Here’s how to work with what you have, instead of wanting something that is not who you are. Your guide to determining your curl type and how to best care for your hair’s natural texture in our Chilliwack hair salon.
We cut all texture hair types, but curly hair friends, this one is dedicated to you. If it’s been years since you’ve trusted partnering with a professional with your curls and are still struggling to find a hairstylist that gets you excited for salon visits, we hope you find this article helpful.
At Create Space Hair Co., we believe work with what you have instead of wanting something that is not who you are. Many of us have the bad habit of blaming our natural hair, rather than learning how to work with it. Our curl specialists are here to provide you with the information you need to embrace your natural texture and have the confidence to maintain it in all its glory between wash days.
Let’s talk about curl types.
When every strand spirals uniquely, it can sometimes seem caring for your curly isn’t dissimilar to solving an algebra equation. Our hair type (straight, wavy, curly or kinky) is dependent on the shape of the follicle and the angle at which the hair emerges. Straight hair grows from a round follicle, while an oval or irregularly shaped follicle gives rise to curly or coily hair. The flatter the angle of growth, the curlier the hair. And every curl is unique and requires different care, so let’s break it down: Straight hair is Type 1. Type 2s are wavy, Type 3s are curly, and Type 4s are coily. The subtypes, A to C, denote the width of your wave, curl, or coil. ‘A’ has a wide pattern, ‘B’ is medium, and ‘C’ is the smallest.
Type 2 Hair incorporates natural waves that can range from barely noticeable to being mistaken for curly hair. Wavy hair tends to be straight when wet and ripples as it dries. It differs from cult hair in its inability to form swirls or twists that wrap around themselves. The key for wavy hair is keeping it nourished while giving it enough volume to move freely, so apply your styling products sparingly and with a delicate touch.
✓ 2A hair: Fine, tousled texture that straightens easily. This texture does best with lightweight leave-ins and styling products applied sparingly, so the wave stays soft, touchable and full of movement.
✓ 2B: Grows straight but starts forming defined S-shaped waves at the crown. Use a gentle cleanser and a light leave-in conditioner to control humidity without compromising volume.
✓ 2C: Usually small to medium waves that form into S-bends as they grow. This shape borders between wavy and curly hair. Balance hydration and hold with a lightweight leave-in and a small amount of styling cream.
Type 3 Hair encompasses hair that curls into springs and corkscrew shapes. When hair is wet, curls usually look like waves but take on a three-dimensional swirl shape as they dry. Each strand of this hair type can be unique. Look for products that are specifically formulated for curls to prevent frizz. This category is the one most likely to involve different hair types (fine, medium or thick) and also combine wavy and coily strands.
✓ 3A: Large, loose curls about the size of sidewalk chalk that roll down from the crown. A light styling cream or serum can help define curls, control frizz and add shine without weighing them down.
✓ 3B: Springy ringlets similar to a Sharpie's circumference. Dry gently with a cotton T-shirt or microfiber towel, then use a lightweight oil or serum to protect definition and moisture.
✓ 3C: Tight corkscrews ranging from a straw to a pencil in size. Choose a creamy, sulfate-free cleanser, layer hydration under a light mousse or styling cream, and apply while hair is very wet to encourage curl clumps.
Type 4 Hair is coily hair, commonly referred to as Afro-textured or kinky hair, is naturally very dry and spongy in texture and can be soft and fine or coarse and wiry. Strands form very tight, small curls of zig-zag right from the scalp and are prone to major shrinkage.
✓ 4A: Dense, springy S-patterned coils about the size of a crochet needle. Layer creams, oils and gels over well-hydrated hair, and consider a creamy co-wash between shampoo days to help retain moisture.
✓ 4B: Densely packed strands with sharp Z-shaped angles. As one of the most charismatic hair types out there, you can really play with how you style your 4B locks. That being said, natural oils find it difficult to make their way through kinky hair, leaving it victim to dryness. And when coils aren’t properly hydrated, they can form clumps of frizz. To fully embrace the beauty that is 4B hair, we want to maximize shine and define each coil. Which leads us to the Kerastase Curl Manifesto line, the ultimate professional care for all curls and coils. Formulated with hydrating Manuka Honey and cementing Ceramide, this line provides your perfect hair routine for hydration, definition and strength. Plus, when you opt for the Curl Manifesto kit, you know you’re getting a tested and proven regime with all the steps you need for your healthiest curls.
✓ 4C: Similar to 4B, but these tightly-coiled strands are more fragile with a tight zigzag pattern, often hard to see. This hair type experiences the most shrinkage of all hair types (approximately 75 percent or more) and is prone to dryness, but is incredibly versatile. We recommend a leave-in conditioner like the Curl Manifesto Crème De Jour Fondamentale Hair Cream from Kérastase. This daily moisturizing frizz-reducing leave-in cream is designed for curly, very curly and coily hair. It is ultra-lightweight, provides hydration, heat protection all while promoting anti frizz.
It’s important to note that having multiple curl types is normal. If you’re unsure what your curl type(s) are, please feel free to book in with one of our hairstylists for a curly hair consultation.
What can I expect when booking curly hair care at Create Space Hair Co.?
You just want to be with a hairstylist who “gets it,” and that’s understandable. With the lack of services and education available on the best care for the curly hair community (particularly for our type 4 beauties), many individuals choose to wait years between their salon visits. At Create Space Hair Co., we strive to make your visit enjoyable, educational and focused on embracing your most natural hair. Remember having bouncy, curly locks atop your head, means you’re a member of an elite squad that carries the marvel of nature. Your natural hair is like wearing art—every strand spirals beautifully in its uniqueness. But caring for these curls can feel overwhelming. When those from our curly hair community come to see us at Create Space Hair Co., they want to know that our stylists understand curly hair techniques, safe products and can achieve a heat-free environment. Here’s what to expect during your curly hair reservation with us (keeping in mind each experience is unique to the individual and hair type) :
Let’s talk about you. Our hairstylists will want to start your reservation with a good chat. We want to know how you wear your hair, your biggest concerns, what you’re looking to get out of your salon visit. For example, if you wear your hair naturally 80 percent of the time or more, we may recommend a curly cut, which is a haircut that takes place when your curls are dry and in their natural state. This allows your hairstylist to shape your hair based on where each curl naturally falls once it’s styled. If you like to mix it up with styling (particularly leaving it straight), you may not want to bother with this cutting method. Since curly cuts focus on the shape of your natural hair, this can mean once straightened, the cut will not appear as even.
Moisture, moisture, moisture. If there’s one thing curly hair craves, it’s moisture. The natural oils produced by the scalp find it harder to travel down the hair shaft due to the twists and turns in curly hair, making it prone to dryness and breakage. This is why we spend more time at the bowl with our curly hair community. Hydration is the marriage of conditioner and water and our hair stylists take the time to ensure your hair is fully saturated so your curls and reap the full benefits.
Detangling with care. We understand detangling can be a step of hair wash day that you dread—especially when you’re leaving it in someone else’s hands. The detangling process starts well before grabbing the Deman brush. Though it’s a valid misunderstanding, shampooing doesn’t cause tangling…if the proper washing technique is used. Our hair stylists understand the importance of washing the scalp really well but never bringing the ends to it to target the ends. Instead we smooth the shampoo in the direction the hair grows. Before the conditioner is applied, more water is a must. Our team rakes through each section five to 10 times before adding more water and squeezing the condition into the hair. We take our time with this step as hydration is the marriage of conditioner and water. When it comes to brushing or combing curly hair, we take a gentler, more patient approach. By detangling the hair when it is wet and properly conditioned (starting from the ends and gradually moving towards the scalp), we are able to save your curls from breakage.
Mind the heat. Excessive heat styling can strip your curls of their natural moisture, leading to damage and frizz. We do not use high heat or high speed drying methods for this reason. Instead, we use diffusing techniques to set and extenuate your beautiful curls.
PRO TIP: We understand drying/diffusing your curls takes time. On at-home hair wash days, try lying on your bed on your stomach with your head leaning over the edge for more comfort (and volume) while diffusing.
Curly Hair Dos and Don’ts
Caring for your curly crown is equally a science and an art—here are our some of our general best practices for caring for our curly hair community (keeping in mind some techniques must be altered depending on your hair type):
DO
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Cutting hair when it’s dry.
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Cutting hair after washing, drying (low-heat), and detangling.
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Maintaining an even hair length all around the head.
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Cutting hair in a circle pattern technique to blend different curl textures and achieve perfect volume.
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Elevating properly for the texture and density of the curls.
DON’T
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Adding tension when cutting curly hair.
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Cutting curls when they’re wet.
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Texturizing curly hair when cutting.
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Cutting hair to the side our guest wears it on. We believe in a balanced approach that allows for versatile styling.
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Using a razor to cut curls.
How often should I wash my curly hair?
First off, you know your hair best. If you find your scalp is getting itchy or your curls just aren’t doing it by day six, then you likely know it’s time to book in that wash day. When it comes to the frequency for washing curly hair, our recommendations will differ for each individual and where your hair lies on the curly hair type scale, we typically recommend once a week. For some of us, this will take rewiring our brain to understand the day old information that dirty hair grows faster is actually a myth. Think of your weekly washes as replenishing your hair with water it is desperately thirsty for. Listen to your scalp and make a habit that works for you.
Just like with cleaning your home, putting it off can cause the task to feel (and be) a lot more work. Removing biological and environmental build up more on a regular basis can be a gamechanger for how your curls look and feel. We have to get out of the mindset of blaming our hair, we just need to get to know our hair and treat it like a queen.
What curly hair products do you recommend?
To find products suited to your specific curl pattern, density and routine, visit us for a product consultation. We carry Shu Uemura, Kérastase, and Metal Detox, with options for hair types ranging from 1A to 4C.
That being said, one of our favorites for almost all hair types, curly hair included, is Elixir Ultime Original Hair Oil by Kérastase. In our opinion, it’s the best hair oil for durable frizz protection for up to 96 hours, providing intense shine and strength, and an incredible long-lasting fragrance halo for up to 24 hours—all while allowing for hydration, which is so important for our curls. We understand oil and water don’t mix. And while you may have heard raw oils and butter “trap in” moisture, you could be leaving your hair high and dry. Water evaporates and with an oil barrier on the hair, it can be difficult to rehydrate. Unlike raw oils and butters that can actually be preventive of hydration, Elixir Ultime Original Hair Oil allows for hydration.
Browse our curly hair collection online, or ask one of our stylists to build a routine around your texture. Products are also available in the salon at 103-46183 Thomas Road in Chilliwack.
Finding Curly Hair Care in Chilliwack, BC
When researching to find a partner for your curly hair care, we highly recommend taking your time and doing your research. With the help of social media, it’s easier than ever to find the right curly hairstylist for you—we highly recommend browsing through your potential stylist’s Instagram, which often acts as their portfolio. If you aren’t seeing past client transformations with a hair type similar to yours, reach out and ask if they have more photos they are able to share with you.
As a team, Create Space Hair Co. is dedicated to continuing to educate ourselves on how to better care for natural hair. We hope that in creating the space for you to come as you are, you feel empowered to embrace your individuality—whether your hair type is 1A, 4C or somewhere in between. It’s all about working with what you have instead of wanting something that is not who you are. To request your curly hair reservation with one of our Chilliwack hairstylists, click here.
