CURLY HAIR TYPES:
IDENTIFYING YOUR CURL PATTERN
Whether they're softly spiraled or coily and voluminous, curls are undeniably beautiful. But not all curly hair is the same. Every texture behaves differently—and understanding your unique curl pattern is the first step to keeping your hair healthy and strong.
Loose Curls: Type 2a Hair & 2b Hair
Long, lithe, and lovely, the loose curl bends in gentle s-shaped curves.
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Think: beaches, Sunday mornings, finger twirls. Easy, playful, and fluid, the loose curl is best kept happy with airy sprays and volume-boosting foams. The loose curl needs light ingredients and nourishing hydrators that create fullness and lift—too much weight and these waves fall flat.
Our amplifying range of specially formulated products allows your loose curls to be effortlessly exquisite—with movement, texture, and bounce.
LOOSE CURLS NEED VOLUME
WITHOUT WEIGHT
“With an array of textures—from subtle waves to soft, elongated s-pattern curls—the loose curl type needs light hydration, curl encouragement, and slight definition.
Classic Curls: Type 2c Hair & 3a Hair
Timeless twists and springy spirals: The classic curl is always in style.
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Often imitated but never duplicated, the classic curl has twist and bouncing body. Consistency is key for these type 2c and 3a curls, which loop around again and again. Thanks to their spiraled shape, which forces the cuticle open, these curls are vulnerable to dehydration that can leave them looking dull and frizzy. The Ouidad collection keeps internal moisture levels balanced, so every strand is hydrated on the inside and smooth and shiny on the outside. Consistent use means curls grow healthier over time, while spirals stay defined, resilient, and free of frizz.
CLASSIC CURLS NEED BALANCED HYDRATION
Classic Curls and ringlets move like no other curl. This curl type requires proper hydration for perfectly defined and cascading curls. With lots of moisture and styling products that create definition.
TIGHT CURLS: Type 3b Hair & 3c Hair
Corkscrew cool with a buoyant bounce: Tight curls are compactly coiled, making for brilliant movement and show-stopping volume.
Full of spring and stretch, tight curls crave moisture and will drink up all they can get. Dehydrate the tight curl and it turns unruly, its pattern becoming irregular and expanding into frizz. 3c and 3b hair types require deep hydration to soak into each strand, not sit on the surface. The Ouidad collection quenches thirst at every stage from shower to styling, replenishing moisture at the core of each curl for silkiness, definition, and lasting strength.
Tight Curls Need Deep Hydration
When tight curls needs are met, they come to life and command attention like no other.These curls often need hydration levels restored.
Kinky Curls: Type 4a Hair, 4b Hair & 4c Hair
Bold, beautiful, and naturally voluminous, the kinky curl is made up of thousands of z-shaped strands.
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Defined by a close-knit curl pattern and luxurious volume, kinky curls wind up and out. Yet the tighter the curl, the more difficult it is for oil from the scalp to travel the length of the strand and moisturize. Kinky curly hair struggles to absorb moisture, leaving it prone to breakage. Ouidad’s Curl Immersion™ formulas use monounsaturated oils and fatty acids capable of permeating the strand and infusing the hair with nourishment. Moisture glides on and through each strand, keeping 4a, 4b, and 4c curls healthy, luscious, and defined.
Kinky Curls Need Careful Care
When kinky curls – which are typically coily tight, and springy- fail to absorb moisture, they become de-hydrated and fragile and often need mass injection of deep hydration.