We are living a decisive moment in the universe of beauty and hair care. Aesthetics are no longer just about perfect lines, colors or lengths: today how you wear your hair and why is so important. In this context, the call to show all hair textures It is more than a trend: it is a claim for identity, belonging, and visibility.
As stylist professional and specialist of hair careI allow myself to share this article with the eyes of someone who has worked with multiple types of hair—from ultra-shiny straight hair to dense Afro curls—and under my own stamp.
What I share with you here arises both from my personal journey and from what I see every day in my studios and classrooms.
1. Why does hair diversity matter?
Hair diversity means that we value and publicly display a wide range of hair textures—straight, wavy, curly, afro—in fashion contexts. This visibility has cultural, aesthetic and professional relevance.
- From a point of view cultural and social: Modeling hair diversity means recognizing that beauty is not a single standard—much less one that favors only smooth textures. According to the classification recently referred to by experts, hair types are grouped from type 1 (straight) to type 4 (afro) and its variants A, B, C.
- From a point of view professional: Products, techniques and cuts that are only designed for “easy to manage” or “standard universal” hair leave out a very important part of the population. A recent analysis suggests that ethnic hair types, such as 4C, have been marginalized because they require specific formulations and routines.
- From a point of view of trend: Today fashion is shifting its focus towards how you respect the natural texture of your hair and celebrate it. For example, hair trends say that in 2025 and 2026 we are opting for loose curls, relaxed waves and flexible straight hair.
So, when on a catwalk, in a fashion campaign or in a photo shoot we see models and beauty ambassadors with diverse textures, not only does it look good: sends a powerful message: “Your texture also matters, your hair also deserves prominence.”
Type 1: Straight hair
- 1A – Completely smooth, fine and soft.
No waves or volume; It tends to be shiny and oily root easily.
-Tip: use light shampoos and avoid heavy oils.
- 1B – Smooth with some body.
It has a little more volume and movement.
-Tip: choose products that provide texture without weighing you down.
- 1C – Thick or unruly smooth.
Although it looks straight, it may have some stiffness or frizz.
-Tip: apply anti-frizz creams and thermal protectors.
Type 2: Wavy hair
- 2A – Soft and loose wave, almost smooth.
It is easily molded; It usually loses shape with humidity.
-Tip: light texturizing spray or mousse type products.
- 2B – More defined “S” shaped waves.
Moderate frizz and tendency to frizz.
-Tip: use styling creams with medium hydration.
- 2C – Marked waves, almost curl.
Greater volume, frizz and propensity to dry out.
-Tip: moisturize deeply and dry with a diffuser.
Type 3: Curly hair
- 3A – Large and defined curl.
Shiny and elastic, but can lose shape with weight.
-Tip: use light defining gel or cream and diffuser.
- 3B – Medium, tighter curl.
Voluminous, tends to frizz and dryness.
-Tip: weekly hydration and definition with cream or mousse.
- 3C – Small and very dense curl.
Lots of volume, dry by nature.
-Tip: co-wash (sulfate-free wash) and masks rich in natural oils.
Type 4: Afro or very curly hair
- 4A – Very small and well-defined curl (spiral-shaped).
Dry, brittle and with visible shrinkage.
-Tip: use leave-in and nourishing oils (jojoba, coconut, shea).
- 4B – “Z” shaped curl, with less definition.
Spongy texture, very sensitive to handling.
-Tip: define with thick cream and avoid combing dry.
- 4C – Tight curl, without defined pattern.
Maximum shrinkage (up to 75%) and increased fragility.
-Tip: intensive hydration, LOC method (liquid, oil, cream) and little manipulation.
2. My opinion as a stylist: “texture is your hair identity”
In first person: I, Leonardo RoccoI maintain that hair texture is not a “problem”—as is so often raised—but rather a creative opportunity. Each curl, each wave, each straight strand has its own dynamics, its own light, its own aesthetic energy. And working respecting that is as fun as it is rewarding.
When I began my journey—from my beginnings in Argentina to opening my salon in Miami Beach—I noticed that many salons had a “universal” approach to hair beauty that did not contemplate more robust or denser textures. But my conviction was always different: “all human beings are beautiful” and, in that sense, my mission is to “rescue the energy of beauty that is within”—as I express it on my brand’s site.
For this reason, in my Rocco Donna Professional line we develop collections thinking about specific textures: for example, the line Riccioli It is designed for curly and wavy hair, with pequi oil and açaí extract.
And that’s why I also love working closely with each client to understand their texture, their routine, their expectation: it’s not about their hair “being like another one,” it’s about your hair is the best reflection of who you arewith its unique texture.
3. Current fashions that celebrate texture (and what’s to come)
When reviewing the panorama, I see several signs that excite me and that invite us to bet on hair diversity:
- More beauty campaigns are deliberately selecting models with varied textures, not just for “ethnic diversity” but for “texture diversity.” This creates visibility for curls, afro-textures, waves and alternative straights.
- On catwalks, editorials and networks, natural or “less modeled” looks are gaining ground over ultra-polished styles. For example, the “relaxed wave” or the defined curl without frizz are mentioned as “trend textures” for 2025 and 2026
- In the hair care market, customization matters more than ever: routines adapted to fiber type, texture, genetics, hair treatment history. As a technical article quotes: “the future of personalized hair formulation contemplates the emotions linked to the state and chemistry of each type of hair.”
In my opinion, for those who work in fashion, beauty or communication: single texture uniform version = past. Today the bet is multiplicity of textures in a single show, in a single lookbook, in a single feed. That better reflects our reality, which is diverse.
4. Practical tips to care for and highlight your hair texture
Here I share with you my direct recommendationsas a stylist, so that you take care of your texture and show it with pride. I adapt them thinking about different hair types, for example: if you have 3B-4A curly hair, or if you have fine straight hair type 1A-1B.
a) For curly hair (type 3 and 4):
Accept your curl: stop fighting it and start communicating your texture to your stylist, so that the cut and product work in favor of the natural shape.
- Detangle in the shower with conditioner or mask, ideally with your fingers or a wide-toothed comb.
- Use products without aggressive sulfates, with good hydration and frizz control. In my Rocco Donna Professional line, Riccioli Collection, for curly hair for example, we apply pequi + açaí oil to enrich.
- Air dry or diffuse dry, instead of ironing on high heat. This helps preserve the wave or curl.
- Do regular trims to eliminate dry ends or those that “break” the shape of the curl.
b) For wavy or mixed texture hair (type 2):
- Combine light products to define waves without weighing them down.
- Protect yourself from environmental frizz: humid environment + wave = combination that can lose definition.
- Consider a “sleep routine” that maintains shape: satin pillow, loose braid or low ponytail, light gel if you had it straight the day before.
- Mix volume + definition: if the wave is very loose, a volume product without losing texture is ideal.
c) For straight or very fine hair (type 1):
- Learn to see the plain as a canvas: the smooth texture can also have details of movement, volume, and games of reflection.
- Apply volumizing products to the roots or non-caking formulas. In my line is the Volutex collection (enriched with sea kelp and biotin), which we developed with fine hair in mind, to give it more volume and texture.
- Protects from heat: the fine smooth is quickly marked with irons, dryers or tools >180 °C.
- Light cutting layer: a uniform mane can look flat; Slight scaling or soft layers can add body without losing length.
d) Global stylist advice:
- Always contact your cut/color professional about your natural texturenot just about what you see in photos. Because what works for a 3C curl is not the same as for a 2B curl or 2A wave.
- Do product tests on small strands when you are going to test new formulas or chemical risks.
- Assess the health of the hair: color, straightening, bleaching work, but the hair fiber loses with excess. Healthy hair is the best canvas for any texture.
- And above all: celebrate what you have. Your texture is part of your identity.
5. More than a trend, a call for hair inclusion
In closing, I return to my voice as a stylist: My job is not give everyone the same look but make every texture count. In a world of fashion and beauty that is becoming global—from Argentina, Mexico, Colombia to Spain and the United States—the visibility of all hair textures is an empowering factor.
When we see models of different hair sensitivities, when we see campaigns that include curls, waves, straight hair, afros, when a salon says “we work with all textures”, we are sending a message: you are seen. And to the extent that you see yourself, you will take care of yourself and enjoy yourself more.
Hair diversity is not just “becoming fashionable” for a month: it is a permanent axis. And I invite you from here to, regardless of country or culture—whether you are a reader in Argentina, Colombia, Mexico, Spain or the Latin community in the United States—to look at your reflection, recognize your texture, celebrate it and take care of it.
With the right products and advice—you have the possibility of transforming your care routine into a routine of pride: pride in texture, in identity, in being you.
And remember: your texture matters, and your hair also deserves to shine in its most authentic version.
