prettypolly

Hi

Well I've not posted here in a while! I went away on bit of a long hair journey, and focussed more on length than curl pattern. Then I realised I was just bunning or tying it up all the time and this wasn't helping my hair confidence. So I've cut my hair to just below shoulder length, and I love it!

Anyway, I am getting a bit confused as I call my hair curly but some people think it is wavy.

EDIT!
Just a little edit to ask my question below in a slightly different way

1) how do you define wavy,
2) how do you define curly, and
3) where does wavy stop and curly start?

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The below was part of my original post but it's probably not best to focus on typing systems as they can vary!

Looking at the NC guidelines, I can see that we have:

2C - https://s3.amazonaws.com/naturallycu...s/girls/2c.jpg

3A - https://s3.amazonaws.com/naturallycu...s/girls/3a.jpg

Is it just me or do those two girls have similar hair, except that one is longer? I guess the 3A girl has a little bit more lift, whereas the 2C is flat to her scalp... is that the difference between waves and curls - root lift? What about tightness of curls? I think those 2 have the same tighness.

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2c/3a thick hair, attempting CG again!

Corrina777

It depends on the curl typing system that you're using. NC.com uses Andre Walker's hair typing system. In this system the difference between 2c and 3a is root curl as well as hair texture. 2c is described as coarse and difficult to control. 3a is supposed to be fine in texture (but usually thick in density) and can be straightened easily.

The other commonly used typing system is FIA. In this system 2c is considered strong waves with some loose curls (whirly). 3a is considered a head full of big loose curls. Texture is identified separately (F,M, or C) and the third set of letters is for density (i=thin, ii=medium, iii=thick).

HTH!

Sent from my BlackBerry 9800 using Tapatalk

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3a/f/iii Before the chop- Donated to Locks of Love, January 2013
Modified CG since 11/5/11
CO-WASH: VO5 Vanilla Mint Tea Clarifying, DevaCare No-Poo
CLARIFY: CHS Treatment Shampoo (used prior to PT/DT)
RO: DevaCare One Condition, Regis Olive Oil
LI: Cure Care, As I Am Leave-In
STYLE: Re:Coil, Curl Keeper, Biotera Gel, Deva Ultra Defining Gel, GVP Liquid Sculpting Gel, Curls Rock Amplifier and Strong Hold Mousse
PT/DT: IAGirl's PT, One n' Only Argan Hydrating Mask

prettypolly

Hmmm... interesting!!

Maybe I should re-word my question so it doesn't matter which typing system is used!

*goes to re-word OP*

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2c/3a thick hair, attempting CG again!

prettypolly

Just a little bump, still curious about what people think of this!

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2c/3a thick hair, attempting CG again!

dovecurl

This isn't at all what the pictures look like, but I always think of curly as more 3D and spirally. Im not sure what my curl type is, somewhere in the 2c-3a range, but it doesn't match any of the descriptions. So for me a curl would be something i could get to wrap around my finger without holding it, where a wave would just fall off. If I saw the person in the 2c pic though, I'd definitely call her hair curly.

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curl type: 2c/3a
porosity: low
hair strand width: medium
density: thick
elasticity: low-normal
Shoulder length

Ready to get back on the CG bandwagon!

Jessiebanana

My super simple thought is, that no matter what the size curls come around full circle. Like if there were a little rod running through your curls you wouldn't be able to remove it laterally, you would have to slide it down. Waves to me are open curls. Some waves are very flat and don't encircle at all and some waves are just short of a circle.

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3C/Fine to Medium/Low Porosity/High Density/Protein Sensitive
Trying to grow my hair long and healthy from pixie length so:
No heat tools
No brushes
No salts
No waxes
No heavy oils
Zero dyes or chemical treatments of any kind!
MoistureMoistureMoisture

Low Poo: CJ Gentle Cleansing Shampoo
RO/DC: DB Pumpkin Seed Curl Moisturizing Conditioner
LI: CJ Curl Assurance Smoothing Lotion

kimmidawn

I don't have a definite system of classifying in my head (other than the official ones), but to me, curls are tighter (ringlets and above) while waves are s-shaped. That's just the way I think of it.

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2b, fine texture, normal porosity & elasticity (CG as of 12/2011)

Low-poo: UFD Rich & Funky
Cowash: VO5 Kiwi Lime
RO: Tresemme Naturals, Aubrey Organics GPB, Ion Effective Care, MillCreek Keratin
PT/DT: IAgirl's PT, GVP CB
LI: KCKT, Cure Care, CJ CCCC Lite
Styling: Curl Keeper, As I Am Jelly, UFD Curly Magic, CJ Curl Queen, TIGI Strong Hold Mousse


http://public.fotki.com/kdawn12/


^^ day 1 of going CG; avatar = 6 months later

prettypolly

I think I am kinda getting it now, after how many years lol!

I've decided I have wavy-to-curly hair

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2c/3a thick hair, attempting CG again!

earthnut

I prefer the fia system because it makes more sense to me to separate the hair properties from each other. I define waves (2) as S shaped, going back and forth but not round and round. I define curls (3) as going round and round, making full revolutions, like a slinky.

2c/3a can mean a head of hair that has both waves and curls at the same time, in about equal amounts. AND/OR it can mean that a head of hair can be wavy with one day/weather/washing/product and curly with another. My hair does both depending on its mood.

Go wurlies!

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2c/3a-M-ii porous, good elasticity, APL, dark brown with a silver lining. Biggest enemy: frizz!