Curl Guide

A guide for distinguishing, learning about & caring for your curly hair type

Discover more about our patterns by clicking the tiles below

TIGHT TEXTURES

4A-4C

COILY

3C-4B

CURLY

3B-3C

LOCS

Learn more about key curl type topics

DRYNESS / DAMAGE

TRANSITIONING

POROSITY

PROTECTIVE STYLES

CURL PATTERN

Where your originality is the standard; where you are your own prototype.

We like to think of our curly hair types & wavy hair patterns as constellations of coils, curves, curls, waves & the ringlet; where each different type of curl flourishes. At PATTERN, we're here to help you define which type your hair is & find the best hair products & hair routine to promote vibrant & healthy hair.

Our story

TIGHT TEXTURES

OFTEN DESCRIBED AS:dense, kinky, type 4 hair, cloud-like, gravity-defying…

Distinguishing Features

Tight textures & tight curls crave as much moisture as they can get; our delicate strands need care & protection to prevent breakage; they easily fluff into an afro with awe-inspiring volume; our hair loves to spend time in protective styles to remain moisturized (using the right styling product!) , to support our delicate ends & to aid in length retention.

4B hair
4B hair or 4B curls are luscious Z-pattern coils that bend & flare in a zig zag pose

4C hair
4C hair or curls are velvety coils with a tight curl that flows, breakdances & freestyles

We Recommend ...

  • kinky hair products kinky hair products

    The Tight Texture Starter Bundle

    The Tight Texture Starter Bundle

    for tight textures

    $121.00
    $121.00 $121.00
    Leave-in Conditioner Scent
  • curly hair detangler detangler for curly hair

    Detangling Nectar

    Detangling Nectar

    for curlies, coilies & tight textures

    $25.00
    $25.00 $25.00
    Add to cart
  • curl mousse curl mousse

    Curl Mousse

    Curl Mousse

    for curlies & coilies

    $20.00
    $20.00 $20.00
    Size
  • deep moisturizer for curly hair deep conditioner

    Intensive Conditioner

    Intensive Conditioner

    for tight textures

    $42.00
    $42.00 $42.00
    Size
  • styling cream curly hair lotion

    Styling Cream

    Styling Cream

    for curlies, coilies & tight textures

    $25.00
    $25.00 $25.00
    Size
  • jojoba oil on hair jojoba hair oil

    Jojoba Oil Blend

    Jojoba Oil Blend

    for curlies, coilies & tight textures

    $25.00
    $25.00 $25.00
    Add to cart
  • curl custard curly hair custard

    Styling Custard

    Styling Custard

    for curlies, coilies & tight textures

    $25.00
    $25.00 $25.00
    Add to cart
  • shampoo for dry curly hair hydrating shampoo for curly hair

    Hydration Shampoo

    Hydration Shampoo

    for curlies, coilies & tight textures

    $38.00
    $38.00 $38.00
    Size
  • wide toothed comb wide tooth comb for curly hair

    Wide Tooth Comb

    Wide Tooth Comb

    for curlies, coilies & tight textures

    $15.00
    $15.00 $15.00
    Add to cart
  • heavy conditioner heavy conditioner for curly hair

    Heavy Conditioner

    Heavy Conditioner

    for coilies

    $42.00
    $42.00 $42.00
    Size
  • leave-in conditioner cream leave-in conditioner

    Leave-In Conditioner

    Leave-In Conditioner

    for curly hair, coilies & tight textures

    $42.00
    $42.00 $42.00
    Size
  • Edge Control edge control for hair

    Edge Control

    Edge Control

    for curlies, coilies & tight textures

    $12.00
    $12.00 $12.00
    Add to cart
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COILY

OFTEN DESCRIBED AS: springy, spongy, tight, type 4 hair, type 3 hair…

Distinguishing Features

Coily hair is tightly-packed corkscrew curls that scrunch up & and give extreme volume; tend to be finer in texture & weight; need extreme moisture to stay soft, defined & and resist tangles; our coils do well with twist-outs & stretched-style techniques.

4A hair
Type 4A hair has a supple S-pattern coil that leans & struts snap-back stuff

We Recommend ...

  • coily hair products coily hair products

    The Coily Starter Bundle

    The Coily Starter Bundle

    for coilies

    $121.00
    $121.00 $121.00
    Leave-In Conditioner Scent
  • curly hair detangler detangler for curly hair

    Detangling Nectar

    Detangling Nectar

    for curlies, coilies & tight textures

    $25.00
    $25.00 $25.00
    Add to cart
  • curl mousse curl mousse

    Curl Mousse

    Curl Mousse

    for curlies & coilies

    $20.00
    $20.00 $20.00
    Size
  • heavy conditioner heavy conditioner for curly hair

    Heavy Conditioner

    Heavy Conditioner

    for coilies

    $42.00
    $42.00 $42.00
    Size
  • leave-in conditioner cream leave-in conditioner

    Leave-In Conditioner

    Leave-In Conditioner

    for curly hair, coilies & tight textures

    $42.00
    $42.00 $42.00
    Size
  • hair gel for curly hair hair gel for curls

    Curl Gel

    Curl Gel

    for curlies, coilies & tight textures

    $42.00
    $42.00 $42.00
    Size
  • Strong Hold Gel strong hold gel for curly hair

    Strong Hold Gel

    Strong Hold Gel

    for curlies, coilies & tight textures

    $25.00
    $25.00 $25.00
    Size
  • styling cream curly hair lotion

    Styling Cream

    Styling Cream

    for curlies, coilies & tight textures

    $25.00
    $25.00 $25.00
    Size
  • wide toothed comb wide tooth comb for curly hair

    Wide Tooth Comb

    Wide Tooth Comb

    for curlies, coilies & tight textures

    $15.00
    $15.00 $15.00
    Add to cart
  • Leave-In Conditioner x MAC Lipstick Kit PATTERN x MAC Holy Grail Kit

    Leave-In Conditioner x MAC Lipstick Kit

    Leave-In Conditioner x MAC Lipstick Kit

    for curlies, coilies & tight textures

    $24.50
    $35.00 $24.50
  • jojoba oil on hair jojoba hair oil

    Jojoba Oil Blend

    Jojoba Oil Blend

    for curlies, coilies & tight textures

    $25.00
    $25.00 $25.00
    Add to cart
  • shampoo for dry curly hair hydrating shampoo for curly hair

    Hydration Shampoo

    Hydration Shampoo

    for curlies, coilies & tight textures

    $38.00
    $38.00 $38.00
    Size
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CURLY

OFTEN DESCRIBED AS:bouncy, ringlets, springy, type 3 hair, frizzy…

Distinguishing Features

Frizz is our friend; big, buoyant spirals; our texture tends to be thick & coarse hair, & our curls often vary in shape around the head; dryness can creep in to tousle up our ringlet curl, so moisture is key for maintaining curl definition & shine.

3B hair
Type 3B curls or type 3b hair are stretchy curls with a bounce to the ounce that double dutch in the wind

3C hair
Type 3C curls are flexible S-pattern curls that turn, twirl, & twist into a two-step

We Recommend ...

  • curly hair kit curly hair kit

    The Curly Starter Bundle

    The Curly Starter Bundle

    for curlies

    $121.00
    $121.00 $121.00
    Leave-in Conditioner Scent
  • curl mousse curl mousse

    Curl Mousse

    Curl Mousse

    for curlies & coilies

    $20.00
    $20.00 $20.00
    Size
  • hair gel for curly hair hair gel for curls

    Curl Gel

    Curl Gel

    for curlies, coilies & tight textures

    $42.00
    $42.00 $42.00
    Size
  • shampoo for dry curly hair hydrating shampoo for curly hair

    Hydration Shampoo

    Hydration Shampoo

    for curlies, coilies & tight textures

    $38.00
    $38.00 $38.00
    Size
  • argan oil for curly hair oil for curly hair

    Argan Oil Blend

    Argan Oil Blend

    for curlies, coilies & tight textures

    $25.00
    $25.00 $25.00
    Add to cart
  • lightweight curl conditioner lightweight conditioner for curly hair

    Lightweight Conditioner

    Lightweight Conditioner

    for curlies

    $42.00
    $42.00 $42.00
    Size
  • curl cleansing shampoo cleansing shampoo for curly hair

    Cleansing Shampoo

    Cleansing Shampoo

    for curlies, coilies & tight textures

    $20.00
    $20.00 $20.00
    Size
  • medium conditioner conditioner with slip

    Medium Conditioner

    Medium Conditioner

    for curlies

    $42.00
    $42.00 $42.00
    Size
  • leave-in conditioner cream leave-in conditioner

    Leave-In Conditioner

    Leave-In Conditioner

    for curly hair, coilies & tight textures

    $42.00
    $42.00 $42.00
    Size
  • shower brush detangling shower brush

    Shower Brush

    Shower Brush

    for curlies, coilies & tight textures

    $17.00
    $17.00 $17.00
    Add to cart
  • wide toothed comb wide tooth comb for curly hair

    Wide Tooth Comb

    Wide Tooth Comb

    for curlies, coilies & tight textures

    $15.00
    $15.00 $15.00
    Add to cart
  • curly hair spray bottle mist hair spray bottle

    Spray Bottle

    Spray Bottle

    for curlies, coilies & tight textures

    $13.00
    $13.00 $13.00
    Add to cart
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