Curly hair, the queen of bounce and volume.
There's a moment every curly-haired girl can relate to: you've finally had the perfect wash day, your curls are shiny, and then... one wrong move or 83% humidity and the party's over.
Welcome to the world of curly hair, a beautiful, unique hair structure with curls that are as unique as a fingerprint.
But how do you care for that hair properly? How do you know what type of curl you have? And why does it always seem like your friend with the same curls always has a better hair day?
Time to break down the science, care, and realistic tips — because your curls deserve the VIP treatment.
The three types of curly hair
Type 3A – the large spirals
Curl type 3A has loose, shiny coils that are often a bit heavier. They react quickly to moisture, but also lose their bounce quickly if overloaded with too much product.
- Features: Thicker hair with a loose S- or spiral shape, quickly prone to frizz.
- Goal: Maintain volume and bounce without weighing it down.
- Do's: Light leave-ins, curl-defining styling, airy diffusion.
- Don'ts: Too much oil or butter — it will separate the curls.
💡 Expert note: 3A curls love film-forming ingredients like PVP or Polyquaternium-37, which create an ultra-thin, breathable layer that defines the curl without stiffness.
Type 3B – the defined curls with a kick
Curl type 3B is the type that is called “real curls” : well-formed spirals that naturally have more volume.
- Features: Medium to coarse hair, natural bounce, but prone to moisture loss.
- Goal: Maintain hydration and prevent frizz, without losing definition.
- Do's: Regular deep treatments, leave-in conditioning, light sealing.
- Don'ts: Wash or brush too often, this will break the spiral shape.
💡 Lab Insight: Look for products with Cetearyl Alcohol (a fatty alcohol that moisturizes) and Behentrimonium Methosulfate (a gentle detangler). They nourish and soften without weighing you down.
Type 3C – the closed, springy corkscrews
The most intense form within the curly family. These curls are smaller, denser, and can look dry, even if they are healthy.
- Features: Compact spirals, often high curl density, dries quickly or is porous.
- Goal: Maximum hydration and sealing to retain moisture.
- Do's: LOC or LCO method (Leave-in, Oil, Cream), satin pillowcase, styling on wet hair.
- Don'ts: Skipping product “because it takes too much time,” 3C needs love and layering.
💡 Chemical fact: 3C hair has more "cuticle gaps"—small openings in the hair cuticle—that allow moisture to escape more quickly. Ingredients like Cocos Nucifera Oil and Jojoba Oil fill these gaps, creating a smoother texture.
What's Happening in the Lab (and in Your Curls)?
Curly hair has an asymmetrical structure, meaning the hair fiber curves due to uneven disulfide bonds. This makes the hair naturally drier because sebum has more difficulty sliding from the scalp to the ends.
That's why moisture, balance and sealing are the holy trinity for healthy curls.
- Moisture: Hydrating ingredients such as glycerin, panthenol and aloe vera .
- Balance: A combination of protein and emollients to maintain strength and suppleness.
- Sealing: Light oils (such as meadowfoam seed oil or jojoba ) to lock in moisture without buildup.
💡 Bonus: Regular use of mild shampoos prevents film formers and oils from building up, which is the enemy of definition.
Common mistakes with curly hair
- ❌ Washing too often: dries out the curl and damages the natural oils.
- ❌ Using too little product: curls that are too dry = frizz.
- ❌ Brushing too often: breaks the spiral structure.
- ❌ Wrong order of products: first hydration, then sealing!
- ❌ Blindly following all tips from Facebook groups: what works for one person makes another a fluffball.
Ingredients that make curly hair happy
- Panthenol & Tocopherol (Vitamin E): strengthen and protect against oxidation.
- Hydroxypropyl Guar: provides slip and shine.
- Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Water: stimulates the scalp.
- Proteins (e.g. Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein): strengthen the hair structure.
- Plant oils: jojoba, avocado, coconut and meadowfoam are breathable and non-heavy.
💡 Lab tip: If you notice your curls feeling “weak” or lacking bounce, your hair probably needs protein.
Conclusion: curly hair is a work of art
Every curl, whether large, medium or mini, tells a story.
The trick is to learn to listen to your hair, to what it needs today, not what someone else tells it to do.
Curly hair doesn't require a perfect routine, but attention, balance, and patience . And if you give it your all? You'll end up with curls that dance as if filmed in slow motion.