Wavy Vs. Curly Hair：Everything You Want to Know Is Here

If you are styling and conditioning your hair, then making sure you know your hair type is the most important step. Although many people think that waves and curls are the same, there are still some characteristics that make these two hairstyles different. If you want to know what those characteristics are, all you have to do is keep reading! In this article, we'll introduce you to the differences between curly and wavy hair and let you know everything else you need to know.

What is wavy hair?

Wavy hair is somewhere between curly and straight hair, and has characteristics common to both. It has significantly more volume than straight hair, but is less curly than curly hair. It can also be coarse, fine, sparse, dense, or any combination of the above. While wavy hair varies from person to person, it all essentially has an "S" shaped curl pattern and does not curl completely.

Wavy hair comes in varied degrees of form and stiffness. This is difficult information to grasp, so we will break it down further below.

● 2a - 2a hair has loose, elongated "S" shaped waves. This is the straightest type of wavy hair, so it tends to lack not be as pronounced.

● 2b - The waves that make up 2b hair are shorter and have little to no bounce. Instead, they have a more beachy appearance, with loose "S" shaped waves.

● 2c - 2c hair types have the deepest waves. While 2c hair looks similar to curly hair, it has a distinct "S" shape and does not form a full circle. 2c is the coarsest wavy hair type and is most prone to dryness and breakage.

What is curly hair?

When most people think of textured hair, curly hair is the first thing that comes to mind. Curly hair has each strand of hair wrapped around in a coil, forming a spiral. Curly hair includes a variety of different curl patterns, from odd coils to huge, bouncy rings. Because of the spiral shape, curly hair is drier and more fragile than other types of hair, making it prone to tangling and knotting.

Types of curly hair

As previously said, curly hair is a type of hair that has multiple distinct curl patterns. We will walk you through the six main categories of curly hair below.

● 3a - This hair type has loose coils. Each curl is about the size of a piece of sidewalk chalk.

● 3b - The curls that make up 3b hair are finer and fuller than 3a hair. 3b hair has mainly dense loops of curls with occasional loose spirals.

● 3c - 3c hair is very tight, corkscrew-like curls. 3c type is the driest and coarsest of the 3 textures, with a high density.

How do I differentiate between wavy and curly hair?

Although there are similarities between wavy and curly hair, there are still a few key differences that you can use to distinguish between the two types of hair. A key difference between curly and wavy hair is the shape of the hair follicles that produce them. Wavy hair follicles have a disc shape, while curly hair is produced by a flat, oval-shaped follicle.

Another thing that makes curly hair unique is that it tends to have a distinct, uniform curl that wraps around in a 360-degree circle. Although sometimes, when viewed from the side, it may look like an "S". On the other hand, wavy hair is always shaped like the letter S, with some strands or sections more pronounced than others. Wavy hair can be straighter in some places, while curly hair tends to have a consistent curl.

Advantages and disadvantages of wavy hair

Wavy hair also has some advantages and disadvantages. We will discuss the specific pros and cons of wavy hair in depth below.

Pros

1. People who have wavy hair usually find it easier to maintain length.

2. Wavy hair is less likely to dry out than curly hair.

3. You can not have to wash your hair as often.

4. Wavy hair can be very versatile and easy to style, depending on how you like to style your hair.

Disadvantages

1. Wavy hair may be prone to oiliness.

2. You may struggle with frizz and humidity.

3. Wavy hair is more difficult to control and style than other types of hair.

4. Your hair can lose definition quickly.

The pros and cons of curly hair

Knowing the ins and outs of curly hair can help you make sure you're giving your hair everything it needs while avoiding the things it doesn't. To help you do that, we'll look at the pros and cons of curly hair.

Pros

1. Curly hair has more volume, fullness and body than straight hair.

2. You don't have to wash curly hair as often as other types of hair.

3. Curly hair tends to hold its shape well, so you have a variety of styling options.

Disadvantages

1. Curly hair is very fragile and more prone to breakage and dryness.

2. Styling curly hair can be very time consuming.

3. Curly hair tends to get frizzy.

4. Curly hair is more prone to tangles and kinks.

While there are many similarities between wavy hair and curly hair, they are two different hair types. Once you figure out if you have curly or wavy hair, you can use products and hair care regimens that match your texture. Only then will you be able to give your hair everything it needs to thrive.