22 Apr Things To Know: Discovering Your Curl Pattern

If you’re just starting to rock your natural curls for the first time in your life you might be feeling a bit awkward. Embracing your natural texture is a mental training, but finding your curl pattern and the best products to use on your hair can help you start to feel comfortable with your natural hair. We’re giving you the basics of natural hair types and the things you should know about caring for yours.

*PAUSE*

Before we start, you should know that your curl pattern doesn’t mean everything and we’ve all got curls for days. There’s no such thing as a better hair type or “good hair” – we believe that healthy hair is good hair – and most people will have a few different curl patterns within their hair.

What is Hair Type?

A hair type or curl pattern refers to the shape your strands grow in. Depending on whether your hair follicle is round or more oval shaped, you will have either straight or kinkier hair respectively. Lots of factors can change the appearance of your curl pattern:

• Heat (Straighteners, blow-dryers, etc.)
• Chemicals (Perms, sulfate)
• Weather (Humidity, cold)
• Medication
• Hormones during pregnancy
• Diet
• Stress

While your curl pattern gives you a good idea of how to care for your hair, learning other characteristics about your mane can help you see real results. Hair porosity, for example, influences the products that you should use and the best way to apply them. Understanding your hair is a lifelong journey but identifying your natural hair types is a good way to start showing your hair some love.

Your curl pattern can be categorized into four different groups: straight, wavy, curly or coily/kinky. You  may have heard these types referred to as 1, 2, 3 and 4 respectively. The letter system – a, b and c – further distinguishes your curl tightness into wide, medium and tight. Personally and professionally we prefer the former, but that’s a whole different discussion.

What You Should Know About Your Curl Pattern

Straight

Straight hair grows from round follicles. The lack of curls allows the natural oils to easily travel from the root to the ends, resulting in more oily hair. Straight hair is extremely resilient which decreases the chance for damage but makes it extremely hard to curl.

For best style:

• Cleanse your hair every other day to reduce greasy, stringy hair.

Wavy

Often coupled with straight hair, wavy hair ranges from extremely loose (almost straight) to deeper S-shaped curls. Girls with wavy hair are often prone to frizzing especially in humid weather.

For best wavy pattern:

• Use a cleansing shampoo every 2-3 days for looser waves and every 3-5 days for deeper pattern
• Apply foam or lightweight serums to style because creams and oils may weigh down your hair

Curly

These spirals or ringlets will make an S-shape when stretched and range in width from the size of sidewalk chalk to that of a straw. Curly hair is also likely to be drier which increases the chance for damage and excessive frizz. Use heat carefully and infrequently to maintain your curl pattern.

For best curls:

• Cleanse the hair about once a week with a sulfate-free product
• Deep condition every 1-2 weeks
• Apply light oil to lock in moisture
• Creams and coil jellies add definition to curly hair; layer a foam over a cream to hold the style (this really gets the party poppin)

Be wary of using too much product as it can weigh down your hair and too little product will cause it to poof and frizz.

Coily/Kinky Hair

This hair pattern looks like a zig zag and is known for shrinkage and tangles. While it may seem stronger, kinky hair is actually the most fragile and prone to breakage of all the natural hair types. Natural oils do not move down the strands as easily, causing your hair to dry out but allowing you to go longer without shampooing.

For best coils:

• Shampoo with a sulfate-free cleansing product every 1 to 2 weeks
• Condition and add argan oil or sealant to lock in moisture each day
• Use a hair mask, deep conditioner or treatment every 2 weeks depending on your hair’s needs
• Layer creams, coil jellies and foam over hair to enhance curls and add moisture.

All natural hair types can reveal beautiful and unique curls, but you have to invest and give it proper care. To really live your best curly life, be consistent! Not sure where to start? Book an appointment or a consultation with Salon Brazyl. We are dedicated to healthy hair and the education that comes with it. We’ll help you reveal your best curls and advise you on how to care for your curl pattern.

Hope to see you soon!