COILY HAIR VS CURLY HAIR: WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE?
Even texture enthusiasts may not know the exact differences in hair type, especially when it comes to curls vs. coils. With the two behaving similarly in some instances, and completely different in others, it’s no wonder finding products can seem confusing. Still trying to figure out the exact difference between curly vs coily hair? Read on!
What is Coily Hair?
Coily hair falls under 4A to 4C hair types and is often described as tight, springy, zigzag, or S-pattern shaped coils.
What makes each type special:
H3: Type 4A coils have a dense, curly texture with lots of volume to spare. The size of each curl is about as wide as a pen. The coil texture has more of an S-pattern than other Type 4’s, which is why it experiences much less shrinkage when going from wet to dry.
H3: Type 4B coils have a tiny, zigzag pattern, which is often accompanied by compressed, S-shape coils. It’s very fragile, highly porous, and prone to breakage, so it’s key to take care of it in the form of hydration and deep conditioning.
H3: Type 4C coils are tightly coiled, and its zigzag pattern can be hard to see without stretching it. 4C coils wrap around themselves with little to no drop to the curl. This hair type is the most prone to breakage, so constant moisturization is crucial.
What is Curly Hair?
Curly hair falls under 3A to 3C hair types and is often described as bouncy, soft, loose, big, or corkscrew spiral curls.
What makes each type special:
H3: Type 3A curls feature loose, big spiral curls that are large in diameter and begin to form from the crown. With large soft curls, 3A hair tends to be smoother, so it’s best to work with its natural shape and not overwhelm it with heavy styling products.
H3: Type 3B curls take on a tighter shaped spiral, about the size of your index finger or a standard marker[WC1] . This hair type is usually very voluminous as the spirals create fullness by bouncing off one another. You may notice that your hair is elongated when wet, but as it dries it becomes somewhat shorter (shrinkage).
H3: Type 3C curls are the tightest and most textured of all 3 curl types, with its corkscrew spiral about the circumference of a pencil. This hair tends to be higher in density and more prone to dryness.
Best Coily and Curly Hair Products
Curls, coils, and tight textures all crave moisture — and the key to moisturizing all types of curls is to introduce moisture in every step of the wash, styling, and maintenance process. However, wash day for Type 3 curls might look very different from wash day for Type 4 curls. A rule of thumb is the looser the curl, the more you may need to wash. Yet, the tighter the coil, the more days you can go without needing to wash.
Why? Our scalp naturally produces oils to keep our hair moisturized and healthy — but with tighter curls and coils — these oils don’t always make it all the way down our strands. That’s why our scalps can often feel over moisturized with product build-up while our ends stay dry and frizzy.
As for conditioners, it’s well known that they sometimes have a hard time staying on the curvy parts of the hair. The curlier the hair, the harder conditioners must work to deliver the same benefits, which is one of the reasons why Type 4C coils need a richer conditioner than Type 3A curls.
