So you have coily hair but are unsure on how you should be looking after it. With every hair type, knowing how to look after it is essential to having gorgeous locks. That’s why we’ve put together an ultimate guide to coily hair, from exactly what it is, to what the best products are to make the most of your natural hair.
Coily hair is the most voluminous of the hair types. It is often referred to as type 4 hair, and can be divided into three subcategories: 4A, 4B, and 4C. It has either very tight coils that begin at the scalp, or ‘Z’ shaped angles. The difference between coily hair and the other curl types is that wavy hair has loose ‘S’ shapes, and curly hair has looser corkscrew-coil shaped curls.
Your hair type isn’t the only thing that should affect how you take care of your hair. Your locks will also have their own hair porosity. Coily hair is often high porosity, but it can be any of the three types:
High Porosity: This hair type has cuticles that are very open, this means moisture can easily enter and leave the hair. Meaning high porosity hair is prone to dryness.
Medium Porosity: The cuticles in medium porosity are less open and let hydration is relatively easy, whilst also not losing this moisture too quickly.
Low Porosity: The cuticles in low porosity hair, on the other hand, are very tightly packed. This makes it difficult for moisture to enter, but once it’s in the hair shaft it retains it very well.
The curl pattern of 4A hair is usually visible, and is made of tight coils, roughly the size of a crochet needle. This coily hair type is very fragile and can be easily damaged so it’s important to look after it carefully and keep it hydrated at all times with rich treatments, leave-ins and butters.
4B hair is the first coily hair type that has a ‘Z’ curl pattern. The strands tend to be very fine and delicate, so it’s important not to manipulate them too often. Reducing the frequency of hair washing is key to prevent the coils from being stripped of their natural oils.
4C hair has a very tight zigzag pattern and is quite fragile. This coily hair type experiences the most shrinkage, so it may seem to grow more slowly when in fact the length is just concealed in the tight pattern. This hair type is very dry as well, so we recommend washing it less often to keep the strands moisturized.
Coily hair is the driest curl type, so you need to protect the natural oils in the scalp. You don’t want to wash the hair too often or you may end up stripping its natural moisture. Coily hair also tends to be quite fragile, so frequent washes are discouraged to avoid too much manipulation. We recommend washing coily hair only 1-2 times per week. You can use either a gentle shampoo like our Vivid Tones Vibrancy Shampoo or our Core Strength Shampoo, or a more moisturising alternative like our Curl Quenching Conditioning Wash.
Even if you wash your coily hair less often, you should introduce a clarifying shampoo like our Wash & Scrub Detox Pro-Biotic in your routine once a month, to really purify the scalp from build-up. Since you are washing your hair much less often, you may want to use a deep conditioner every wash day rather than a traditional rinse-out. Our Double Cream Deep Quencher is great to really quench coils with moisture.
By styling your coily hair, you can really make your curls shine! Using the right techniques and products will make sure your crowning glory always looks its best!
Styling coily hair is easier when it’s in the best condition it can be. Maintaining the right protein moisture balance is key to ensure your results are the best they can be.
Coily hair tends to suffer a lot from shrinkage, so during the night you want to make sure you are not scrunching your hair further. Rather than using a tight bonnet or scarf, we recommend sleeping on a simple satin or silk pillowcase. This will prevent frizz by preventing the hair from scratching on harsh cotton fibers. If your coily hair is longer, you may want to tie it in a pineapple style with a loose satin scrunchie before going to sleep.
Since coily hair is washed less often, you might want to consider refreshing them in between washes, in order for your style to last longer.
Curlsmith was inspired by previous generations home remedies for hair care. From this evolved the gourmet, premium products you know today. We wouldn't be here without the help and collaboration of beauty experts, world renowned trichologists, bloggers and most importantly you! We learnt what curly hair girls needed most by taking to the streets and asking those important questions. From reinforced hair, provided by our strength range, to intense hydration provided by our moisture line; from follicle stimulation provided by our scalp range to fun pops of colors provided by our color range. We were then able to create formulas for our products to help solve the problems that curly hair faces daily.
