Curl pattern hair, the taboo of all hair types, every woman’s nightmare or so they say, however, nothing could be further from the truth than this. Curly pattern hair is more common than you think and is the most versatile hair type believe it or not. The problem with it is that because of misinformation and imposed stereotypes many girls don’t know what to do with it and choose to simply straighten it, no more than that.
Curly hair is the most common hair but it exists in different levels of identification, here we will explain on a scale what type of curly hair you have, give you some tips to look better, and the best way to take care of them so they always look fabulous.
From Small To Large Scale
Covering all hair types, we have a list of specifications that will help you to easily locate your type and care will depend on your version.
Type 1: Straight Hair
Contrary to popular belief, straight hair only occurs in 45% of people in the world, with curly hair being a major division having subcategories ranging from strong curly to wavy types. In the same way, straight hair is subdivided as follows:
– Type 1A: is the smoothest of all and has no volume, has a constant and smooth fall from root to tip, and is known for being the least malleable in terms of style as hairstyles do not tend to last long, its silky shape prevents it from staying in place much.
– Type 1B: this is characterized by having a little more shape and volume; it can vary between fine and thick. It tends to be malleable because it holds more hairstyles and shape changes compared to type A. Sometimes you can see that this type of hair has slight waves at the ends or from the middle of the hair.
– Type 1C: this type of hair is mostly straight and in certain areas you can see delicate and fine curves, this type is the one we identify as naturally tousled without the use of tools.
Type 2: wavy hair
From this point on we can start to see different levels of curls that are differentiated by the natural straightening and variations in the hair fiber such as porosity, the level of oil secreted by the scalp, etc. Type 2 hair is usually right in the middle between dry and oily hair as in a small balance, it has certain levels of volume and shape which makes it very malleable. What type of curls do you think you have?
– Type 2A: although it is still considered fine hair, the strands show a small “S” wave, in a general overview it can be said to be slightly curly.
– Type 2B: has more defined waves but being very close to the scalp is very rare to present frizz, the waves are very stable compared to the previous ones mentioned above and do not lose their shape.
– Type 2C: it could be said that this type is the most stable of all for several reasons; to begin with, the waves are wide and defined but compact, this makes it malleable for curly hairstyles and it is also easy to straighten and it is quick to recover its natural shape without any problem. Its versatility for hairstyles makes it encompass styles within the range of the four hair types and their subcategories.
Type 3: Curly hair
From here on the hair type is curly, all strands have a fixed “S” shape without the need for products or tools. This hair tends to be dry due to its texture, the oil produced by the scalp is not thick enough to cover it to the ends but stays at the roots, we can also divide this type of hair into subtypes.
– Type 3A: this presents loose and large curls, they have a silky feel and do not need products to maintain them as they are very defined.
– Type 3B: consists of curls more wavy and defined than the previous ones; they are usually slightly pronounced and it is common to see them in people with dark complexions, however, this type of hair has a small disadvantage and is that it usually has a lot of frizz so it must be very careful with specific products.
– Type 3C: it is characterized by tight curls, with many textures and small; these strands are very close together and it is recommended to use products or instruments to define them more. As the curls are tightly curled, you can notice that they are mostly compact; this effect is known as clumping.
Type 4: Afro Hair
Small and tight, this is the super defined hair type whose ringlets stay in place no matter what you do; the variability of the hair strand can affect them as they can ungroup or frizz if they are dehydrated for the same reason that the hair’s natural oil doesn’t cover it all. This is divided into three subtypes like the previous ones.
– Type 4A: consists of many defined curls, most of which are no thicker than a pencil; this particular type is more defined in the curls and tends to fall downwards while being extremely defined.
– Type 4B: what differentiates this particular type from type 4A and 4C is that it is much more defined towards the ends although its root is not necessarily wavy, the curls are equally tight but its texture tends to be dry to the touch.
– Type 4C: this hair takes a “Z” shape and has no definition whatsoever, it is known for being longer than it looks because it shrinks due to its texture, its strands vary in thickness depending on the person who owns it, so it is mostly considered frizzy.
Care For Your Curls
The variety of curly hair also lies in the hair strand itself, which gives rise to the different types of curls. The type of strand determines whether the hair is thick, thin, and how silky it can be as well as its level of oil and how far it can go into the hair.
It is for this reason that some hair is very curly but when you touch it you can tell it is silky and smooth in texture, or some are very oily and require constant washing while others are extremely dry and brittle.
Depending on your version of curls you need special care and ultimately the best way to have good hair care is taking into account the hair you have and use products focused on that specific type.
In a certain sense, although any shampoo can work, it does not mean that it is the right one. Beyond the objective of “washing” the hair, shampoos have many functions and their properties vary depending on the hair they are dedicated to.
Useful Tips
In general terms it is not complicated to maintain good care for healthy hair, not even with complicated hair care, the only thing you need to do is to pay a little attention to the labels of your products from now on and follow these tips:
- Specialized shampoo:
Being the first step in the cleansing routine has considerable importance, curly hair tends to be extreme for the most part, that is, it is either very dry or very oily, and therefore it is necessary to choose a suitable shampoo to prevent it from weakening during cleansing.
- General treatment
The conditioner and subsequent drying of the hair will depend on whether it needs extra hydration or not, generally, if you usually apply heat when drying it is not a good idea to apply creams on the strands as the product can cause the hair to dry or burn with heat, for this the idea is to dispense with conditioner and apply cream or thermal ampoules.
Similarly, if heat is not applied, it is advisable to limit conditioning for the most part to avoid excess oil, one moisturizing a week is enough to make your curls shine.
- Blow dryers
Diffusers, diffusers, and more diffusers are the best friends of curly hair as it allows drying without causing frizz and evenly, this accessory is sometimes included with your dryer, facilitates the task of untangling the hair and avoids unnecessary burns.
- Extra care for colored curls
As we know that hair type is not an impediment to experiment with colors, we recommend that you take into account the products you use when bleaching or coloring, and although it may not seem so, it is extremely important to maintain a high level of hydration to avoid damaging the hair at all costs or making it brittle.
It is also advisable to use the light gel if you want a more defined shape because after coloring the hair has to lose a little strength and shape, but it will only be for a few days while the strand regains its strength.
A Cut To Shine
Although curly hair has many good allies such as hairspray, curling irons, blow dryers and good styling mousse, it never hurts to touch up your hair or risk changing your style from time to time.
You may think that just having beautiful curls is enough adornment, but cuts are not always just for highlighting, there are many convenient benefits linked to a good cut. Mainly it is considered part of hair care to have a trim at least every two months because in this way you take care not to have split ends or unkempt since that is where hair damage begins.
On the other hand, there is the growth control, those with an abundant hair type usually prefer to keep it at a manageable level and not so heavy, although it may not seem the weight of the hair is the main cause of both back pain and headaches and it is because we are so used to it that we are not aware of it until we cut it and feel a change.
Last but not least is the style because being honest it’s the first thing we think of when we get to the salon and greet the stylist, the benefits always come later. The versatility of curly hair allows for an endless number of beautiful and trendy styles that if you thought at some point that because of your curls you could only aspire to have it long and leave it loose, you are wrong.
Cuts and Recommendations
The universal key to choosing a good haircut when choosing a new style and having any type of hair is to not get too complicated, if you have to think about it it’s probably not for you, haircuts are a way of expressing our individuality.
There is no limit to what we can do with our hair and there shouldn’t be too many buts when it comes to getting a new look as there is always an undeniable reason behind you backing you up if by chance it goes wrong and that is that hair always grows so there will always be an opportunity to make it better again and again.
In the case of curly hair it’s normal for most curly hairstyle holders to look the same or ruin their curls with a worse cut but fear not, you can look more amazing than you think by looking for your ideal cut in this quick list of the best curly haircuts for curly hair:
- Bob cut
Simple and classic, it has 3 types of length and several scales that you can choose according to your type of curls. It falls into the category of Midi that reaches the height of your shoulders and you can make it to the edge of the neck or the middle of the neck. The key to a good curly bob is to do it in layers that enhance the curls and set the length taking into account the abundance of the hair if you don’t want to reach for an afro.
- Straight
Straight cuts are simple and elegant, as the name suggests, it consists of cutting the hair evenly, however, the strength of this is to make it at a convenient length to the thickness of the curls as this cut allows the loops to show off so that the weight makes all the locks look at the same level and not scattered.
- Pixie
It has hundreds of shapes, lengths and can be infinite combinations especially if you have curly hair, it is ideal to keep it with mousse and fixers, and the more natural you take the hair the better the cut looks, it is a bold, versatile and chic choice.
- Layers
A classic that encompasses the different “v” styles, it’s an excellent choice if you want to wear your hair long because it’s the best way to shape long hair; it highlights each curl and will still look beautiful if you ever think about straightening it for a certain occasion, just as it looks good wearing it natural.
Recommendations
Whatever your choice, always take into consideration your hair type to take care of it and cut it in the best way so that it is always healthy and beautiful. This type of hair is extremely versatile and is at the forefront of current trends, being the favorite to wear especially naturally and stylishly.
