Yes, I have a hair type. I mean, don't we all? But where did the terms type 1, 2, 3, and 4 come from?
Well, we can give credit to Andre Walker for coining this term.
In the early 2000's, Oprah's stylist was in search of a way to describe different textures of curls that he worked with, but mainly to sell his product line and get it the exposure needed to become a successful household brand.
On podcast, 99% Invisible's Hair Chart, he discussed this process and the backlash from the hair typing system he created:
"People have asked me why did I label straight hair as number one and kinky hair as number four, my answer to that: it's going from zero texture and highly textured so going from one, being straight, to four, being the kinkiest, and I've had people that have been very sensitive about that because they thought that I was giving kinky hair less importance by putting it at number four and giving straight hair more importance by being number one but that just goes to show how sensitive hair and texture is for a lot of people."
This left behind a rise in popularity of hair typing, increasing the lack of recognition for tighter curl patterns by larger brands and the beauty industry, type four hair in particular.
Here at empress mane, we highly recommended letting the hair type system go.
As many of us have learned, you may have the same hair type as someone but your hair can be completely different from one another. What works for them doesn't necessarily work for you and creates other problems like wasted money on products that don't work, continuous breakage, lack of growth and lower self confidence.
Our next blog will cover other ways to what works for your hair. Methods such as porosity and density help you better understand what your hair needs. Look forward to our blogs covering these topics!
Need advice and help now? Click our chat button and ask all the questions! We are here to guide you through your #naturalmanejourney
Let's redefine and guide your hair, together ✨
@themelaninhippie is a music lover, passionate foodie and founder of empress mane and dmpr (D'Andra Montaque Public Relations) Keep in touch with her