The first and most crucial step in styling and taking care of your mane is understanding your hair type. While many individuals mistakenly believe that waves and curls are the same, the two textures differ in a few specific ways. Just keep reading to find out what these qualities are if you’re interested! We’ll examine the distinctions between curly and wavy hair in this post along with anything else you need to know.
Wavy Hair: What Is It?
curly hair
Between curly and straight hair, wavy hair is in the middle and has traits of both. It has less definition than curly hair but much more volume than straight hair. It may also be rough, smooth, sparse, dense, or any combination thereof. True waves have a “S” shaped curl pattern that doesn’t spiral around in a full circle, even though wavy hair differs from person to person.
Types of Wavy Hair
Wavy hair also exists in a variety of shapes and tightnesses, much like curly hair. Since there is a lot of information to remember, we’ll break it down further below.
2a – 2a hair features elongated, loose “S” waves. Given that this variety of wavy hair is the straightest, it frequently lacks volume.
2b – 2b hair is defined by shorter waves with little to no bounce. Instead, they resemble the beach more, with waves that are loosely formed like a “S.”
The hair type 2c has the most profound waves. Despite having a curl-like appearance, 2c hair has an unique “S” shape that isn’t a full circle. The type 2c of wavy hair is the coarsest and most prone to breakage and dryness.
Why Is Hair Curly?
wavy hair
Curls are typically the first thing that springs to mind when people think about textured hair. Each strand of hair with curls forms a spiral as it wraps around. From kinky coils to enormous, bouncy ringlets, there are many various curl patterns that may be seen in hair that is curly. Curly hair is drier and more brittle than other hair types because of its spiral form. The way that the strands of curly hair stick together and form clusters is another characteristic that sets it apart.
Types of Curly Hair
As we previously discussed, the term “curly hair” refers to a group of hair types with various distinctive curl patterns. Each curl pattern is divided into groups based on traits they have in common. The six main types of curly hair will be covered in the sections below.
3a: The coils on this hair type are loose. Each curl resembles a piece of sidewalk chalk in terms of size.
The curls in 3b hair are smaller and fuller than those in 3a hair. The majority of 3b hair is curly, with rare loose spirals or corkscrews.
3c – 3c hair has tightly curled, pencil-thin curls that resemble corkscrews. The type 3c texture is the most dense and coarsest of the three. It is also the driest.
Understanding Wavy vs. Curly Hair (The Differences)
Despite the similarities between wavy and curly hair, you can tell the two apart using a few basic characteristics. The form of the follicles that produce curly and wavy hair are two important distinctions. Curly hair is produced by a flat, oval-shaped follicle, while wavy hair has a disk-shaped follicle.
Another characteristic that sets curly hair apart is that it frequently has a strong, consistent curl that revolves in a 360-degree circle. Nevertheless, from the side, it occasionally appears to be a “S.” The shape of wavy strands, on the other hand, is always resemblant of the letter S, with some strands or sections being more prominent than others. Curly hair often has a continuous curl, but hair that is wavy can be straighter in some places.
Wavy Hair: The Good and the Bad
Wavy hair has some qualities that it excels at and others that it struggles with, just like curly hair has strengths and limitations. The precise benefits and drawbacks of having wavy hair are covered here.
Pros
It is frequently simpler for those with wavy hair to maintain length.
Curlier textures of hair are more prone to dryness than waves.
You can get away with less frequent hair washing.
Depending on how you want to wear your hair, wavy hair can be very versatile and easy to style.
Cons
Wavy hair is more likely to become oily.
You can have trouble with humidity and frizz.
Compared to other hair types, waves might be harder to manage and style.
Your hair might easily lose its definition.
Curly Hair: The Good And The Bad
You can ensure that you’re giving your hair everything it needs while avoiding the things it doesn’t by having a thorough understanding of the ins and outs of curly hair. We’ll examine the benefits and drawbacks of having curly hair to assist you in doing that.
Pros
Compared to straighter hair, curly hair has more volume, fullness, and body.
Curly hair doesn’t need to be washed as frequently as other hair types.
Because curly hair typically holds a look well, your styling options are numerous.
Cons
Because of its extreme fragility, curly hair is more prone to breakage and dryness.
Curly hair can take a long time to style.
Frizz is possible with curls.
Knots and tangles are more likely to form in hair that is curly.
Although wavy and curly hair have many similarities, they are two different hair types with different requirements. Use hair care products and routines that suit your texture once you’ve determined whether you have curly or wavy hair. You won’t be able to provide your hair with everything it needs until then. And with that, we hope this post has answered all of your questions and made clear the differences between curly and wavy hair.