Curly hair types: a guide to figuring out your curl pattern

curly hair type

Specifically formulated for those with curly, coily, and tight textures, this leave-in conditioner restores your hair and locks in moisture. Even though it’s infused with a blend of moisturizing oils and honey, it leaves your hair feeling lightweight. In reality, they are intricate and can't fit into one broad category of "curls," just because you have curly hair. Categorizing your curl type is quite the mission, and most of the time, finding a starting point is overwhelming.

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This one is ideal to control your frizz hair texture and soften your curls thanks to the addition of cupuacu butter that improves elasticity and durability over time. When applying hair oils, detangle and separate your hair with your fingers to ensure the products are evenly distributed. Nelms also recommends sleeping on a silk pillowcase or wearing a hair bonnet for further protection.

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This is the loosest coil in the type 4 coily/kinky category, but it’s still a very tight coil like a corkscrew. When you discover your curl type, you’ll view your locks in a new light. Different curl patterns can look and feel very similar, making it harder to distinguish between them. We’ve laid out all six curl types below with a complete description and photos to make your curl ID much easier. You will want to use hydrating shampoos and conditioners to help tame frizz.

Curly hair types: a guide to figuring out your curl pattern

They usually have the circumference of a Sharpie marker or your index finger. You can use light styling creams to help control strands when styling and drying. To find out which type best resembles yours, you may want to sacrifice a few hair strands by plucking them out off your head while your hair strand is still wet. The shampoo will remove any oil remaining on top of your strands, but much of it will have already penetrated deep into your hair for long-lasting moisture. 3C hair is the curliest subtype of type 3 hair, and it’s hard to miss. Even with these brief descriptions, it’s hard to determine which type your curls will actually fall under.

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She also reviews applications, substantiates claims and evaluates products for the GH Seal and the Beauty Awards and Sustainability Awards programs. In chemistry from Ithaca College and more than 16 years of experience working in the pharmaceutical and personal care industries. Type 3B has well-defined medium size springs that resemble corkscrews.

Understanding your curl type can help you choose the right products and styling techniques for your hair. For optimal health, look to a sulfate-free cleanser and conditioner. SheaMoisture’s 100% Virgin Coconut Oil Daily Hydration Shampoo and Conditioner combo work well for this hair type. “Wavy hair needs washing more frequently than curly and coily hair as the natural oils produced at the scalp find it easier to travel down the hair strands,” says Butcher. Once a week, follow your regular wash routine with a deep conditioner—one like R+Co On a Cloud Mask is sure to quench wavy curls. According to François, this styling cream works across all hair textures and is great for doing two-strand twists with curly, kinky, and coily hair types.

curly hair type

The time and care you put in will be so worth it for those bountiful curls. You'll see a stronger S-shaped curve, and strands may be thicker, meaning you can work a little more product in there. It's easy to mistake this hair type for 3A, 3B or 3C curls, but it won't have the same undulating ringlets and coils – so analyze your wave pattern carefully. The good news is, it's easy to cajole these curves into curls with lasting hold. Apply EIMI NutriCurls Boost Bounce mousse to clean hair while damp, and dry with a diffuser attachment. Once hair is 100% dry, wrap lengths around a curling iron, then set with EIMI Stay Firm hairspray to set.

curly hair type

The number refers to curl families, while the letter points to how tightly wound your curls are within that. Curl type 1 is pretty much the absence of curl—in other words, straight. Type 2 means waves, while 3s are spiraled curls, and 4s are kinks and coils. Curly hair types aren’t limited to the physical shape of your locks. Other factors can affect how your curly hair type reacts to products, tools, or humidity.

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If your hair is shorter, like the look above, you could also try comb coiling, which sees you comb from root to tip, before twirling the comb at the end to create individual twists. Let coils dry in these twists, then use fingertips to shake your hair loose. The best time to figure out your curl texture is when the hair is  wet. So, before diving into the different curl patterns below, wash hair and assess the shape it takes on after detangling. Keep checking your hair texture as it air-dries, taking note of any natural waves or natural curls that start to appear. If that's the case, tailor your regimen for your tightest curl pattern.

Try Herbal Essences Bio Renew Hydrate Coconut Milk Shampoo and Conditioner, as this duo provided the highest level of conditioning in our Beauty Lab’s test of moisturizing formulas. "Use styling creams or puddings that moisturize. Deep condition at least once a week to try to help retain elasticity and moisture," says Breyer of this curl type. Breyer recommends those with Type 3a and 3b curls use an anti-humectant (humidity-blocking) styling cream, cream gel, or styling milk for less frizz but more definition. If you have oily hair, consider this triangular-shaped bar, which uses ingredients like charcoal to detoxify the scalp, reduce excess oil, strengthen hair and maintain scalp health, according to Superzero. It also comes with its own bag for any broken pieces (continued use will eventually cause it to break), so you don’t waste any product, according to the brand.

“The tension can lead to breakage, soreness, and, in extreme cases, traction alopecia,” explains Butcher. But if you can’t make it to the salon right this second, or don’t have a trusted stylist on speed dial, we tapped a few experts to help you on your journey. "Those categories don’t tell you what your porosity is [or] how your hair reacts to moisture/protein. At the end of the day, it’s best to see a curl specialist to determine your texture needs," added Mouneu. While there is still not a definitive conclusion of the different follicular components, there is demonstrated evidence that curly fibers are generated by curved and oval-shaped follicles. Straight hair, meanwhile, emerges at a right angle from the scalp in a collinear direction. Curl type 3A features stretched spirals of curls that are large in diameter and roll down from the crown.

Your locks can range from soft, floaty and fine (4A), to abundantly thick, coarse and zigzagged in shape (4C). Getting the best from your beautiful mane means curating a routine that's high on hydration, so consider cleansing conditioners, hair masks and creamy, balmy stylers your new BFFs. Your mane tumbles into dazzling corkscrews that are tighter than 3B strands, but less coily than type 4 curls. Your routine should make hydration a priority, so moisturize your curls to enhance their shape. This could mean swapping your traditional shampoos for a co-washing product, like NutriCurls Cleansing Conditioner. The low-foam, silicone-free formula gently lifts out any impurities, while respecting your hair's natural oils to leave tighter curls softer, fresher and bouncier.

This hair type has springy ringlets with a circumference similar to that of a Sharpie marker. This texture can get dry, so look for curl gels that have humectants, like hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and aloe vera to attract moisture. Hair is composed of strands that will almost never clump without the use of styling techniques. Type 4c hair can range from fine, thin, and soft to coarse with densely packed strands. This is the hair type that requires the most moisture—heavy butters like the Melanin Hair Care Twist Elongating Style Cream ($20).

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