Hola Chicas!
Mizani is sponsoring my upcoming Orlando Meetup and while browsing their site and product line, I came across their Natural Curl Key. I like that they offer a bit more detail and even incorporate elasticity and porosity. It appears that I’m mostly Type V with some Type VI in the crown and back.
What about you? Do you like this system? Which category describes you best?
I like this system a whole lot more than the Andre system and the Lois system. I'm a V and VI.
The pictures are good, but hair typing will always leave some people belonging nowhere or belonging to multiple slots. I've definitely seen people with type VII-ish hair with lots of volume (it says minimal volume in the description), and they have to put a whole range of texture choices because it's impossible to say a person with type X will definitely have Y texture (so really, what's the point?), and texture seems to change with length and surely porosity can vary within textures and can change with hair health?
Anyway, I like it only because of the pictures and because if someone says 'I'm a type V', I have a better idea of what their hair looks like. Which, tbh, is the only thing I use hair typing for. So for those who care, I'm somewhere between type VII and type VIII.
Love the visuals that go along with this system. I am mainly type VII with some type V sprinkled in, mainly on my crown. But like many others have said, I'm not pressed for hair typing. I use products that my hair responds too. I was Natural before I knew about hair typing and knowing my type hasn't changed that much of my regimen.
@anon 1:17
agreed. Hair typing has helped me a lot. But, I actually think that thickness of strands is more important. Generally, people with fine/med strands don't use products that work for me. I only wish Mizani had included a separate category for thickness. A lot of my fellow 4a's use products that don't work for me b/c their strands are much finer. Anyway, I'm Type 6/7
I think this typing system is clearer than the other one (4a/3c/etc), but I still can't find my hair type :-/
My hair: very course strands, defined medium to loose z/s, it clumps, looks like 'cornrow' braid out. I have almost no curl/coil. Not porous.
I'll like any system that has me represented, I'm open.
Looks like I'm close to a type VI. LoL
Uh yeah, no matter the system… somebody's gonna be mad about where they fall if it isn't in the societally accepted group. I'm all for hair typing (helps me in product reviews), but "strangely" the folks I know who hate it the most are either VERY loosely curled, or VERY tightly curled. Middle ground seems to appreciate it the most. The ones who are looser seem to not like it because they think it breeds jealousy, the ones who are tighter complain about feeling left out. I'm a classic 4a (or curly/very curly), so as someone in the middle, I love the "system" because it saves me money in product sampling /PJism. I could use either end of the spectrum… IF the product works for certain hair properties. Typing and reviews are my friends.
Are we ever just gonna admit out-right that even if there were no typing systems, the same problems would still exist? I mean, "good hair" didn't come from no where.
I meant to say that it really does not matter to me.
My hair don't look exactly like any of those pictures, so I'm not too crazy about this hair typing system at all. I have to admit that I like the 1-4 hair type system better, as I can figure out my hair type much more easier. That's only my opinion. But, honestly I don't find that knowing my hair type has enhanced my hair routine one iota. Therefore, it really does not really matter to me.
@StacyMarie – I would say your true hair type would be hair that has been washed, conditioned and allowed to hair dry naturally and take on its natural form. For me that puts me in category VII. When it's wet it can look like a V or VI
You don't go by what you hair looks like with styling or product because that is manipulation. I am guessing this system is based on washed, dried, and product-free hair. When my hair is all three of those, it is type V.
I'm not sure how dumb this question may sound but how do you exactly find out which type your hair is? I'm asking because my hair could be consider three different textures, for example if i did a twist out it would be type V. If I slept on it my hair would be VI and, if I didn't wash it for a week or two it would become VII. So how do I determine which type it is?
Not crazy about hair typing in general because I don't think it exactly tells you all about your hair but this system to me seems like a better one than the old system. Because it gives more info and great examples. And I feel in between the last two sections
I'm personally not a huge fan of this system because I find that my hair falls into each of the "kinky" categories depending on the circumstance.
My hair becomes Type VIII- when I leave it to shrink to its full capability.
It clumps into Type VII- if the weather is humid.
When I comb my hair, it becomes like Type VI.
And after I do twists/bantu knots for a couple of weeks, it becomes more defined like Type V.
This is obviously not a useful typing system.
I'm not exactly crazy about hair typing either, but I do have to give Mizani points for trying to be inclusive.
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and her fotki page as well
http://public.fotki.com/JazmineB/2010/
Hair typing is just plain ridiculous! Learn your own hair and forget this hair system crap. It's very divisive and I just hate it.
I agree everybody doesn't have very kinky hair. It's not that serious and there is no need to make comments like that because people don't say they have very kinky hair. Im not saying there is anything wrong with kinky hair. I feel like I have kinky hair but its not type VIII. All textures are beautiful.
I dont know what to think about this. It is more detailed, stilltypically the same thing as the Optahs hairdressers system but it's all the same…I would be a type IV & V…See, IV sounds lie a combo of 3b &3c as it stated "ringlets to […] corkscrews. Aren't corkscrew curls 3c, and bigger ringlets 3b. I definitely have xorcksvrew curls and I am considered 3c… So yes people are gonna get confused and try an mold themselves into categories that don't truely benefit them. Your only hurt yourself when you do that.
I think they aren't referring to shrinkage in regards to elasticity. They are saying when you strand is fully stretched out, and you pull it, how long will it stretch before it breaks.
@13secrets I saw that too. Because my hair is very elastic. Darn near shrinks up to 90% of what it actually is. But like @Miss Mdi DiJah said, I'm not pressed about hair types either. When I find a product I like I stick with it. And just because someone with a similar hair type raves about a product, that doesn't mean it will be well suited for my hair.
This seems more clear especially because of the pictures. It looks like I have VII in the front and top and VIII everywhere else.
i saw this some weeks back. it is more detailed to encompass the varied textures of a type 4. type VIII all the way!!!!!
Finally! a chart that I can understand. Judging from this chart, i'm TYPE III. I dont know what that translates to on the naturallycurly chart though O_o.
I'm not pressed for hair types, I buy what I like, try it, if it works I stick to it, I dont buy products that's supposedly specific for a certain hair type *kanyeshrug* I only see people try to explain their hair on hair boards.
Anyways…
Happy Mother's Day CurlyNikki! and all the other moms on here 🙂
I think the system is great for the visual aspect, but I think many of us will fall in the between categories. I'm between 5 and 6.
This system is clear and straightforward i don't see anything wrong with it.
It is simply a way of identifying one's hair and is a guide only but a good one as it shows the variety of textures a person can have.I am type VI AND VII.
@ Anon 11:10 – it's unfair to claim that people are only associating with desirable textures. Since most people are posting anonymously, there's no benefit to claiming a texture/type that isn't yours. I think it's more a situation of people doing what was posted on a different topic – following the blog of someone with a similar hair texture. As someone who under the other system is a 3c/4a/b combo, I would fall under the V texture – straighter/less coily at the roots and very defined curls at the ends.
I think you're being premature to assume that people are automatically attempting to go for the "preferred" textures. Yes, I can learn quite a bit from someone with a 4c texture, but since that isn't something that I'm going to have unless I sleep multiple days on my hair with no scarf…it's a bit of a waste for me to follow them. I tend to follow the blogs and Youtube pages of people with similar textures so that I can be sure of getting somewhat similar results.
Just cause I pay attention to these things, under ELASTICITY the description for Type VII is "stretching with minimal return."
If you look through them all, if elasticity is supposed to refer to shrinkage, this is totally backwards! My hair, Type VII shrinks 70%. I just combed out a section to try the Teri Laflesh technique and ended up with hair (originally down past my chestage), up to the middle of my cheek.
That's not minimal return!
Judging from my TWA I'm definitely VIII. At least based on the pictures. My hair is mostly small coffee stirrer curls though. Meh oh well. I'll still rock it!! 🙂
@Anon 11:10PM. Lol Maybe they aren't Type VIII! Not everyone on this site has to have very kinky hair.
I am type VIII when I detangle my hair with a comb and let it dry (no product). However when I just rinse my hair in in the shower and finger detangle my hair (no product) looks like VIII, VII, VI (but the next day it looks like type VIII lol). The very back of my hair is definitely V when a finger detangle and type VI when I detangle with a comb lol.
Ok I can see how hair typing can be confusing!
For the sake of simplicity, I'd say that I am a Type VIII/VII since that is what the majority of my hair will look like by the end of the week if I attempt a product free wash and go.
SAD, I see only one brave soul who identifies herself as Type VIII while everyone else, for the most part. is claiming Types IV, V and VI (the "most desirable textures"). SMH
In this system my hair progress steadily from a IV around my nape/ears to a VI in the crown. Random III strands thrown around for annoyance.
It still gets murky for me once we get into the coiled types. Like it just looks like the same hair type, just longer or stretched to me. But I guess that's because of the way curl types can mimic one another based on weather and handling?
Also their elasticity descriptions are bogus. They have it so that as the curl gets tighter there is less elasticity, but the elasticity of my strands varies greatly. The springiest curls are Type V and my Type IV has the least action.
I dont like this. I hope people dont get to into this. I like the other one, its more simple. Im type V (4b), but my hair can easily look like that whole bottom row in different places. (prime example, when i wake up). Sorry Mizani, water and eco styler all the way!:)
I think the problem is with people and not the system itself. People are very sensitive about where they fall, no matter what system you use. It has never really helped me though because even though I fall into one place technically, my hair reacts better when I use products that go with hair different from mine.
I like their system. I'm type VIII and very porous.
@namun, i think so…
@staceymarie, i've heard this as well. you're supposed to cleanse, condition, and detangle your hair and allow it to air dry naturally without product.
Hmmm, I do like this hair chart and the information they provide. I fall in the V and VI range. What does "Stretching with minimal return" mean? Are they referring to when you stretch your hair and it bounces back?
I actually like this system better. It's clearer for me than previous ones. As for my type, I'm transitioning and a year post-relaxer. At this point, it looks as though I'm mostly VI with V mixed in.
@CN Congrats on snagging Mizani sponsorship. Their refinement of the current hair typing system is much more detailed and accurate. Hope it leads to better product recommendations and differentiated directions for product usage based on hair type. Anything to reduce the amount of money wasted trying out hair products.
I had a Mizani rep look at my hair and recommend the right products. The sales pitch was good, the ingredients seemed desirable so I bought everything in the True textures line. I got a fantastic price $50 for 6 or 7 products. I tried the line last weekend and I did not like the results. Not wanting to be too hasty to write them off I decided to try them all week and I am sad to say it sucks. The curl replenish conditioner made my hair feel straw. I twisted with the Moisture Stretch and my curls felt moist until they dried. It was the absolute worse twist-out ever. My hair had maximum shrinkage and was very very dry. My texture even looked different. I will be returning all 6 products to the store. Maybe others may have different results but clearly, this one is not for me. My hair falls between V and VI.
I try not to get into the typing thing too much because some folks are hostile and/or defensive about it. I like this typing system better than the LOIS and whatever the other one is called, because of the broader range. I would say that my hair is V after being washed, detangled, and conditioned for sure. My dry hair looks more like a blend of V and VI, I think. It's funny, I had a discussion with a friend earlier about natural hair textures. She insists that your natural texture is defined by the look of your hair without any manipulation, including detangling or styling…Any thoughts on that concept?
Haha, I guess anon 6:05 is right. There is still room for confusion because I thought type 5 was 3c!
My hair texture didn't change drastically with henna. It's always been type 4a/3c or here type V and VI, fine, highly porous, easily damaged, and just generally very delicate.
but with the henna it became heavier and the s wave slightly elongated (temporarily… I didn't henna for 6 months and my hair returned to pre-henna state). Very subtle change with a wash and go, but much easier to manipulate and stretch to do twist-outs and such. My hair with henna is thicker, the strands are more substantial and much less prone to breakage and splitting. So yeah, pre-henna I was a 4a 3c mix, and I remain that after henna, my s waves are just a little more stretched.
I loved this! I'm a VII and the picture perfectly capture my hair texture. I like how their descriptions are beyond the vague ones used when describing types 4,3 or whatever.
I like that that these are very clear and concise explanations with photos. If you google 4a hair and then 4b hair usually the same images come up for both!
I'm guessing that Type V the same as 3b and is Type VI the same as 4a?
I also have a question for CurlyNikki … did your have become 3b after repeated henna use or was it always like that?
This is a step in the right direction, but still leaves room for confusion.