Thick Curly Hair vs Fine Curly Hair - a different regime

While thick and fine curly hair share some common needs, they also require distinct care routines to look their best.

Here's how to tailor your approach: Thick curls tend to be more porous, meaning they can absorb moisture but lose it quickly, leaving it frizzy, so hydration is key.

However, fine curls are more prone to being weighed down by heavy products, so choose lighter shampoos that strengthen without overloading your hair.

 

Best Shampoo for Curly Hair

With so many curly hair products to pick from, choosing the right shampoo can feel overwhelming. And like we said, not all curly hair is the same - so we carefully crafted shampoos designed for different hair types:

Windle LAB Thick Hair Curl Shampoo

Designed for thick, curly, coiled, and wavy hair, this shampoo provides intense hydration and nourishment. Key ingredients include:

• White Tea Extract: Rich in antioxidants, it protects both hair and scalp.
• Monoi Oil and Shea Butter: These natural moisturisers soften and nourish hair.
• Creatine: Strengthens curls, enhancing their resilience.

This combination ensures gentle cleansing while maintaining the natural moisture balance, resulting in soft, manageable curls.

Windle LAB Fine Hair Curl Shampoo

Formulated for medium to fine curls, coils, and waves, this shampoo aims to strengthen and volumise. Its notable components are:

• Rooibos Tea Extract: Known for its antioxidant properties and potential to promote hair growth.
• Wheat Protein: Provides lift and bounce, giving hair a fuller appearance.

Gently cleansing and fortifying the hair helps achieve voluminous, bouncy curls without weighing them down.

 

What’s the best haircare routine for curly hair?

The ideal curly hair routine depends on the texture of your hair. Curly hair is incredibly diverse, and what works for one curl type may not work for another. That’s why it’s important to tailor your routine to your hair’s specific needs.

In our salon, we noticed two common concerns from clients with curly hair:

• Clients with thick curly hair often say, “My hair is too thick and frizzy. How can I calm it down and create more defined curls?”
• Clients with fine curly hair expressed, “My curls go lifeless, and my style collapses. How can I add volume and definition?”

To address these challenges, we developed two distinct regimes:

Windle LAB  - Fine Hair Curl Regime

Fine hair needs support, strength, and lift to enhance its curl pattern without being weighed down. This regime is designed to provide everything finer curly hair needs:

• Fine Hair Curl Shampoo and Conditioner: Gently cleanse and condition while reducing breakage and protecting the hair with Wheat Protein and Rooibos Tea. These ingredients also help give fine hair a thicker look and feel.
• Fine Hair Curl Thickening Cream: Adds volume and boosts body for a fuller appearance.
• Fine Hair Curl Enhancer Cream: Enhances all curl patterns with lightweight hold and definition.
• Anti-Humidity Drops: Protect curls from frizz and humidity, ensuring bouncy, voluminous curls that stay in place all day.

This carefully curated regime ensures that fine curls remain strong, supported, and beautifully defined.

 

Windle LAB Thick Hair Curl Regime

Thicker curls need intense hydration, frizz control, and products that relax and define. This regime is specially designed to meet these needs:

• Thick Hair Curl Shampoo and Conditioner: Cleanse, repair, and hydrate thick curls. Monoi Oil and Shea Butter nourish and soften the hair, while Creatine strengthens and enhances curl resilience.
• Thick Hair Curl Hydration Cream: A leave-in moisturiser that provides an extra dose of hydration for thick curls prone to dryness.
• Thick Hair Curl Enhancer Cream: Adds definition and hold to all curl patterns for a polished, frizz-free look.
• Anti-Humidity Drops: Keep curls frizz-free and healthy-looking, even in humid conditions.

This regime focuses on giving thick curls the hydration and control they need to look their best.

 

Does curly hair grow slower than straight hair?

Ok let’s bust this myth. All hair grows from the scalp at an average rate of around 1cm (or half an inch in “old money”) each month, regardless of whether it’s curly, wavy or straight. The rate of growth is actually more impacted by factors like genetics and health rather than texture.

However, curly hair can appear to grow slower. Here’s why

Shrinkage:

One of the defining features of curly hair is its ability to shrink. The tighter the curl pattern, the more the hair contracts, making it look shorter than its actual length. Curled hair can shrink by up to 75% of its true length.

Fragility and Breakage:

Curly hair is more prone to dryness because natural scalp oils have a harder time travelling down the spiral structure of the hair shaft. This dryness makes it more susceptible to breakage, which can impede visible growth.

Knotting and Trimming:

Curly hair tends to tangle more easily, which can lead to split ends and frequent trims to maintain its health. This regular cutting might make it seem as though growth is slower.

How often should you wash curly hair?

The frequency of washing curly hair depends on your curl type, lifestyle, and personal preference. Or course, if you’re sweating it out at the gym every day, you may want to wash your hair a little more often, but generally try to avoid overwashing.

Curly hair is naturally drier than straight hair because the natural oils from the scalp take longer to travel down the spiral structure of the hair shaft. Overwashing can strip these oils, leading to dryness and frizz. Here’s how to find the right balance:

Thick, Coarse, or Dry Curly Hair

We recommend washing your hair once a week or less if possible. Thick curls tend to hold onto moisture better and don’t get greasy quickly. Washing too often can strip the hair of its natural oils, making it drier and harder to manage.

Fine or Oily Curly Hair

Fine curls are more prone to scalp build-up and can become limp if not cleansed regularly. However, avoid daily washing to prevent drying out the curls. Instead, wash around twice weekly and choose a lightweight shampoo and conditioner, or even better, a leave-in conditioner spray such as our Invisible Day and Night spray.

Signs it’s time to wash your hair

• Your scalp feels itchy or greasy.
• Your curls lack definition or feel weighed down.
• Your hair smells or feels dirty.

How to brush curly hair?

Brushing or combing curly hair requires care to maintain its curl pattern, avoid frizz, and minimise breakage. The key is to work gently and always brush or comb at the right time.

Choose tools designed for curls, such as a wide-tooth comb, a detangling brush, or even your fingers. These options minimise damage and help preserve the natural shape of your curls.

It’s best to avoid brushing dry curls, as this can lead to frizz and disrupt the curl structure. Instead, detangle when your hair is wet or damp. Applying a conditioner or detangling product beforehand will make the process easier by adding slip, reducing tension, and softening the strands.

Work in sections to ensure you detangle thoroughly. Start at the ends and gradually move up towards the roots, taking care to be gentle and avoid tugging. If you encounter a knot, apply more conditioner or a detangling spray to ease it out.

After brushing or combing, you may notice your curls need a little help to bounce back. Use your hands to scrunch the hair gently or apply a curl cream or leave-in conditioner to restore hydration and definition. Let your curls air dry, or use a diffuser to set them in place.

Curly Hair Experts

Curly hair requires extra care, so finding a hairstylist who specialises in curls is key to making your hair look its absolute best. Stylists trained in curly hair techniques understand how to cut, style, and enhance curls while maintaining their natural shape and health.

If you're looking for a curly hair salon in London, Windle Salon is an excellent choice. Not only do our stylists have extensive experience with curly hair, but we’ve also developed our own product range, inspired by cutting and styling hundreds of customers with curls. Whether your hair is thick and unruly or fine and delicate, our salon is equipped to help your curls shine.