The Ultimate Guide To Finding And Caring For Your Curl Type
Everything you need to know about caring for your unique curls.
Whether you recently went natural or have been slaying your naturally curly hair your whole life, chances are good you’ve spent a lot of time trying to figure your curls out. Whether you’ve got loosely waved locks, springy corkscrew curls, or tightly coiled zig zag strands, learning what your curl type needs to look its best will go a long way in helping you curate the perfect hair care routine. Below, we’re breaking down the key components of each curl type and the products you should use in your routine to help them look their best.
If you go back and forth wondering whether your hair is curly or wavy, chances are good you have Type 2 curls. This curl type ranges from loosely waved patterns to more uniform S-shaped curls. Type 2 curls typically flatter at the root, making them the least naturally voluminous curl type. While the curl pattern on other curl types may be obvious with any hair product, if you have Type 2 curls, you may need to rely on a product to coax the shape out of your curls. The lightweight curl cream and gel from the Kérastase Curl Manifesto range will help to define your curl shape without weighing it down.
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Are your curls an undeniable corkscrew shape? Chances are you have Type 3 curls. Type 3 curls often resemble Type 2 curls when wet, but spring into action once completely dry. This more tightly coiled curl pattern can cause this curl type to deal with some dryness. The sebum produced on your scalp helps to provide some much-needed moisture to your scalp and strands, but when you’re dealing with curls, the oils have a much longer journey full of twists and turns to get to your ends. Impart moisture into your strands with a co-wash and curl cream and seal it all in with a hair oil.
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Type 4 curls are the tightest curl pattern around, so tight these curls often resemble a zig-zag pattern. Much like Type 3 curls, this tightly coiled pattern makes it a bit more difficult to retain moisture, so finding products that impart tons of moisture into your strands is the key to touchably soft, defined curls. Not only will moisturizing products make your curls look and feel their best, but they’re also your first and most important defense against shrinkage. Take your moisturizing efforts up a notch on wash day and swap out your regular conditioner for a deeply moisturizing treatment mask.