Six Tips for Determining your Curl Type
Generally, people feel it is difficult to maintain curly hair. However, this isn’t exactly true, especially if you take care to maintain them. Curls can look bouncy and lively. They can look gorgeous and interesting. In fact, with the right advice and with usage of the best hair products, you can make your curls perfectly alluring!
The ‘right advice’ refers to knowing about your curl type. In turn, this can help you find the right products for curly hair based on your type. These products include curl-building serums, shampoos, mousses, conditioners, etc. They are special preparations for preventing frizzing of hair, resistance of humidity, and restoring the natural elasticity of hair.
Fortunately, there is a special system to discover your curl pattern. This system was invented by Andre Walker, the hairstylist of Oprah Winfrey. The Andre Walker Hair Typing System uses numbers to classify hair in general. For instance, straight hair is Type 1, while wavy hair is Type 2. Curly hair is Type 3, while kinky/coily hair is Type 4. The system then proceeds to further divide each type into different categories. Every category has an alphabet allotted to it. Let us look at the categories under Types 2 and 3, for they deal with curly hair.
Tips for different curl types
For Type 2A curls – The texture is wavy and tousled. The fine strands take on an S-shape at the ends. It is easy to convert this hair into straight hair, via the usage of special hair products. Nonetheless, this curl pattern lacks volume or lift, especially at the roots. Therefore, there may be an aura of limpness visible, at times.
Type 2 B – The strands take on a flat appearance at the roots. They take on an S-shape only somewhere in the middle. The shape stretches until the ends. Fortunately, this curl pattern has a healthier volume than that witnessed in Type 2 A. The snag is that, unless well maintained, the overall appearance may be a lack of life, and greasiness. Sometimes, there is frizzing at the ends too.
Type 2 C – There is wonderful volume, with the hair appearing to be thick. There is a distinct waviness about this curl pattern, specifically at the roots. However, the hair is prone to dryness, leaving it at risk for heavy frizzing. Sometimes, even the volume appears to be excessive.
Type 3 A – It feels good to have such bouncy and shiny curls! The curls are highly distinct, appearing loose and large. The hair looks good, even uncombed. However, two problems are common – flyaways and frizz.
Type 3 B – The curly hair is rather aggressive and spiral in appearance. The strands are closer to one another, giving the appearance of tightness. The texture is coarse. However, the bounce is very noticeable. Unfortunately, frizzing is a very real problem, since this type loses moisture rapidly and easily.
Type 3 C – The hair strands are thick, awarding healthy volume to the curls. However, the curls are tightly coiled, in fact, excessively so. Therefore, if the hair becomes dry, frizz takes over in a very prominent manner.
