouched it looks like this:
http://img850.imageshack.us/img850/9321/dscn2307t.jpg

http://img228.imageshack.us/img228/7296/dscn2309l.jpg

http://img171.imageshack.us/img171/6104/dscn2316b.jpg

Now I'm confused about my hair type, mainly because of the waves when it's wet... I'm wondering if I used different methods whether I'd get more waves or not. Trouble is I don't really know what to do with wavy hair, I thought my hair was straight and that's always been how I've treated it :s I typed myself as 1b but now I'm wondering if I was wrong because of the waves when it's wet... :s

Also, if it helps, this is how it looks when it's shorter, with those STUPID ANNOYING FLICKS AT THE END! (Glad that doesn't happen any more :)
http://img836.imageshack.us/img836/3696/shortrx.jpg

Thanks for any help you lovely ladies (and gents) can give me :)

PS, sorry images are so big, I don't know how to work image shack and photobucket is down :(

[BrownEyedBeauty]

I would go by how it looks when it is dry. It looks like 1b to me.

[IndigoOptimist]

It looks like a mess to me, but yeah, 1b was what I thought originally :)

[spidermom]

I'm thinking 1C.

[jojo]

I'm thinking wet your a 1c but dry I'd say your a 1b

[torrilin]

Looks to be somewhere in the 1c to 2b range. I'm giving a pretty broad range for 2 reasons... You're typing your hair as on the finer end, and fine hair doesn't show wave or curl well unless your handling is really good. The more you handle your hair, the faster the wave or curl will "fall out", and that goes double for fine hair. Also, while we're not seeing much wave near your scalp when your hair is dry, it looks like you moved a fair bit while it was drying, including moving bits of hair to show details of the wet wave pattern. And we do see wave close to your scalp in wet pictures...

Those details combine to mean you're probably a good bit wavier than the pictures show.

In your position, I'd look into curl friendly hair care techniques, and see where it takes you. Even if it turns out your type really is best left as a 1c, curly techniques will tend to result in fewer tangles and less breakage. Over the long haul, it will also mean less effort to get a sleek and straight look, if that's your preference.

Curl friendly techniques can include things like drying methods (scrunching and plopping are two good terms to search on), wash methods (conditioner only, water only and condition-wash-condition all tend to work well), and various methods of gentle styling and handling. A lot of the time, it's not so much the product or tool that does the job, it's really all about technique. And what works for you may not fit EXACTLY with stuff you see online. But it never hurts to experiment to see if someone else's trick works for you.

A good starting point is Jessicurl's 2a tutorial video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y7KCldodunk). While it's a brand focused video, I think it does a good job explaining that it's not the products that give the final look, but the techniques used with the products. You probably have shampoo and conditioner, and most of what's used in the video is... shampoo and conditioner. Styling gel is used, but plenty of curlies skip it in favor of using conditioner for a styling aid. Where the video uses a microfiber towel, experiment with an old T shirt or a regular towel or a large flat woven kitchen towel if you have one. Or you can pick up a microfiber towel in with the car washing stuff for cheap :). And most of what's shown in the video is finger combing. Most of us have fingers :D.

[mzBANGBANG]

I would put you in the 1c/2a range for the reason torrilin stated. I have the issue of having fine hair that does have more wave, however it takes more work than I am willing to give to enhance it naturally.

I've found that water-only washes really bring out my wave, however I am not able to keep up that routine. Of course it is different for everyone.

[IndigoOptimist]

Wow, I am really suprised to see some of you type me as maybe a 2a. I personally wouldn't stretch that far, but I will try out more curly methods and see what happens... I think it's GOOGLE TIME! :p

[pink.sara]

I'd put you at a 1c too.

[Mesmerise]

Hmm I'm still leaning to 1b... just because of how it looks dry. I also think if it were brushed you'd lose pretty much all the wave (which I don't see as happening with 1c hair, which I think would retain more wave after brushing).

My hair also waves more when it's wet. It's currently typed at 2a, but I'm probably going to go back to 1c when it's a bit longer (I'd say it seems more 1c/2a now but my hair is weird and changeable), but no matter what I CAN NOT brush out the waves in my hair :(.

[tambalina]

I am a 1b as well, but can coax 2a waves when doing the Curly Girl Method. My hair is *very* similar to yours when wet. A little bit of conditioner, curl enhancer and gel scrunched into soaking wet hair gives me spirals if it clumps up right. :D

[MissCoco]

Since it seems like a mostly equal say between 1b and 1c (I think 2a or 2b is just a little exaggerated as well, personally), I would go for 1b/1c :) But who knows, maybe you'll be able to bring out more wave in time! :D

[IndigoOptimist]

Well I'm going to try out some curly methods and see what happens :) My mum has papbably 2a or 2b hair and apparently my father had wavy hair too so I always wondered if my hair would develop a curl or wave over time. I've never really treated my hair well either, so maybe without dye or heat I'll start to see more waves :)