If you've ever wondered why one side of your hair is curlier than the other, take a seat! Here, you will find all the details as to why that happens. Plus, we will be sharing a few tips to help you bring out the best in your curls.

Reasons Why Parts of Your Hair are Curlier Than Others

There are quite a few “whys” behind certain sections having a looser or tighter curl pattern than the rest. Let's go over them:

Genetics

Curl patterns can vary, and apparently, yours do! It is absolutely normal to have more than one curl type on your head. This is why we don't usually make product recommendations based on your curl "pattern" (e.g., 2A, 3C, 4B) but on things like porosity, density, etc. Genetics play a significant role, and there's no changing that. While you might want your curls to look a certain way, it shouldn't stop you from embracing your curls for what they are and focusing less on what you perceive to be flawed or less-than-perfect curls. You may be able to enhance and improve your curl pattern - especially if your hair is currently damaged or in transition - but your curls are yours and they are great!

Product build up

This right here is another major culprit of curl inconsistencies. There is a chance that some parts of your hair don't curl as expected because they have been weighed down over time by an accumulation of product in your hair strands, especially in areas like the top layers where we tend to apply more product. This is particularly true if you are not in the habit of clarifying your hair occasionally.

Damage

Damaged hair could appear to have uneven curls, especially when you are in your transitioning state. Damage can be caused by chemical treatments, heat styling (especially straightening, where heat is applied directly to the hair), environmental factors like the sun, or even excessive manipulation and styling. To give your hair a fighting chance, it's best to stay away from heat styling entirely when it is recovering, or reduce it to an absolute minimum. If you must use heat, spritz on a heat protectant. Innersense Organic Beauty's Hair Love Prep Spray takes its job pretty seriously and can help you avoid adding to the damage you may already have.

For damaged or recovering hair, it's normal to see some straighter pieces. Over time you will notice a difference in the health of your hair if you begin focusing on returning your hair to its natural state.

Sleeping position

The way you sleep could be causing one side of your head to be less curly than the other. That's because you're putting pressure on the curls unevenly, which can flatten one side over time. You could learn to adjust and alternate sleeping positions to see if that helps. Also, make sure to sleep on a silk or satin pillowcase, like the Live Curly Satin Pillowcase or one from KITSCH, to reduce friction and breakage from tossing and turning.

Not using the right products

If you have different curl types on your head, not using products that could cater to those differences could cause irregular results. We always recommend using products suited for the majority of your head. You might need to up your product game a little bit by applying more product to curls that need extra help.

Also, if your hair is on the higher porosity side, using products designed for lower porosity hair would be selling your curls short. High porosity hair often has damage to compensate for. Keep this in mind when choosing products.

How To Improve or Fix Hair That Has Some Parts Curlier than Others

The fact that your hair doesn't have an even curl structure doesn't mean it's a lost cause. There are still things you can do to achieve a more even look, including:

Make sure you are using enough product

This may be a simple fix: you are not dispersing your product evenly. You might think the underside of your hair is straight but when you focus on carefully applying a curl cream or gel there, it could become as curly as the rest. Ensure you are getting consistent coverage by sectioning your hair when applying any products.

Clarify your hair

To rid your hair of products, oils, and mineral buildup that could weigh your hair down and prevent it from curling, clarify your hair with a clarifying shampoo. When our hair is covered in product build up, excess oil, or mineral deposits, products can't penetrate into the hair like many are meant to. The Gentle Clarifying Shampoo from Bounce Curl is very gentle; it removes buildup without drying out your scalp. If you have hard water, try Water Works Clarifying Shampoo from Ouidad or Hard Water Wellness Shampoo from Malibu C. Both will remove mineral residue as well as build up. 

Use a curl definer/activator/stimulator

These products are specifically designed to enhance your natural curls. We recommend Uncle Funky's Daughter Curly Magic, AG Hair's Curl Fresh Definer, or Ecoslay's Orange Marmalade. Curl definers often don't have a lot of hold. We recommend adding a gel over top if you hair needs some help with maintaining curls all day long.

Try pin curls, finger coiling, or a defining brush

Doing some finger curling after coating with gel could help with enhanced definition in areas that tend to be flatter. You could also use your fingers to curl a piece and then pin it up until it is dry to help maintain its shape.

Additionally, you could try using a brush designed to bring out the best in your natural curl pattern like the Bounce Curl Define EdgeLift Brush. If you are specifically looking for consistency in your styling results, apply your products and then brush them through for even distribution.

Get a curly haircut 

Go see a curly hair specialist and get a haircut when your hair is in a dry and natural state. Check out our blog post about what to expect when you get a curly cut here. This allows them to remove any uneven ends and get lazier curls back on track by shaping your hair in a way that makes it look great. Also, you could possibly consider cutting off more than usual -  shorter hair tends to shrink up more (though not always), providing more bounce and shape when the excess weight of longer hair is removed.

Use the right products

Getting the right products could be game-changing for your curls. Using something you see on social media and expecting to instantly get beautiful results is a risky move and unlikely to pay off without a bit of research on what your hair needs.

For fine hair, for example, Inahsi Naturals' Pamper My Curls All-In-One Leave-In Moisture Mist and Curlsmith's Weightless Air Dry Cream are lightweight leave-in conditioners to moisturize your curls without weighing them down. If you prefer mousse for styling, the Rizos Curl Defining Mousse should do the trick for finer hair. For gel, the Light Hold Gel from Bounce Curl creates a touchable finish without too much weight. If you need even more hold, I Create Hold from Innersense Organic Beauty is a customer favourite.

For high porosity hair that tends to absorb a lot of moisture and disperse it quickly, you may be able to use heavier or more moisturizing products. The Curl Conditioning Oil in Cream by Curlsmith is a leave-in cream best suited for hair that is coarse or dry. The Hi! Definition Curl Enhancer Styling Gel, our best selling gel three years in a row, is also a great choice for high porosity hair.

Separate large clumps when hair is wet

Raking your hands through your curls as you apply your styling products is a good way of separating your curl clumps from the root downwards. You can do this right-side up or upside down, or both. You want to make sure that your strands are separated when they're drying, as large clusters of hair may not curl as well as they would if they had space to form. You can also grab a brush like the Bounce Curl Volume EdgeLift Brush or the D31 Free Flow Styling Denman Brush and brush in smaller sections to ensure your product is evenly distributed.

If you need help or advice navigating your curly journey or you're looking for product recommendations for your hair type, send us an email at products@curlwarehouse.com or visit us in-store.