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Do you know your Curl Pattern?

Whether you have soft waves or tight coils, every crown of curls are beautiful in their own unique way. But not all curly hair is the same.

Every texture behaves differently; therefore understanding your curl pattern is the first step to keeping your hair healthy and strong. The more knowledge you have about your curl type, the better equipped you will be to give your curls what they need.

Curls are prone too dryness as natural oils from the scalp are unable to travel down the curly hair shaft, as it does with straight hair. The natural shape of each hair strand exposes openings in the cuticle layer, allowing what natural moisture and nutrients the hair has to escape. Different types of curls need different types of care and ingredients to look their best. It’s very unlikely that two curlies will have the same routine or use the same line up of products.

Type 2a & 2b

Wavy/Loose Curls

Loose curls seek volume without weight – too much weight and your waves will fall flat. It’s shape varies from curl to curl, and is often flatter at the crown.

A loose curl is at its happiest with volume-boosting foams and light sprays and gels. A loose curl needs light ingredients and nourishing hydrators that create fullness and lift. Proteins like hydrolysed wheat and body-boosting Silk strengthen fine curls, building voluminous lift while still allowing movement to the hair.

Our Recommended Products for Wavy/Loose Curls

Type 2c & 3a

Classic Curl

Classic curls need balance – hydration and structure

Arguably the hardest curl type to keep happy, too much moisture and your curls are undefined and too soft, too much protein and you run the risk of dried out stringy curls.

With natural definition, the classic curl strand curls in a steady s-pattern from root to end. When healthy, curls will bloom, with natural fullness. Consistency is key, when stripped of moisture or stressed by damage, this hair type can fall flat or/and endure a lot of unwanted frizz.

Our Recommended Products for Classic Curls

Type 3b & 2b

Tight Curl

Tight Curls Needs Hydration. Tight curls crave moisture and will drink up whatever you give them. Dehydrate the tight curl and it turns unruly. This hair types require deep hydration to soak into each strand, not sit on the surface.

Tight curl strand twists into small ringlets. With natural fullness, never lacking in volume, it still requires conscious care. The tighter the curl, the more difficult it is for oil from the scalp to travel the length of the hair strand and moisturise. Once the hair loses moisture, frizz and tangling follow.

Our Recommended Products for Tight Curls

Type 4a, 4b & 4c

Kinky/Coily Curl

Kinky Curls needs Attentiveness. A close-knit curl pattern means luxurious volume, kinky curls shrink up and out. Kinky curly hair struggles to absorb moisture, leaving it prone too breakage, for the same reason as those with tight curls, the oil is unable to travel from the scalp down the hair shaft.

The kinky curl strand has twists, turns, and zig zags making every individual curl more fragile at every turning point, and less able to absorb moisture.