How to Tell if Your Hair is Naturally Curly

Let’s be honest, people like to complain. I think one of the biggest complaints I hear on the daily is about people’s natural hair. There seems to be numerous people who are unhappy or upset with the way their hair falls when they wash and dry it to see the natural result. However, if your hair seems to be naturally frizzy or lifeless, there’s a possibility you have naturally curly hair that needs help being restored! Here’s how to tell if your hair is naturally curly.

• Your hair seems to be frizzy no matter what you do. If you just can’t seem to get rid of the frizz no matter what you do, it could easily be your curls trying to break through. And if it’s worse after you try to brush it… That’s definitely a sign.

• It takes what seems like hours to get your hair straight with a flat iron. In addition to the eternal frizziness of your hair, do you notice that it takes super long to straighten your hair? If it takes over than around thirty minutes and your hair still seems frizzy or voluminous after repeatedly being run through a flat iron, and this is a problem, even when your iron is set to the highest setting; your hair is probably concealing some curls!

• When you get out of the shower and let your hair dry, it forms ringlets or dries wavy. If your wet, uncombed hair dries and it’s more wavy than usual or you can even see little curls starting to form, that’s a big hint that you may have a head full of natural curls.

• Humidity gives your hair crazy volume. Of course, nearly everyone’s hair tends to poof up when exposed to humidity. However, it’s more common that less humidity can poof up naturally curly hair, and a humidity percentage that causes other people’s hair to frizz up just slightly can be a nightmare for your hair. In other words, if any sort of humidity gives your hair the wrong kind of volume, there’s a good chance that’s a result of hidden natural curls.

• You have cowlicks that frame your face and make your flyaways curly. If you seem to have excessive cowlicks that are unruly around your hairline, it’s the biggest sign that your hair is curly. A lot of your baby hairs are around the frame of your face, and your baby hairs will grow out pretty curly or wavy if that’s the natural state of your hair. Another telltale sign is that your stingy flyaways curl on their own.

The best way to really find out if you have naturally curly hair, is to spend time treating your hair as if it’s naturally curly. It’s recommended to start the process by getting a trim to remove and damaged hair and start with only healthy strands that can be restored easily. For a month or so, treat your hair as if it’s naturally curly, and try out some restoration products to see if it affects the texture of your hair.

• Hydration. A lot of curlier hair is more coarse and porous, meaning that with improper hydration and conditioning it can frizz and cause numerous split ends. Letting your hair air dry rather than using a blow dryer or excessively wringing it out with a towel is a good way to make sure your hair retains the water it needs.

• Leave in conditioner with keratin. This will be your best friend throughout this process. Paired with a sulfate-free shampoo, leave-in conditioner will allow your hair to restore, rehydrate, and develop its own texture, which can be the key to bringing out those natural curls you’ve been missing out on!

• Hair masks. Hair masks have many purposes, and the best part is that you can buy them or find a recipe to make at home! They’re cheap and super useful. Keep an eye out for the ones that include keratin as well as restoration and rehydration properties. Damage repair and conditioning hair masks are your best bet in an attempt to resurface some waves or curls.

• Little to no heat and minimal exposure to harsh chemicals. This might be the toughest, but most important part of the process. Minimizing contact of heat and products like bleach and hair dyes is important in the efforts to keep your hair conditioned and healthy. While you’re trying to let your hair naturally texturize, it’s best to stay away from unnatural products as well as blow dryers, flat irons, and curling irons.

There are lots of ways to different textures and styles of natural hair that go undiscovered because people miss the signs or unknowingly mistreat their hair type. Hopefully, these steps can help you discover curls in your hair you may not have noticed before. What are some of your tips and favorite products for naturally curly hair?