Fibres in the latter group were thicker, stronger and stiffer, with a greater scalp density. This means that curlier hair was found to be thicker, stronger and more resilient under mechanical forces than the near-straight hair.
Curls adds volume to your hair effortlessly, and you never have to worry about it being flat, limp and lifeless like those with straight hair. Even on days when you straighten your curls, there is always going to be that little amount of volume that will make others go green with envy.
Curly hair is a bit more delicate than straight hair, and the tighter the curl or coil, the more fragile the strand. Curls generally need a little extra love, and it's important to know how to do right by your hair so it can stay looking amazing.
Curly hair is dominant, so someone is more likely to have curly or wavy hair if at least one of their parents does. Recent research points to trichohyalin, a protein in hair follicles, as having primary influence over hair curl. However, there are many genes contributing to hair curliness, most of them unknown.
We believe one of the reasons is that super-straight hair — also known as type 1a hair — is so rare. In fact, it's the rarest hair type. Only 2% of the world's population has 1a hair. It's mostly found in people of Asian descent.
Lots of traits are statistically rare: Left-handedness (just 10 percent of the population!), curly hair (11 percent!), and blond hair (4 percent!), to name a few.
Human hair comes with all sorts of colors, textures and shapes. Notably, African hair is more coiled and dry; Asian hair is straighter and thicker; and Caucasian hair is somewhere in between with around 45% having straight hair, 40% having wavy hair, and 15% having curly hair.
And while the results did vary, in the end we found that 58% of the fellas agreed that curlier is sexier.
Thick (Coarse)
Thick or coarse hair texture is the strongest hair texture and typically feels coarse or thick to the touch. Coarse hair contains all three hair layers – the cortex, cuticle and medulla.
Individuals of African ancestry, for example, are more likely to have curly hair due to the oval shape of their hair follicles. Additionally, the Keratin Associated Protein (KAP) cluster genes, responsible for the structure of keratin fibers, have been found to have variations in many African populations.
The story of human migration and evolution is written in hair DNA. In sub-Saharan Africa, genes favour tight, curly hair. But in east Asia, mutations have led to straighter, thicker hair. In Europe, other mutations brought wavy and straw-coloured hair.
Fibres in the latter group were thicker, stronger and stiffer, with a greater scalp density. This means that curlier hair was found to be thicker, stronger and more resilient under mechanical forces than the near-straight hair.
Fragility. Natural curly hair tends to be more fragile than straight hair. Due to the uneven shape of the hair fiber, the hair shaft can have “high spots” where the cuticle is slightly lifted compared to the rest of the hair fiber.
Type 4C. 4C is the kinkiest, coiliest hair type there is. Sometimes the zigzag curl pattern is so dense and fine that it may be hard to see individual strands without stretching each strand out. However, 4C hair is also super versatile and can be worn in so many different natural hairstyles.
Many Asians have naturally straight hair, but there is a significant group of us who do have naturally curly or wavy hair! However, because it's the norm to see straight and sleek hair, curly haired boys and girls tend to think that their hair is some kind of unruly straight hair that isn't behaving.
In fact, many Korean people have curly or wavy hair textures — but this is often a well-kept secret as most Koreans opt for the widely popular Korean Magic Straight Perm as opposed to wearing their natural curls.
A general observation across experiments was that straight hair was perceived as younger, healthier, and more attractive than wavy hair and darker shades (medium copper and brown) were perceived more positively than blonde hair.
Curly hair is often associated with a fun-loving, warm hearted and outgoing personality. If you have curly hair you are perceived as being courageous, outspoken, and spontaneous.
Coily Curls
The last, but most rare type of curl is the coily curl. This curl type is similar to that of an afro and when observed carefully, looks like the angular letter 'Z'. These curls require the most amount of moisture, as the hair type is much thicker than the other curl types.
Type 1A hair is very straight and fine, with no waves or curls whatsoever. This hair type tends to get very oily and requires frequent shampooing. It is the rarest hair type and is common among women of Asian descent.
The rarest natural hair colour is red, which makes up only one to two percent of the global population. You commonly see these hair colours in western and northern areas of Europe, especially Scotland and Ireland. However, natural redheads may not exist for much longer.
Less than one in five women in the US (17%) and one in ten women in GB (10%) describe their hair type as curly.
No, it is not rare to be born with natural curls. In fact, natural curls are quite common among certain ethnicities, such as African, African American, and Mediterranean. Genetics play a key role in determining the texture and pattern of an individual's hair.
Thick, curly hair is more prone to breakage and dryness than other hair types. However, with the right routine and hair care products, you can keep your curls healthy and looking good. To care for curly hair, board-certified dermatologists recommend these tips. Only wash your hair when needed.