Coily, kinky hair is a stunning hair type that is all-around and can be styled in many ways. That being said, it’s also one of the most fragile hair types, so you need to take the necessary steps to style it correctly and keep it hydrated.
In this article, we run through the different types of coily hair – from zigzag patterns to tight corkscrew curls – and introduce you to some tips that will help your coily hair thrive.
What is coily hair type?
Coily hair is the term used to describe type 4A to 4C hair types, as detailed in the table below:
|
Hair type |
Description |
|
4A |
This hair type is defined by springy, S-shaped coils that have a similar circumference to a crochet needle. |
|
4B |
4B pattern strands closely resemble the letter Z and are densely packed. |
|
4C |
Similar to 4B hair, 4C strands are extremely tight coils that are more fragile and feature a very tight zigzag pattern. |
Coily hair is sometimes referred to as kinky hair or afro-textured hair. It is usually springy, spongy, and naturally dry. It is often coarse and wiry, too.
The pros and cons of coily hair
Like all hair types, there are pros and cons to having coily hair, which will impact the way you care for and style it:
Pros:
Most coily hair types experience very little shrinkage when going from wet to dry, thanks to the naturally tight coils.
Coily hair is extremely versatile and can be styled in numerous ways, offering you flexibility when it comes to your styling options.
Most people with coily hair don’t need to wash it very often – once or twice every week should be enough to keep it in good shape.
Cons:
Coily hair – particularly 4B and 4C – is prone to breakage. Therefore, it’s extremely important to hydrate and nourish coily hair to prevent it from drying out.
If you forget to wrap your hair at night, it’s likely to become damaged. As such, it’s a good idea to switch to silk pillows if you have coily hair.
What is the difference between coily and curly hair?
Coily hair and curly hair are often confused, but there are some crucial distinctions to make. In appearance, curly hair can be characterized by soft, loose, or bouncy waves or curls, while coily hair features much tighter corkscrew curls.
On the hair chart, curly hair is classified as 3A, 3B, or 3C, while coily hair is classified as 4A, 4B, or 4C. Understanding the type of curls or coils you have is a crucial starting point, as it marks the styling point for your styling and helps you look after your coils or curls correctly.
Hair care tips for people with coily hair
So, how do you look after coily hair to prevent it from breaking out? Here are some key styling tips to bear in mind:
Wash it infrequently
As alluded to above, coily hair is extremely prone to breakage and can easily dry out. Therefore, overwashing it is a big no-no. For most people, washing coily hair once or twice a week at most is sufficient.
You should slightly detangle your hair before washing it and always use a natural, chemical-free shampoo and conditioner to keep it hydrated and healthy.
As the the differences between coily hair is curly hair is small, you can review the tutorial to wash curly hair properly to help you understand how to correcltly wash your coily hair.
Use a leave-in conditioner
Coily hair requires moisture to keep it in good shape. Therefore, an oil-based leave-in conditioner is a great option after washing and drying your hair. Argan oil is excellent for coily hair and works well as a base for a leave-in conditioner. What’s more, treat your oily hair with a regular hair mask, including ingredients like honey and tea tree oil to add nourishment and hydration.
Protect your hair at night
Coily hair is prone to breakage and damage at night due to the friction from your pillow. We advise you to switch to a satin pillow at home, or at least wrap your hair in a bandana at night to prevent accidental breakage.
Use an ionic hair dryer
As it’s comparatively dry, coily hair is susceptible to frizz. We recommend using an ionic hair dryer like the Laifen Swift Special to eliminate frizz when blow-drying coily hair. Ionic hair dryers emit negative ions that prevent your coils from frizzing, resulting in a sleek, shiny blow dry that looks great. The Swift Special also features adjustable heat settings so you can dry your hair at a low or medium temperature to prevent it from drying out.
Limit heat-based styling
In addition to blow drying your hair on the low or medium heat setting, we advise you to limit your use of heat styling tools like curling irons on coily hair. Coily hair is particularly fragile and will likely dry out when too much heat is applied. So, stick to non-heat-based styling methods to reduce breakage and protect your coils.
Final words
Coily hair is a wonderful hair type to work with as it gives you corkscrew tight curls that are flattering and easy to style in numerous ways. Still, you need to ensure that you look after your coils correctly, adding sufficient moisture and nourishment to prevent them from breaking and drying out.
So, to keep your coils in great shape, wash them with hydrating shampoo once or twice a week, dry them with an ionic hair dryer, and treat yourself to a hair mask at frequent intervals to lock in your hair’s moisture and nutrients.
