Designed to enhance natural softness, the curly hair shampoo also quenches and hydrates your decadent spirals, leaving them looking smooth & bouncy.
What Determines Hair Shape?
Curly, textured hair stems from the shape and curvature of the hair follicle, where the hair grows. Coily and very coily hair is due to the hair follicle being curved with the hair growing out of the hair follicle at a small angle close to the scalp. This hair type has an elliptical cross section or looks like an ellipse when the hair is cut straight across. Wavy hair is associated with the hair follicle being inclined rather than curved with the hair strand having an oval cross section.
Finally, straight hair is associated with the hair follicle having little to no tilt with hair growing perpendicular to the scalp. This hair type shows a round cross section when cut. The slight variations in hair follicle curvature and shape lead to the different curl types or patterns.
How Does Curly Hair Differ From Straight Hair?
People often describe their curl type by referring to the curl pattern classification system. Curl pattern is broken down into 4 main categories: curl pattern 1 refers to straight hair, curl pattern 2 to wavy hair, curl pattern 3 to curly hair, and curl pattern 4 to kinky and coily hair. These categories are further divided into subcategories A, B, and C based on the width or diameter of the curl. While this is an oversimplification of the complexities of curly hair, it helps people determine how to better take care of their specific hair texture.
Natural oils produced from the scalp, which help coat and moisture the hair, have a harder time traveling down curly hair strands compared to straight hair; therefore, curly hair needs a bit more moisture. Studies have shown an inverse correlation between hair strength and hair curliness. Curly hair is typically small in diameter and more prone to structural damage from combing and styling. This damage can manifest as breakage and frizz. Curly hair needs to be properly lubricated and conditioned to minimize damage during grooming; however, there is a balance needed so the curls don't become too weighed down. With curly, textured hair having decreased tensile strength and decreased access to scalp lipids compared to straight hair, it needs a bit more TLC.
Does Curl Shampoo Work For All Hair Types?
Curl shampoos, like Curl Defining Shampoo, work best for curly or wavy hair that needs less robust cleansing. The goal of a curl shampoo is to gently cleanse the scalp of excess sebum and the hair of product buildup without compromising the moisture of the hair strands. Typically less surfactant is utilized resulting in less foam but a more gentle cleanse; however, using a curl shampoo on straight hair won’t change the shape of the hair or structure in any way. For those with straight hair, try using our Moisture Bound Hydrating Shampoo for hydration instead.
