4 Types of Baby Curls

Baby curls are fascinating to explore. They come in so many shapes, sizes, and patterns. We describe the four main types: tight, loose, sparse, dense.

• Tight curls (t curls) are super springy and look like micro coils.

• Loose curls (l curls) have numerous bends and look like large ringlets.

• Sparse curls (s curls) have large spaces between each strand making the scalp visible.

• Dense curls (d curls) have minimal spacing between each strand making the scalp less visible.

The following chart shows straight, wavy, curly and coily strands and how they look with different densities.

You may wonder why we include straight hair as a type of curl. In our research, we've noticed that even straight strands can have a slight bend, which means the strand does not move in just one direction. The degree of change in straight strands tends to be significantly smaller than visually obvious curls, but nonetheless still occurs.

In children, straight hair can also be temporary, which means the hair actually has curly data in its structure, waiting to reveal itself. As a result, straight hair with curl information may eventually curl in the child's lifetime, while straight hair without curl info may not. The reverse can also happen, meaning curly hair can eventually release the bend resulting in straight strands later in life.

Watching the evolution of childhood curls is extremely fascinating, as a child can experience a variety of curl types, patterns and textures before reaching the age of two.

One surprising curl characteristic is that curls can tighten with age or stay the same throughout time. We labeled these intriguing traits as c curls (consistent curls) and e curls (evolving curls).

Curls that change with age (e curls) have the benefit of creating different looks as the child grows. However, e curls can also mean constantly trying to figuring out styles, tools, techniques, care, and maintenance.

Consistent curls that stay the same (no matter the child's age) make establishing and maintaining hair routines slightly easier. However, if the child enjoys experimenting, it may require researching and creating different styles more to get the change that naturally comes with evolving curls.

Sparse curls (also known as s curls) are easily identifiable because the scalp is visible. Since hair insulates and keeps the scalp warm, s curls that expose the scalp can make the child feel cool. Sparse strands are one of the reasons why newborns wear hats shortly following delivery. Hat wearing for newly born children helps keep their bodies warm until more hair grows in.

Dense curls (also known as d curls) tend to help keep little ones warm. They are visibly identified by curls that completely cover the scalp.

Some children find d curls to be too hot and may prefer to keep their hair short or tied up to minimize sweating and overheating. Children have different experiences with d and s curls, as it depends on their body chemistry, the style, and how dense or sparse the curls are.

Every head of curls is different. For example, a baby can have sparse curls that are tight or loose curls that are dense.