Decoding and figuring out the actual curl type can be quite overwhelming. We second that. Unfortunately, as a matter of fact, all the curly hair types and variant curly textures are put in a single frame and labeled as "Curly hair."
No matter how soft your curls are, how kinky they are or how tangled they are, people anyway put their thoughts into a sentence by stating that "Oh God! I wonder how you ever gonna brush these chunk of curly hair!"
Well, I have no say in this statement. Because every curl type is different and there is a world of difference between each texture. So, people, before getting all judgmental, have some privilege to make use of basic necessity which is almost free called "common sense"!
There's some pretty reason behind your set of lavish curls. Want to know what? The hair follicle. Yes, the shape of the hair follicle decides how your hair type is going to be. The curl type depends on how oval or flat your hair follicle is. As they say, the more, the merrier!
If you have straight hair, then, it indicates that it is circular in nature. So, now that you have decoded the logic behind your hair type, let's take a quick leap to the curl pattern.
Identifying the curl pattern is as simple as it sounds. Just notice what pattern your strands own. Are they wavy, curly, kinky, or straight? So, what are you like? A wavy stunner, curly babe, kinky diva, or straight and gorgeous?
If you are a textured girl, then, don't be surprised to discover more than one pattern that your hair owns! Kinky, wavy, curly, and coily! So, curious to know which patterns does your hair own? The best results can be expected when your hair is wet.
Know your curl pattern:
In order to make understanding simpler, we have categorized the curls into 1 to 4 sections, where 1 refers to straight hair, 2 refers to wavy hair, 3 refers to curly hair, 4 refers to coily hair.
Also, to sort the sizes too, we have simply categorized the hair sizes into a, b, and c, where "a" refers to a wider sized pattern, "b" points to the medium-sized patterns, and "c," of course, smallest of all the patterns.
Photo Credit: pinterest.com/blair4hair
As our discussion is regarding the gorgeous curls we own as a crown jewel, we have got nothing to do with the 1s. So, shifting the spotlight towards the actual curls, let's know more about what these 2, 3, and 4 with a, b, and c have got to say!
Type 2:
The wavy pattern conveys that the hair is bendy and takes up S pattern, which lies close to your head. Also, there is no compulsion when it comes to the thickness of the hair. It may be anything from being fine hair to coarse.
Do you find your hair is fine with not-so-messy texture which is very easy to straighten, then, you are being "2A"-zoned.
People, especially with this type of hair, must be cautious regarding usage of any styling products which might end up in weighing down their strands. The heavy products might also make your strands dull and lifeless.
Thus, choosing the right products for your hair is quite a task. Pick the ones which are water-based, airy mousses, which helps in making your hair look fluffier by adding instant volume.
Who loves the gorgeous outburst of flat and wavy blend? Me too! The 2B is usually flat on the crown section while the obvious S-shaped wave starts right from the mid-length or so.
As compared with 2A, the diameter here is quite thicker, and that is the reason you should put in a little extra effort if you are willing to straighten it.
As they say, classics never fade away! This look is one of those. So, make the most out of it by using appropriate and suitable hair sprays containing natural extracts like algae extracts, seaweed, which makes your hair look shiny and sexy by waiving off the stiffness!
2C typed people have hair which is coarse, thick, and liable to frizzing. They own a set of S-shaped strands starting right from the roots itself.
Show some love on your gorgeous, natural curls by using shampoos, which are sulfate-free, non-lathering. These shampoos lock in the moisture and thus helps in keeping the strands healthy and happy.
To boost up the much-needed hydration, you can layer up the leave-in conditioner which can be used under a mousse. This helps in preserving the natural wavy pattern by adding in the required hydration.
Type 3:
As you might have already noticed, curly hair ranges from loose waves to tight, kinky coiled curls which mostly tend to be frizzy.
Like most of the girls’ dream is to own a set of large, shiny, loose and stylish curls slaying right from the roots, to put it in a nutshell, these above-mentioned qualities lie in 3A typed curls.
In order to add-on the beauty to your curls by emphasizing the curl texture, you can use the suitable de-frizzing curl cream onto your dry hair. This helps in locking in the curls by avoiding frizz.
Like most girls, even if you are prone to touch those pretty strands quite often with your hand, comb, brush or any such things, then, make sure you avoid touching your hair after using the cream. Or else, this might jeopardize your hair into having more frizz than expected.
You can retain the hair moisture by locking it in by making use of the curl refreshers whenever you feel that your hair needs a dose of refreshment.
If you own curls which are springy, rigid, and coarse, then, you are likely to have 3B set of curls. These curls are prone to dry out quickly. Thus, pick the gel applicants which contain humectants as they help in preserving the moisture in your curly strands.
For best results, use the coat of gel on wet hair. This helps in adding a set of defined curls without any frizz.
Well, applause to all those girls who are able to slay with these natural, super-curly, coiled curls with an oomph!
These curls resemble rigid corkscrews which result in a circumference, say a pencil or even a straw. With a set of lumpish, thick and tight curls, these curls add a natural bounce and make the hair voluminous!
As you already might have experienced, frizziness is the only drawback of this pretty, natural, bouncy locks. Thus, you can use creamy cleansers which are sulfate-free, which helps in keeping the moisture locked in and thus fights against the frizziness.
Just so you know, the products you use for keeping your curls, clean and fresh reveals a lot about your curl pattern. Thus, choose wisely and use right.
Try using a mousse on top of any suitable styling cream after you get out of the shower. The wet hair lets the curls to clump and makes the drying process quicker.
Remember that your co-wash lets you know how your curl pattern is supposed to be and the styling product you apply succeeds in capturing the curl pattern.
Type 4:
These Afro-textured hairs or also named as kinky hair are usually very spongy and dry when it comes to texture. They have full freedom to showcase their talents right from being soft and fine to rough and wiry.
The curls are uptight and small beginning from the scalp and thus can be seen to shrink more often.
The 4As can be seen having a set of dense, S-shaped coiled curls which are springy. To retain the naturally soft and shiny curls, you need to develop a habit of washing your hair regularly with suitable products.
Curling creams which are rich in moisture is recommended for all the busy babes who are likely to adapt in the habit of "wash and go"!
Ever came across the dense, thick coiled hair which when bent take up the shape of the letter Z? Well, you can term that type of hair as 4B.
These are easy to handle as you just need some moisturizing spray to keep the kinks and coils hydrated and fresh. Whenever you are in a hurry, just shingle some amount of hydrated curling cream which adds instant shine by hydrating your curls.
4C does not differ much as compared to 4B. The 4Cs have much tighter, coiled curls which are quite fragile, and the Zigzag pattern they form are most likely to be impossible to see!
Also, as a matter of fact, this type of hair is prone to shrink more, say 75% of the hair as compared to the other textures. Hurts! Isn't it?
If you are one of the 4Cs, then, to strive against the dryness and frizzy problem, you can use a generous amount of leave-in moisturizer by applying to the maximum length of your strands.
As a home remedy, try applying castor oil which is well-known for its great hydrating properties and acts as a sealant on your dry textured curls!
Read Also: How to Dry Curly Hair: 8 Best & Simple Ways.
Factors that can help you pick the right products for your curl type:
Test your curl elasticity by running your fingers from the root to the tip by holding one of the curls. If it goes back by coiling to where it started, then, the curls have great elasticity. If it barely coils again, then, there's something to worry about.
You can retain the elasticity of the curls NOT by applying oil to your hair! Sorry, oil-massage lovers! This is a sheer fact that oils and water don't gel up!
So, if you apply oil-based products on the wet hair, the water tends to push the oil away. Thus, the oil sits on the top surface instead! Thus, making the hair brittle and more prone to breakage.
So, try using water-based products, say hydrating creams and gels which locks in the moisture by hydrating the scalp.
Dip in a lock your curls in a cup of water. Now, observe if it floats, sinks or stays in somewhere. This test reveals the porosity level of your hair. For those of us are opening another tab to Google what porosity actually means, no need to bother.
Here's your answer: Porosity refers to how quickly or easily your hair is prone to suck up the liquids.
Back to the actual point, if your hair floats, then, you need not worry as the strands are not likely to suck up the liquids, say shampoos, conditioners and take forever to dry! Well, the morning shower-takers will definitely relate to this question.
If it sinks, then, there's something fishy! They can easily suck up the liquids of the products you use for your hair care. So, try replacing the products with some water-based, lighter products which help your curls stay healthy, hydrated, and happy!
Most of the curly-haired girls face the problems of having to have more than one curl type or pattern. So, instead of stressing on what products to choose, just concentrate on applying more hair care products on the sections where you have stronger curl patterns.
So, there you go! Enjoy the perfect, gorgeous set of prettiness without having to worry about the frizz, products to choose, brushing, or any other dilemma!
Instead of jumping into a conclusion that my curls need some treatment, know your curl type, curl pattern. Thus, try changing the hair care products which go well with your bunch of stylish, natural curls.
Just a little bit of know-how, you can manage the pretty locks every day all by yourself! So, make every day a good hair day by taking proper care to make your curls naturally healthy and hydrated. Happy curling! Do let us know what's your "unrevealed secret" behind your bunch of awesomeness.
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