What Curl Type am I?

This can be the tricky part, and it is common for people to have a variety of different curls and waves in their hair. Although the “curl typing” chart can be seen as controversial and can also over-complicate the methods you choose to follow, most of your hair will fit into 1-2 curl categories. The trick is to keep it simple. We have created therapy programs for wavy, curly and coily hair. If your hair creates an “S” shape bend in the hair, sits flat and straight at the roots and has minimal frizz then you are most likely to have wavy hair. If your hair curls around on itself, whether it be large loops or tighter curls, and it generally springs back to its resting length when you stretch out a curl, then you have curly hair. If your hair has natural volume, has more of a “Z” shape pattern and doesn’t spring back to its original resting length once strengthen out, then you have coily hair.

The 4 curl types can be broken down into the following sub-groups:

Type 1- straight

Wavy hair type 2

2a

·         Subtle waves in the hair

·         Hair grows straight down from the roots and waves towards the ends

·         No volume

2b

·         Bigger waves in a loose S-shape pattern

·         Waves start to form at the crown

·         Little-to-no “bounce”

2c

·         Deep waves in the hair that is closer to a curl, almost looping around itself into a curl

·         Subtle “wave families” will begin to form when wet, and is scrunched up towards the roots and released

·         Prone to frizz

Curly hair type 3

3a

·         Larger, loose curls (that can easily drop)

·         Not much shrinkage

·         When wet, if you scrunch your hair up to the roots and release, you will see “curl families” and “curl clumps” appear

·         The direction of each curl will be noticeable

3b

·         Medium-sized loops (curls that can fit around a permanent marker)

·         Can shrink 1-2 inches from wet to dry

·         Well defined curls

·         Definitive “curl families” are visible

3c

·         Tighter, corkscrew curls (that can fit around a pencil or toothpick)

·         More volume at the roots

·         Can have a mix of curls and Z-shape patterns

Coily hair type 4

4a

·         Tight, corkscrew curls smaller than type 3c (that can fit around a toothpick)

·         Even volume from the roots

·         Can be a mix of tiny curls, ringlets and Z-shape patterns

4b

·         Can have Z-shape, zig-zag patterns rather than curl families

·         Can shrink up to 70% from wet to dry

·         Even volume from the roots

·         Very fragile and prone to breakage

4c

·         Can shrink 70% from wet to dry

·         Condensed, very dense texture

·         Difficult to see precise curl patterns

·         Often with poor elasticity, if you stretch out the hair it is unlikely to return to its original shape