Curly Hair Guide: What's Your Curly Pattern?

So you bought hair products with the word “curl” on the bottles and watched a few tutorials by a YouTuber with your dream curls, but for some reason, your virgin hair bundles with closure still aren't coming out the way you want it to. Let’s take a step back: Do you have the same curl pattern as the person whose curls you're envying? If not, you may be setting your curls up to fail.

If you are new to the world of natural curls, getting to know your curl pattern can help you discover styling techniques and products that will work for you.

What’s a curl pattern?

At NaturallyCurly, we find it useful to divide curl patterns into two main groups: wavy and curly. We know “curly” means a lot of things to a lot of people, and we wince when we see comments on social media saying, “Those aren't real curls, those are just waves!” We have no tolerance for comments that insinuate that one curl pattern is better than another. It goes without saying, but we’ll say it anyway: We want women of all curl patterns to love and embrace their hair. This texture-typing system is not meant to be divisive, but to provide guidance that will help you care for and style your mane.

Where to start

The best time to identify your curl pattern is when your hair such as Brazilian curly hair closure is at its healthiest state; this means moisturized and free of damage. If you have been straightening your hair for the past few years or even months, you may have heat damage. To get a clear idea of your natural curl pattern, it’s best to look at it once you have stopped using heat tools — including blow dryers, flat irons, and curling wands — for at least three months. If the roots are curlier than the ends of your hair, then this is a clear indicator of heat damage, and figuring out your curl pattern may be a struggle until your natural curls grow in and the damaged ends have been cut off.

Wavy Hair

Wavy hair is characterized by S-shaped waves like Malaysian body wave hair. Women with wavy hair typically use mousses, leave-in serums, and heat protectants rather than creams or gels, and are generally most concerned with reducing their frizz and finding products that will give their waves light hold without weighing them down. Those with wavy hair are less likely to avoid certain ingredients like silicones and sulfates, and more likely to use heat-styling tools like flat irons or curling wands.

Curly Hair

This hair has more defined, springy curls that form spirals or ringlets. Those with hair are mostly concerned with reducing frizz and adding definition. They use creams and gels and avoid drying ingredients (like sulfates) to give their curls definition, and they're more likely to avoid drying ingredients in their shampoos.

Curl pattern is only one part of your hair type

You may have realized by now that two women with the same curl pattern can have hair that looks completely different, that is because curl pattern is only one part of the hair type equation. Other important factors are porosity, length, width, and density.