If you’re a 3b, you’re right-smack-dab-in-the-middle of all the wavies, curlies and coilies. Some days your hair is more on the wavy side and some days you swear it became 3 times curlier overnight. As a 3b curly, you are no stranger to the scrunching, but can also throw it up in a pineapple whenever you want.
You’ve most likely already found the NaturallyCurly Texture Typing System in an effort to get answers for all your curly/wavy questions. However, if you haven’t, this system breaks hair down into 3 categories – 2s, 3s, and 4s, with 3 subgroups within those categories – As, Bs, and Cs. Type 3b hair usually has ringlets that have the circumference of a Sharpie, and a big goal for 3b ladies is to fight frizz by using moisturizing products and to avoid drying ingredients.
Most people have multiple textures on their head, so it is very common to have majority 3b curls, with 3a and 3c mixed in as well. It’s important to understand that just because you have 3b hair does not mean that your hair will look and act like all 3bs, there are other characteristics of your hair type like porosity, density and width that play major roles. Curious as to the different manifestations of 3b hair? We’ve compiled 20 photos of women blessed with 3b curls!
1. @dailiperez
Photo Courtesy of @dailiperez
2. @celmatique
Photo courtesy of @celmatique
@celmatique wears her 3b curls with bangs and some lovely blonde highlights!
3. @somegirlfromtexas
Photo courtesy of @somegirlfromtexas
Fran, one of our Naturally Curly graphic designers, just so happens to be the “poster child” for 3b curls. Here, she rocks a deep side part with bantu knots!
4. @lenipaperboats
Photo courtesy of @lenipaperboats
@lenipaperboats has a mixture of 3b and 3a curls. Check out her great rose gold color!
5. @honestlizhere
Photo courtesy of @honestlizhere
6. @flaviaesantiago
Photo courtesy of @flaviaesantiago
The gorgeous @flaviaesantiago has all of the 3s on her head!
7. @niathelight
Photo courtesy of @niathelight
One of our biggest curl-spirations! Nia was hugely popular in the natural hair movement because of her big curly fro, but she recently cut it all off on a journey of healthier self-image. We love her new pixie cut! Read about her hair journey here.
8. @curlymichelle62
Photo courtesy of @curlymichelle62
NaturallyCurly’s own co-founder Michelle Breyer has 3b curls!
9. @tiffanytattooz
Photo courtesy of @tiffanytattooz
@tiffanytattooz wears her 3b curls in an adorable high puff with her baby hairs slicked down.
10. @namedafterahat
Photo courtesy of @namedafterahat
11. @curlsandthecity
Photo courtesy of @curlsandthecity
12. @tylalauren
Photo courtesy of @tylalauren
13. @kassalaholdsclaw
Photo courtesy of @kassalaholdsclaw
@kassalaholdsclaw is the perfect example of what it looks like to have a mix of textures! She has 3c and 4a curls on the bottom layers of her hair and framing her face, but the crown of her head is 3b!
14. @carla_jeanine
Photo courtesy of @carla_jeanine
15. @justdaniela1
Photo courtesy of @justdaniela1
@justdaniela1 has a mix of 2c, 3a, and 3b waves and curls.
16. @_thehalfrican
Photo courtesy of @_thehalfrican
@_thehalfrican is a NaturallyCurly favorite! April is a stylist in Austin, Texas who cuts the hair of multiple NaturallyCurly employees.
17. @lipstickncurls
Photo courtesy of @lipstickncurls
18. @stylefeen
Photo courtesy of @stylefeen
NaturallyCurly Contributer @stylefeen has mostly 3c curls, but her 3b texture pops out a bit at the top!
19. @nicolemeline
Photo courtesy of @nicolemeline
20. @christinavega_
Photo courtesy of @christinavega_
Who is your Curl Crush? Tell us below!
