Identifying your curl type.

Curls are like snowflakes or fingerprints. No two are alike, making it difficult to generalize about curly hair. Some of us are born with tightly coiled corkscrew curls so relentless that not even Superman could stretch them out, or so brittle that they break with the least resistance. Some of us have soft Botticelli curls that frame our face with ringlets, making us look like angels in renaissance paintings. And millions of us have varying degrees of curls and waves and more than one type on one head. some of us don't even know what our curl potential is. Your hair really will evolve once you know how to car for and style it. waves turn into spirals, ringlets into corkscrews, and undefined fractal Afros into well - hydrated, shiny coils.

Curly Cue: The Spring Factor

The tightness of your curls (or spring factor) is a good way to determine which type of curly girl you are. (It's also something your hairdresser should know or be told because it tells him or her how much to cut.) The spring factor is the difference between the length of a curl when it falls naturally and when it's pulled out to it's full length. 

Here's how to check yours: Pull a strand of dry curls down against your shoulder or neck to it's full length. Leave your fingers at the point where the strand touches. Now let go. With a ruler, measure the distance between your finger and where your curl naturally ends. The measurement is your personal spring factor:

9- to 16-inch spring: Fractal or Zigzag

9- to 12-inch spring: Corkscrew

5- to 10-inch spring :Corkicelli and Cherub

5- to 8-inch spring:  Wavy

1- to 2-inch spring: S'wavy

if you have short hair, your spring factor will be about half as long as the figures above.

Corkscrew Curls. 

Beyonce Knoweles,

 

       

 

 

You know you have Corkscrew curls if you have:

` Curls that are contract as tightly as a french poodle's if cut too short.

` Lots of small spirals

` A high frizz factor.

` Hair that appears thickly textured when you look at it all together, but is actually          baby - fine and delicate when you look at a single strand.

(this is why your hair breaks so easily.)

` Hair that soaks up as much conditioner as you feed it

` Tangles and snarls under the top layer of hair at the nape of the neck.

( This is caused by the natural movement of the head throughout the day.)

` a spring factor of 9 to 12 inches.

 

Botticelli Curls.

Shakira,

 

        

 

You know you have Botticelli curls if you have:

` Curls that vary in size and shape. Underneath you may have hermit curls that

can shrink to half the length of those on the outside.

(this is another reason not to cut your hair wet)

` Curls that tend to be looser, in the shape of soft S's, combined

with those that are tight.

` Curls that have a ropier appearance.

` Hair that seems to wilt if it gets too long.

(this is because the weight of the top layer weighs the hair down.)

` Curls that are looser during some seasons and tighter during others.

` A spring factor of 5 to 8 inches.

Corkicelli Curls.

Melina Kanakaredes,

 

        

 

You know you have Corkicelli curls if you have:

` Varying curl patterns throughout your hair's overall landscape: for example, significantly tighter curls around the face and at the nape of the neck, while the rest of the hair is much looser, or vice versa.

(Curls should never be cut when wet, because you would

not recognize these distinct curl patterns on a wet, combed surface.)

` Drier hair with a higher frizz factor if not hydrated properly.

` Curly hair throughout all seasons.

` Hair that appears longer or shorter depending on the weather and humidity.

` A spring factor of 5 to 10 inches.

Cherub Curls.

Taylor Swift,

 

       

 

You know you have Cherub curls if you have:

` Had curly hair from birth

` Baby- fine curls spirals that resemble the hair of a young child

whether you're eight years old or eighty.

` Curls that seems as delicate as gold leaf because they easily

disperse with outside interference such as wind, moving around while

you sleep, or too much touching.

` Curls that are weightless to the touch and have a

translucency to them like a halo.

` A variety of curl lengths on your head.

` Curls that take a long time to grow and never seem to grow past a certain point. (Don't worry, they will grow with the right care.)

` Curls that have a shorter life span because they're so fragile that they break easily.

` A spring factor of 5 to 10 inches.

Wavy Hair.

Megan Fox,

 

        

 

You know you have wavy curls if you have:

` Hair that you've always believed was straight

` Had straight hair when you were very young and possibly wavy after puberty.

` Hair that occasionally develops a natural wave after coming out of

the shower and at the beach.

` A straight halo of frizz on the ends of the hair on humid days.

` Hair that has a tendency to look unmaintained and flat on the crown.

` Hair that can appear straight in the winter.

` Hair that is dry on the ends.

` A spring factor of 2 - 4 inches.

S' wavy Hair

Evangeline Lily,

 

         

 

You know you have s'wavy curls if you have:

` Hair that may appear straight in the winter with no effort.

In fact, you have to work to get waves in your hair

` Low to no fizz factor.

` A natural shine.

` A slight bend at the ends of your hair, depending on the length.

` Hair that looks better when it's layered.

` A spring factor of 1 to 2 inches

Fractal or Zigzag Curls

Laura Izibor,

 

        

 

You know you have fractal or zig-zag curls if you have:

` Curls that might be described as twizzles, micro - spirals, or fractal corkscrews.

` An almost steplike pattern to your hair. it may not look zigzag when you look at your hair as a whole, but it will when you take a closer look at individual curls.

` Hair that is relentlessly dry.

` Hair that's hypersensitive to rough handling.

` Curls that don't change with the season.

 `A receding hairline from having your hair pulled back too tight,

relaxed, or the weight of a weave. (all curly girls are prone to this,

but fractal and zigzag curls are more so than others.)

` A spring factor of 9 - 16 inches.

 

 curly girl. The Handbook by Lorraine Massey