Wear those curls with pride!
BY JULIA BENITO
To our curly-haired queens out there, we know the struggle of living with the constant uncertainty of whether your hair will decide to be on your good side that day. Let’s face it: curls may have a mind of their own sometimes, being gorgeously lush on one day and a mess of frizz on another. However, there is a way to tame your twists and maintain your curly hair — without it running amuck after a sudden breeze.
But first, before we dive headfirst into the fray, let’s get down to the basics of curly hair.
What Type of Curly Hair Do You Have?
Wait, there’s more than one kind? The answer would surprise you. Curly hair doesn’t just come under one big umbrella, which is why knowing what your curly type is would greatly help you determine your course of action. Deciphering this may be confusing, as one person alone can have multiple types of curls on their head, but we’ll try to make this as painless as possible.
In essence, the type of curl you have depends on the shape the strand of your hair makes, whether they slightly kink, curve, or twist into spirals. These hair types are further classified into four main types: Type 1s which are those with straight hair, Type 2 which are those with wavy hair, Type 3 which are those with curly hair, and Type 4 which are those with coiling hair.
Still with us? Good, because there’s more. Aside from the main four types, there are three sub-categories that range from A-C depending on the width or diameter of your wave or curl. For example, Type A would have wider patterns, while Type C would have the thinnest patterns of the three, making it the most curled.
This knowledge comes into play as knowing your hair type can help you see where you should be focusing. For example, those with Type-C hair may be more susceptible to frizzing and would therefore need more hydration and maintenance, such as co-washing (aka washing your hair with sulfate-free conditioner instead of shampoo) every now and then.
On the other hand, those with Type-B hair may have their strands laying closer to the head, which may need more help in gaining volume and texture. Type-4 hair is quite tricky, as it’s naturally on the drier end of the spectrum and would need more hydration and styling products to keep it looking and feeling soft and moisturized.
Hair Porosity
Now that we’ve covered your hair pattern, let’s talk about hair porosity. We know — it’s a lot to take in. However, knowing these things are essential for rocking healthy curly hair that everyone would envy.
Hair porosity is basically how much your hair retains moisture. Knowing this will help you determine what kind of products your hair needs. If your hair has low porosity, then that would mean that the cuticles are more compact, hence less susceptible to receiving hydration — dry hair, in short. Medium (or “normal”) porosity has the best of both worlds: it doesn’t dry too easily and retains moisture well. This type requires arguably the least amount of maintenance. High porosity would mean that your cuticles tend to stay open, allowing them to soak more easily, take longer to dry, and may tangle more often. This type of hair may seem weighed down.
There’s an easy trick to figure out how porous your hair is. Simply place a few strands of loose hair into a bowl and wait. If the hair sinks quickly, then you may have highly porous hair. If it floats on top, it may have low porosity. If it kind of cruises in the middle, then — you guessed it — you’re normal.
So, Now What?
Knowing your hair type and your hair porosity can now help you make better-informed decisions when it comes to shopping for your curly hair-friendly products. For example, thick, curlier hair with high porosity may thrive better with products that are hydrating but lightweight, as this type may be more prone to frizz being more rightly coiled. Straighter hair with higher porosity may need a lighter formula to avoid looking flat and weighed down.
What We Recommend for Curly Hair
Aveda Be Curly™ Conditioner
It’s pretty much common knowledge that hair needs moisture, but did you know it needs protein as well? Curly hair typically has more lifted cuticles with gaps between each layer, leaving it susceptible to moisture loss. Protein helps replenish lost moisture, as well as fortify your strands from within to prevent breakage.
If your hair feels weak and is prone to excessive hair fall, it may need a bit of protein in your hair care routine. However, do be mindful that there is such a thing as protein overload! This usually manifests in extra brittleness and dryness. The key is keeping a watchful eye on those tresses and adjusting as needed.
Ouidad Vitalcurl+ Clear & Gentle Shampoo
The trick to maintaining curly hair is really to find the right balance for your hair type and porosity. This gentle shampoo offers light nourishment and moisture without the harsh detergents and sulfates that can damage your locks. Being more on the light side of the spectrum, those with more porous hair may benefit greatly from a gentle shampoo such as this one.
Goldwell Kerasilk Control Intensive Smoothing Mask
An important aspect of maintaining your hair’s moisture is to regularly use a hair mask, especially for those with drier hair. This intensive controlling and smoothing mask with keratin and silk proteins helps bring dull, dry hair back to life. If frizz is beef you have with your hair, then this mask comes highly recommended. Plus: it contains color protection properties for our curly queens with dyed hair.
DevaCurl WaveMaker
Hair types like Type 2 (wavy) or Type 3 (curly) may need a little help retaining their texture over time. That’s where styling products like the DevaCurl Wave Maker come in. This lightweight product helps enhance the texture of your hair without leaving it as stiff as a stick, allowing you to show off your luscious waves and bouncy curls with ease.
Dyson Supersonic™ Hair Dryer
Hairstyling tools come in handy for days where you want your hair to be sleeker and more defined than usual. Dyson presents an impressive hair dryer that seems to do it all. With a jet of controlled high pressure, high-velocity air, you can dry and style your hair faster and with more precision while preventing heat damage with its built-in heat regulator.
It comes with four styling attachments, one of which being a diffuser — a curly girl’s best friend. This disperses air more evenly for curled hair, stimulating natural drying, helping reduce frizz, and defining your natural hair shape.
Want to explore more hair products? Get what you need on ZALORA Philippines today!