Curly Hair Society

Curl Types · Wavy · 2C

2C Hair Examples: What Does 2C Hair Look Like?

See 2C waves from the front, side and back, compare them with 2A and 2B, and find out if this is your type.

A woman facing the camera with long, thick, light brown hair in deep waves from close to the root
Deep waves from close to the root, with volume and a little frizz at the crown.Long · Front view
A woman turned to the side with long, thick, light brown hair in deep S-waves and loose ringlets
From the side, the S-waves are deep and tight, with loose ringlets through the lengths.Long · Side view
Long, thick, light brown hair seen from behind, waving from close to the root and tightening towards the ends
From behind, the wave starts close to the root and gets tighter towards the ends.Long · Back view

What to look for

  • Deep S-shaped waves that start at or near the root
  • A few ringlets underneath or around the face
  • Thick hair, with volume and frizz at the crown

Do I have 2C hair?

Check on clean hair that has air-dried with no product

  1. Does the wave start at the root?

    2C waves form at or near the scalp. If the first few inches lie flat and the wave only starts lower down, you are closer to 2B.

  2. Are there ringlets underneath?

    Lift the top layer and look at the nape and around the face. A few true spirals among the waves are the mark of 2C. If most of your hair forms full spirals, look at 3A.

  3. Is your hair thick, with plenty of volume?

    2C strands are usually thicker and coarser than 2A or 2B, and the hair has more body overall.

  4. Does it frizz at the crown?

    Frizz at the crown and along the surface is typical of 2C, and it gets worse when the air is humid.

More than one pattern? That is normal. Many people have a mix, often looser at the crown and tighter underneath or around the face. Go by the pattern over most of your head, and treat the rest as part of the same routine.

2A vs 2B vs 2C: See the difference

2A hair with a gentle bend through the lengths, nearly straight at the top

2ALoose waves

  • A loose bend rather than a full S
  • Fine, and often nearly straight at the top
  • Falls flat easily
2A guide
2B hair with a clear, repeating S from the mid-lengths down

2BDefined waves

  • A clear S from the mid-lengths down
  • A flatter crown
  • Some frizz on the surface
2B guide
2C hair with deep waves from near the root and a few ringlets

2CDeep waves

  • Deep waves that start near the root
  • A few ringlets underneath
  • Thicker, with more frizz

A visual guide to the patterns, not a clinical chart. Hair type is a description, and plenty of heads sit between two.

What to do next

A routine and products for 2C waves