Figure Out Your Curly Hair Type — And Here Is The Reason Why It Matters- Part 1

All About Curls

Getting a straight answer on the wavy and curly texture hair type is much harder as it is easy to tell in case you have straight hair, and when it comes to the rule of thumb hair can be grouped into four broad categories that include straight, wavy, curly and coily or kinky. 

With inputs from haircare industry experts and hairstylists, the intricate world of curls was untangled helping us understand the science behind curl formation and sharing tips on how to best care for the specific type of spiral whether its wavy, curly or coily. Here lies the key to achieving beautiful and healthy hair regardless of the shape. 

Why Is It That My Hair Is So Curly?

From pin-straight to kinky the hair type depends on the shape of the hair follicle itself. As explained by Rolanda Wilkerson, the Senior Scientific Communication Manager at Procter & Gamble, the shape of the follicles as well as the way the hair emerges from the follicle comes to be a major contributor in the degree of hair curl pattern, its shape, and ultimately what they describe as the texture. 

Similar to the hair fiber the follicle comes in different shapes and sizes as the straight hair emerges from a round follicle, while oval and twisted oval follicles create wavy and curly hair as the thickness of the hair also comes contingent on the follicle size. The thicker hair strand, therefore, has the larger area that it grows from. 

While that’s not all, the chemical bonds in the hair also contribute to the cut pattern. As Wilkerson says, hair is primarily made of cysteine sulfur-containing amino acid. The cysteine groups in naturally straight hair are spread apart so that they cannot interact. Whereas it is found that in wavy and curly hair, they are closer and can easily bond among themselves creating more tension in the hair fiber and contributing to curling. 

Wilkerson further notes that the more curved the hair follicle, the compacted is the cysteine as the more bonds form, and the curlier the hair emphasising that both follicle and hair fibre work in tandem as it comes to creating a curl. 

How Do You Identify Your Curl Pattern?

Scientists have over the years attempted to classify curliness by measuring different parameters of the hair fibre as one of the most popularly cited studies is by the L’Oreal Institute for Ethnic Hair and Skin Research organising hair shapes into eight types by studying 2,449 subjects from 22 countries and five continents. It was therefore concluded by measuring curl diameter and curl index as also counting waves and twists from each participant’s hair where the scientist came up with a system assigning a number to hair type from 1-4. Wilkerson thereby explains that the higher the number the curlier the hair and the tighter the coil. 

The Fact Is That The Higher The Number, The Curlier The Hair And The Tighter The Coil

For finding the curl type that best resembles yours, this guide is a great starting point and you may want to sacrifice a few hair strands by plucking them out off your head while the hair is still wet, to find out. Thereafter lay them flat against a white surface as you watch them take their natural shape while they air-dry. Therefore you can identify them with a few different patterns as all the hair doesn’t necessarily contain the same type of curl consistently throughout. 

Type 2: Wavy Hair

Here are the type 2 curls

2A: Soft Wave

2B: Wavy

2C: Deep Wave

Incorporating natural waves ranging from barely noticeable to being mistaken for curly hair is the Type 2 hair. Here it is observed that wavy hair tends to be straight when wet and has ripples as it dries differing from curly hair in its inability to form swirls or twists wrapping around themselves. Wavy hair comes with the key factor of keeping it nourished while giving it enough volume to move freely and apply the styling products sparingly and with a delicate touch. 

2A

Growing straight at the crown and creasing toward the end is the Type 2A hair as the wave shapes diverge slightly from the straight lines where the wave type is easy to comb requiring a minimal amount of styling with the waves forming naturally when air-dried. Here you have to opt for shampoos and conditioners that won't, therefore, make the hair limp but adds a little bit of volume. 

Topping the demands for volumizing shampoo and conditioner test are the KerastaseDensifiqueBodifying Shampoo and conditioner balancing the movement of waves with straighter hair at the crown applying a light mousse to boost the roots and avoid rich creams flattening the curl by weighing it down. One of the top performers from the hair mousse test is Matrix Biolage Styling Whipped Volume Mousse fitting the bills for this kind of hair. 

2B

Growing straight is Type 2B hair whereas it starts forming medium to large S-shaped waves at the crown. Use gentle shampoo and conditioner formulas and the test-winning Garnier Fructis Full and Plush duo softening hair without compromising the volume-preserving the bouncy shape of waves and keeping them from tangling. Frizzier than Type 2A this type uses lightly formulated leave-in conditioners coating the strands during humid days adding extra protection and keeping the waves intact. 

2C

Usually identified as small to medium size waves Type 2C waves form into a letter S shape as they grow and this shape borders between wavy and curly hair though it is for some that this may already look like a typical curly hair where the type 2C does not form springs which is a distinguishing feature between waves and curls.

Most prone to frizz among the wavy hair is the 2C waves while the maintaining volume and keeping frizz at bay is a tricky task whereas the leave-in conditioners and hair serums have thereby proved to be an excellent choice as to balance the two. 

The Discussion Continues

The latter post describes the Type 3 and Type 4 of curly hairs. It is here explained about the care regimen for these hair types. Read along the second part of the discussion.