The shape of the hair follicle, which is inherited from our parents is the determining factor in whether our hair is straight or curly. If your follicle is round, hair will tend to grow straight, while an oval follicle will give wavy hair and a hooked or elliptical-shaped follicle will give you curly hair.
The fact of the matter is that curly hair takes a longer time to grow longer because it grows in a curl, rather than straight down. But curly hair, as well as straight hair, usually grows about 1/2” per month. So with patience, and with a coordinated plan with your hair stylist, you can have longer hair.
In fact, most curly hair grows at the same rate as straight hair—about half an inch per month on average. The reason the growth isn't as noticeable is because of hair shrinkage, or the fact that it grows out or at an angle rather than straight down.
Moisture is one of the most important factors for longer, stronger strands. In addition to regularly conditioning your hair when you shampoo it, add a regular deep conditioning treatment or a hair mask to your routine to add moisture.
Some brands like Curls have products specifically geared to curl growth liquid hair growth vitamins. Vitamin C and Biotin are also widely known for promoting hair growth. Vitamin C produces collagen which is essential for both healthy hair and skin.
The shape of the hair follicle, which is inherited from our parents is the determining factor in whether our hair is straight or curly. If your follicle is round, hair will tend to grow straight, while an oval follicle will give wavy hair and a hooked or elliptical-shaped follicle will give you curly hair.
All hair textures are biologically the same. Where they differ is in the actual shape of the fiber and the follicle. Curly hair is born deep in the scalp from a curved bulb, and takes its winding shape due to irregularly distributed keratin, the building blocks of hair.
Less than 20% of people have naturally curly hair.
The average hair growth rate is about half an inch every month, meaning we get about six inches of new growth every year. The reason your hair may seem like it's not growing is because curly hair is so fragile that, if not properly taken care of, it may break at almost the same rate that it grows, if not more.
On average, hair grows half an inch per month, or about six inches per year - but with curls, it can feel like a much slower process. "Curly hair grows at the same rate as straight hair," says Dr. Michelle Henry, board certified dermatologist and Clinical Instructor of Dermatology at Weill Cornell Medical College.
Curls adds volume to your hair effortlessly, and you never have to worry about it being flat, limp and lifeless like those with straight hair. Even on days when you straighten your curls, there is always going to be that little amount of volume that will make others go green with envy.
Human hair comes with all sorts of colors, textures and shapes. Notably, African hair is more coiled and dry; Asian hair is straighter and thicker; and Caucasian hair is somewhere in between with around 45% having straight hair, 40% having wavy hair, and 15% having curly hair.
Thick (Coarse)
Thick or coarse hair texture is the strongest hair texture and typically feels coarse or thick to the touch. Coarse hair contains all three hair layers – the cortex, cuticle and medulla.
When your hair grows, that means there is more weight on your roots. The longer your hair grows, the heavier it becomes. This weight pulls your curls and elongates them, which can change the texture of your curls. Sometimes a good haircut can help alleviate the weight to help curls bounce back, but not always.
As it grows in length, the weight of your hair starts to pull down and stretch out your curls, making them look looser. The less weight you have on your ends, the springier your curls will look.
Everyone has a cycle of hair growth specific to them. Hair stops growing once a certain amount of time has passed, not once it reaches a certain length. Therefore, once the hair has reached the end of its growth cycle, it will no longer grow and will either break off, shed, or be cut off at the hairdresser.
Internal factors can lead to hair texture changes, such as your health, stress, or your diet. Ageing is also always an issue. Each of these can affect your curls, which means you should do whatever you can to maintain and monitor your overall health.
Coily Curls
The last, but most rare type of curl is the coily curl. This curl type is similar to that of an afro and when observed carefully, looks like the angular letter 'Z'. These curls require the most amount of moisture, as the hair type is much thicker than the other curl types.
Type 1A hair is very straight and fine, with no waves or curls whatsoever. This hair type tends to get very oily and requires frequent shampooing. It is the rarest hair type and is common among women of Asian descent.
Hair type 1A is super-straight. It doesn't even hold a curl! 1A is the rarest hair type. It is usually found on people of Asian descent.
Uniqueness: Curly hair is less common than straight hair, which can make it stand out and be viewed as unique and interesting. Texture and volume: Curly hair has a distinct texture and tends to have more volume than straight hair, which can be visually appealing and add dimension to a person's appearance.
Over 60% of the world's population has curly hair, yet most research to date has clumped hair into three catchall types - African, Asian, and Caucasian.