Curly hair often causes us frustration and trouble when styling and caring for it. Although this type of hair is very beautiful, taking care of and styling it is challenging. Because the texture of curly hair is something between straight and wavy hair, it requires more attention and care.
Not all hair care products are suitable for this type of hair. Therefore, you need to know what kind of hair care or styling products to use for curly hair. In the following, we will discuss some tips for caring for and styling this type of hair.
What Are the Characteristics of Curly Hair?
1. Variation: The apparent curliness of this type of hair changes over time. Sometimes it becomes very curly, while at other times, the curls become softer and less pronounced. The curling pattern can also change based on how it is styled.
2. Weight: People with curly hair often feel heaviness in their hair. Typically, this type of hair tends to fall downward even without any styling products.
3. Frizz: This type of hair tends to frizz more than other hair types. Frizziness gives the hair a messy and untidy appearance.
What Are the Types of Curly Hair?
Next, we will continue to examine the types of curly hair and their characteristics:
Type 2A Curly Hair
This type of curly hair is very similar to straight hair. However, if you look closely, you will see that it has a gentle S shape.
Type 2B Curly Hair
The curliness in this type is stronger and more noticeable than in Type 2A, but the hair remains straight near the roots.
Type 2C Curly Hair
This type of curly hair has more pronounced waves. Additionally, the hair appears to have more volume and the strands are thicker compared to the previous types.
How to Care for Curly Hair?
We will now proceed with an examination of the best methods for caring for and maintaining curly hair:
Hydrate Your Hair
This type of hair often frizzes quickly. Therefore, it is essential to keep it well-hydrated to prevent frizz. Specialists recommend using hydrating shampoos. Try to avoid shampoos with sulfates, as the sulfates can strip away the natural oils from your hair and scalp, leading to dryness.
Avoid Using Hair Dryers
Hair dryers are heat-emitting devices that can damage the cuticle of your hair. The best approach is to let your hair air dry naturally over time. This method allows curly hair to settle better, reduces frizz, and gives a more uniform and attractive appearance.
Use Hair Serum
Since curly hair tends to frizz due to moisture loss, using hair serum can help prevent frizz. It is better to use serums that contain keratin. These serums strengthen your hair strands and eliminate frizz.
Differences Between Curly and Wavy Hair
There isn’t a significant difference between curly and wavy hair. In fact, both types tend to frizz easily, are highly prone to breakage and split ends, and are not very easy to style. However, there are some noticeable differences between the two:
1. Shape: Wavy hair has an S shape, while curly hair has a more spring-like shape.
2. Looseness: Wavy hair is looser and more relaxed compared to curly hair.
3. Retention: Wavy hair can easily lose its shape, whereas curly hair retains its shape more strongly.
4. Styling Needs: Curly hair often doesn’t need much styling, but wavy hair sometimes requires the use of a flat iron or other styling tools to maintain its shape.
5. Dryness: Curly hair tends to be drier than wavy hair.
Styling Curly Hair
We will now examine the best methods for styling curly hair one by one:
Add Volume
If your curly hair is thin or overly soft, try to increase its apparent volume.
Avoid Over-Styling
Curly hair should not be overly styled. If you want your curls to look good throughout the day, it’s better to let them remain in their natural state.
Finger Combing
You can enhance the appearance of curly hair by combing it with your fingers.
Use Low Heat Settings
If you use heat styling tools like flat irons, make sure to set the temperature to the lowest setting.
Conclusion
Curly hair has a beautiful appearance, but maintaining this beauty is not easy. The most common problem that curly hair faces is excessive frizz, which results from the drying out of the hair strands. A regular and thorough hair care routine that deeply hydrates the hair can significantly reduce this issue. Remember that hair styling products and devices like flat irons can damage the cuticle of curly hair.
