Curly hair types: expert styling, care & product advice

Here’s a breakdown of curl type tips and advice on how to identify, manage, style and get the best from your curls from Textured Hair Lead Educator Pashcan’el Mitchell.

First, know your curl pattern

What actually is the curl typing system, and what curl type do I have?

Created by Andre Walker, the curl typing system is your blueprint for understanding your hair’s natural behaviour. It uses numbers for the main categories and letters (A, B, C) to indicate how tight the pattern is.

• Type 2 (Wavy): 2A (loose, tousled), 2B (defined S-shape), 2C (deep waves).
• Type 3 (Curly): 3A (large, loose curl), 3B (medium, deep curl), 3C (tight corkscrew curl).
• Type 4 (Coily): 4A (loose coil), 4B (Z-pattern zig-zags), 4C (tightly coiled).

Pash says, use the system as a roadmap to find the right styling products, but don’t box yourself in. Most people sit across more than one grade, and your crown often behaves differently from your hairline.

Knowing roughly where you fall matters because it changes almost everything that follows: how often to wash, how much moisture to add, how to dry, and what to ask for when you book a cut.

Wavy hair (2A to 2C) Q&A

How do i know if I have wavy hair?

If in doubt, pop in for a consultation but if you’re doing it at home, one of the ways to find out is to use very little product and let your hair dry naturally, then looking at the shape of hair strands. Waves are the texture most people accidentally flatten. The instinct is to treat them like curls and load on moisture, but that weighs the pattern down. “With waves, the goal is support, not saturation,” says Pash. “Over-hydrating is the fastest way to lose the movement you are trying to keep.”

How should I wash wavy hair?

Cleanse gently and avoid heavy conditioning. A Curly Hair Bath cleanses without stripping, which supports wave formation rather than fighting it. Make sure you’re choosing the right conditioner is key, don’t overload any product.

How do I style wavy hair without frizz?

Style on damp hair and scrunch your product upward toward the scalp to encourage the pattern to form. Pash recommends a little Curl Priming Cream for lightweight definition and frizz control, then a mist of Sea Salt Spray or Nurturing drops to bring out natural movement and a lived-in, undone finish. Diffuse on a low heat or air-dry for the softest result.

Is sea salt spray bad for curly hair?

Not always. “It depends on the brand and alcohol content,” notes Pash. “Sea salt spray is great for Type 2 and 3 hair if you want instant grit and a lived-in texture. But for Type 4 coils, which crave moisture, skip it – unless you’re intentionally building massive volume for a specific look.”

Pash’s single most repeated tip for waves is about what not to do once hair is dry. “Stop brushing it,” he says. “Once the wave has set, brushing just breaks it apart and invites frizz. Leave it alone and let the wave do the work.”

What should I ask for in the chair?

With wavy textures ask your stylist to cut with texture in mind and to use internal layering. Done well, internal layers encourage your wave pattern to form without creating frizz, which is the difference between a cut that falls flat and one that moves. On colour, soft and dimensional placement suits waves beautifully, so face-framing pieces and balayage are far kinder than a single solid block.

Your Oway Type 2 curly hair product routine

Wash: Curl hair bath & Curly hair combing cream

Every 4 cleansing sessions use Moisture hair mask

Styling: Wavy blow-dry flux potion or Curly blow-dry Curly Potion

If you’re struggling with frizz and definition you can incorporate Curl Priming Cream then Sea Salt Spray or Nurturing drops.

Check out our Oway shop and speak to your stylists for a bespoke routine.

Curly hair (3A to 3C) Q&A

 “Curls are honest,” says Pash. “They show dryness faster than straight hair does, so the health of the hair is always the priority.”

Curls are where moisture and definition have to be held in balance. Too little and the curl looks dry and undefined, too much and it loses its bounce.

How often should I wash curly hair?

Less often than you think, and rarely every day. Cleanse with a Curly Hair Bath to keep the curl elastic, then build a refresh routine for the days in between rather than washing again. Pash’s go-to refresh for curly hair is simple: water plus a small amount of cream worked through the curl to wake the pattern back up.

How do I keep my curls defined?

Layer your styling products onto wet hair so they distribute evenly. Pash builds definition with Curl Priming Cream, which shapes the curl while keeping it soft and bouncy, then seals with Glossy Nectar to lock in moisture and add shine without dragging the curl down. The order matters.

How do I stop my curls dropping overnight?

Protect them while you sleep. A satin or silk pillowcase, or a loose protective wrap, preserves curl definition and dramatically reduces overnight frizz. It is the cheapest upgrade most curly clients are not yet making.

What should I ask for in the chair?

Talk about shrinkage before a single cut is made, because curls sit much shorter dry than they appear wet, and length is easy to misjudge. Ask your stylist to use layers to build shape rather than just remove weight. When you colour, prioritise hair health and elasticity over a dramatic shift in tone, because dryness shows on curls long before it shows anywhere else.

Can curly hair ever suit a sharp, blunt haircut? 

Yes – rules are meant to be broken as long as you’re in the chair of an expert. If you have the right density, a crisp, un-layered blunt cut is a seriously chic, alternative luxury statement. Talk to your stylist about what’s achievable.

Your Oway Type 3 curly hair product routine

Wash: Pre-cleanse with Comforting Scalp Oil, then wash with Curly Hair Bath. If you have product build up then do a second wash with Curl Hair Co-wash.

Condition: use with Curly Hair Combing Cream.

For extra nourishment every two cleansing sessions use Curly Hair Deep Mask.

Styling: Curly Potion but if you’ve used the Curly Deep Mask then use Curly Hair Combing Cream and Curly Potion
Between wash days: use Glossy Nectar to enhance shine or Curl Priming Cream to revive shape and hydrate.

If you have any questions or specific concerns, just speak to your curly hair specialist at Blue Tit London.

Coily and tight-curl hair (4A to 4C) Q&As

“With coils and tight-curls the whole approach is built around hydration, structure and intention, you are styling for balance and proportion,” says Pash. “Volume should be intentional, never accidental.”

Coily hair is the most moisture-hungry and the most rewarding to style well.

Why is my type 4 hair so dry, and how do I keep it moisturised?

Pash sayes, “Treat moisture as a routine, not a rescue. Regular conditioning treatments are not a luxury here, they are maintenance.” Cleanse with a Curly Hair Bath, then use a moisturising hair mask for deep hydration that improves both manageability and elasticity. Curl Priming Cream adds the moisture support coils rely on, and a curl-defining styling potion brings hold and definition.

How should I style 4C hair at home?

Always work in sections so moisture and definition land evenly across the whole head. Pash says, “Layer products from light to richer depending on your density and porosity, since a fine, high-porosity head and a dense, low-porosity one need very different amounts”. Your stylist can tell you if your hair has high or low porosity. Protective styling between wash days keeps the work you have done intact and supports long-term hair health.

What should I ask for in the chair?

Shape is everything, so ask your stylist to focus on balance, proportion and deliberate volume. A good cut accounts for density and shrinkage, especially around the hairline where the two move most. If you are colouring, plan the aftercare before you book the service, because colour on coily hair demands a strong moisture and strength routine to hold up well.

Your Oway Type 4 curly hair product routine

Wash: Pre-cleanse with Comforting Scalp Oil, wash with Curly Hair Bath and Curly Hair Co-Wash.

Condition: using Curly Hair Deep Mask.

Styling: Curly Hair Combing Cream then either Curl Priming Cream (for extra definition) or Flux Potion (gives a soft effect if blow-drying) or Curly Potion (for definition).
Between washes use Glossy Nectar to enhance shine or Curl Priming Cream to revive shape and hydrate.

Why living in London your hair needs extra care

Much of London is a hard-water area, which means tap water carries a high mineral load. Over time those minerals build up on textured hair, leaving it duller, drier and harder to define, and curls and coils feel the effect first because they are already the thirstiest textures. A periodic clarifying wash and a consistent moisture routine counteract most of it.

London’s weather does the rest. Damp, changeable air and humid summer days lift the cuticle and invite frizz, which is exactly why Pash leans on sealing steps like Glossy Nectar for curls and a light Sea Salt Spray finish for waves. Sealing the cuticle is what keeps your pattern looking intentional when the forecast will not cooperate.

Bascially in London, a good cleansing shampoo is needed, protect moisture, seal your style, and refresh between washes rather than over-washing. Your texture will hold far better for it. If you’re wanting to know more about taming that frizz, check out our curly hair routines.

Book a textured hair appointment

Pash and the team at Blue Tit London cut, colour and care for every pattern from loose waves to tight coils, and a consultation is the fastest way to build a routine around your specific hair rather than a generic curl type. Find your nearest Blue Tit salon and book in to get started.