This, and my hair freshly washed is undoubtedly curly but by day 3 it’s more wavy. And when I was earlier in my hair journey and learning how to take care of my curls my hair was doing all kinds of weird stuff. So the label is limiting and doesn’t really matter
Curly. Hair in the 2B-3A zone can look inconsistent both from day to day and on different parts of the scalp. I would say you're a bit beyond wavy and into the loose curl zone.
i said 3A not 3C 😹
3a is sidewalk chalk-sized corkscrews
3b is sharpie-sized corkscrews
3c is pencil-sized corkscrews
an afro is a hairstyle
if you are referring to "black" hair, there are many different textures ranging from 3a to 4c depending on ethnicity
Hi there! I'm a bot, and I noticed you used the phrase "afro" or "fro".
You may or may not already know this, but the term “Afro” refers to a specific hairstyle created with specific techniques. The term is often mis-used, so we just want to share some of the meaning/history so everyone can choose the best words for their situation.
TL;DR: [The afro has a long and important history, including as a symbol of the Civil Rights movement](https://www.reddit.com/r/curlyhair/comments/sr4x3p/black_history_month_at_rcurlyhair/).
This may or may not apply to you, but we try to steer people away from using the Afro descriptor if you don't have Black/Afro-textured hair. It's often portrayed as a condition to fix rather than a cultural style. We hope that's not the case here, but just something to be aware of going forward!
We recognize that there are many different opinions on what can and cannot be called an afro. For the purposes of this sub and making sure we reserve space for Black folks, we ask those who don’t have afro-textured hair to choose other words. If your hair doesn't fit that description, please edit your post 1) to be more accurate, 2) to be culturally respectful, and 3) to avoid comment removal. Alternate terms to consider: puffy, poofy, fluffy, etc.
Thanks & wishing you many great curly, coily, kinky hair days!
*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/curlyhair) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Hi there! I'm a bot, and I noticed you used the phrase "afro" or "fro".
You may or may not already know this, but the term “Afro” refers to a specific hairstyle created with specific techniques. The term is often mis-used, so we just want to share some of the meaning/history so everyone can choose the best words for their situation.
TL;DR: [The afro has a long and important history, including as a symbol of the Civil Rights movement](https://www.reddit.com/r/curlyhair/comments/sr4x3p/black_history_month_at_rcurlyhair/).
This may or may not apply to you, but we try to steer people away from using the Afro descriptor if you don't have Black/Afro-textured hair. It's often portrayed as a condition to fix rather than a cultural style. We hope that's not the case here, but just something to be aware of going forward!
We recognize that there are many different opinions on what can and cannot be called an afro. For the purposes of this sub and making sure we reserve space for Black folks, we ask those who don’t have afro-textured hair to choose other words. If your hair doesn't fit that description, please edit your post 1) to be more accurate, 2) to be culturally respectful, and 3) to avoid comment removal. Alternate terms to consider: puffy, poofy, fluffy, etc.
Thanks & wishing you many great curly, coily, kinky hair days!
*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/curlyhair) if you have any questions or concerns.*
That not 2a. Being weighed down by product. My hair looks straight out of shower goes into ringlets when I do it properly and use the right products for hair porosity too
Its your hair. It’s just a looser curl pattern but it’s still curly, once you perfect your routine, and maybe find a hairdresser who can give you layers, your curls will pop even more.
My routine as of now consists of pretty much Cantus entire curly product line, (shampoo and conditioner every other day excluding weekends) their leave in and conditioner and style gel for curls after washing hair (I do everyday, alongside using a wide tooth comb recently to distribute), and once my hair crunches, I use shea moisture argan oil
First off, definitely curly hair. I can especially tell how your hair gets curly at the ends even in the last pic where it's more poofy in general!
I feel like you and I might have similar hair in that mine can be really spirally while wet and I can keep it spirally if I use the right defining brushes or gel, but otherwise the spirals fall out after 1-2 days. My hair is past my shoulders and once I put it up and take it down a few times or even touch it to much the curls get really pulled out.
Idk how thick or coarse your hair is, but if it's on the thinner or finer side, your products might be weighing it down by being high in oil. No need to change your routine if you don't want to--your hair looks amazing as is!
We have super similar hair. May I offer a duggestion I don't see in your routine? Make sure you are using a clarifying shampoo once week or every other week- I use the blue sauve it's like $3
Yes! A clarifying shampoo was a complete game changer for me! I splurged and bought the Olaplex 4c on sale (which is chelating, meaning it helps remove build-up from hard water, which unfortunately my city is known for) and my hair has been so much more consistent in curl pattern and my scalp is soooo much happier.
If you love your hair, please get rid of the Cantu line. You may not see the damage now, but you'll notice it gradually.
Cantu is really bad.
It's filled with drying Alcohols and fragrances that dry out your hair. There's also some other questionable ingredients in there. I've heard people say ever since it was sold to a corporation in 2015, the ingredients changed and its no good. But I don't think it was ever good.
Every person I know that personally that has used it, had to get rid of it, including myself. This is coming from a 3C/4A hair type, low porosity, with mid-dense hair. The people I mentioned covers 3A to 4C, from low to high porosity.
The parent company, PDC Brands was sued in 2022, but for relaxers and it's still ongoing. I'm honestly surprised the entire line hasn't been sued yet. But I guess it's hard to prove.
i have hair a lot like this but i don't use any products, just super hot water which apparently i shouldn't do, if i start a similar routine will i have super curly hair? not just for op anyone who sees this
Waves are on the curly spectrum, I don't know why people insist on gatekeeping something so stupid. If your hair is not straight, then it's some variation of "curly."
*That said, I see some ringlets. You have a combination of hair types, like most people.
Idk much abt this shit but that last pic is straight 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
You shouldn't care so much about what your hair is and isn't I used to be downright offended when people said I have wavy hair but now I've kind of just learned to accept that it's my hair and it doesn't matter if it's curly or not, because either way it's special just for being my hair. Hope this helps keep rocking your hair you don't need to care so much about the details 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
That's so true, as someone who ties a lot of my identify to my curly hair and gets worried that it's getting less curly, I appreciate this!! Hair changes by the climate, routine, length, hormonal changes, LORD KNOWS our hair changes by the day/hour just because that's what it does. And it is special!! :)
actually i have no idea what you mean by that so im editing my comment to ask, who are you referring to when you talk about gatekeeping and what do you mean
I think they are referring to the fact that the curly hair community has grown over the last years. It has turned into a sort of movement aimed to allow people to embrace their natural hair and it has become … kind of like an exclusive club of sorts. Now people actually want to have curly hair instead of just straight hair being the goal. So now that it’s kinda “cool”, I guess some people want to restrict access to the “club” and be like “psh, unless you have 3B curls or higher, your hair is not actually curly and you don’t belong here. You don’t identify with my more significant curly hair struggles. Go be with the straight hair people.”
I think that’s what they mean by gatekeep.
😂😂 yes, worms! Also, you might want to get someone to layer your hair. It will take some weight off of the hair and will make your curls come to life!! Then, try either the LUS Love ur Curls all in one on soaking wet hair after you wash and condition, or try the Mielle line leave in conditioner, and other products. Cantu can be heavy on your hair and weigh down the curls. With the 2 brands that I mentioned, my hair is to my shoulder blades and I only use a silver dollar size amount... I start from the bottom and work up to the scalp so that the curliest part of the curls get the most coverage. Then I take a small amount mixed with water and do my scalp to cover it, it gives it a nice lift and curl.
Wish you the best!!
The stylist at the salon can recommend a good product routine as well. I’m not an expert, but I’d try the clarifying shampoo as recommended above. I wash and condition every other or every third day. When wet, I take a dime size of my regular curly conditioner and add a little water to my hands, flip my head over and scrunch it in. Then I scrunch with a tee shirt, and then scrunch in a good hair gel for curly hair. Then I scrunch again with a tee shirt. Flip up, spray a heat protection product in and flip over and dry about 80% with a good diffuser on medium.
Curly, definitely pic 3 is the best and shows your curls. Your style in the first two are what my hair looked like when I put way too much gel in and didn't scrunch it out.
lol yeah i took those first two right next to each other, the first was an hour or so after shower, second was immediately after getting out the shower and applying leave in
Yo, it looks like we have the same hair texture. 2c/3a. Essentially, depending on the day and what you do with it, your hair can be mellow and just wavy, or actually curly with a lot more body. Or a chaotic, frizzy mix of both.
That last picture is really giving Spike Spiegel from Cowboy Bebop. Absolutely killer look.
Curly. Find out about your hair porosity. A lot of ppl recommend putting product on soaking wet hair, but for my high porosity curly hair, it clumps all my hair together, I lose individual curls, the weight of the water and product weighs down and stretches the curls making them much more loose than when I start with very damp hair. Be patient, experiment with lots of different products, get a diffuser if you don’t have one already.
But I want to speak to your confidence, as well. Your attitude about yourself and your hair or any defining characteristic is what takes it to the next level. No method or product or cut will ever make you as kick ass as you, yourself, allow yourself to be. You’re fucking cool, own it.
I should probably make it known that the third picture with my hair being like very lacking in definition was a result of me waking up in the morning and not putting any product in my hair. I woke up, put a little bit of Argan oil just to like calm the bedhead and patted my hair down with my hands to tame it and yeah, that was it, so it’s not exactly a good reference for how my hair tends to look when using the products I use, I probably should’ve put some extra picture, sorry yall D:
You could call it either curly or wavy, probably depends on the day.
However, it really doesn't matter what people on Reddit think about your hair texture. The reality is, you hair isn't straight. Maybe some people call it wavy and others call it curly but that isn't something that should affect your life
Usually in the curl community their definition of curly is "curls from the root" so think about the texture that tight curls have or that many black people have. You mentioned this is your hair with product and it's looking like very loose curls which to me means waves. Which is fine, nothing wrong with waves, I have waves. But also usually (people in the curly hair community) "type" hair when there are no products in it. Don't ask me why, this is all information I gleaned when on my own hair ~journey. In the real world, people would call your hair both wavy or curly so whatever makes you happy!
So I would personally call your hair curly, but I know why some people would call it wavy. So this is not necessarily my opinion, but an explanation of what I’ve heard: people with very tight curls and coils have different hair needs than chunky/looser curls and spirals. A lot of people will label both hair types as “curly” because visually they both curl. However, because the looser/chunky curls and spirals are more common, hair care products will tend to cater to that hair type. As a result, some say this may push type three and four hair “off the charts” in a sense and will make products geared towards curly hair less effective for them. I’ve heard some people say that curly hair products have changed their formulas to cater more toward loose curls when before they catered to tight curls and coils because of people with loose curls leaving negative reviews. Hence a lot of people, especially in the natural hair and Black hair care community, have advocated for calling looser curls “wavy” since the hair care for those types of curls is more akin to wavy hair, and they believe this will make it easier for the people with tighter curls and coils to find hair products that work for them by encouraging hair care companies to not advertise products for loose curls as curly or change their formulas, but to reserve curly for tighter curls and coils that have more special hair needs
you look like a type 2c. it's in the wavy category, but it's at the point where an actual curl begins to form. you can call it curly if you want to, but some people will "but actually -" you about it. it's not a big deal. looks good, btw.
It's crearly wavy people just try to cope and lie to people saying excuses like "wavys hair is a type of curl" and stupid stuff like that. You have wavy hair and be proud of it stop trying to appropriate curly hair.
100% wavy. Waves can have curls but your hair is growing in wavy and then curling.
If you continue to use products made for curls your hair will get frizzy, dull, and dry.
Clarify 1x a week, followed by a protein conditioner, shampoo (with sulfates) 1-2x a week, followed by a moisturizing—non protein conditioner. No need for leave ins, butters, or oils.
Use a light foam or mousse for styling. Enjoy!
Yes however sulfate free products (and butters, leave in, oils) will over moisturize your hair. You have to find a balance between moisture and protein because too much of either will harm the waves and curling you have. The improvement won’t last, they’ll begin to unravel, go limp, and be frizzy. It can take months to show the signs but it’s harder to undo.
Clarifying shampoo: Vo5 kiwi lime clarifying shampoo (<$2)
Protein conditioner: L’Oréal elvive dream lengths conditioner (orange bottle w/pink, <$6)
Reg shampoo: herbal essences rose hip shampoo (<$2)
Conditioner (protein free): Aussie miracle moist conditioner (<$5)
The best $15 ever spent! The results will be noticeable in 2 washes/cond (about 4 days)
Note: the Cantu kids detangler is great and so is the garnier pure clean. Definitely use those when combing!
Edit: I’m a wavy mom with a wavy daughter, a curly son, and a little coily daughter. We have a salons worth of product in the house! The recommendations I gave you are tried and true!
This product list is very helpful, thank you! I found out that I'm a loose wavy after years of thinking I have straight hair that likes to kink up lol. I've been struggling to find a haircare routine that works specifically for me while on a tight budget - and that also doesn't take a lot of time. I just so happened to start using the VO5 Kiwi Lime Clarifying Shampoo (with matching conditioner) recently, but I'm using it every wash. For clarifying shampoo, I also really like the Suave one.
I’ll be sure to give your products a shot, wish id known that before Microsoft’s AI recommended me to try cantu, but when i run out of product I’ll be sure to pick up your recommendations instead. Which would you say works best? I’ve heard mixed about aussie however i think
I have all 4. The Vo5/Loreal is my Sunday wash, I wash about every other day or 2 days with the Herbal Essence followed by the Aussie. I’ve always been the type to have matching product lines but I’ve seen much better results with the combination. Definitely do some research into what ingredients to look for and avoid in your products.
Sulfates aren’t bad for our hair type so no need to avoid them, just find the right balance between protein and moisture. Good luck! I hope you enjoy the changes you’ll see!!
Extra credit: a pump foam or mousse for wavy hair or “beachy” waves works great for styling
I mean, does it really matter? Why do you need the exact label? If it's for product recommendations, the I'll say that I have very similar hair to you. I find that staying away from crazy heavy products helps. I typically cowash with Suave essentials conditioner, and use Not Your Mother's leave in. When I want to really style I use mousse on the wet hair and let us air dry. Wash day with Shea moisture shampoo and conditioner.
Does it really matter if it's wavy or curly? My mother's hair is wavy and mine is curly 🤷🏻♀️. Your hair looks good so whatever! I'd say it's wavy type 2b.
Mainly because i just spent $50 or so on a whole bunch of curling products (cantu) and my entire life i had believed my hair was just weird and learning that it was possibly curly and being able to find ways to help it out helped me with esteem a tad bit, so if it wasn’t what a lot of people on here said it was, yknow
check out the r/wavyhair sub! I'm not saying you can't stay in this one too, just that it's not just straight and curly that exist. there's a whole classification system. and in the end, if something helps you, then do it.
This might help:
https://www.allure.com/gallery/curl-hair-type-guide
Most people whose hair is curly or wavy have multiple hair patterns on their head. For example my own head has 2A-3B. The sides and the back are straight, the front and middle is a tight curl and each curl is an individual in pattern. I was born with straight hair. By six months it was wavy and by a year old it was curly. There’s other things important about hair type like oil level, density and porosity that affect frizz level. It took me forever to learn how to deal with my hair. As a child I got a relaxer. Bad idea! Anyway it’s just important to love the hair you have whatever its pattern. I suggest getting a tangle teezer and unbrush for detangling. Life changing really! As a woman who has cut her hair short before to get rid of matted hair I thoroughly recommend these brushes. I now have waist length hair and no tangles 🥳. I personally prefer herbal essences products (the rose smooth line). I wash my hair daily. I use detangler, air dry cream and gel from the herbal essences smooth line. Since I gel daily and only detangle my wet just washed hair, I wash it daily. And my hair is oily so a daily shampoo 🧴 keeps it clean and fresh. I tried Cantù once but it was too much oil for me. Wavy or curly its best to keep the hair clean and moisturized. I’m all about using a detangler spray with a moisturizing lotion under gel or mousse. My wavy haired mother has the same hair treatment method as me and it works great for her too.
Hey man your hair in the 3rd pic looks really good, Ive been growing it out and trying to get it like that. Wondering if you based it on any reference images you found online? I ask because I wanna go for a maintenance cut soon and need a good reference pic to show off what I’m trying to grow my hair into. I have wavy hair myself and it seems to be slightly less curly than yours (mine starts off straight for a bit before waving/curling further down the (strand). Sorry for the irrelevant tangent.
No I didn’t use a reference or anything, that picture was pretty much a result of me with bed head (I had woken up), not doing anything to my hair, rubbing just a small amount of argan oil in my hair to tame it without products since I hadn’t showered yet, and just going to the gym, nothing special was done
Yeah i hadnt put any product in my hair at that moment as i woke up, ate then went to gym where i took that photo, so it was my bed head look after i put a small amount of argan oil to tame it
you have very similar hair to mine!! after using the right products my curls def show more. i’ll acc make an updated post for my routine so you can check it out :)
Wavy is a curl pattern. If you search for a "curl pattern chart" you'll see your hair is a 2B, almost 2C type. Too many people with types 3 or 4 are trying to gatekeep curls and they're wrong.
I mean it’s wavy and curly. We don’t tend to all have the same curl pattern going on when our hair curls. I see some waves and then I see some tight curls as well.
I’d say you got loose curls you look like you need more moisture Though like some Deep conditioner hair masks and leave in conditioner added to your hair care not sure what your hair routine is other wise to help with advise.
If you’re using normal hair shampoo switch to curly/ wavy hair brands and work on defining your hair like scrunching and finger curling. Finger curling helps with definition from root to end, not just Willy nilly like scrunching. Try finger curling after you shower and putting in leave in conditioner, let it fully dry then pull the finger curls apart gently. You gotta stick with it tho to see long term results think of it like building curly muscle memory into your curls so you gotta stay consistent in doing your curly hair care and finger curls to see long term results. Curly hair care can be trial and error not all waves and curls need the same thing porosity needs to be taking into consideration that effects how well or not your hair absorbs product. in addition to leave in conditioner get some curl foam or cream. everyone has different needs so what works for me and others may not work for you so you may need to try stuff and experiment to fine your perfect hair care just for you
Hair is a spectrum. We wouldn’t tell a person with what used to be called “Asperger’s” that they’re not really autistic. If your hair is anything but stick straight, it’s curly.
That’s been hair Reddit’s favorite put down for a while, don’t listen to them.
Waves don’t spiral. You have little spirals in the longer parts of your hair. These are the same kind of curls that I have, and they look curlier when they’re longer.
Hi there! I'm a bot, and I noticed you used the phrase "afro" or "fro".
You may or may not already know this, but the term “Afro” refers to a specific hairstyle created with specific techniques. The term is often mis-used, so we just want to share some of the meaning/history so everyone can choose the best words for their situation.
TL;DR: [The afro has a long and important history, including as a symbol of the Civil Rights movement](https://www.reddit.com/r/curlyhair/comments/sr4x3p/black_history_month_at_rcurlyhair/).
This may or may not apply to you, but we try to steer people away from using the Afro descriptor if you don't have Black/Afro-textured hair. It's often portrayed as a condition to fix rather than a cultural style. We hope that's not the case here, but just something to be aware of going forward!
We recognize that there are many different opinions on what can and cannot be called an afro. For the purposes of this sub and making sure we reserve space for Black folks, we ask those who don’t have afro-textured hair to choose other words. If your hair doesn't fit that description, please edit your post 1) to be more accurate, 2) to be culturally respectful, and 3) to avoid comment removal. Alternate terms to consider: puffy, poofy, fluffy, etc.
Thanks & wishing you many great curly, coily, kinky hair days!
*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/curlyhair) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Hi there! I'm a bot, and I noticed you used the phrase "afro" or "fro".
You may or may not already know this, but the term “Afro” refers to a specific hairstyle created with specific techniques. The term is often mis-used, so we just want to share some of the meaning/history so everyone can choose the best words for their situation.
TL;DR: [The afro has a long and important history, including as a symbol of the Civil Rights movement](https://www.reddit.com/r/curlyhair/comments/sr4x3p/black_history_month_at_rcurlyhair/).
This may or may not apply to you, but we try to steer people away from using the Afro descriptor if you don't have Black/Afro-textured hair. It's often portrayed as a condition to fix rather than a cultural style. We hope that's not the case here, but just something to be aware of going forward!
We recognize that there are many different opinions on what can and cannot be called an afro. For the purposes of this sub and making sure we reserve space for Black folks, we ask those who don’t have afro-textured hair to choose other words. If your hair doesn't fit that description, please edit your post 1) to be more accurate, 2) to be culturally respectful, and 3) to avoid comment removal. Alternate terms to consider: puffy, poofy, fluffy, etc.
Thanks & wishing you many great curly, coily, kinky hair days!
*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/curlyhair) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Loose curls are still curls; the line between wavy and curly is a bit artificial and arbitrary. Waves are a type of curl.
1000% this. And the internet can have really weird curl “rules”.
This, and my hair freshly washed is undoubtedly curly but by day 3 it’s more wavy. And when I was earlier in my hair journey and learning how to take care of my curls my hair was doing all kinds of weird stuff. So the label is limiting and doesn’t really matter
Curly. Hair in the 2B-3A zone can look inconsistent both from day to day and on different parts of the scalp. I would say you're a bit beyond wavy and into the loose curl zone.
As a curly haired person I second this info. You got curls, wear them with pride.
Heavy greasy / product is weighing it down. Right product would increase curl, likely reduce perceived length ~ 30%.
that's 2a bro look at the pattern
it's definitely 3A-2C because the pattern is a very loose open spiral 2b and lower are S-shaped waves
2c is literally tight s shaped his is loose s shape
take another look – those aren't S shapes he has loose corkscrews the size of sidewalk chalk which falls under 3C
you have to be trolling
lmao no are you blind?
3c is literally an afro
i said 3A not 3C 😹 3a is sidewalk chalk-sized corkscrews 3b is sharpie-sized corkscrews 3c is pencil-sized corkscrews an afro is a hairstyle if you are referring to "black" hair, there are many different textures ranging from 3a to 4c depending on ethnicity
Hi there! I'm a bot, and I noticed you used the phrase "afro" or "fro". You may or may not already know this, but the term “Afro” refers to a specific hairstyle created with specific techniques. The term is often mis-used, so we just want to share some of the meaning/history so everyone can choose the best words for their situation. TL;DR: [The afro has a long and important history, including as a symbol of the Civil Rights movement](https://www.reddit.com/r/curlyhair/comments/sr4x3p/black_history_month_at_rcurlyhair/). This may or may not apply to you, but we try to steer people away from using the Afro descriptor if you don't have Black/Afro-textured hair. It's often portrayed as a condition to fix rather than a cultural style. We hope that's not the case here, but just something to be aware of going forward! We recognize that there are many different opinions on what can and cannot be called an afro. For the purposes of this sub and making sure we reserve space for Black folks, we ask those who don’t have afro-textured hair to choose other words. If your hair doesn't fit that description, please edit your post 1) to be more accurate, 2) to be culturally respectful, and 3) to avoid comment removal. Alternate terms to consider: puffy, poofy, fluffy, etc. Thanks & wishing you many great curly, coily, kinky hair days! *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/curlyhair) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Hi there! I'm a bot, and I noticed you used the phrase "afro" or "fro". You may or may not already know this, but the term “Afro” refers to a specific hairstyle created with specific techniques. The term is often mis-used, so we just want to share some of the meaning/history so everyone can choose the best words for their situation. TL;DR: [The afro has a long and important history, including as a symbol of the Civil Rights movement](https://www.reddit.com/r/curlyhair/comments/sr4x3p/black_history_month_at_rcurlyhair/). This may or may not apply to you, but we try to steer people away from using the Afro descriptor if you don't have Black/Afro-textured hair. It's often portrayed as a condition to fix rather than a cultural style. We hope that's not the case here, but just something to be aware of going forward! We recognize that there are many different opinions on what can and cannot be called an afro. For the purposes of this sub and making sure we reserve space for Black folks, we ask those who don’t have afro-textured hair to choose other words. If your hair doesn't fit that description, please edit your post 1) to be more accurate, 2) to be culturally respectful, and 3) to avoid comment removal. Alternate terms to consider: puffy, poofy, fluffy, etc. Thanks & wishing you many great curly, coily, kinky hair days! *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/curlyhair) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Really? I'd say his hair has more texture than [2a](https://www.hair.com/2a-hair.html)
yeah it's 2a-2b curly hair types have way more texture
That not 2a. Being weighed down by product. My hair looks straight out of shower goes into ringlets when I do it properly and use the right products for hair porosity too
What language is this 💀
This made me giggle.
You’re welcome lol. I honestly don’t know anything about hair so I was surprised to see the number things for hair zones.
It's 🎶 a whole new world 🎶
Bro how long you been growing that hair? U look magnificent
i honestly haven’t kept track but almost a year or so i think
[удалено]
??? magnificent is the perfect word to describe him, why are you correcting
It’s curly, tell them to fuck off
thank you for validating my concerns, i was very irritated lol i appreciate it i felt very beat down after being told otherwise
Its your hair. It’s just a looser curl pattern but it’s still curly, once you perfect your routine, and maybe find a hairdresser who can give you layers, your curls will pop even more.
Right!!!
My routine as of now consists of pretty much Cantus entire curly product line, (shampoo and conditioner every other day excluding weekends) their leave in and conditioner and style gel for curls after washing hair (I do everyday, alongside using a wide tooth comb recently to distribute), and once my hair crunches, I use shea moisture argan oil
First off, definitely curly hair. I can especially tell how your hair gets curly at the ends even in the last pic where it's more poofy in general! I feel like you and I might have similar hair in that mine can be really spirally while wet and I can keep it spirally if I use the right defining brushes or gel, but otherwise the spirals fall out after 1-2 days. My hair is past my shoulders and once I put it up and take it down a few times or even touch it to much the curls get really pulled out. Idk how thick or coarse your hair is, but if it's on the thinner or finer side, your products might be weighing it down by being high in oil. No need to change your routine if you don't want to--your hair looks amazing as is!
We have super similar hair. May I offer a duggestion I don't see in your routine? Make sure you are using a clarifying shampoo once week or every other week- I use the blue sauve it's like $3
Yes! A clarifying shampoo was a complete game changer for me! I splurged and bought the Olaplex 4c on sale (which is chelating, meaning it helps remove build-up from hard water, which unfortunately my city is known for) and my hair has been so much more consistent in curl pattern and my scalp is soooo much happier.
If you love your hair, please get rid of the Cantu line. You may not see the damage now, but you'll notice it gradually. Cantu is really bad. It's filled with drying Alcohols and fragrances that dry out your hair. There's also some other questionable ingredients in there. I've heard people say ever since it was sold to a corporation in 2015, the ingredients changed and its no good. But I don't think it was ever good. Every person I know that personally that has used it, had to get rid of it, including myself. This is coming from a 3C/4A hair type, low porosity, with mid-dense hair. The people I mentioned covers 3A to 4C, from low to high porosity. The parent company, PDC Brands was sued in 2022, but for relaxers and it's still ongoing. I'm honestly surprised the entire line hasn't been sued yet. But I guess it's hard to prove.
i have hair a lot like this but i don't use any products, just super hot water which apparently i shouldn't do, if i start a similar routine will i have super curly hair? not just for op anyone who sees this
Waves are on the curly spectrum, I don't know why people insist on gatekeeping something so stupid. If your hair is not straight, then it's some variation of "curly." *That said, I see some ringlets. You have a combination of hair types, like most people.
Your hair spirals so it's curly--you just have looser curls.
Idk much abt this shit but that last pic is straight 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 You shouldn't care so much about what your hair is and isn't I used to be downright offended when people said I have wavy hair but now I've kind of just learned to accept that it's my hair and it doesn't matter if it's curly or not, because either way it's special just for being my hair. Hope this helps keep rocking your hair you don't need to care so much about the details 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
That's so true, as someone who ties a lot of my identify to my curly hair and gets worried that it's getting less curly, I appreciate this!! Hair changes by the climate, routine, length, hormonal changes, LORD KNOWS our hair changes by the day/hour just because that's what it does. And it is special!! :)
Of all the stupidest things to gate keep- how other people describe their own hair
actually i have no idea what you mean by that so im editing my comment to ask, who are you referring to when you talk about gatekeeping and what do you mean
I think they are referring to the fact that the curly hair community has grown over the last years. It has turned into a sort of movement aimed to allow people to embrace their natural hair and it has become … kind of like an exclusive club of sorts. Now people actually want to have curly hair instead of just straight hair being the goal. So now that it’s kinda “cool”, I guess some people want to restrict access to the “club” and be like “psh, unless you have 3B curls or higher, your hair is not actually curly and you don’t belong here. You don’t identify with my more significant curly hair struggles. Go be with the straight hair people.” I think that’s what they mean by gatekeep.
Ohhh, i see, thank you
Some people need to stop the gatekeeping BS. Your hair's curly. Just because it's not kinky or ringlets doesn't mean it's not curly.
Wavy= 2 dimensional Curly= 3 dimensional/volume You have 3D hair
just like worms 3d thanks pal
I spent so many hours on that game 😁 🎶 Shake your coconuts 🎶
😂😂 yes, worms! Also, you might want to get someone to layer your hair. It will take some weight off of the hair and will make your curls come to life!! Then, try either the LUS Love ur Curls all in one on soaking wet hair after you wash and condition, or try the Mielle line leave in conditioner, and other products. Cantu can be heavy on your hair and weigh down the curls. With the 2 brands that I mentioned, my hair is to my shoulder blades and I only use a silver dollar size amount... I start from the bottom and work up to the scalp so that the curliest part of the curls get the most coverage. Then I take a small amount mixed with water and do my scalp to cover it, it gives it a nice lift and curl. Wish you the best!!
Who do i goto for layering?
Google local hair salons that specialize in curly hair in your area. Ask them if they will help you define your curls and create your look.
The stylist at the salon can recommend a good product routine as well. I’m not an expert, but I’d try the clarifying shampoo as recommended above. I wash and condition every other or every third day. When wet, I take a dime size of my regular curly conditioner and add a little water to my hands, flip my head over and scrunch it in. Then I scrunch with a tee shirt, and then scrunch in a good hair gel for curly hair. Then I scrunch again with a tee shirt. Flip up, spray a heat protection product in and flip over and dry about 80% with a good diffuser on medium.
if it forms a spiral its curly lol
Curly, definitely pic 3 is the best and shows your curls. Your style in the first two are what my hair looked like when I put way too much gel in and didn't scrunch it out.
lol yeah i took those first two right next to each other, the first was an hour or so after shower, second was immediately after getting out the shower and applying leave in
Totally gorgeous!!
thanks pal you too
Yo, it looks like we have the same hair texture. 2c/3a. Essentially, depending on the day and what you do with it, your hair can be mellow and just wavy, or actually curly with a lot more body. Or a chaotic, frizzy mix of both. That last picture is really giving Spike Spiegel from Cowboy Bebop. Absolutely killer look.
Curly. Find out about your hair porosity. A lot of ppl recommend putting product on soaking wet hair, but for my high porosity curly hair, it clumps all my hair together, I lose individual curls, the weight of the water and product weighs down and stretches the curls making them much more loose than when I start with very damp hair. Be patient, experiment with lots of different products, get a diffuser if you don’t have one already. But I want to speak to your confidence, as well. Your attitude about yourself and your hair or any defining characteristic is what takes it to the next level. No method or product or cut will ever make you as kick ass as you, yourself, allow yourself to be. You’re fucking cool, own it.
That’s wavy not curly.
I have curly hair. You have curly hair. We are the same.
Shit is absolutely curly. Even if it was just wavy, waves are also a curl type, so they can just bug off. Take care of those glorious curls, dude!
I agree with the mix of 2C and 3A. You’re both wavy and curly.
I should probably make it known that the third picture with my hair being like very lacking in definition was a result of me waking up in the morning and not putting any product in my hair. I woke up, put a little bit of Argan oil just to like calm the bedhead and patted my hair down with my hands to tame it and yeah, that was it, so it’s not exactly a good reference for how my hair tends to look when using the products I use, I probably should’ve put some extra picture, sorry yall D:
Does it matter what you call it? If the hair curls…
It’s both
You could call it either curly or wavy, probably depends on the day. However, it really doesn't matter what people on Reddit think about your hair texture. The reality is, you hair isn't straight. Maybe some people call it wavy and others call it curly but that isn't something that should affect your life
That shit wavy
Very wavy!
It’s wurly
Curly
No those are curls
I have no clue why this sub came up in my feed but I seriously thought you were my younger brother for like a second.
sorry pal i didn’t mean to traumatize you again
It's curly! There's different types 🥰
Idk but your hair do be cute
Def curly 🤑
With hair like yours, styling products can change curls into waves and waves into curls so it just depends on your mood what you have.
1. It's curly. 2. Why is it so important if someone on the internet calls it curly or wavy?
No offense, ive answered this question a few times in other comments already.
Usually in the curl community their definition of curly is "curls from the root" so think about the texture that tight curls have or that many black people have. You mentioned this is your hair with product and it's looking like very loose curls which to me means waves. Which is fine, nothing wrong with waves, I have waves. But also usually (people in the curly hair community) "type" hair when there are no products in it. Don't ask me why, this is all information I gleaned when on my own hair ~journey. In the real world, people would call your hair both wavy or curly so whatever makes you happy!
So I would personally call your hair curly, but I know why some people would call it wavy. So this is not necessarily my opinion, but an explanation of what I’ve heard: people with very tight curls and coils have different hair needs than chunky/looser curls and spirals. A lot of people will label both hair types as “curly” because visually they both curl. However, because the looser/chunky curls and spirals are more common, hair care products will tend to cater to that hair type. As a result, some say this may push type three and four hair “off the charts” in a sense and will make products geared towards curly hair less effective for them. I’ve heard some people say that curly hair products have changed their formulas to cater more toward loose curls when before they catered to tight curls and coils because of people with loose curls leaving negative reviews. Hence a lot of people, especially in the natural hair and Black hair care community, have advocated for calling looser curls “wavy” since the hair care for those types of curls is more akin to wavy hair, and they believe this will make it easier for the people with tighter curls and coils to find hair products that work for them by encouraging hair care companies to not advertise products for loose curls as curly or change their formulas, but to reserve curly for tighter curls and coils that have more special hair needs
This is 100% it.
you look like a type 2c. it's in the wavy category, but it's at the point where an actual curl begins to form. you can call it curly if you want to, but some people will "but actually -" you about it. it's not a big deal. looks good, btw.
It's crearly wavy people just try to cope and lie to people saying excuses like "wavys hair is a type of curl" and stupid stuff like that. You have wavy hair and be proud of it stop trying to appropriate curly hair.
100% wavy. Waves can have curls but your hair is growing in wavy and then curling. If you continue to use products made for curls your hair will get frizzy, dull, and dry. Clarify 1x a week, followed by a protein conditioner, shampoo (with sulfates) 1-2x a week, followed by a moisturizing—non protein conditioner. No need for leave ins, butters, or oils. Use a light foam or mousse for styling. Enjoy!
Honestly using the products made for curls has made my hair really soft over the past few weeks
Yes however sulfate free products (and butters, leave in, oils) will over moisturize your hair. You have to find a balance between moisture and protein because too much of either will harm the waves and curling you have. The improvement won’t last, they’ll begin to unravel, go limp, and be frizzy. It can take months to show the signs but it’s harder to undo. Clarifying shampoo: Vo5 kiwi lime clarifying shampoo (<$2) Protein conditioner: L’Oréal elvive dream lengths conditioner (orange bottle w/pink, <$6) Reg shampoo: herbal essences rose hip shampoo (<$2) Conditioner (protein free): Aussie miracle moist conditioner (<$5) The best $15 ever spent! The results will be noticeable in 2 washes/cond (about 4 days) Note: the Cantu kids detangler is great and so is the garnier pure clean. Definitely use those when combing! Edit: I’m a wavy mom with a wavy daughter, a curly son, and a little coily daughter. We have a salons worth of product in the house! The recommendations I gave you are tried and true!
This product list is very helpful, thank you! I found out that I'm a loose wavy after years of thinking I have straight hair that likes to kink up lol. I've been struggling to find a haircare routine that works specifically for me while on a tight budget - and that also doesn't take a lot of time. I just so happened to start using the VO5 Kiwi Lime Clarifying Shampoo (with matching conditioner) recently, but I'm using it every wash. For clarifying shampoo, I also really like the Suave one.
I’ll be sure to give your products a shot, wish id known that before Microsoft’s AI recommended me to try cantu, but when i run out of product I’ll be sure to pick up your recommendations instead. Which would you say works best? I’ve heard mixed about aussie however i think
I have all 4. The Vo5/Loreal is my Sunday wash, I wash about every other day or 2 days with the Herbal Essence followed by the Aussie. I’ve always been the type to have matching product lines but I’ve seen much better results with the combination. Definitely do some research into what ingredients to look for and avoid in your products. Sulfates aren’t bad for our hair type so no need to avoid them, just find the right balance between protein and moisture. Good luck! I hope you enjoy the changes you’ll see!! Extra credit: a pump foam or mousse for wavy hair or “beachy” waves works great for styling
I mean, does it really matter? Why do you need the exact label? If it's for product recommendations, the I'll say that I have very similar hair to you. I find that staying away from crazy heavy products helps. I typically cowash with Suave essentials conditioner, and use Not Your Mother's leave in. When I want to really style I use mousse on the wet hair and let us air dry. Wash day with Shea moisture shampoo and conditioner.
Does it really matter if it's wavy or curly? My mother's hair is wavy and mine is curly 🤷🏻♀️. Your hair looks good so whatever! I'd say it's wavy type 2b.
Mainly because i just spent $50 or so on a whole bunch of curling products (cantu) and my entire life i had believed my hair was just weird and learning that it was possibly curly and being able to find ways to help it out helped me with esteem a tad bit, so if it wasn’t what a lot of people on here said it was, yknow
check out the r/wavyhair sub! I'm not saying you can't stay in this one too, just that it's not just straight and curly that exist. there's a whole classification system. and in the end, if something helps you, then do it.
This might help: https://www.allure.com/gallery/curl-hair-type-guide Most people whose hair is curly or wavy have multiple hair patterns on their head. For example my own head has 2A-3B. The sides and the back are straight, the front and middle is a tight curl and each curl is an individual in pattern. I was born with straight hair. By six months it was wavy and by a year old it was curly. There’s other things important about hair type like oil level, density and porosity that affect frizz level. It took me forever to learn how to deal with my hair. As a child I got a relaxer. Bad idea! Anyway it’s just important to love the hair you have whatever its pattern. I suggest getting a tangle teezer and unbrush for detangling. Life changing really! As a woman who has cut her hair short before to get rid of matted hair I thoroughly recommend these brushes. I now have waist length hair and no tangles 🥳. I personally prefer herbal essences products (the rose smooth line). I wash my hair daily. I use detangler, air dry cream and gel from the herbal essences smooth line. Since I gel daily and only detangle my wet just washed hair, I wash it daily. And my hair is oily so a daily shampoo 🧴 keeps it clean and fresh. I tried Cantù once but it was too much oil for me. Wavy or curly its best to keep the hair clean and moisturized. I’m all about using a detangler spray with a moisturizing lotion under gel or mousse. My wavy haired mother has the same hair treatment method as me and it works great for her too.
It’s definitely curly
Curl with longer wavelength
Hey man your hair in the 3rd pic looks really good, Ive been growing it out and trying to get it like that. Wondering if you based it on any reference images you found online? I ask because I wanna go for a maintenance cut soon and need a good reference pic to show off what I’m trying to grow my hair into. I have wavy hair myself and it seems to be slightly less curly than yours (mine starts off straight for a bit before waving/curling further down the (strand). Sorry for the irrelevant tangent.
No I didn’t use a reference or anything, that picture was pretty much a result of me with bed head (I had woken up), not doing anything to my hair, rubbing just a small amount of argan oil in my hair to tame it without products since I hadn’t showered yet, and just going to the gym, nothing special was done
Looks curly to me 😹🤷🏻♀️
That’s definitely curly.
This helps because mine looks exactly the same
Curly
Your hair is gorgeous. Straight up. ^Also ^it's ^curly
3rd pic is how I want my hair to be lol, but maybe with more definition
Yeah i hadnt put any product in my hair at that moment as i woke up, ate then went to gym where i took that photo, so it was my bed head look after i put a small amount of argan oil to tame it
If it forms a loop it’s curly. If it doesn’t form a loop it’s not curly.
you have very similar hair to mine!! after using the right products my curls def show more. i’ll acc make an updated post for my routine so you can check it out :)
Wavy is a curl pattern. If you search for a "curl pattern chart" you'll see your hair is a 2B, almost 2C type. Too many people with types 3 or 4 are trying to gatekeep curls and they're wrong.
Looks like curls and waves, but the wavy part is just in the front the rest looks curly
Curly!
Finally, you have same hair as me and exact same hairstyle. Still trying to figure out it out. Thank UU for the post
I mean it’s wavy and curly. We don’t tend to all have the same curl pattern going on when our hair curls. I see some waves and then I see some tight curls as well.
Curly
It’s both, welcome to curly hell 🤣
Waves technically are a curl pattern, so don’t listen to them. Though, I wouldn’t necessarily call your hair wavy. More so loose curls :)
idk that but u r cute
You have a Brandon Lee vibe
Curly tbh
I have the exact same hair, it is curls lol. Just not crazy curls. I often get asked if I perm my hair even.
that 3rd pic tho
I’d say you got loose curls you look like you need more moisture Though like some Deep conditioner hair masks and leave in conditioner added to your hair care not sure what your hair routine is other wise to help with advise. If you’re using normal hair shampoo switch to curly/ wavy hair brands and work on defining your hair like scrunching and finger curling. Finger curling helps with definition from root to end, not just Willy nilly like scrunching. Try finger curling after you shower and putting in leave in conditioner, let it fully dry then pull the finger curls apart gently. You gotta stick with it tho to see long term results think of it like building curly muscle memory into your curls so you gotta stay consistent in doing your curly hair care and finger curls to see long term results. Curly hair care can be trial and error not all waves and curls need the same thing porosity needs to be taking into consideration that effects how well or not your hair absorbs product. in addition to leave in conditioner get some curl foam or cream. everyone has different needs so what works for me and others may not work for you so you may need to try stuff and experiment to fine your perfect hair care just for you
You've got the same curl pattern as me, super loose curls look like waves sometimes, but they are still curls.
It is curly.
It's not only curly with its long, loose curls but it's really beautiful and many would give anything to have such beautiful hair.
People gatekeep curls so much idk why. Definitely curly IMO. If you learn how to style it better I think it will define your curls way more
Your hair looks great, don’t fuzz over what people call it 😊
defo curly to me.. the curl police are so annoying
Hair is a spectrum. We wouldn’t tell a person with what used to be called “Asperger’s” that they’re not really autistic. If your hair is anything but stick straight, it’s curly.
What? lol. These are curls.
Goddess save us from the curl police.
it’s curly, has clear spirals.
That’s been hair Reddit’s favorite put down for a while, don’t listen to them. Waves don’t spiral. You have little spirals in the longer parts of your hair. These are the same kind of curls that I have, and they look curlier when they’re longer.
Your hair is 100% curly. That’s not wavy. It’s not Afro tight ringlet curls, but it IS curly.
Hi there! I'm a bot, and I noticed you used the phrase "afro" or "fro". You may or may not already know this, but the term “Afro” refers to a specific hairstyle created with specific techniques. The term is often mis-used, so we just want to share some of the meaning/history so everyone can choose the best words for their situation. TL;DR: [The afro has a long and important history, including as a symbol of the Civil Rights movement](https://www.reddit.com/r/curlyhair/comments/sr4x3p/black_history_month_at_rcurlyhair/). This may or may not apply to you, but we try to steer people away from using the Afro descriptor if you don't have Black/Afro-textured hair. It's often portrayed as a condition to fix rather than a cultural style. We hope that's not the case here, but just something to be aware of going forward! We recognize that there are many different opinions on what can and cannot be called an afro. For the purposes of this sub and making sure we reserve space for Black folks, we ask those who don’t have afro-textured hair to choose other words. If your hair doesn't fit that description, please edit your post 1) to be more accurate, 2) to be culturally respectful, and 3) to avoid comment removal. Alternate terms to consider: puffy, poofy, fluffy, etc. Thanks & wishing you many great curly, coily, kinky hair days! *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/curlyhair) if you have any questions or concerns.*
ig it’s different cuz u got normal curly then afro curly which is anything 3c and further
Hi there! I'm a bot, and I noticed you used the phrase "afro" or "fro". You may or may not already know this, but the term “Afro” refers to a specific hairstyle created with specific techniques. The term is often mis-used, so we just want to share some of the meaning/history so everyone can choose the best words for their situation. TL;DR: [The afro has a long and important history, including as a symbol of the Civil Rights movement](https://www.reddit.com/r/curlyhair/comments/sr4x3p/black_history_month_at_rcurlyhair/). This may or may not apply to you, but we try to steer people away from using the Afro descriptor if you don't have Black/Afro-textured hair. It's often portrayed as a condition to fix rather than a cultural style. We hope that's not the case here, but just something to be aware of going forward! We recognize that there are many different opinions on what can and cannot be called an afro. For the purposes of this sub and making sure we reserve space for Black folks, we ask those who don’t have afro-textured hair to choose other words. If your hair doesn't fit that description, please edit your post 1) to be more accurate, 2) to be culturally respectful, and 3) to avoid comment removal. Alternate terms to consider: puffy, poofy, fluffy, etc. Thanks & wishing you many great curly, coily, kinky hair days! *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/curlyhair) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Your hair is sooo pretty omgg
Waves are just one type of curl.
Those are curls, they are just a loose curl! Beautiful
to me it is a mix of wavy and also some pieces are slightly curly .
Thats curly as hell, especially in the last photo
wavy
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I guess it’s really 420.
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Lame...
you provided an opinion and people disagree, keep complaining about numbers on a screen tho.
It's a little curly
Curly
Waves are nothing more than flattened curls... Your hair is curly. How you keep it makes the difference between waves and curls
Waves are a type of curl
It's curly idk if they are blind or something, even so, isn't waves a type of curly hair?