The world of curly hair is a diverse one. While some people might have loose corkscrew curls, others might look much tighter. And don't get us started on shrinkage—which can be the bane of every natural head out there! One of the first steps toward creating an effective hair care routine is to not only understand your hair type but create habits that bring out the best in your hair. 

Let's take a step back and start by talking about hair types. While curly hair is one common texture, it's not as simple as saying all curlies should care for their hair the same. Thanks to celebrity hairstylist Andre Walker, hairstylists and aficionados know that the four main hair types are Type 1, 2, 3, and 4.

Type 1 is exclusively straight hair. But type 2 through type 4 include wavy, curly, and coily (sometimes referred to as kinky-curly) textures, and each type is further divided into three additional subtypes (i.e., 2A, 2B, and 2C).

3C hair is considered the densest of true curly hair (or type 3 hair). While 3C hair tends to have the most volume, these curlies also struggle the most with shrinkage (for true curly hair—note that Type 4s often also fight shrinkage). Shrinkage is when the hair length is technically lost in the curl pattern. 

As is common for the tighter curl patterns (think 3B and up), it's very easy for this hair type to look like the types directly above and below it. Depending on how 3C hair is styled, as well as how much shrinkage is at play, 3C hair can look like 3B or 4A hair. 

Beauty is personal. So, the routine that works best for one 3C head may not apply to all 3Cs! Beyond simply liking one product or technique over another, there's the reality that your hair chemistry will also affect how well a product works (or doesn't) or whether or not a technique like a wash 'n' go might work for you. 

However, 3C hair tends to follow the same general care rules as most other natural hair types. Keep in mind that someone can be 3C but relax their hair. And while they're still technically 3C, relaxers permanently alter your hair's chemical composition. So, hair care tips for 3C naturals will be different from someone who's relaxed with 3C hair.

No matter your hair type, one key factor that everyone—even straight- and wavy-haired people—need to know is porosity. If you don't know your hair's porosity, you might spend more time managing the trial and error of finding the perfect routine and products. Porosity determines how easily your hair can retain moisture. 

While wavy and curly hair tends to struggle more with moisture than straight hair, a person's porosity level can make that mission even harder. Patricia G. Williams, Creme of Nature brand educator, reminds us that "Knowing the porosity of your hair is as important as knowing your texture in selecting products for your hair care and styling regimen. Low or high porosity impacts what products work best on your texture."

There are three porosity levels: high, medium, and low. High porosity hair struggles to retain moisture which slips out of the hair shaft through fully open cuticles. Medium porosity has less of an issue with moisture retention as the hair's cuticles are regularly aligned. Note that medium porosity hair is often referred to as "normal" because it retains moisture well. 

Contrary to what some gurus would have you believe, you don't need to use 20 products on wash day to get poppin' curls. But you should be regularly washing your hair. Wash frequency recommendations can vary widely within the natural hair community with some people washing their hair every other day and others once a week or less. 

Curly hair is usually considered more fragile. But naturals know that ripping through your hair like you're getting revenge on an enemy is a bad idea. While conventional wisdom says that wet hair is more fragile, detangling is one time when it's OK to manipulate your hair when it's wet. 

Natural hair is amazing for its versatility. You can easily shift between straight, super curly, or soft bouncy curls. But it's important to remember that frequent heat use can put your curls in danger. Excessive heat exposure, similar to relaxers, can permanently change your curl pattern. 

And that translates to hair that doesn't return to its original texture the next time you wash your hair. More importantly, this means that the only remedy is to cut the damaged hair. Avoid this heartache by prioritizing heatless styling methods and reaching for hot tools occasionally. 

Curly hair suffers from moisture retention as natural oils produced by the scalp have a harder time making it completely down the hair shaft. And don't forget that if you have high or low porosity hair, this struggle just got worse. Victoria Stiles, the beauty director of ShikSona Beauty and Glam Set Go notes that "the goal is to keep 3C hair types drenched in moisture without using heavy products, which can add to its natural density, weighing hair down." So, if you want to bring out the best in your hair, you need to focus on moisture retention. 

Properly moisturized hair tends to hold styles better, has a healthier overall appearance, and can ensure that wash days and styling sessions are less of a struggle. As a general rule, curly heads are encouraged to focus on products such as humectants that help to boost hydration. 

While you should keep heat styling to a minimum if you do rely on a blow dryer to dry your curls, invest in a good diffuser attachment. Diffusers ensure that the air doesn't disturb your curls and encourage frizz.

Within the natural community, a secondary goal besides "curl poppin'" is length retention. And unfortunately, many people forgo regular trims because they're concerned about losing length. However, skipping routine trims can sabotage your overall growth goals. 

Haircare is personal; we can't stress this enough! Even if your hair looks just like your favorite natural hair muse, and you swear up and down you have the same porosity, your body chemistry will determine whether the same products or techniques are going to work. 

Much like other natural hair types, 3C hair is incredibly versatile. You can easily transition from straight to wavy to curly styles depending on your mood. If you're all about your natural curls, consider incorporating wash 'n' go's or focus on plopping and plunking with either a T-shirt or microfiber towel to remove excess water. 

When opting for straighter styles, either utilize heatless methods such as Curl Formers or banding, to stretch the hair before you move to the styling step. And when you do turn to hot tools, always use the lowest heat setting possible and first prep your hair with a heat protectant.