I'm in the process of growing out my hair. I believe I'm somewhere between 2c and 3a. I kept it short for a long time, around chin-length in the front, and angled much shorter in the back. It curled very well at this length, mostly 3a. It is now right around shoulder-length.

I seem to be having the opposite problem from a lot of curlies who grow out their hair. It seems typical that, with growth, the ends tend to become curlier than the roots, due to the excess weight of the hair pulling the roots flat. However, my curls are much tighter (I'd say close to 3b) at the roots, and the curl gradually falls out of my hair as it goes down the shaft. I'd say the ends of my hair are more like 2a, if even that much curl in some strands.

When it was short, my curl pattern was pretty consistent throughout the entire length. It's rather annoying now, and I don't know if it's because I'm just not sure how to style my longer hair or if I'm using the wrong products. Maybe my cut is wrong? (Unfortunately, I live in Iowa, where a really talented curly hair stylist is hard to come by.) I really don't want to chop it all off again, but that option is slowly becoming more appealing.

Anyone out there have the same problem as me? Anyone figured out how to fix it? I'm open to either straightening out the roots a little bit or curling the ends up more, whatever it takes to make it a little more consistent. The less heat that can be used to achieve this beyond diffusing, the better, as my hair gets damaged easily.

Currently, I leave my hair in a towel only for a minute or two to stop it from dripping, then apply a gel (currently using DevaCare Arc Angel) and diffuse my hair upside down while leaning forward. I use a low speed, high heat setting.

My hair is like that too but I think its because my older hair is heat damaged..I didn't even know my natural curls looked they the way they do at the roots I thought I had fizzy loose curls but its tighter defined and less frizzy at the roots.I've been growing it out for like 8 months and the new hair coming out feels healthier than my ends.

I've been natural for almost 4 years and I have 2a patches in my 4a hair. Yes, 2a, not 3a, or 3b, or whatever. Hair that has the slightest of wave in my otherwise 4a hair. And it's not heat damage, as the new growth from the past year since I've flatironed comes in looking EXACTLY the same. Some hair, sadly but surely, is just like that. I don't treat it any differently than the rest of my hair, TBH. I just don't do wash n gos that often.

I've been natural for almost 4 years and I have 2a patches in my 4a hair. Yes, 2a, not 3a, or 3b, or whatever. Hair that has the slightest of wave in my otherwise 4a hair. And it's not heat damage, as the new growth from the past year since I've flatironed comes in looking EXACTLY the same. Some hair, sadly but surely, is just like that. I don't treat it any differently than the rest of my hair, TBH. I just don't do wash n gos that often.

Originally Posted by Ronnieaj

Me too but only one section-the nape area..its just wavy for no reason and I don't remember ever having it out it grew out,I think my is 2b maybe.its all the same texture from root to tip at first I thought it was heat damage but its not like the 4a/b sections that are heat damaged.

Sounds like mine my hair is getting very healthy from the top to my ears and the middle\bottom of it seems to be old damage. I used to straighten my hair but now i don't and i take really good care of it. I would just say to keep growing it out because curling/straightening the roots will just damage it all over again. I used to straighten my bangs all the time which damaged them and stretched out the curl so i am happy with my new growth! It is so shiny, dark, has tighter curls, and is thicker too!

My hair got more wavy ever since I gave up silicones. I'm a 2b. I always thought my hair was straight with hardly any waves. Anyway, the thing is curl patterns change. Let your hair do what it wants to do.. As long as its healthy, nothing matters(to me at least ) wether you want to keep it short or long depends on what kind of style you prefer (but in my opinion, long hair is more versatile) . Maybe you can get more waves by doing braids or twists? Then you won't have to cut it off.