Length is key when your curls are tight because long layers help weigh them down — ask for layers no higher than your chin. To achieve movement and volume, wring excess water out of your hair after washing and work a lightweight product through damp hair to control your curls.
One of the most common reasons for limp curls is too much moisture. Although, curly hair is prone to dryness, sometimes we can go overboard with moisture. When your hair becomes excessively wet, it loses its shape and definition.
The length of the hair can also affect how much weight is on the curl. Longer lengths may work best for thicker spiral types, while shorter layers may be best for finer, wavier types."
Using Heavy Products
If you use products full of butters, oils, silicones, and waxes, they will weigh down your hair much like using too much product will. Opt for lightweight products. These include products with no or low amounts of butters and oils.
Thinning Shears Risks For Curly & Frizzy Hair Types
Making cuts with hair thinning scissors causes curly hair to become more frizzy and prone to split ends and breakage of the curl which, let's be real, no curly haired woman wants their hair to break off.
Protein & Moisture Imbalance
Excessive protein or moisture will cause hair to lose its bounce. Hair is made up of keratin, a natural protein. However, adding too much protein via your products can cause your hair to become brittle, stiff, and weighed down making it appear more limp.
Curly hair almost universally tends to behave better if it's allowed to grow longer. That's because longer hair weighs down the curls resulting in less "pouf." But curly hair can actually look amazing short, provided you get the right cut.
"Curly hair looks best when it's shoulder length or longer, and with a few layers cut in to keep it from looking bottom-heavy or boxy," says hairstylist Garren of the Garren New York salon.
Shoulder-length haircuts look great with curly texture—whether its larger, loose wavy hair, medium-sized springy curls, or smaller ringlets. A mid-length, it's not too long and not too short. Plus, a layered medium curly hairstyle will retain some length, build volume, and amplify the texture of your curls.
Hormonal changes like pregnancy, puberty or menopause can cause your curl pattern to change drastically. The shape of your hair follicles defines your curl pattern and texture, so when your body goes through a major hormonal overhaul, it can also change the shape of your follicles, thus changing your curl pattern.
Sebum, hair products, dirt, and other impurities tend to weigh down thin hair strands. The flatness is even more pronounced for those with fine, straight hair as these residues can travel effortlessly from the roots to the tips.
That's because high-porosity hair has large gaps and holes in the cuticle, making it very easy for the hair to lose moisture; and when moisture evaporates from high-porosity hair, it renders products less effective—which results in loose, frizzy curls.
Even useful products can weigh down your curls when too much is applied. To avoid this, cut back on the amount of product you use to style your hair, adding more only when necessary. Products like hair gel may feel heavy even when used sparingly.
What Kind Of Layers Are Best For Curly Hair? To reiterate, layering is key for curly hair. Many times, the weight of curly hair pulls the curls down and forces it out of shape. When layered, however, curls and coils are more liberated and appear longer and fuller.
Women with curly, textured hair tend to look younger than straight-haired counterparts as they age. Because of the natural volume that comes with having curly hair, thinning is less noticeable. Consider your frizz and volume to be a blessing in disguise! Are you looking for a new young, fresh look for fall?
When you cut your hair, your curls become lighter and springier, which contributes to a curlier appearance – it's basic curly-girl physics. As it grows in length, the weight of your hair starts to pull down and stretch out your curls, making them look looser.
Your curl pattern plays a large role in how long your hair will grow. Very tight 4A-4C curls have a high spring factor and therefore take a long time to grow long. Looser 2A-2C waves achieve length more quickly because they have a smaller spring factor.
What to Ask For: A wavy bob works so well with frizzy hair because it takes advantage of its natural curly texture. To make sure your stylist knows that you want a tousled look, "Ask for a deconstructed bob with loose layers," Dave Stanwell says.
Like all type 2 hair, 2c hair is wavy, but that often feels like a technicality. Your S-bend hair is thick and the waves start at the roots. If you've ever been confused about whether your hair is wavy or curly, it's likely you have the 2c hair type.
Curls tend to be naturally dry, even when you take care of them. Due to their spiraled shape, it's harder for the natural oils produced from your scalp to travel down and coat the strands, which is why they can get so frizzy.
Another misconception is that you should use thinning scissors on curly hair. Whilst curly hair often needs weight removed, this should be done with layers instead. Using thinning scissors on the ends can ruin the curl pattern and give your client frizz.
Using too much conditioner can weigh down your hair, especially if your strands are ultrafine. "We try to use 2 quarters-worth of product," says Cairns. That said, if you have super thick hair that absorbs conditioner easily, Arrojo recommends adding more.
Really thin curly hair may be caused by a number of factors, from age and changing hormone levels to stress and hair breakage. But no matter the reason, there are a few things you can do about it. If your fine, thin curly hair is a new development, you're not alone.