#CURL PATTERNS HOW TO#

Straight hair is naturally strong because of the way the hair is bonded. The same curl can be categorized as different type depending on what chart/resource you’re looking at. One of the reasons people opt to ignore the lettering system is because it doesn’t seem to be consistent. Wavy is 2, curly is 3, kinky-coily is 4 with the letters indicating the circumference of the curl. Type 1 is straight, so doesn’t follow the letter guide. Not everyone follows this form of typing, but it’s good to have a ballpark idea of what it means if you’re going to be following curly Instagrammers, YouTubers, or even reading curly forums. My under layers by the nape of my neck are barely wavy and I have some barrel curls near the front of my face.īasic hair types are straight, wavy, curly, and kinky-coily (the 4th has a few different variations on the name, but usually something similar- kinky-curls, kinky/coiled, etc.) One thing you’ll see is these types being put into a number-letter classification system. These are curl types.īefore we start, I just want to remind you that it’s COMPLETELY normal to have multiple curl patterns on your head (as well as density, texture, and porosity.) Rarely do people have uniform curls naturally. Turns out there’s more than just basic denomination of “curly or straight.” I’m sure at this point everyone has seen pictures like my terrible drawing that I did in “paint” pictured above.

#CURL PATTERNS HOW TO#

'The real beauty of identifying your hair type is that you're better at understanding how to care for your texture so you can have more versatility,' explains Anthony Dickey, the curl wizard behind the Hair Rules salon and brand.First on the list of things you didn’t know was “a thing” before diving into the curly world- hair typing. Type As have a wider pattern size, Type Bs medium, and Type Cs the smallest of the three. The sub-classifications of A to C are based on the width or diameter of your wave, curl, or coil. Identifying your curl shape and pattern(s) is best determined while your hair is sopping wet.Ī simple breakdown: Type 1s are straight, Type 2s are wavy, Type 3s are curly, and Type 4s are coily. Most people with textured hair have more than one type of pattern on their head, 'so you may have a combination of, say, kinky, coily, wavy, and curly,' adds François. Your curl pattern is also identified by the shape that the strands of hair make, whether they kink, curve, or wind around themselves into spirals.' 'The flatter or more oval-shaped the follicle, the curlier your hair the more circular the cross-section, the straighter your hair. 'Your curl type is determined by the shape of the follicle that your hair grows out of from your scalp,' says hairstylist Vernon François. When you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission. Follow our easy tip sheet below (complete with recommendations for your hair-care collection) so you can be well on your way to becoming a curl-typing pro.Īll products featured on Allure are independently selected by our editors.

Whether you've got soft bends cascading down your back or tight coils blossoming towards the heavens, there's an easy way to identify exactly what's going on up top. Luckily, we tapped two industry pros who are experts in working with texture to break down some of the finer points of the typing categories. And if anything, you want to at least be able to walk into a store with some idea of what you're looking for to treat your precious crown - and have some baseline knowledge of the best way to style your hair. Power to the people.Ĭontroversy aside, many people have found that even if it isn't perfect, this particular set of guidelines can be super useful in at least helping you identify your curl pattern (or patterns) so you know where to start when you're shopping for hair-care products. It's even gone through a bit of a modification over the years, thanks to folks in the curly community. We're not going to lie: There's been some debate as to whether the typing system is divisive or even too narrow. As it stands now, most folks reference a particular hair typing system for curls, one originally dreamed up by hairstylist Andre Walker. The road to understanding and embracing your texture may be a windy one (because, curls) but it also does not have to be overly complicated. Which you can totally do!īut, if that's not quite your jam, don't fret.

When the strands at your crown are looser than the ones on the sides, and even more different than the hair in the back, it's easy to just throw up your hands in frustration and contemplate shaving it all off. Several different textures can exist on one head of curly hair, which all have to somehow look cohesive when you style it. Decoding your curl type can be confusing.

Curl patterns