There's something magical about catching your reflection and seeing those coils and curls framing your face. At Coils to Locs, we know the journey to textured hair acceptance isn't always straightforward, but it's absolutely worth it. Let's dive into why we in the natural hair community should celebrate our beautiful curls, coils, and kinks.
Did you know that over 50% of the world's population has curly or wavy hair? That's right – those of us with textured hair are actually in the majority! Yet somehow, straight hair has dominated beauty standards for decades. Time to flip that script.
The Science Behind Our Spirals
Our textured hair patterns are actually engineering marvels. Each curl pattern—from type 2 waves to type 4 coils—is determined by the shape of our hair follicles. The more oval or asymmetrical the follicle, the curlier the hair. Perfectly round follicles produce straight hair. So those coils and curls? They're literally built into your DNA!
The texture of our hair also serves practical purposes. Coily and curly hair provides natural protection against the sun's rays and helps regulate temperature. In hot climates, our textured hair creates a natural barrier that keeps our heads cooler. Evolution gave us these spirals for a reason!
When Our Crowns Begin to Fade
Let's talk about something we don't necessarily discuss enough in the natural hair community – hair loss and thinning edges. For those of us with textured hair, watching those strands thin out hits different. At Coils to Locs, we understand that it's not just hair; it's part of our identity walking away down the shower drain. One day you're double strand twisting thick abundant coils, the next you're trying to style around thinning patches and alopecia spots, wondering if anyone else notices.
Trust me, I get it. That mixture of panic and grief when you realize your crown is changing is real. For Black women and women of color especially, this hair loss journey carries extra weight – our textured hair connects us to our heritage, our beautiful resistance, our very sense of self. When traction alopecia or other forms of hair loss happen, it's not just a cosmetic issue; it's a deeply personal shift in how we move through the world.
But here's what we’re continually reminded of by the Coils to Locs community and others: this challenge doesn't define us. Whether you're trying scalp treatments, rocking protective styles, exploring medical wigs designed for textured hair, or embracing a bold new look, your curl spirit remains intact. Our worth was never in our strand count – it's in how we carry ourselves, crown fully intact or beautifully evolving.
The Cultural Significance
Throughout history and across cultures, coily and curly hair has held special significance. From ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs depicting curly-haired goddesses to Renaissance paintings celebrating expansive locks, our textured hair type has been revered for centuries.
In many African and African diaspora cultures, elaborate natural hairstyles were maps of identity, signifying tribal affiliations, marital status, and social standing. Our coils and curls have been storytellers, preserving history and culture through generations.
Embracing the Textured Hair Journey
Let's keep it real – managing coily, curly hair comes with its challenges. The frizz! The shrinkage! The natural hair product experimentation! But these challenges have created one of the most supportive beauty communities out there. From sharing moisture retention tips to celebrating "big hair don’t care" days, the Coils to Locs community and other textured hair enthusiasts have each other's backs.
Every curl pattern is unique, just like a fingerprint. No two people with textured hair have exactly the same pattern, making each of us walking works of art. Our coils and curls defy gravity and predictability, and there's something wonderfully rebellious about that.
Moving Forward with Pride
So the next time you see your textured hair in the mirror—whether it's as abundant as it once was, you’re nurturing it back to health, or you’re using Coils to Locs wigs as a solution—remember: your crown remains glorious. Your worth was never in your hair count but in how you carry yourself beneath those coils and curls.
Let's wear our textured hair proudly, teach the next generation to love their natural coils and curls, and continue challenging narrow beauty standards. Because in a world that sometimes tries to flatten everything, our textured hair—however much we have—stands as a testament to the beauty of embracing what makes us uniquely ourselves.
Are you experiencing changes in your natural hair journey? Share your crown story with the Coils to Locs community and let’s support each other through every phase of our textured hair experience.
