Many times when we discuss “black hair”, “natural hair” or “ethnic hair” we are talking about one category of black hair and forgetting that not all people of color have the same hair type. Because many people of color have mixed heritage (no pun intended), no one description will suffice to define how everyone’s hair will look or behave under any givens circumstance.

Our hair comes in three broad categories which can be broken down into sub-categories. In general the majority of people of color have hair that could be defined as wavy, curly or coily to one degree or another. Our three basic hair types are coily, curly, and wavy.

Coily Hair Types

Coily hair can appear to be very strong and durable. It is actually the most fragile of all hair types because it has the fewest cuticle layers. It can be is fine and thin or course and wiry. It doesn’t shine but, when healthy it has a sheen and is cottony soft to touch. When it is wet coily hair will usually shrink, and can look up to 75% shorter than what it actually is.

Coily hair defies gravity and when left to its own devices has the tendency of growing up and out before it falls down, which can make it appear thicker that what it actually is. The many coils make it harder for the natural oils from the scalp to reach the ends making it the driest of all hair types and prone to breakage making keeping it moisturized a necessity.

Coily hair strands can coil in to little cylinders ranging from the size of a pen to the size of the spring inside the pen. Strands can be have tight waves that look like the letter “s”. Or they can be more bendy than curvy with strands that are bent on angles like the letter “z”.

Coily hair is the most versatile of all our hair types. With the proper care and techniques can be very easy to manage

Curly Hair Types

Curly hair has a looser coil pattern than coily hair. A strand of curly hair can range from looking like a loose loopy letter “s” , well defined ringlets to a corkscrew the size of a large crayon. It is very springy and when pulled will snap right back. It has a lot of body and like coily hair it can appear to be more there that what actually is.

Curly hair usually lengthens with the weight of water when wet but returns to its curly state when dry. But will be come more curly or frizzy when there is humidity in the air.

It shines more than coily hair than but not as much as wavy hair. It usually lengthens with the weight of the water but returns to its curly state when dry. But will be come more curly or frizzy when there is humidity. The many curls also make it harder for the natural oils from the scalp to reach the ends.

Wavy Hair Types

Wavy hair tends to be course. The strands are usually thicker than both curly and coily hair. Each strand is shape like a very loose elongated “s.” Wavy hair characteristically lies close to your head.

It has the most shine of the three hair types. It takes on a straight look easiest of all types but it resists being curled.

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coily hair
written by pamela, June 17, 2008

frizzy. newly BC'd 3 days ago quite dry what do i do it?

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loved it
written by shikha, June 28, 2008

:) 8) cuz i got wavy hair
thanx a lot
aasta lavista

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written by goldenhazel, June 29, 2008

I have coily hair, I am transitioning from relaxer to natural, I love touching my hair. this is all new to me, and I'm excited!

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All three types of hair!!!!
written by Jen, July 03, 2008

:zzz What do I do? my hair at the top is wavy and will not curl... then my hair in the center is like a tight corkscrew. Then my hair in the back is coily!!!

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written by a guest, July 30, 2008

My hair is also of different textures. Top is thck and coily, back is like a looser texture at the back. I honestly don't know how to deal with my hair all together.

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