Many of us Hair Stylists have a tough time determining the needs of curly and textured hair clients. You may even panic when a head of beautiful curls walks through your salon door. Not anymore!
Introducing our Hair Texture 101 Guide!
Now, you’ll be able to easily determine various curl types and patterns, while servicing these clients with poise and confidence. As with all successful hair appointment experiences, it all starts with a thoughtful and thorough consultation. Your approach and questions are the key to gaining a textured client’s trust.
But first, you must know to ask slightly different questions when consulting with your curly clientele. This is due to the various textures (which you’ll learn to identify in this article) and how they hold up to moisture, humidity and your client’s unique lifestyle.
Below are some sample topics and questions to ask during your consultation:
- Ask them how long their has been free from chemicals.
- What do their daily/weekly activities consist of? This question will probe them to tell you lifestyle choices, like whether they exercise or not and what they do for a living. Which at this point should help you determine the importance of convenience to this client.
- Listen to your client to give them the best experience. If there is a service or technique you are not comfortable with, please let them know… they will most likely appreciate you being upfront about your limitations. You have now become a team in finding a style that you both will love and are capable of achieving.
How to Determine Different Curl and Textured Hair Types
Below, is a handy chart on how to identify different hair textures and curl patterns.
As trained hair stylists, we understand that you not only have to identify texture, but understand how certain hair types react to moisture/humidity and heat. This is the knowledge that the consumer is missing, which has unfortunately, led them down a road to becoming product junkies. Spending hundreds, sometimes thousands of dollars on products they don’t use.
This is where you come in with your new found textured hair knowledge and styling product suggestions.
Images courtesy of Naturally Curly.com
Types of Textured Hair Styling
Straightening/Silk Press:
This method, of course, can be done on all hair types. Textured hair is sought after often times because of its versatility. Straightening is for those that want convenience, professional reasons and/or personal preference. If worn too often, or if iron temperatures are too hot, you may cause heat damage to your clients hair.
That’s why I also recommend using our non-toxic, organic heat protection products.
Wet Setting/Wrapping:
Coils/Comb Twists
Texture Hair Types: 4-8
Oway Product Suggestions: Moisture line (Hair Bath, Mask and No-Rinse Moisture Spray), Flux Potion
Double Strand Twists
Texture hair types: 5-8
Oway Product Suggestions: Moisture line (Hair Bath, Mask and No-Rinse Moisture Spray), PreciousWax, Boho Pomade
Curl Defining
Texture hair types: 3-6
Oway Product Suggestions: Curly line (Hair Bath, Mask and Curly Potion), Shabby Mud, Precious Wax, Boho Pomade, Flux Potion
Roller Wraps
Texture Hair Types: All
Oway Product Suggestions: Flux Potion, Glossy Nectar, Silk’n Glow Serum, Glamshine Cloud Spray
Protective Styling:
Double Strand Twists/Coil Comb Twists
Texture Hair Types: 4-8
Oway product suggestions: Moisture line (Hair Bath, Mask and No-Rinse Moisture Spray), Flux Potion
Locs/ Dreadlocs
Texture hair types: 4-8 (but can be done on all types with manipulation techniques)
Oway Product Suggestions for Starting Locs: Flux Potion (for more coarse textures)
Oway Product Suggestions for Maintaing Locs: Frozen Glaze, Boho Pomade
Braids & Braids/Twists Combo Styles:
Texture hair types: 4-8
Oway Product Suggestions: Boho Pomade, Frozen Glaze
About The Author
Jennea Dorsey-Gordley
As a Simply Organic Educator, she brings to us years of experience working with textured hair, and more importantly, how to achieve desired results with non-toxic, organic hair products. If you’re interested in bringing Jennea into your salon for an in-depth texture class, please contact us at 888-213-4744
