Curly Lifestyle : Curl Types
To guide you in caring for your curls and to best identify your curl type, we consulted with the original Curly Girl, Lorraine Massey. While there are numerous types of curls, most can be categorized into four curl types: corkscrew, botticelli, wavy and s’wavy.
Corkscrew Curls
- Curls that contract tightly if cut too short
- Lots of small spirals
- A high frizz factor
- Hair that appears thickly textured when you look at it all together, but is actually baby-fine and delicate when you look at a single strand
- Hair that soaks up as much conditioner as you feed it
- Tangles and snarls under the top layer of hair at the nape of the neck
- Has a spring factor of 9 to 12 inches (natural curl-to-curl pulled to its full length)
Botticelli Curls
- Curls that vary in size and shape
- Tend to be looser, in the shape of soft S’s, combined with those that are tight
- Have a ropier appearance
- Seems to wilt if it gets too long
- Looser during some seasons and tighter during others
- Has a spring factor of 5 to 8 inches (natural curl-to-curl pulled to its full length)
Wavy Curls
- Hair you’ve always believed was straight
- You had straight hair when very young and possibly wavy hair after puberty
- Hair that occasionally develops a natural wave after a shower and at the beach
- A slight halo of frizz and frizz on the ends during humid days
- Has a tendency to look unmaintained and flat on the crown
- Appears straight in the winter
- Is dry on the ends
- Has a spring factor of 2 to 4 inches (natural curl-to-curl pulled to its full length)
S'wavy Curls
- Hair that may appear straight in the winter with no effort. You may have to work to create waves
- Low to no frizz factor
- Has a natural shine
- A slight bend at the ends depending on the length
- Looks better when it’s layered
- Has a spring factor of 1 to 2 inches (natural curl-to-curl pulled to it’s full length)
