Learning your hair texture is an important part of your naturally curly hair journey. Women typically identify their hair as fine or coarse. But caring for your hair and keeping it healthy means understanding more about it. Once you understand your texture, you will know which styling routines and product combination work best together to enhance your curl pattern to its full potential.
Fine Hair
PHOTO: WATERLILY716
These strands of hair are small and narrow which makes hair more fragile and is often a victim of damage and breakage. If you hold your hair to a light and can almost see through it, you have fine hair. Fine hair lacks proteins (hence why there is little to no volume with fine hair”>, therefore it’s beneficial to apply a protein treatment (every 3-5 weeks”> to rebuild and strengthen hair.
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Vlogger KreativeAllure has fine 3C curls. Watch her video tutorial for an easy DIY strengthening protein treatment:
Fine curly hair holy grails
- Daily conditioner: Curl Junkie BeautiCurls Strengthening Conditioner, Design Essentials Natural Moisturizing Conditioner
- Cleanser: MopTop Bamboo Gentle Shampoo, AG Hair Cosmetics Light Protein-Enriched Conditioner
- Styling product: Carol’s Daughter Hair Milk Nourishing & Conditioning Styling Butter, Ouidad Vitacurl Define & Shine Gel-Cream
- Leave-in: Alikay Naturals Lemongrass Leave-In, Yes to Carrots! Leave-In
Medium to Normal Hair
PHOTO: SUMMER KELLSEY
The most common type of hair. It possesses a lot of bounce and body. Since it is not as fragile as fine hair, ‘medium’ hair can be styled many different ways and usually holds styles well too. Apply hot oil treatments and deep condition regularly–once a week.
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Vlogger Summer Kellsey has medium, low porosity 3C curls. Watch her beginning to end wash-and-go routine for definition and bounce:
Medium to normal hair holy grails
- Daily conditioner:CURLS Curl Ecstasy Hair Tea Conditioner, Eden BodyWorks Jojoba Revitalizing Conditioner
- Cleanser: ACV and baking soda, Kinky Curly Come Clean Moisturizing Shampoo
- Deep conditioner: Aussie 3 Minute Miracle Deep, Cantu Shea Butter Deep Treatment Masque
- Styling product: Camille Rose Naturals Curl Maker, SheaMoisture Curl Enhancing Smoothie
- Refresher: Karen’s Body Beautiful Hair Blossom Moisture Mist
Coarse Hair
PHOTO: LINDAY BARRY
The hair strands are wider. They look and feel thicker. This type of hair is more difficult to break and almost always appears full and voluminous. Coarse hair can take more time to dry and can also be resistant to permanent coloring treatments. Use products that seal in moisture. Coarse curly hair possesses a lot of protein, so using protein-enriched product is unnecessary.
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Vlogger Linda Barry has coarse 4C hair. Watch her routine for definition and moisture:
Coarse hair holy grails
- Cleanser: SheaMoisture Superfruit Complex 10-in-1 Shampoo, Alikay Naturals Caribbean Coconut Milk Shampoo
- Moisturizer: curLUXE Naturals Buttercream, Darcy’s Botanicals Sweet Cocoa Bean Moisturizing Whip
- Deep conditioner: Camille Rose Coconut Water Penetrating Hair Treatment
- Styling product: TreLuxe Curl Supreme Styling Cream, Jane Carter Solution Incredible Curls
For more help on understanding your hair type ask your stylist. S/he may try a simple “trick” – wrap your hair in a ponytail with an average elastic hair tie. If the elastic only goes around once, you have coarse hair; wrapping 2-3 times gives you medium hair and more than 3 times means you have fine hair.
