The term "curly" or "kinky" hair is often perceived as a specific hair type, lacking defined curls. It is frequently used to describe hair with small or very small curls, less visible from a distance.

Image: People of the "Jarawa" ethnic group in India, 20th century

Image: Child in the city of Nassau in the Bahamas, 20th century

Image: People of the "Koisan" ethnic group from South Africa, 20th century

However, hair described as "kinky" is curly .

There are simply different sizes of loops, more or less visible from a distance.

Here are some examples of different loop sizes:

Image: Person of the "Somali" ethnic group from Somalia, 20th century

Image: People of the "Baoulé" ethnic group of the "Akan" ethnic group of Ivory Coast combing their hair, from 1930.

Image: Person from the "Kel Tamajeq" ethnic group of Algeria, - 19th - 20th century.

The curly state of the hair corresponds to the appearance of natural curly hair, when the curls unite and arrange themselves by strands of hair to create uniform spiral strands.

Image: People of the "Afar" ethnic group in Ethiopia, styling their hair, 21st century

Image: Person from the "Hamer/Hamar" ethnic group of Ethiopia, 21st century.

The frizzy texture of curly hair is created by separating the strands of curly hair. The hair strands are separated, which gives more volume and a cloud-like appearance.

Image: People from Tanzania, styling their hair, from the 20th century.

Image: People from the Fiji Islands, combing their hair, from the 19th - 20th century.

In many cultures, people with curls (of all sizes) often wear their hair loose and well-groomed, often referred to today as "Afro" in Western languages ​​by some communities. The curls are more or less visible depending on their size. However, it's the "kinky" state that is most commonly seen, not the "curly" state.

Image: Person from the "Motu" ethnic group of Papua New Guinea, 19th- 20th century.

Image: Person from the "Meru" ethnic group of Kenya, 20th century.

Image: People from the city of Accra in Ghana, 1970s .

Image: People of the "Beja" ethnic group of Egypt, from 1925 .

Image: People from Fiji, 19th-20th century.

Image: People of the "Jarawa" ethnic group in India, 21st century.

In many cultures, people detangle their curls before styling their hair. It's the norm.

Image: People from Guadeloupe, doing their hair, from the 19th - 20th century.

Image: People of the "Garifuna" ethnic group from Guatemala, 20th century.

Image: People of the "Baoulé" ethnic group of the "Akan" ethnic group of Ivory Coast combing their hair, from 1930.

This makes the visibility of the curls rare for others, except when washing the hair or growing out at the root, if the hair is braided, wears locs, etc.

Image: Person from the "Awandji" ethnic group of Gabon, 1942.

Image: People from Fiji, 20th century.

Image: People of the "Himba" ethnic group in Namibia, 21st century.

This kinky condition of curly hair is often referred to by some people by different terms, which can be perceived positively or negatively: "4C", "4Z", "Kinky hair", "kinky hair", "Nappy hair", "African hair", "frizzy hair", "grainy hair", "versatile hair", or even "Cloud", "Crown" , etc.

Image: People from the Black Panther Movement, 1960-1970.