What Is Multi-Textured Hair? Maintenance & Styling Tips

You’ve always known you had finer hair on some parts of your head and thicker, coarser curls in other areas. But maybe you didn’t realize you have multi-textured curly hair until you looked closer and tried to discover your curl type.

Well, welcome to the club! Almost all people with curly hair have more than one texture somewhere on their heads. Most have two; some even have three. Before we get into how to take care of multi-textured hair, let’s discuss what exactly it is.

What is Multi-Textured Hair?

Multi-textured hair refers to hair that doesn’t have a uniform curl pattern throughout. Instead, it exhibits a variety of textures, such as having wavy curls at the front and tighter curls at the back, or a combination of thin and thick strands. This diversity in texture can be natural or result from transitional phases like growing out chemically straightened hair.

It’s a common occurrence and can present unique styling and care challenges due to the differing needs of each hair texture.

Why Do I Have Multi-Textured Hair?

Hair can have more than one texture for different reasons, but the primary reason is genetics. Maybe your Dad or Grandad has a looser curl pattern than your Mom or Grandma, so you get both textures on one head. There are some other reasons for it though:

“Hair can have more than one texture for different reasons, but the primary reason is genetics.”

Ghanima Abdullah

You’re Transitioning to Natural Hair

This sounds obvious. Of course, you’ll have two different textures if you’re transitioning: the chemically processed and natural parts. Chemical relaxers and texturizers permanently break down the disulfide bonds within the hair shaft. When you stop using these chemicals, your scalp will continue to grow your natural, healthy curl pattern, creating a ‘line of demarcation’ where the curly roots meet the chemically straightened ends.

On the other hand, harsh chemicals from relaxers, keratin treatments, and bleaching can damage the hair follicles in some areas of the head. This often happens where harsh chemicals like relaxers or lighteners were improperly applied or overlapped, such as the delicate nape, hairline, or crown. So in those areas, your hair might be a different texture, with tighter or looser curls.

Harsh chemicals can actually damage the hair follicles, leaving parts of your hair with a different texture.

You Have Areas with Damaged Hair

Some parts of your hair might be straighter than others because of heat damage. Otherwise known as “training”, heat damage happens when the proteins of the hair are stretched with heat to the point when they cannot bounce back. A lot of tight pulling can cause the same issue.

You’re Aging

With age and hormonal differences, you might find parts of your hair have a different texture. Hormones can change the shape of follicles, so you might have a looser curl in parts of your head.

On the other hand, hair loss starts with finer hair in the area. So, if you notice your texture is changing to finer strands along with thinning, you may be experiencing hair miniaturization, an early sign of alopecia.

Do You Have Multi-Textured Hair?

Multi-textured hair means having various types of strands, such as loose curls, tight coils, and varying thicknesses. If your hair shows these differences, you likely have multiple textures.

This hair type is quite common and can change over time. Factors like transitioning from chemically straightened to natural hair often cause changes in texture.

To identify if your hair is multi-textured, observe if different sections have unique curl patterns or thickness.

How to Care for Multi-Textured Hair

Differing textures are usually very obvious to the touch and the hair might also behave differently. The ease of combing might differ from section to section and the curls will be visibly tighter or looser. This means detangling is probably a challenge. Here’s how to care for your multi-textured hair.

1. Pre-shampoo

You can pre-poo with oils, butters or a homemade combination of both. These products lightly coat the hair to provide flexibility and help prevent breakage during the washing process. They also create a protective barrier so that excess water and detergents can’t cause swelling while you wash.

When shampoo cleanses the hair shaft, it can be stripping to your natural oils. Excess water can cause your cuticle to lift, which can cause damage during the difficult process of detangling multi-textured hair.

2. Section It Off

Before you wash your hair, take a minute to separate it according to texture. Then, wash and condition your hair. Detangle it with the conditioner still in. This will make the detangling process much more manageable. If you pre-shampooed and carefully detangled, you’ll find significantly less breakage.

3. Apply Your Products Accordingly

Where you have tighter curls, you’ll probably need more products like leave-in conditioners or curl definers. So don’t skimp! It will help make those areas softer and easier to manage. Where your hair is less tightly curled, there’s no problem using a lighter hand with products.

4. Don’t Be Afraid of Scissors

Just make sure to use sharp hair shears – not kitchen scissors. Always trim multi-textured hair while it is dry and in its natural state, cutting curl-by-curl to account for the different shrinkage rates of your textures.

If your hairline or bang area is finer than the rest of your hair, avoid heavy edge controls that can cause tension and breakage. Instead, opt for gentle styling that blends these finer hairs naturally.

Aim for balance. Because tighter curls shrink more, looser sections may need to be left a bit longer so the shape looks even when dry.

Always trim multi-textured hair while it is dry and in its natural state, cutting curl-by-curl to account for shrinkage.

5. Embrace Frizz and Shrinking

We’re always trying to reduce frizz, but embracing it will give your curls a more uniform look. Once you wash and condition your hair, let it air dry. You’ll probably come out with an afro or huge curly hair, and that’s okay.

You’ll get the most compliments from beautifully frizzy styles. If you feel like it looks messy, use a lightweight oil or serum to smooth flyaways rather than cutting them.

6. Style with Rollers

If you like a curly style, try changing up your look by using rollers instead of displaying your natural curl pattern. Wash and go might highlight your different textures, and twist-outs and braid-outs are excellent heat-free ways to manipulate your hair into a more uniform texture.

Rollers help make your curls uniform, and you can always use two different sizes to get a different look. Often larger rollers are used up top and smaller-sized rollers are used on the sides and back. If you have two or three different textures, rollers can go a long way to getting you the style you like.

“Rollers help make your curls uniform, and you can always use two different sizes to get a different look.”

Ghanima Abdullah

Roll your hair in small sections using a curl-defining cream. Flexi Rods are the best for beginners and you can graduate to using hard rollers later (which require special tissue sheets called endpapers to protect the fragile tips of your hair from bending). When you’re finished rolling, spritz your hair with water so it’s uniformly wet. Apply a hair net and use a hair bonnet attachment to dry your curls thoroughly with a blow dryer. Or try a hooded dryer.

7. Use an Updo or Side-Do

Try an updo for the areas you’d like to highlight and hide for the day. Don’t worry, side do’s are also possible. And if you want to show off the curls in the back of your head or up top, try a puff.

How to Style Multi-Textured Hair

Styling multi-textured curly hair begins with prioritizing its health. Regularly balance moisture and protein levels using deep conditioners or overnight masks. Multi-textured hair means varied curl patterns; you might have wavy curls at the front and tighter patterns at the back, especially if transitioning from chemically straightened hair.

Begin with frequent co-washing, using a detangling brush with plenty of conditioner and warm water to maximize slip and gently melt tangles. This ensures each texture gets the nutrients it needs. Stylist Whitney Eaddy suggests extra care for multitextured hair, like sectioning and finger coiling strands for uniform curls and definition.

Spot styling can address areas of frustration. Avoid using high-heat flat irons on fragile edges and sideburns to force uniformity, as this causes severe breakage; try gentle heat-free methods like twist-outs instead. If you choose to use heat on sturdier sections, always protect hair with heat protectants and deep treatments. Alternatively, go heat-free with methods like rag sets or sock curls for overnight, uniform texture.

Different hair sections might need varied products or amounts. Distribute moisturizers and nourishing products evenly, providing extra hydration to kinkier textures. Understanding which parts need more care leads to healthier, defined curls.

If you want a temporary fix without adding more damage, use gentle styling instead of heat or chemicals. Flexi rods, perm rods, and twist outs can help your curls look more uniform. You can also see a curly hair specialist for a custom layered cut that helps different textures blend smoothly.

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