Have you ever wondered why curly hair looks so different from woman to woman? The answer is due to different hair textures.Curly hair comes in various textures such as waves, springlets, rings, coils and many more. Moreover, sometimes these varied textures can co-exist. Thus, understanding your hair texture and what products and hair-styling methods work for each one can be a bit tricky. However, all your worries end here. Today we bring to you the best treatments for boosting and preserving hair texture.
As we mentioned earlier, curly hair comes in a plethora of textures and understanding your hair texture is the key to choosing the right haircare products and styling methods. After all, what works for one hair type might not work for another. Hence, take some time to identify your hair texture before you start building a haircare routine. Curly hair can be divided into the following textures.
Wavy or Type 2 hair walks the line between being straight and curly. Many times women who have type 2 hair don’t even realise that they have wavy hair and mistake it for straight hair instead. However, if your hair is straighter towards the roots but is curly towards the end, the chances are that you have Type 2 or Wavy hair.
Curly or type 3 hair is nothing but stereotypically curly hair. This hair type features an ‘S’ type curl pattern. The curls can range from loose windy curly to cute tight corkscrews. The density of the curls can also vary, making this one of the most varied curl types.
Type 4 or Coily hair features tight springy curls that form a zig-zag pattern. This type of hair is extremely gorgeous to look at but it is also very delicate. It is also prone to shrinkage and can look shorter than it actually is.
Identifying your exact curl type is the first step to finding the perfect hair care routine for you! Read our guide "Discovering curl types and hair styles".
Now that we have a better understanding of various curly hair textures, let us look at what products work best for each hair type:
Wavy hair is actually quite easy to maintain and style. We suggest starting with a curl-defining shampoo and conditioner. To define your curls better add in a deep conditioning treatment every 4 weeks. Don’t skip a leave-in conditioner if you want healthy curls. Alcohol-free curl-defining gels and tonics also work wonders for this hair type;
Curly hair is prone to dryness and frizz, hence it is important to use hydrating products in your haircare routine. Start with a hydrating shampoo and conditioner to keep the frizz at bay. Sulfate-free leave-in conditioners, creams and serums will give you the beautiful curls of your dreams. Go one step further in nourishing your hair by using natural oils like coconut, argan etc;
Coily hair is prone to damage easily and is extremely sensitive. Start by pre-pooing your hair. This is nothing but using a hydrating hair mask to prep your hair. Go for a sulfate-free shampoo and then use a hydrating conditioner. To keep the hydration locked add in a leave-in conditioner as well. Finally, finish off with a hair mask that is loaded with natural ingredients such as Shea butter, black castor oil, and Almond oil.
Now that you have chosen the right haircare products for your precious curls, let’s move on to one of the most important steps in any haircare routine, i.e. Drying. Improper drying techniques can cause extreme damage and frizz. They can also ruin your natural curl pattern. Hence, choosing the right drying techniques is highly important. The best drying techniques for curly hair are: