Curly vs Wavy Hair
Curly, wavy, and straight are words used to describe the texture and style of hair of different people. When we see a person, his hairstyle is what becomes visible to us instantly, and we associate his looks with his hair type. In general, hair types can be divided into African, Asian or Indian, and Caucasian where African hair bring images of very curly haired people who keep hair short because of these curls. Wavy hair are characteristic of Asian people, and such hair forms more waves after washing and drying. Caucasian hair type is one that is straight and is loved by people across the world. However, this article tries to differentiate between curly and wavy hair, the two terms often used together to describe hair type.
Curly Hair
One does not need to analyze hair in a laboratory to declare if a person has curly hair. This is because one can instantly feel the difference if a person with curtly hair is standing in front, especially if one happen to have straight hair. Curls and waves are not exclusive to each other, and there seems to be only a difference of intensity in the curls.
The shape of the cell that gives birth to curly hair is perhaps responsible for a scalp being full of such hairs. The shape of the cell of curly hair is oblong, which makes the hair follicle to grow very close to the scalp and the hair does not grow in any straight direction but curls itself like the curls of a cobra snake. The texture of curly hair is coarse like wool. People belonging to warm and humid climate often seem to have curly hair. Most people from African countries having Negro ancestry have curly hair.
Wavy Hair
Wavy hair is not straight. It is not curly either. However, it has hints of curls, and this is seen in the form of waves in otherwise straight hair. Wavy hair does not have spirals that are the chief characteristic of curly hair.
The shape of the cells producing wavy hair is round. It allows the hair to continue growing in a somewhat straight manner; though not always in a straight line like in the case of straight hair where the hair grows in 180 degree direction. The hair is also soft and not thick and coarse. People with white skin have either straight or wavy hair. People coming from Asian countries have wavy hair.
What is the difference between Curly and Wavy Hair?
• Curly hair is kinky having close curls like that in a spring.
• Wavy hair lies in between straight and curly hair and does not have curls but has zigzag pasterns that make them wavy.
• Curls start right next to the scalp, and such hair is thick and coarse whereas wavy hair is straighter and softer. The texture of wavy hair is thin.
• Curly hair is hard to tame yet many people go for curls in hair as they like them
• It is difficult to comb curly hair when they are dry