Name: Hair with very small curls
Brand: Si Toi Aussi Tu Es Nappy
Availability: InStock

The different sizes of loops

Hair with very small curls

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Here is some information and images of very small curls in different states, to better understand the versatility of this hair type. A head of hair generally contains at least two different curl sizes, some larger and some smaller.

Hair with very small curls is often referred to by different people by various terms, which can be perceived positively or negatively: "4C", "4Z", "Kinky hair", "kinky hair", "Nappy hair", "African hair", "curly hair", "grainy hair", "versatile hair", "curly hair", or even "Cloud", "Crown", etc.

Hair with very small curls is considered the most "magical." It's soft like cotton, often very fine, and becomes less voluminous when it shrinks because it shrinks so much. Very long hair can therefore appear very short if the curls form fully with water, without the need for scissors or extensions to play with the lengths. This hair requires less force and energy to style, even when it's not well-hydrated or nourished. Mini-curls relax and adapt easily, but remain fragile. They appreciate gentle handling and don't like being held in heavy weights, pulled too tightly, or rubbed daily, as this can lead to breakage or stunted growth in the affected areas.

Some people talk about "taming" curly hair, as if it were a lion to be subdued or coaxed. It's true that sometimes curly hair seems to resist ties or styling and can break elastics or threads. When it's not sufficiently hydrated or nourished, it becomes less manageable, and every movement can become painful.

1/ Shrinkage and versatility

Thanks to its natural versatility, curly hair allows for a choice of different visual appearances that one wishes to reveal.

Here are the different appearances of curly hair:

The curly state : natural curls are defined. With good hydration and nutrition, the curls unite and become visible individually or in strands.

The stretched state : curls are relaxed when hair has been braided or tied up beforehand, then undone and left dry. They stabilize in this state, but when wet, the natural curls reform.

The locs state : the curls are knotted or tangled, lightly or heavily depending on the desired look.

You can also structure the knots of the hair using a tool, but in this case, it is no longer a natural state of curly hair, but a styled hairstyle.

The "frizzy" state : the curls are untangled and separated.

These hairs with very small curls are most surprising because of their natural shrinkage and stretching abilities. When your hair is truly long, you benefit from the highest level of this characteristic, allowing you to go from very short to very long hair without having to cut it, thanks to the magic of shrinkage.

2/ How to reveal natural curls?

Hair only curls naturally when it's damp, wet, or properly moisturized and nourished. Once dry, it holds its shape. It's recommended to detangle your hair with your fingers, forming groups of curled strands. This helps create more defined curls that are visible from a distance, depending on their size.

Examples of hair with very small curls, detangled with fingers

Results on damp or very hydrated/nourished hair (e.g., vegetable butters, nourishing moisturizing creams, plant-based gels, etc.)

Results on damp or poorly hydrated/nourished hair (e.g., vegetable butters, nourishing moisturizing creams, plant-based gels, etc.)

Results on dry, hydrated/nourished hair (e.g., vegetable butters, nourishing moisturizing creams, plant-based gels, etc.)

3/ How to conceal the visibility of your natural curls?

However, if you want to make the curls less visible, create volume, or achieve the cloud-like effect of natural hair, you need to brush or comb your hair. The more the strands are separated, the smaller the curls will be, and the less visible they will be from a distance once detangled.

Water and sebum, by their weight, make hair appear wavy rather than curly and shorter than its actual length. But once dry, the hair's natural shrinkage occurs. The hair shrinks even further, and the curls form. Thus, even if the hair appears long when relaxed or weighed down by moisture, the curl pattern remains visible.

To maintain a wavy appearance, good nutrition (vegetable butters or oils) and regular hydration are necessary, or an adequate amount of natural sebum for those with oily hair.