Coily Hair 101: Everything You Ever Wanted To Know About Coily Hair

Some people believe that curly and coily hair type is exactly the same but if you carefully pay attention to how every curl pattern appears, you will realize that coily hair tends to have more curl definition than curly hair. Coily hair type has greater defined spirals with more volume and body. Also unlike curly hair, coily strands tend to be generally thicker in diameter than those with curly hair. As we continue reading about this topic, we’ll be learning more about the different types of coily hair as well as information on effective care for your unique curls.

What Is Coily Hair?

Coily hair has tight curls that are similar to the zig-zag pattern in the hair and those of the circumference of a coiled pipe or hose. As these strands run along the full length, they move in two directions at once and look curly when they bend outwards at the ends because of their zigzag pattern. It has tight Z-shaped strands with some curl definition. The term ‘coils’ refers to how closely the curls are knitted together in the hair and how tightly wound it is, especially when compared to other hair types. Because of its more tightly-wound design, there can oftentimes be more bounce and separation in between each strand than those who have looser curled textures. Coily hair can be very difficult to manage. In its natural state, it is ‘puffy’ and spongy and this explains why it has such a hard time holding on to moisture and why it snaps out of place easily. It’s also important to remember that while detangling coily hair, you have to be even more gentle than usual as this type of hair is prone to snapping at times! However with the proper conditioning beforehand, you should be able to make your detangling go much smoother.

What Is The Difference Between Curly & Coily Hair?

Let’s put to rest this confusion once and for all. Curly hair starts at 3A hair type and continues up in curly degrees of tightness until it reaches Type 4B hair. The most coily hair type is 4c coily hair Type 3 curly hair ranges from loose loops to a bouncy corkscrew shape. It must be moisturized frequently and extra care should be taken so that it does not frizz out of control. If you have Type 3 hair, the best way to help curls stay defined, while also keeping frizz at bay is by using products that are both moisturizing and lightweight. The major difference between Coily and Curly hair is that Coily hair has more defined ringlets, with increased volume and a fuller body. Curly hair ranges from loose curls to tighter locks. Coily hair is where you find the tightest curls in the form of ringlets.

How To Maintain The Moisture Level In Coily Hair?

Coily hair type requires a lot of moisture. You can achieve this by following the LOC method; LOC is an acronym for the three different steps: “L” for leave-in, “O” for oil, and “C” for cream. This method is used by stylists all around the world and that’s the exact order you’ll want to apply them if you want great results. Apply a water based product as the base level of your haircare regime to provide an even surface on which to apply other products. Then, you can use coconut, olive, avocado, or almond oil to keep moisture locked in from root to tip! During the cold winter months, you can switch over to a lighter (and less greasy) grapeseed or sunflower seed oil for a more subtle feel. Keep in mind that every two weeks is considered ideal as far as washing frequency goes to avoid any product build up and don’t forget to use the LOC method consistently once every week or five days.

Caring For Coily Hair

If you think caring for your coily hair is a big task and can’t be done by you, you will probably hate them and won’t care for them as you should. Here are some tips to keep in mind while taking care of your naturally coily hair.

• Use A Sulfate Free Shampoo And Conditioner

The sulfate in shampoos and conditioners strips the hair of its natural oils leaving them dull and dry. Use a sulfate free shampoo and conditioner to remove all the impurities and product build up to keep the coily hair moisturized and healthy.

• Never Detangle When The Hair Is Dry

Detangling hair when they are dry will cause irreparable damage to your naturally coily hair. Always do so when the hair is wet or well moisturized and conditioned. If you want to brush your hair and detangle the knots away you must do it in the shower when the hair is completely wet and slippery. This will save you from a stuck-comb situation and also won’t break your comb off.

• Add Deep Conditioning To Your Hair Regime

Coily hair often suffers from dehydration, so you need to add a deep-conditioner to your hair routine. This will fulfill all the lost moisture in the hair and add enough lubrication to hair shafts and provide moisture all the way down to the roots. Since coily hairstyles are naturally very dry this will act as a savior and will add nourishment to them.

• Use Silk Pillow Covers

Naturally, Coily hair tends to be frizzy in nature and a long sleep on a cotton pillowcase will create complete havoc on the hair strands. The added friction from the pillow throughout the night will make the situation worse. So, sleeping on a silk pillowcase or wearing a silk scarf or bonnet, will minimize the friction and keep your hair tangle and frizz-free. Also, it will keep the moisture in.

• Always Air-dry

Added heat on coily hair will only cause more damage to already dry hair. Using a hair dryer or heat-styling tools is probably the worst thing that one can do to their hair. This strip the moisture away from the hair leaving them dull and lifeless. If you don’t want any such thing happening to your hair then it is best to let them air-dry.

• Use Natural Oils To Moisturize

Oils like jojoba oil, argan oil, and coconut oil are not very heavy oils and let the moisture seep in the coily hair.

• Styling

Coily hair can be styled in a number of hairstyles that includes: Bantu knots, wash-n-go’s, twists, plaits, and protective styles (cornrows, knotless braids, box braids, etc). Choose hairstyles that do not cause any harm to your naturally coily hair and protect them from snapping or breaking.

Conclusion

Coily hair is more fragile in nature and extremely dry and thus prone to breakage. They require lots of moisture to keep the hair looking healthy, long, and beautiful. You will have to commit to the haircare routine daily to keep them looking fresh and lively.  But if you are someone who is obsessed with coily hair and isn’t born with it, you can always opt for Indique hair’s clip-in, sew-in hair extensions, human hair extensions that will make you look like a billion bucks.