2c-3a hair care regimens! Anyone with 2c-3a hair!

[emmadilemma]

Hi, my name is Emma. I have recently started delving into the 'healthy hair' journey and I have 3c hair, and its kind of fine and super oily at the roots and dryer at the ends. I would love to see pictures of 2c-3a hair and would LOVE to hear hair care routines that have worked for you and tips or tricks for this kind of hair. I'm just a bit lost in which direction to go in terms of 3c hair care. I'm trying the natural no-sulphate route but I don't really know if my hair is digging it... I know that my hair before going sulphate free loved Biolage shampoo and olive oil and Living Proof instant texture mist. So if you have a 2c-3a hair care routine thats working for you, or products that you love, or your hair journey (sulphate free or not!) please let me know! :o:applause

[hennalonghair]

My I just wrote this for LCT so copied it for here.


While I consider myself a curly girl, I don't think of myself in the same category as you and these other 3's. I'm closer to a 2b to 3a right after washing , swimming, humid or rainy weather or if my hairs in a French braid. All the other times I'm closer to a /2b. Plus, besides not using cones, I don't generally follow all the curly girl rules. I've tried the no brushing, no combing routine and lasted maybe three days tops before I caved in and started combing and brushing again. My hair became a nightmare of a mess. It was dry, tangly and unruly. I'm pretty sure I lose more hair not brushing just due from major knots I get in my hair but I don't ever use heat. My hair dries au natural always.
My routine is generally once a week washing.
Condition length first; wash (Luke warm water)scalp only with diluted shampoo;
Rinse with Luke warm water - condition again with a richer conditioner and comb through from ends up; rinse with cool water; final rinse with fresh spring water with ACV (2 tbsp. per litre.)
When halfway dry I add a Shea butter combo and scrunch it in my ends and right above my ears where it tends to frizz. It helps seal and protect my hair and tames it some.
Occasionally if I wanna rock my curls I'll use a curl enhancer. Be Curly by Aveda is my favourite and i use so little of it but usually mix it with my Shea butter concoction and my hair really curls then.
I leave my hair curly and down on every wash day but that evening before bed it gets brushed and the ends conditioned with Shea butter.
Every time my hair gets put up it gets combed or brushed because I can't stand those darned curly cues getting caught at the back of my neck and I KNOW you ALL know what I'm talking about.
If I want to freshen up my wave/curl pattern I wet my hands and run them through my hair then I spray some diluted conditioner onto my hands and run that through my hair. My hair instantly bounces back but is sleeker and smoother. Most products I use in my hair get rubbed into my hands first and then applied. I never put anything directly on my hair.
My hair is far curlier in the spring and summer months. Fall and water my hair tends to straighten out a bit more. Also I'm not a fan of fairy tale ends on myself, although I'm too OCD to ever have had them. :lol: For me I find my hair grows better in clumps. The clumps of hair protect each other and help define the curl pattern. Besides the fact that I have certain sections grow faster than other is another reason for trimming. As soon as my ends start to taper too much or get too dried out I lose my curl pattern and I personally think there's nothing more attractive seeing long curly hair that has a defined wave pattern from the roots to the ends.
I'm pretty OCD about blunt ends as you already know.
:yawn:
Right? :shrug:
Now aren't you glad you asked.?:laugh:

Here's a few photos, from the past 14 months of growing.

http://s50.photobucket.com/user/pollywoggle999/media/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zpsqq6dzhzi.jpg.html?sort=3&o=29

http://s50.photobucket.com/user/pollywoggle999/media/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zpsadbcuw0b.jpg.html?sort=3&o=53

http://s50.photobucket.com/user/pollywoggle999/media/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zpskkwhcrrf.jpg.html?sort=3&o=74

http://s50.photobucket.com/user/pollywoggle999/media/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zpscjned7nr.jpg.html?sort=3&o=83

http://s50.photobucket.com/user/pollywoggle999/media/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zpsn4m8juie.jpg.html?sort=3&o=85

http://s50.photobucket.com/user/pollywoggle999/media/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zpsclryaicd.jpg.html?sort=3&o=90

http://s50.photobucket.com/user/pollywoggle999/media/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zpsctsn1akj.jpg.html?sort=3&o=93

http://s50.photobucket.com/user/pollywoggle999/media/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zpsxdjyoctm.jpg.html?sort=3&o=128

[lapushka]

Now I'm confused. You're asking for 2c-3a hair care routines, but then you say you are 3c? :confused:

[hennalonghair]

Now I'm confused. You're asking for 2c-3a hair care routines, but then you say you are 3c? :confused:

Maybe she wants to learn what the 2c-3a group are doing because the 3c hair care routine isn't cutting it for her. :shrug:
That's how I read it.

[parkmikii]

Now I'm confused. You're asking for 2c-3a hair care routines, but then you say you are 3c? :confused:

Or maybe a typo and she's 2c actually? No idea

[LongCurlyTress]

Welcome to LHC emmadilemma! I am 3b and iii in thickness, but I just wanted to say hi to you! ;) Your hair and you both look really pretty in your profile pic! Even if it is upside down! ;):cool:

[emmadilemma]

I just figured anybody within the 2c-3a hair type has some sort of texture to their hair, and I figured I'd include everybody in that range so I had some idea of products that work for people with curly/kinda curly hair. If I just say '3a only' thats kind of specific so not many people would answer, and its kind of excluding people. I'm also new, so I'm not sure the rules yet and as far as I was aware texture is texture is texture. Just because someone is 2c doesnt mean they don't have, say, a favorite oil or a shampoo that makes their hair shiny, that could work for anyones hair.

[emmadilemma]

to hennalonghair- WOW. your hair looks so shiny and healthy. I love the blunt ends, I think it makes your hair look very full. I'm definitely trying everything you mentioned, I hope my hair looks that shiny and healthy one day.

to longcurlytress - thank you so much! that was so nice of you to say! (also its the weirdest thing, no matter where I upload this picture of me it always uploads upside down.. I'm not sure why but I've tried everything to fix it and I cant so :rolleyes: )

[CoveredByLove]

Welcome emmadilemma! :D I'm a 3a curly with fine-medium strands and low porosity. My favorite products revolve around keeping a balance with my hair- too moisturizing and they are flat and stringy, too stripping/drying and they are flat and frizzy. :p My hair is very build up prone. I do WCC: WASH- Condition- Condition again! (Check out the link in Lapushka's signature) A few favs I can mention is Kinky Curly Come Clean shampoo, Kinky Curly Knot Today, Aussie Moist conditioner (during the winter), Tresemme Naturals moisture conditioner. Im currently testing out SheaMoisture Low Porosity line and loving it. :heartbeat: My scalp can be picky, so we'll see how it goes long-term, but my hair really likes it.

[hennalonghair]

I just figured anybody within the 2c-3a hair type has some sort of texture to their hair, and I figured I'd include everybody in that range so I had some idea of products that work for people with curly/kinda curly hair. If I just say '3a only' thats kind of specific so not many people would answer, and its kind of excluding people. I'm also new, so I'm not sure the rules yet and as far as I was aware texture is texture is texture. Just because someone is 2c doesnt mean they don't have, say, a favorite oil or a shampoo that makes their hair shiny, that could work for anyones hair.
I think they were asking because you mention 3c in your original first post.



to hennalonghair- WOW. your hair looks so shiny and healthy. I love the blunt ends, I think it makes your hair look very full. I'm definitely trying everything you mentioned, I hope my hair looks that shiny and healthy one day.

to longcurlytress - thank you so much! that was so nice of you to say! (also its the weirdest thing, no matter where I upload this picture of me it always uploads upside down.. I'm not sure why but I've tried everything to fix it and I cant so :rolleyes: )
Thank you. Your profile pic does look very pretty and your hair is pretty shiny also. Welcome to the site. That's pretty funny about your avatar going in backwards. Maybe not so much to you.
Maybe since it is determined to go in backwards try loading it in backwards. Maybe it will switch it the right way around.
It's worth a try.
Good luck with that one. I have a horrible time with pictures which is why I just use links but it would be nice to add a full pic now and then.

[Curlgoddess]

Wash routine : cleanse with Deva Curl low poo and condition with Deva Curl . Deep condition with Deva Curl heaven hair mask or Aussie 3 minute moisture mask and detangle with a wet brush after I detangle I clip my hair up and let it sit in my hair for a while I shave and wash my face and body . I squeeze a little bit of the water out when I get out and brush Unite 7 seconds leave-in and Unite Argan Oil with my wet brush. I let it air dry after it drys I put it up in a pineapple with a srunchy at night to preserve the curls. I usually put my hair in a clip during the day when I'm at school or lazy .

Additional info: I very very rarely use hot tools and if I do I use heat protected.

[ephemeri]

I'm 2C/3A. We are a very interesting group indeed because we can basically wear our hair either curly or wavy, depending on what routine we follow.

Before my hair starting feeling too long to do it, I did the full curly girl routine, utilizing the Squish to Condish technique, plopping, and scrunching in layered products for moisturizing and for hold (topping it off with a gel). This produced some really beautiful and all-day lasting curls and wave/curls (waves that are almost curls!) but it left my hair feeling untouchable and crunchy because of the gel. I tolerated that just fine with chin to neck-length hair but shoulder and beyond, I only do this full routine when I have the time to use a diffuser to dry and when I want to wear my hair down for a special occasion.

Since many people realize that part of the healthy hair journey is protecting your hair, I didn't think it was necessary to do ^that whole routine anymore if I was just going to wear my hair up or in braids most of the time. So now I do CWC, scrunch in a small amount of a moisturizing curl cream (Alaffia), plop, then air dry. Once dry or almost dry, I smooth in a pea-sized amount of coconut oil and usually put my hair in a side braid. This results in the curls and waves stretching out. And the following day, I oil again with 3-5 drops of almond oil. Then on the third day, if I'm not washing, I smooth in a couple drops of Nightblooming Triple Moon Anointing oil. I can easily braid my hair, bun my hair, or leave it down. And with this routine, I have 2a-2b waves.

I also finger comb in the morning and sometimes again in the evening.

The difference with the two routines is really drastic. Once my hair gets long I want to make a post with photos showing how different my hair can be!

[raemarthe]

I'm 2C/3A. We are a very interesting group indeed because we can basically wear our hair either curly or wavy, depending on what routine we follow.


This is so true. For the past year, I've been wearing my hair as curly as possible (3a) but they way I style it to make it curly really sucks the volume out of it. I scrunch in the shower, apply a lot of leave in conditioner, and a lot of gel. It gives me crazy spirals and definition, but hardly any volume.

But It's (nearly) spring so I want to show off my crazy hair. So now in the shower I comb my hair right before I get out, and once out I make sure to separate it into sections, and just use a touch of product. My hair is crazzzzyyy huge but the curls are more like 2b-2c with the curliest part being 3a.

It's a gamble for sure.

[raemarthe]

I feel like I post way too many pictures all the time but here is one routine versus the other.

Curly as possible
http://i1068.photobucket.com/albums/u452/raemarthe/FullSizeRender%201_zpsqahvt5h6.jpg (http://s1068.photobucket.com/user/raemarthe/media/FullSizeRender%201_zpsqahvt5h6.jpg.html)

Big as possible:
http://i1068.photobucket.com/albums/u452/raemarthe/24F82F23-E720-4382-A951-80C8FA887A64_zps9wwlimbn.jpg (http://s1068.photobucket.com/user/raemarthe/media/24F82F23-E720-4382-A951-80C8FA887A64_zps9wwlimbn.jpg.html)

Both are first day hair.

[ephemeri]

raemarthe, I love your hair! Thanks for posting the pics because it really illustrates how different it can be.

It took until my late 20s to "find out" that I don't have straight hair. I thought that I had straight hair that was just "unruly" and frizzy. It turns out, I just didn't know how curly it actually was and I didn't know how to take care of it.

Here's an older pic of my hair when it was shorter and I was wearing it curly with gel:
http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=26515&d=1489175878

Here's a more recent one following the second routine I posted above (no gel, a little oil, leaving it up most of the time):
http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=25298&d=1479673646

[lapushka]

I feel like I post way too many pictures all the time but here is one routine versus the other.

Curly as possible
http://i1068.photobucket.com/albums/u452/raemarthe/FullSizeRender%201_zpsqahvt5h6.jpg (http://s1068.photobucket.com/user/raemarthe/media/FullSizeRender%201_zpsqahvt5h6.jpg.html)

Big as possible:
http://i1068.photobucket.com/albums/u452/raemarthe/24F82F23-E720-4382-A951-80C8FA887A64_zps9wwlimbn.jpg (http://s1068.photobucket.com/user/raemarthe/media/24F82F23-E720-4382-A951-80C8FA887A64_zps9wwlimbn.jpg.html)

Both are first day hair.

I like your hair curly, but the big hair somehow suits you very well! There is still enough definition there for it not to be too frizzy.

[raemarthe]

Wow, that really is a dramatic difference. Beautiful hair either way. I love how versatile curly hair can be!

I too, didn't actually realize my hair was curly until I was in my teens. I just always yanked a brush through it, giving me really fluffy frizzy straightish hair. I always thought my hair was just weird and didn't behave.

[ExpectoPatronum]

raemarthe - I LOVE your hair :crush:

3a here, but I don't have a set routine as the weather and climate changes so much where I live, it's impossible to find a routine that will work all the time. Plus how much effort I want to put in my hair also varies :p

Typically, I was 3-4x a week with a sulfate free shampoo. I'll deep condition about once a week.

Out of the shower, I apply products to wet hair. I have a few that I rotate between but ones I use most often are Kinky Curly Knot Today, Cantu Curl Activator, Camille Rose Curl Maker, and Devacurl Light Defining Gel. As of right now, I'm experimenting with the LOC method and Shea Moisture's Curl Enhancing Smoothie.

Though air drying is touted as being better for your hair's health, I like how my hair looks if I diffuse it dry better. Plus I hate the feeling of wet hair. I do it on low blow, low heat to minimize the heat damage.

What my hair looks like on a rare good hair day:
http://oi65.tinypic.com/27x01h3.jpg

[pili]

I feel like I post way too many pictures all the time but here is one routine versus the other.

Curly as possible
http://i1068.photobucket.com/albums/u452/raemarthe/FullSizeRender%201_zpsqahvt5h6.jpg (http://s1068.photobucket.com/user/raemarthe/media/FullSizeRender%201_zpsqahvt5h6.jpg.html)

Big as possible:
http://i1068.photobucket.com/albums/u452/raemarthe/24F82F23-E720-4382-A951-80C8FA887A64_zps9wwlimbn.jpg (http://s1068.photobucket.com/user/raemarthe/media/24F82F23-E720-4382-A951-80C8FA887A64_zps9wwlimbn.jpg.html)

Both are first day hair.

2c/3a seems to have the theme of "it's just badly behaved*rip a brush through it*"

Raemarthe, I've always thought your hair was gorgeous, but that second photo. :thud:

Be still my heart. What a crazy, big, beautiful, fairy, gypsy princess head of hair. I absolutely LOVE your hair like that. It's what I imagine mermaids who have let their hair dry on the beach have. My hair is very similar in texture and volume, but blondette color you have lets you see the real beauty of this hair texture. Mine is too dark to see much. Seeing your hair has me impatient for mine to get longer.

[raemarthe]

Lapushka, thank you! Second day hair gets a little crazy but I still like it.

EpectoPatronum, thank you! Your hair so pretty and curly but also so voluminous, love it :) I also occasionally diffuse my hair on the low setting, and haven't gotten any damage from it. If its on low I don't think it can hurt it.

Pili, omigosh those are the best hair compliments I've ever received. I love that you think its fairy like, huge compliment :)
I would love to see your hair I bet it is beautiful! Ironically, I kind of want darker hair and used to toy with the idea of dying it brown.

[dvep]

Beautiful hair, ladies! I'm in good company!

I'm also a 2c/3a girl and I agree, you really do get the best of both worlds. I'm still looking for my perfect regimen but this is what's working for me so far:

1) I wash twice a week with sulfate-free shampoo, scalp only. I make sure to massage a little because of my SD. Then I condition root to tip with a cone-free conditioner (I'm still looking for my perfect brand) while I do my other shower things, trying to keep it in as long as possible. I rinse that out and follow it up with an ACV rinse, usually a 1:2 ratio of ACV to water, and it makes my hair very shiny. I let that sit for about 5 minutes and then get out.

2) While my hair is still wet, I apply lots of homemade flaxseed gel, my recent haircare breakthrough. It's very moisturizing and makes my curls consistent and smooth. I get "good day" hair now wayyyy more often. Then I let it all air dry.

3) when it's dry, I smooth out the slight stiffness of the gel, which is minimal. I try to keep these curls for two days by sleeping in a light braid, but I dont keep my curls longer to prevent damaging tangles. Then I brush them out into waves with my wooden Acca Kappa brush and wear more updos.

I'm trying to figure out a new schedule for hot oil treatments. I used to do them weekly but I may reduce it to twice a month to prevent hair fall, plus I get more moisture now that I've been using the flaxseed gel. I never use heat on my hair except when I'm oiling. I sleep in a braid.

[lapushka]

3a here, but I don't have a set routine as the weather and climate changes so much where I live, it's impossible to find a routine that will work all the time. Plus how much effort I want to put in my hair also varies :p

Typically, I was 3-4x a week with a sulfate free shampoo. I'll deep condition about once a week.

Out of the shower, I apply products to wet hair. I have a few that I rotate between but ones I use most often are Kinky Curly Knot Today, Cantu Curl Activator, Camille Rose Curl Maker, and Devacurl Light Defining Gel. As of right now, I'm experimenting with the LOC method and Shea Moisture's Curl Enhancing Smoothie.

Though air drying is touted as being better for your hair's health, I like how my hair looks if I diffuse it dry better. Plus I hate the feeling of wet hair. I do it on low blow, low heat to minimize the heat damage.

What my hair looks like on a rare good hair day:
http://oi65.tinypic.com/27x01h3.jpg

Gorgeous, ExpectoPatronum!

My hair only steps into 3a territory with about half my strands curling up at the very end, thanks to the Curl Enhancing smoothie by Shea Moisture. I love that product (and I can't seem to say it enough LOL).

[Jennah]

Big as possible:


Awesome!!!!!!!!!! :thud:

[ExpectoPatronum]

Gorgeous, ExpectoPatronum!

My hair only steps into 3a territory with about half my strands curling up at the very end, thanks to the Curl Enhancing smoothie by Shea Moisture. I love that product (and I can't seem to say it enough LOL).


Thanks! It being more curly rather than wavy is a new thing. It even curls up in the shower now, which it never did before.

You raving about the CES is actually the reason I picked it up again. I'm really liking it too so far!

[lapushka]

Thanks! It being more curly rather than wavy is a new thing. It even curls up in the shower now, which it never did before.

You raving about the CES is actually the reason I picked it up again. I'm really liking it too so far!

I'm glad you like it. And if I blab on about it too much, just tell me. I don't mean to do that. :lol: It's just I like it so much as a leave-in underneath my gel it's... yeah. I'm now using the Frizz-taming smoothie, and that gives definition too, quite a bit, but not as much as the CES does! I can't use too much of it, though or else my hair gets sticky / residue-y. I have to be careful with how much of it I use (can only use a coinsize on my length).

[ExpectoPatronum]

I don't think you blab on too much - it just means you really like it! Nothing wrong with finding that HG hair product.

I haven't tried it as a leave-in yet; only as a cream styler. Now I have a little hair experiment for my next wash :lol:

The frizz taming smoothie has not been in any of my stores, oddly enough. And it's actually really amazing how little of it I need too despite my hair's thickness. That means it'll last a long time.

[pili]

Lapushka, thank you! Second day hair gets a little crazy but I still like it.

EpectoPatronum, thank you! Your hair so pretty and curly but also so voluminous, love it :) I also occasionally diffuse my hair on the low setting, and haven't gotten any damage from it. If its on low I don't think it can hurt it.

Pili, omigosh those are the best hair compliments I've ever received. I love that you think its fairy like, huge compliment :)
I would love to see your hair I bet it is beautiful! Ironically, I kind of want darker hair and used to toy with the idea of dying it brown.

No! I love blondette hair. That sheen of gold is beautiful.

I just realized I didn't share my regimen. It's quite different from most curly girls. I used to CO and use LOC. They worked great. Way better than S/C and moose or ripping a brush through my dry hair in the hopes of calming it down (In FL that was NEVER going to happen!) I did CG starting in 2002, and then found LOC three years ago. However my scalp is...sensitive. It will crack and bleed if the wrong products touch it. Stopping detergent shampoos helped immensely, but CO was tricky since there wasn't many products my hair and scalp could live with, and just as I would find something, it would get discontinued (Original NG Herbal & Tressumme Naturals, yeah..)

At the beginning of this year I decided to experiment with only natural products this year. So now I:
*section and comb out tangles with a wood comb
*all day oil treatment from ears down
*10 minutes before washing I oil my scalp
*wash with shampoo bar
*ACV/EO rinse
*quick rinse off with cool water
*comb out with a wide tooth comb
* wrap up in a turbie twist for 20 minutes
*section and run a few drops of oil over each section
*airdry

I do this about once a week, depending how my scalp feels and my schedule. I have a tendency to go a bit longer sometimes. I no longer use any conditioner at all or allow any oil to touch my scalp except for those ten minutes before washing.

I might leave my hair down one other day in the week, but I usually have it up in a bun usually or a braid seldom.
I've been experimenting on whether or not combing my hair helps, but I used to break my hair off as a teenager trying to brush it, so I'm more comfortable fingercombing. I usually do this in the morning, and then spritz with a little water and add a few more drops of oil to tame any dry/frizzy spots. Then up it goes.

This has allowed me to actually start seeing some new hair growth and I shed very little compared to when I did CO.

Oh, and for you raemarthe, here is a pic of my freshly washed and air dried hair from today. Not nearly as fairy-like, but I'm happy with it.
https://i.imgur.com/FkSx0kn.jpg

[lapushka]

I don't think you blab on too much - it just means you really like it! Nothing wrong with finding that HG hair product.

I haven't tried it as a leave-in yet; only as a cream styler. Now I have a little hair experiment for my next wash :lol:

The frizz taming smoothie has not been in any of my stores, oddly enough. And it's actually really amazing how little of it I need too despite my hair's thickness. That means it'll last a long time.

I used the CES today instead of the Frizz-Taming smoothie. I found the FTS on curlmart. It is amazing underneath gel, for me. I can't seem to use cream stylers (not enough hold for me).

[raemarthe]

Pili, I think your hair is definitely fairy-like! It looks beautiful and effortless :)
Thats too bad you cant cowash because of your scalp, it sounds painful.
Your routine sounds really healthy and it gives lovely results!

[pili]

Pili, I think your hair is definitely fairy-like! It looks beautiful and effortless :)
Thats too bad you cant cowash because of your scalp, it sounds painful.
Your routine sounds really healthy and it gives lovely results!

Thank you! There is still some damage I am dealing with (those dry, lighter ends on the far right), but I'm getting there.