WRITTEN BY: Zenani Sizane
There’s no denying that your type 2b hair is wavy. You don’t have a curl pattern, but there’s no way you could pass as having straight hair. Your type 2b hair isn’t loose in shape like 2a nor is it extremely dense like 2c, but type 2b waves have a definite S-shape. To fully understand what 2b hair is, we need to understand the other two wavy hair varieties within the type 2 family. In this article we will unpack exactly how you can distinguish type 2b hair from the rest.
What is Type 2B Hair
Type 2b is recognized as an S-shaped wave. The waves sit relatively flat at the roots and form a soft S-shape wave toward the mid-lengths to ends, as opposed to type 2c waves, which tend to have a stronger shape and wave pattern starting at the roots with the s-shape getting shorter and stronger toward the ends and type 2a which is elongated s-shape. It has a moderate amount of volume and thickness and doesn’t lose its shape easily, even when wet it still maintains a noticeable wavy pattern.
How To Identify Type 2B Hair?
Identifying exactly what curl you have can be tricky, it is worth noting that the above can also be affected by your texture (fine or coarse), porosity and hair health. It is also worth remembering that most of us will have more than one curl pattern on our heads. When identifying type 2b hair, here’s what you should look out for.
Here’s How to Pinpoint Type 2B Hair:
An S-shaped wave that tends to start further down the hair strand, mainly towards the mid-lengths.
A root area that tends to be straighter, with little wave or curl.
Hair that appears a little shorter when dry, with perhaps roughly an inch of shrinkage.
It is often easily weighed down by heavy products, especially when layering multiple products.
Your hair forms larger clumps when wet that break apart a little as the hair dries.
Differentiating Type 2B From 2A & 2C
Type 2a hair is the loosest form of curl pattern, with waves that tend to a wavy s-shape right at the ends of the hair. 2A is often described as beachy waves and tends to have larger curl clumps when wet. Type 2C on the other hand has a much tighter pattern, the hair still has predominantly s-waves, but these may spiral into ringlets further down the hair strand and the waves start closer to the root and tend to look more defined. Type 2b is right in between 2a and 2c as it has a much tighter wave pattern than 2A but is still not as tight as 2C. The wave begins to form midway down the hair shaft and can spiral into ringlets at the ends. Although both 2b and 2c hairs have defined s-shape waves, only 2c’s waves extend through the length of the strand. It is also thicker and coarser than 2b hair.
The Challenges Faced with Type 2B Hair
Not easy to straighten
Straightening 2b takes some effort, unlike type 2a waves, you cannot just run a brush through your hair to make it straight. Doing that will likely cause frizz that will require some serious detangling and hair styling to reverse the damage. The moderate amount of volume that type 2b hair types have creates a bristle-like effect when you brush through it dry. The more you brush 2b hair the puffier it gets.
Frizz, dryness and damage
The further the hair texture is from straight hair, the more prone it is to frizz, that also means where frizz lurks, dryness is most likely to be. Some 2b types of experience dryness and frizz because their hair has high porosity, meaning that it takes in more liquid than it actually absorbs. This is especially true when it's been further damaged by chemical treatments, hair dryers, diffusers or other heated stylers.
Tangles when wet
Just like you need to be careful brushing 2b hair when dry, you should also avoid brushing your hair when it is wet. That is because your wash day hair is more vulnerable to breakage and knotting when damp. Type 2b hair is specifically prone to forming tangles around the mid-lengths of the hair when wet. This can turn into knotted ends if you proceed to brush the tangles through the lengths of wet waves.
How To Care for Type 2B Hair
Detangle Carefully
As waves are concentrated further down the hair with type 2b, it is especially likely to tangle toward the mid-lengths and ends. Before combing your hair, especially when wet as wet hair is more fragile, use a detangling spray and gently ease out any knots from your ends up with a wide-tooth comb.
Protect your curls overnight
When you put your hair into a pineapple hairstyle and cover it with a silk/satin scarf or sleep on a silk/satin pillowcase is the best to protect your hair from tangles and friction overnight.
Choose the right products
Using protein-based products along with a little moisture will enhance waves.
Shampoo regularly
To keep your scalp healthy, try shampoo daily to every other day, as wavy hair is more prone to tangles. It is important to be mindful when you shampoo and don’t pile on top of your head. Instead, focus on your scalp and gently squeeze the suds through your mid-lengths and ends.
Wash gently
When washing and conditioning, good practices should be maintained, such as low manipulation of the hair during shampooing. Concentrate on the scalp and no rubbing of the hair shaft. I see this all the time when people are literally scrubbing their hair strands. Shampoo is clever at removing and carrying dirt away from the hair, so no need to scrub at all.
Remove water-weight quickly
To maximize shrinkage and bounce, either diffuse your waves or micro plop with a microfiber towel to remove excess water as you style. This stops water weight from elongating your hair.
Incorporate protein in your routine
Protein strengthens the hair and can help loose waves last longer.
Choose lightweight products
Avoid weighing down your waves by choosing lightweight products that enhance but don’t elongate.
What Are the Best Hairstyles and Cuts for Type 2B Hair
The possibilities are endless when it comes to styling 2b hair. Here are a few of our favorite styles for this wavy hair type. Knowing the best hairstyles for your 2b hair can make all the difference, let’s look at all the different hairstyles you can experiment with your 2b hair.
Long Hairstyles
Multiple Layers
Long or short layers are a great way to define your waves and add volume to your hair. Adding some layers throughout your strands will give it some extra dimension and also make it a bit more manageable.
Half-Up, Half-Down Styles
When you have quite a bit of hair, it can often feel overwhelming to style, that is where the half-up half-down hairstyle comes in handy. It will take away some of the necessary volume all while highlighting your face.
Medium Hairstyles
Medium-length Cuts
Too long and your hair goes flat, too short and it gets extra puffy, going for a medium length cut will accentuate your waves perfectly.
Messy Beach Waves
Use your natural hair shape to your advantage, by making messy beachy waves your go-to hairstyle. Your hair already wants to be in this hairstyle, and a little sea salt spray will help enhance your waves.
Brushed-Out Ringlets
Brush out those curls to enjoy this soft and voluminous look. Straightening your hair may be tough, but curling it isn’t. Your wavy hair can produce some of the most beautiful ringlets and brushing them out will enhance its texture and volume.
Braids
French Twist Braid
For a more romantic elegant look, braiding your hair into a French braid for longer hair or two French braids for short hair is an easy put together hairstyles for your type 2b hair.
Bun
Tying your hair on the top half of your head into a bun and leaving some hair on the bottom loose is a great and easy look for a casual day hairstyle.
Best Products for Type 2B Hair
Clarifying Sulfate-Free Shampoo
Since the roots of 2b hair tend to lay flat, they are more prone to greasiness than the rest of the hair shaft. Routinely washing and cleansing type 2b hair is important, but choosing the right formula will help to avoid dry, stiff hair. The right shampoo helps to soften dry brittle hair, and it boosts moisture levels in the hair without stripping the hair of its necessary natural oils.
Lightweight Conditioners
All wavy curly hair types need conditioner. Don’t worry about this step adding greasiness to your naturally straight roots. Consider it a treatment for your hair to help to soften, hydrate and protect hair from daily environmental stressors and styling manipulation. When rinsing out your conditioner, focus on massaging the roots to avoid any product buildup on the scalp.
Microfiber Towels
Microfiber Towels are great for gently scrunching out excess water, they help promote control frizz and break up curl clumps.
Salt Spray
A salt spray is an excellent option for when you want to enhance your waves and go for that messy beachy hair vibes, it helps to enhance your waves while giving off that effortless look.
Styling Mousse
Mousses work best for type 2b hair, they will help avoid weighing down your hair. down,
Curl defining creams
Just a little of a defining curl cream is enough to give your 2b hair gorgeous shine and definition. It leaves curls soft and flexible, and curl creams are usually great products to leave in and will add any build up when used sparingly.
Ingredients to Look for and Ingredients to Avoid
Avocado Oil
Type 2b hair needs an oil that is not too heavy, as it can weigh waves down. Avocado oil is lightweight enough to suit wavy 2b hair.
Salt Spray
Messy beachy waves are the easy option for 2b hair because this is your hair’s natural style. A little sea salt spray will enhance your natural waves.
Manuka Honey
Manuka honey tends to have a greater positive impact on your health than the other types of honey. It has incredible benefits for your hair, it possesses incredible moisturizing properties that can tame your frizzy hair and gives it a lustrous sheen.
Aloe Vera
Aloe vera is generally good for all hair types, as it helps with soothing and treating the scalp. Aloe vera is especially good for wavy and curly types as it treats the hair, while giving it a hold and definition to your curls. Since it's lightweight and watery, it doesn’t weigh down your waves.
Babassu Oil
Babassu oil is a great emollient for those struggling with frizzy hair. Its light texture and quick absorption make it an ideal solution for taming frizz, leaving the hair sleek and manageable. It is also known to enhance curl patterns, which makes it a great choice for type 2b hair.
Ingredients To Avoid
It is important to develop a habit of checking the ingredients list of the products you use.
Alcohols
There are some alcohols that are good for your hair. These are called fatty alcohols, which consist of ingredients like cetearyl, cetyl and stearyl alcohol that have moisturizing properties to keep your hair hydrated and strong. However, there are alcohols you should avoid in your hair care products like ethanol, ethyl alcohol, denatured alcohol and methanol. These ingredients tend to dry out your hair and strip your hair of its natural oils. The most important thing is to know which ingredients to look out for and to read your product labels in order to know what you put in your hair.
Triclosan
This is an antibacterial chemical used in shampoos that should be avoided due to its negative effects on your skin and overall health. This ingredient is also considered as a threat to the environment and aquatic life due to slow breakdown.
Sulfates
Cleansing products like shampoos, cleansers and soaps tend to have sulfates very commonly and these harsh chemicals are responsible for several allergic and inflammatory reactions, along with stripping all natural oils from the skin, making it one of the most harmful ingredients and skin and hair care products.
Parabens
Parabens are chemicals used as preservatives in many different beauty and hair care products to prevent bacterial growth. They contain estrogen, which is the same hormone that has been linked to an increased risk of breast cancer.
Mistakes To Avoid with Your Type 2B Hair
Using regular Towels
Swapping regular towels out for microfiber ones has several benefits such as reducing frizz, friction, breakage and snags.
Not Wetting your hair enough
It doesn’t not seem like a big deal, but it is one of the most common mistakes when styling wavy hair. Not wetting your hair enough before applying leave-in conditioners and stylers can impact the final result of your hair. Wet hair allows the products to spread evenly and easily throughout your hair. Keeping a hair mist on hand is advisable to help re-wet your hair during styling.
Not distributing your product evenly
Uneven distribution of your hair products is mostly due to not sectioning your hair when styling, not brushing your hair thoroughly through the snags and tangles and also applying too little product on your hair, all this can cause your hair to look inconsistent when dry and which may cause frizz in some areas.
Using too little or too much product
Using the right amount of product is a process of trial and error with a dose of patience. There are guidelines on how to use all your products on most packages. It varies from person to person depending on factors such as length and hair density. You might have to wash your hair and start again if you have applied too much product and add a little bit more if you applied too little.
Overbrushing
While there’s nothing wrong with brushing 2b hair, you might find that skipping this step gives you a more defined wavy texture. Since 2b hair can get tangled, you will want to aim to detangle your wavy hair when it is wet and with the use of a slippery conditioner to avoid damaging the hair. If you can try gently detangling with your fingers, as this will cause the least amount of manipulation to your wavy curly hair and allow your waves to be more defined and bouncier.
Harsh Climate Conditions
Harsh UV rays are one of the biggest culprits behind hair damage. UV light creates free radicals that oxidize the hydrating molecules that make strands hydrophobic and prevent water from getting inside. It is important to wear your hat and apply sunscreen on your scalp. Pollution, wind, and climate change are other culprits that cause hair damage. It is important for us all to take care of our environment beyond your hair, this way the environment will take care of us as well.
Recommended Hair Care Routine
Pre-wash
Apply a deep conditioning mask and leave it on for 20 minutes. This is to restore moisture, repair damage and give your hair shine. This is a crucial part of any curly hair care routine to tame frizz, improve manageability and boost your curls.
Shampoo
Use a sulfate-free shampoo to provide hydration without stripping hair of its natural oils and to avoid unnecessary frizz.
Condition
Using a conditioner that works with your shampoo is excellent when you need to tame frizz and keep moisture in the hair. Typically, the curlier the hair, the more moisture it needs.
Detangling
It may be tempting to brush your hair when it's wet to get the tangles out, but the best way is to detangle it with your fingers and a leave-in conditioner after washing. Type 2b hair is prone to breakage when wet, therefore you should gently brush out your hair with a wide-tooth comb when wet.
Styling
Choosing haircuts that highlight your curls, like a blunt bob, a shag with layers and curtain bangs will make it easier to style your hair when dry. Aim to air-dry your hair most times and use a diffuser to help keep your curls bouncy and shiny. The most essential hair tools you will need for your type 2b hair are a wide-tooth comb and a light frizz-free styling cream.
Trim Regularly
You need regular haircuts to ensure that your strands stay healthy and don’t break off at the ends. It is important to get rid of the damaged ends in order to maintain a healthy length.
Lifestyle Habits for Healthier Type 2B Hair
Eat a balanced diet
What you eat influences how well your hair grows. Maintaining a balanced diet with plenty of protein, vitamin B, iron and omega-3s helps your hair stay as thick and healthy as possible. You can supplement your diet with vitamins designed to make hair stronger.
Reduce Stress
Stress is no friend of healthy hair, the little things make a difference, your hair is an outgrowth of your body that means if you are stressed, your skin and scalp will be stressed, and it will show via various forms like hair loss etc.
Keep your scalp clean
A balanced scalp should be washed as frequently as your hair needs, if you suffer from excessive oil you might have to shampoo your hair more frequently than those who have dry scalps. The most important thing is to key your scalp clean, to prevent any product build up which can cause various scalp irritations or even infections. Gently scalp scrubs are a great way to maintain a clean scalp as well as scalp detoxes.
Drink Water
Drinking water keeps the skin hydrated and that goes for your hair as well. Dryness, itchiness and flakiness could be signs that you are dehydrated. How much water you should drink depends on lifestyle and weight but ranges from about 2 liters to 3 liters.
Take your supplements
If you have ever wondered if vitamins work for your hair, best believe they do! A vitamin supplement can really help strengthen your overall hair health. If you notice your hair not growing at a normal rate, it could be that it lacks essential vitamins and healthy fats in your diet. A daily vitamin supplement will work well along with your diet to fill whatever nutrients you might need and promote healthier hair growth.
Feed your hair
While genetics play a key role, your diet, the weather, pollution and overall approach to hair care are all critical to getting healthy hair and keeping it. Our hair strands house a protein called that is produced in hair follicles to structure hair.
An adequate amount of protein is required to keep hair follicles healthy. Foods high in protein like lean meat, eggs, poultry, fish and low-fat dairy products will improve your hair strand and contribute to overall health. Inadequate protein intake can result in weak, brittle hair and hair loss. If you experience Hair loss due to poor nutrition, foods like green vegetables, fruits, and leafy greens will restore your hair’s health and shine.
Conclusion
the curlier your hair becomes, the more you have to ensure you are being careful with it as it is more prone to breakage and tangling due to the curls you have. Though your hair has to be handled with care, the right formula in caring for your hair is all that is needed for your hair to thrive. it is important to remember how precious your hair is and that it was created with precision and love, so you must also care for it with love.
Matthew 10:30 says: " And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered."
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