Curl Types
Representation Matters
Representation matters in the hair industry. We hear kids questioning their identity because their hair looks different from the images they see on social media. Adults tell us of knowingly damaging their hair to fit into a societal standard of beauty that isn’t normal for most people. We know of many older people dying their hair because grey means old and not in a good way.
Does it have to be this way? What if grey was silver and foxy? And curly was the new cool? And red was always in? What if we all stopped manipulating our crowns and developed products that would let them be at their best naturally?
Part of our mission is to celebrate the beauty and diversity of natural hair beginning with what we know best, the curly kind.
Discover Your Curl Type
Taking care of your curls starts with knowing more about them
HAIR THICKNESS
How to find your hair thickness
Fine
Find a strand of your hair and run it between your thumb and finger. If you can barely feel the strand, you have fine hair!
Medium
Find a strand of your hair and run it between your thumb and finger. If you can feel the hair but it feels smooth, you have medium hair!
Coarse
Find a strand of your hair and run it between your thumb and finger. If the strand feels dry, rough and thick, your hair is coarse!
Fine Hair
Fine hair is very fragile and much more prone to curl damage using processes such as heat and bleach - be cautious and do strand tests.
Use hair products such as conditioner and curl creams conservatively as fine hair is very easily weighed down with excessive buildup.
Medium Hair
Most hair products were formulated for medium hair and as a result, it's the easiest hair type to care for. Make sure to get frequent trims to avoid split ends.
Course Hair
Coarse hair is prone to drying out, and damage can occur. Alcohol-based products (such as many hair gels) can strip the hair of moisture over time. Look out for alternative products with little or no alcohol.
Adding a deep conditioner to your hair routine will help add moisture, resulting in softer, more nourished curls. Aim to wear the mask for at least 30 minutes, but for maximum effect, keep the mask on overnight.
HAIR POROSITY
A guide on finding your hair porosity
Low
Take a strand of your hair and place it in a clear cup of room temperature water and let it sit for five minutes. If the stand is floating on top of the water, you have low porosity hair.
Medium
Take a strand of your hair and place it in a clear cup of room temperature water and let it sit for five minutes. If the stand is floating in the middle of the cup, you have medium porosity hair.
High
Take a strand of your hair and place it in a clear cup of room temperature water and let it sit for five minutes. If the stand has sunk to the bottom, you have high porosity hair.
LOW POROSITY HAIR
It's often difficult for hair products to penetrate the cuticle in low porosity hair - no matter how much is applied. This often causes dryness and breakage, especially in the ends. Make sure to get regular trims.
Heat helps open up the hair cuticle. Apply products right after a warm shower while there's still steam in the air - you can also deep condition your hair using heat.
MEDIUM POROSITY HAIR
Medium porosity hair is the easiest hair type to care for. It is important, however, to find a good routine as certain treatments (e.g. dry conditioning, overusing protein treatments) can make your hair's properties change over time to either a higher or lower porosity.
Use lighter oils (e.g. jojoba and argan) along with conditioner for softer curls.
HIGH POROSITY HAIR
High porosity hair is known to absorb product well, however it is poor at retaining, and this can lead to dryness and breakage. Avoid any harsh heat or chemical treatments as this can cause the hair cuticle to open further, leading to frizzy and weak hair.
Use thick creams while washing and styling to coat and protect the strands and seal in moisture.