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What is your curl type?
HOW TO
Wavy, curly, coily or textured:read our guide to discover all about your hair type
Find Our What Your Hair Curl Type Is & How To Care For It
We are used to distinguishing straight or curly hair, but now we acknowledge there are so many more types. There are three types of curly hair alone and three of coily or textured hair. If we go beyond the simple distinction between straight and curly hair and go for a more detailed classification, you too may find out that your hair type is different to what you think.
Curl Patterns
There are twelve types of hair. Each type is identified by a number – from 1 to 4– that grows progressively as the hair movement increases. Type 1 refers to straight hair, type 2 to wavy hair and type 3 to curly hair, type 4 is for coily and textured hair. Within each category, there is an additional subdivisioninto A, B, C that describes how the curl winds.
WAVY
2
A B C
CURLY
3
A B C
COILY
4
ABC
Shampoo and conditioner for curls
Caring for curls starts with shampoo. Curly and wavy hair tends to be frizzy by nature, and on the other it may lose vitality and volume. In your curl care routine, you first need a moisturising shampoothat gives elasticity and softness. Follow with a conditioner every time you shampoo, and a swap in a nourishing hair mask once a month. To learn more, read our complete guide with the best Davines products for curly hair.
Wavy hair
Type 2 waves can be very delicate or more evident and develop following an S pattern on lengths.
2A - Wavy and fine hair
The 2A texture is generally flatter at the root, and becomes softer from the ears down to the ends. Being barely visible, this type of wavy hair that can be straightened easily.
2B - Wavy and thick hair
Hair is mostly straight at the roots and fall in S bends that are more defined from the mid-length to the ends. It is a medium texture with some frizz especially around the head.
2C - Wavy and full hair
Waves are defined from the roots. This texture is generally thick or coarse and is prone to frizz.
Styling products for wavy hair
Curly hair
The spirals of type 3 curly hair may range from loose, to tight and bouncy. They are almost always prone to frizzing.
3A - Large spiral soft curls
Curls feature big and large spirals. Ringlets tend to be shiny with a well-defined scroll shape.
3B - Tight spiral curls
This type of curls is characterised by spirals that start right at the roots. Curls are bouncy and are halfway between ringlets and corkscrews. They have volume and tend to be coarse and full.
3C - Corkscrew curls
Usually thick hair prone to frizz and the curl size if fairly tight, typically with the circumference of a pencil or straw. Type C hair is the one with tightest spirals in category 3, and the type that tends to feature the largest volume.
Styling products for curly hair
Coily and textured hair
Often referred to as coily and textured hair. Naturally very dry, thus requiring extra moisture and care. Shafts form small zig-zag curls that are usually tight straight from the scalp.
4A - Tiny coils
This type of hair can shorten up to half its length once dried: the width of the spiral does not exceed that of a pencil.
4B - Z-shaped or S-shaped coils
Zig-zag coils that do not form a true spiral, but rather a less uniform line. Hair is very delicate, with lots of volume and is prone to frizz.
4C - Tight textured hair
These coils have the highest degree of contraction once dried. The spiral is very tight and the hair shaft very delicate.
Styling products for coily hair
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