CURLY HAIR

CURLY hair has an exaggerated oval hair shaft, which forms big ringlets as it grows.

It’s prone to dryness because natural scalp oils can’t get down to the ends of the hair as easily as straight hair. It’s also more susceptible to heat, humidity and moisture. The three sub-groups are: A: Big loose curls B: Springy ringlets C: Corkscrew curls

HOW TO CUT IT: Dry curly hair needs plenty of looking after — without regular cuts, it becomes brittle and snaps.

The shorter your hair, the more the curls will naturally bounce up because there’s less weight on them. So it’s hard to have short, curly hair without it looking like a bowl. If you do want very short hair, ask for a crop instead of a bob. With a longer style, make sure it has plenty of layers, creating a cascade effect to keep volume under control. This is most easily achieved with Type A. A fringe looks messy.

HOW TO STYLE IT: The thicker and curlier, the less often you need to wash it, as washing just breaks down the curl.

Many curly-haired women wash it once a week, with hair looking its best by day three or four. Frizz is your enemy; use warmed olive oil on Types B and C before washing.

Boots Essentials Curl Creme, £1.99, boots.com, is excellent for defining curls. If you have Type C and you’d like a smoother look, a keratin blowdry will make it more pliable.