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 ...

  • shampoo for dry curly hair hydrating shampoo for curly hair

    Hydration Shampoo

    Hydration Shampoo

    for curlies, coilies & tight textures

    $27.00
    $27.00 $27.00
    Size
  • curly hair detangler detangler for curly hair

    Detangling Nectar

    Detangling Nectar

    for curlies, coilies & tight textures

    $16.80
    $16.80 $16.80
    Add to cart
  • deep moisturizer for curly hair deep conditioner

    Intensive Conditioner

    Intensive Conditioner

    for tight textures

    $29.40
    $29.40 $29.40
    Size
  • Deep Scalp Detox Deep Scalp Detox

    Deep Scalp Detox

    Deep Scalp Detox

    formulated for curlies, coilies, & tight textures

    $17.40
    $17.40 $17.40
    Add to cart
  • Moisture Milk Moisture Milk

    Moisture Milk

    Moisture Milk

    for curlies, coilies & tight textures

    $16.80
    $16.80 $16.80
    Add to cart
  • Palo Santo Leave-In Conditioner Palo Santo Leave-In Conditioner

    Palo Santo Leave-In Conditioner

    Palo Santo Leave-In Conditioner

    for curly hair, coilies & tight textures

    $16.80
    $16.80 $16.80
    Add to cart
  • Curl Mousse curl mousse

    Curl Mousse

    Curl Mousse

    for curlies & coilies

    $13.80
    $13.80 $13.80
    Size
    Add to cart
  • Styling Cream curly hair lotion

    Styling Cream

    Styling Cream

    for curlies, coilies & tight textures

    $16.80
    $16.80 $16.80
    Size
  • jojoba oil on hair jojoba hair oil

    Jojoba Oil Blend

    Jojoba Oil Blend

    for curlies, coilies & tight textures

    $16.80
    $16.80 $16.80
    Add to cart
  • curl custard curly hair custard

    Styling Custard

    Styling Custard

    for curlies, coilies & tight textures

    $16.80
    $16.80 $16.80
  • heavy conditioner heavy conditioner for curly hair

    Heavy Conditioner

    Heavy Conditioner

    for coilies

    $29.40
    $29.40 $29.40
    Size
  • Leave-In Conditioner leave-in conditioner

    Leave-In Conditioner

    Leave-In Conditioner

    for curly hair, coilies & tight textures

    $29.40
    $29.40 $29.40
    Size
1 12
View all
Back to top

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 ...

  • curly hair detangler detangler for curly hair

    Detangling Nectar

    Detangling Nectar

    for curlies, coilies & tight textures

    $16.80
    $16.80 $16.80
    Add to cart
  • Curl Mousse curl mousse

    Curl Mousse

    Curl Mousse

    for curlies & coilies

    $13.80
    $13.80 $13.80
    Size
    Add to cart
  • Deep Scalp Detox Deep Scalp Detox

    Deep Scalp Detox

    Deep Scalp Detox

    formulated for curlies, coilies, & tight textures

    $17.40
    $17.40 $17.40
    Add to cart
  • Palo Santo Leave-In Conditioner Palo Santo Leave-In Conditioner

    Palo Santo Leave-In Conditioner

    Palo Santo Leave-In Conditioner

    for curly hair, coilies & tight textures

    $16.80
    $16.80 $16.80
    Add to cart
  • Moisture Milk Moisture Milk

    Moisture Milk

    Moisture Milk

    for curlies, coilies & tight textures

    $16.80
    $16.80 $16.80
    Add to cart
  • heavy conditioner heavy conditioner for curly hair

    Heavy Conditioner

    Heavy Conditioner

    for coilies

    $29.40
    $29.40 $29.40
    Size
  • hair gel for curly hair hair gel for curls

    Curl Gel

    Curl Gel

    for curlies, coilies & tight textures

    $29.40
    $29.40 $29.40
    Size
  • Leave-In Conditioner leave-in conditioner

    Leave-In Conditioner

    Leave-In Conditioner

    for curly hair, coilies & tight textures

    $29.40
    $29.40 $29.40
    Size
  • Strong Hold Gel strong hold gel for curly hair

    Strong Hold Gel

    Strong Hold Gel

    for curlies, coilies & tight textures

    $16.80
    $16.80 $16.80
    Size
    Add to cart
  • Styling Cream curly hair lotion

    Styling Cream

    Styling Cream

    for curlies, coilies & tight textures

    $16.80
    $16.80 $16.80
    Size
  • wide toothed comb wide tooth comb for curly hair

    Wide Tooth Comb

    Wide Tooth Comb

    for curlies, coilies & tight textures

    $9.00
    $9.00 $9.00
  • jojoba oil on hair jojoba hair oil

    Jojoba Oil Blend

    Jojoba Oil Blend

    for curlies, coilies & tight textures

    $16.80
    $16.80 $16.80
    Add to cart
1 12
Back to top

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 ...

  • Curl Mousse curl mousse

    Curl Mousse

    Curl Mousse

    for curlies & coilies

    $13.80
    $13.80 $13.80
    Size
    Add to cart
  • Palo Santo Leave-In Conditioner Palo Santo Leave-In Conditioner

    Palo Santo Leave-In Conditioner

    Palo Santo Leave-In Conditioner

    for curly hair, coilies & tight textures

    $16.80
    $16.80 $16.80
    Add to cart
  • hair gel for curly hair hair gel for curls

    Curl Gel

    Curl Gel

    for curlies, coilies & tight textures

    $29.40
    $29.40 $29.40
    Size
  • shampoo for dry curly hair hydrating shampoo for curly hair

    Hydration Shampoo

    Hydration Shampoo

    for curlies, coilies & tight textures

    $27.00
    $27.00 $27.00
    Size
  • argan oil for curly hair oil for curly hair

    Argan Oil Blend

    Argan Oil Blend

    for curlies, coilies & tight textures

    $16.80
    $16.80 $16.80
    Add to cart
  • Deep Scalp Detox Deep Scalp Detox

    Deep Scalp Detox

    Deep Scalp Detox

    formulated for curlies, coilies, & tight textures

    $17.40
    $17.40 $17.40
    Add to cart
  • lightweight curl conditioner lightweight conditioner for curly hair

    Lightweight Conditioner

    Lightweight Conditioner

    for curlies

    $29.40
    $29.40 $29.40
    Size
  • Cleansing Shampoo cleansing shampoo for curly hair

    Cleansing Shampoo

    Cleansing Shampoo

    for curlies, coilies & tight textures

    $12.60
    $12.60 $12.60
    Size
    Add to cart
  • medium conditioner conditioner with slip

    Medium Conditioner

    Medium Conditioner

    for curlies

    $29.40
    $29.40 $29.40
    Size
  • Leave-In Conditioner leave-in conditioner

    Leave-In Conditioner

    Leave-In Conditioner

    for curly hair, coilies & tight textures

    $29.40
    $29.40 $29.40
    Size
  • Hydrating Mist curl refresher

    Hydrating Mist

    Hydrating Mist

    for curlies, coilies & tight textures

    $11.40
    $11.40 $11.40
    Size
  • anti frizz spray for curly hair shine spray for curly hair

    Shine Spray

    Shine Spray

    for curlies, coilies & tight textures

    $13.80
    $13.80 $13.80
    Add to cart
1 12
Back to top

Locs

Distinguishing Features


Locs love to grow tall, long & wide; Locs believe in growth, dimension, magnitude, & evolution; They love to take up space. Growing locs is a beautiful journey of coiling, twisting, palm rolling, braiding, or allowing the hair to organically grow & merge to create a fused hair strand which can range from micro size to larger free form; Locs curl types crave healthy scalp care & tender attention to their roots; they love products that provide moisture & hold such as our Hydrating Shampoo for curly hair without buildup & products that keep the scalp clean & hydrated.

Tips

-To prevent build up on the scalp & roots, add our Cleansing ShampooShampoo to your wash day routine.

-To moisturize & prevent dryness, apply Jojoba Oil Hair Serum or Argan Oil Hair Serum to the scalp.

-To stimulate & soothe each hair follicle, apply the Scalp Serum & massage in for added relief.

-Try using the Styling Cream for curly hair to create starter locs with braids, two-strand twists, comb coils & palm rolls.

We Recommend ...

  • Deep Scalp Detox Deep Scalp Detox

    Deep Scalp Detox

    Deep Scalp Detox

    formulated for curlies, coilies, & tight textures

    $17.40
    $17.40 $17.40
    Add to cart
  • natural hair serum scalp serum for dry scalp

    Scalp Serum

    Scalp Serum

    for curlies, coilies & tight textures

    $16.80
    $16.80 $16.80
  • lightweight curl conditioner lightweight conditioner for curly hair

    Lightweight Conditioner

    Lightweight Conditioner

    for curlies

    $29.40
    $29.40 $29.40
    Size
  • Hydrating Mist curl refresher

    Hydrating Mist

    Hydrating Mist

    for curlies, coilies & tight textures

    $11.40
    $11.40 $11.40
    Size
  • Cleansing Shampoo cleansing shampoo for curly hair

    Cleansing Shampoo

    Cleansing Shampoo

    for curlies, coilies & tight textures

    $12.60
    $12.60 $12.60
    Size
    Add to cart
  • argan oil for curly hair oil for curly hair

    Argan Oil Blend

    Argan Oil Blend

    for curlies, coilies & tight textures

    $16.80
    $16.80 $16.80
    Add to cart
  • jojoba oil on hair jojoba hair oil

    Jojoba Oil Blend

    Jojoba Oil Blend

    for curlies, coilies & tight textures

    $16.80
    $16.80 $16.80
    Add to cart
1 7
Back to top

DRYNESS / DAMAGE

PATTERN DEFINES IT AS:

dryness ( ˈdrī nəs), noun. a curl’s cry for hydration; an invitation to give your coils the moisture & hair treatment for curls they deserve; an opportunity for your natural texture to be restored & replenished to healthy hair.

damage (ˈda-mij), noun . when curls become vulnerable to dryness & weakness; a warning sign where unhealthy hair can be nourished back to health.

Hair Care Tips

- Dryness or damage can come from many factors, but with different approaches to caring for your natural hair & the regular use of deeply moisturizing products, hair can revive to be healthy & hydrated once again.

- Heat or chemical damage, dry environments, too-infrequent hair trims, hair product build-up, formulas with harsh ingredients & too much time out of protective styles are some of the factors that can contribute to dry, fragile strands.

- Use heat or steam to help our ultra-moisturizing formulas sink into your hair & receive the nourishment & hydration it craves.

- Pro tip: For dry or brittle hair, keep your leave-in conditioner on for 10 minutes as a repair treatment mask to help restore & revitalize your curls.

We Recommend ...

  • heavy conditioner heavy conditioner for curly hair

    Heavy Conditioner

    Heavy Conditioner

    for coilies

    $29.40
    $29.40 $29.40
    Size
  • jojoba oil on hair jojoba hair oil

    Jojoba Oil Blend

    Jojoba Oil Blend

    for curlies, coilies & tight textures

    $16.80
    $16.80 $16.80
    Add to cart
  • Leave-In Conditioner leave-in conditioner

    Leave-In Conditioner

    Leave-In Conditioner

    for curly hair, coilies & tight textures

    $29.40
    $29.40 $29.40
    Size
  • Deep Scalp Detox Deep Scalp Detox

    Deep Scalp Detox

    Deep Scalp Detox

    formulated for curlies, coilies, & tight textures

    $17.40
    $17.40 $17.40
    Add to cart
  • argan oil for curly hair oil for curly hair

    Argan Oil Blend

    Argan Oil Blend

    for curlies, coilies & tight textures

    $16.80
    $16.80 $16.80
    Add to cart
1 5
Back to top

TRANSITIONING

PATTERN DEFINES AS:

transitioning (tran(t)-ˈsi-shən), verb. a season of growth; an opportunity to embrace the change in your curl type; a hair evolution; a welcome home to your natural curl pattern.

We Know It’s a Journey…

Curly on the top, straight on the bottom; our hair texture is adjusting as it moves from the chemical or heat relaxants we put on it back to its natural curl pattern; hair is often dry, fragile & a little confused as it starts to re-remember how the curls want to grow.

Visit our blog for a transitioning hair story spotlight.

Tips:

- Deep condition with one of our ultra-hydrating conditioners. Our Heavy or Intensive Conditioners seep into strands to help protect against breakage & dryness as you transition.

- Detangle before rinsing with our Wide Tooth Comb or Shower Brush & bring your curls together.

- Find your fave transitioning hair style – put it up! Less manipulation means less breakage.

We Recommend ...

  • hair mask to restore curls clarifying hair mask

    Transition Mask

    Transition Mask

    for curlies, coilies & tight textures

    $15.00
    $15.00 $15.00
    Add to cart
  • Deep Scalp Detox Deep Scalp Detox

    Deep Scalp Detox

    Deep Scalp Detox

    formulated for curlies, coilies, & tight textures

    $17.40
    $17.40 $17.40
    Add to cart
  • heavy conditioner heavy conditioner for curly hair

    Heavy Conditioner

    Heavy Conditioner

    for coilies

    $29.40
    $29.40 $29.40
    Size
  • deep moisturizer for curly hair deep conditioner

    Intensive Conditioner

    Intensive Conditioner

    for tight textures

    $29.40
    $29.40 $29.40
    Size
  • wide toothed comb wide tooth comb for curly hair

    Wide Tooth Comb

    Wide Tooth Comb

    for curlies, coilies & tight textures

    $9.00
    $9.00 $9.00
  • jojoba oil on hair jojoba hair oil

    Jojoba Oil Blend

    Jojoba Oil Blend

    for curlies, coilies & tight textures

    $16.80
    $16.80 $16.80
    Add to cart
1 6
Back to top

POROSITY

PATTERN DEFINES AS:

your curl patterns' native language; how your curls want to love and be loved.

Tips

Hair strands can generally be classified into three types of hair porosity. These are low porosity, medium porosity or high porosity, & those terms describe how open your hair cuticles are & how easily moisture can go into the hair shaft (leaving you moisturized) or exit (leaving you dried out).

Low Porosity

Hair has a very “closed” hair shaft so it’s difficult for moisture to go in or out. Hair often takes a long time to dry when wet, & products often struggle to be absorbed by the hair. Heat or steam can help to open up the hair cuticle so that moisture can go in, & cold water rinses can be great for “sealing” the hair back up to lock in the hydration. Intensive Conditioner & Lightweight Conditioner can be great for this curly hair type!

Medium Porosity

Hair relatively has a good balance of accepting moisture into & out of the strands. Water & formulas absorb & dry down without too much trouble. Medium Conditioner & Lightweight Conditioner works well for hair of this porosity.

High Porosity

Hair has a very “open” hair shaft & can suck up water & products with ease, but it can also lose that moisture relatively quickly after a wash. Rich, buttery formulas that impart a ton of moisture are highly favored, & deep conditioning & frequent oiling of the hair & scalp can help to keep moisture sealed into strands. We recommend the Heavy Conditioner for high porosity folks.

Back to top

PROTECTIVE STYLES

PATTERN DEFINES AS:

braids, twists, wigs, & weaves that give your curls rest & sanctuary.

There’s No One Way to Style...

Whether it’s the change of season, workout routine, travel plans or just wanting a break from styling your hair every day, there are many reasons to try a protective style for curly hair types. Choose a protective style based on your curl pattern, the length of time you want to wear the protective style, the length of time it takes to install a protective style, plus a look based on your personal style & personality.

Tips


- Use our Hydrating Mist to moisturize edges & roots

- For sculpting or smoothing your edges, use our Edge Tool after applying Edge Control.

- To prevent build up on the scalp & roots, add our Cleansing Shampoo to your wash day routine. For adding moisture, cleanse with our Hydration Shampoo.

- Scoop out some Styling Cream, for oil-rich, touchable hold when setting twist outs, braid outs, bantu knots & more.

- While in protective styles, apply Scalp Serum to all your parts & let sit for up to 5 mins. Use a warm, damp washcloth to rub your parts clean of any buildup.

We Recommend ...

  • natural hair serum scalp serum for dry scalp

    Scalp Serum

    Scalp Serum

    for curlies, coilies & tight textures

    $16.80
    $16.80 $16.80
  • Hydrating Mist curl refresher

    Hydrating Mist

    Hydrating Mist

    for curlies, coilies & tight textures

    $11.40
    $11.40 $11.40
    Size
  • Edge Control edge control for hair

    Edge Control

    Edge Control

    for curlies, coilies & tight textures

    $8.40
    $8.40 $8.40
    Add to cart
  • Deep Scalp Detox Deep Scalp Detox

    Deep Scalp Detox

    Deep Scalp Detox

    formulated for curlies, coilies, & tight textures

    $17.40
    $17.40 $17.40
    Add to cart
  • Edge Tool edge comb

    Edge Tool

    Edge Tool

    for curlies, coilies & tight textures

    $12.00
    $12.00 $12.00
  • Cleansing Shampoo cleansing shampoo for curly hair

    Cleansing Shampoo

    Cleansing Shampoo

    for curlies, coilies & tight textures

    $12.60
    $12.60 $12.60
    Size
    Add to cart
  • shampoo for dry curly hair hydrating shampoo for curly hair

    Hydration Shampoo

    Hydration Shampoo

    for curlies, coilies & tight textures

    $27.00
    $27.00 $27.00
    Size
  • Styling Cream curly hair lotion

    Styling Cream

    Styling Cream

    for curlies, coilies & tight textures

    $16.80
    $16.80 $16.80
    Size
1 8
Back to top