Let your curls do the talking

Straight hair has dominated beauty standards for more than a century, with the first hair straightener patented in 1909, and the sleek, street-style ‘Mod’ look becoming a fashionable counterpoint to the voluminous beehive in the 60s. By the 2000s, flat irons and straighteners were widely available, making straight hair a mainstream trend while wavy and curly textures were often dismissed as messy, wild, or unruly.

However, in recent years, many people have begun embracing their natural texture, channelling a little of Julia Roberts’ confident curls in Pretty Woman. Yet curly hair is still frequently pre-judged – perceived as less polished, especially in settings like job interviews. Most stylists receive little to no training in cutting and styling naturally curly hair, which behaves very differently from straight hair. As a result, clients with curls often leave the salon feeling frustrated, misunderstood, or even traumatised – a far more common experience than many realise.

Despite common assumptions, curly hair is more widespread than it seems; a PubMed Central article notes that about 55% of people of European ancestry have some form of wavy or curly hair. This shows that even in populations often associated with straight hair, natural hair texture varies widely, reflecting the diversity of human genetics. To set the record straight, we spoke with Ryan Corbridge of The Earl of Curl.

Noticing a gap in specialist care, Ryan opened his Highcliffe-based salon in 2024 as a ‘safe haven’ for wavy and curly hair, where every visit is treated like a luxury experience rather than a potential horror story. Some clients even travel up to six hours to benefit from his expertise.

Myths and misconceptions

One of the most common myths about curly hair is that it is automatically untamed, messy, or unprofessional. This misconception often stems from a lack of understanding or education about how curls naturally behave and the variety within textured hair. In reality, curly hair that is cared for with the right techniques and products can offer incredible volume, movement, and personality. Well-defined curls can look polished, expressive, and full of life, making them just as suitable for professional settings as any other hair type. 

Another misconception is the belief that if someone needs styling products, their hair is not actually curly – this idea dismisses the fact that all hair, regardless of texture, benefits from proper care. To Ryan, it's not about what’s curly and what’s wavy; it’s all just natural texture. “This is what you were naturally given,” he says. The goal isn’t to force the hair into something it’s not, but to enhance what you already have. Products are tools that help bring out that texture, not proof that the texture isn’t real. “To me, there is no difference”, Ryan adds.

There is also the notion that wavy hair is not curly at all, creating an unnecessary divide between textures that actually fall along a shared spectrum. While it’s true that wavy hair isn’t the same as curly hair, both are forms of texture and require thoughtful maintenance routines. Wavy hair typically forms loose, S-shaped patterns. These waves may be subtle or more pronounced, ranging from soft, beachy bends to more fluid, cascading shapes. Wavy hair often has natural bounce and may experience some frizz, though usually less than tighter curl patterns. Its density and volume can vary widely, just like curly hair.

The curl type system

Many people are familiar with the numerical curl classification system, with terms like 2A, 2B, 4A, and 4B often appearing in conversations about textured hair. The system was created to help people make sense of their curl patterns, but Ryan believes it doesn’t work the way people hope it does. In his view, it oversimplifies something that is far more complex. He often points out that most people don’t have just one curl pattern on their head. When you take the time to look closely, it’s common to find looser sections in one area and tighter curls in another, sometimes right around the front or crown. Ryan prefers not to rely on the numbers at all, instead recommending examining each head of hair individually and paying attention to what it actually needs.

The traditional hair-typing system separates hair into four numbered categories. Type one is straight hair, type two is wavy, type three is curly, and type four is coily. Subcategories A, B and C were added later to indicate how loose or tight the pattern might be within each group. While this structure can serve as a general guide, Ryan finds that it does not reflect how hair behaves in real life. Hair texture is influenced by many factors, including hydration levels, daily habits, climate and even how someone sleeps. A single label rarely captures all of that complexity.

For Ryan, the curl pattern is only one small part of understanding hair. Porosity, density and texture are equally important, and each plays a major role in how hair absorbs moisture, holds products, and responds to styling techniques. By moving beyond the numbers, Ryan encourages a more personalised and intuitive approach to hair care – one that embraces the intricacy of textured hair rather than trying to fit it into rigid categories.

Embracing your natural curls

Ryan believes that embracing your natural curls starts with education – both for hairdressers and for people who wear those curls every day. Clients often rely on professionals to guide them, especially when they are paying for a service. A haircut on curly or wavy hair requires skill, knowledge, and sensitivity to texture, but the responsibility doesn’t end when you walk out of the salon. Ryan emphasises that it is just as important to understand how to care for your hair at home so you can maintain and style it confidently after that first post-salon wash. As he puts it, “That one visit to the salon every three months isn’t going to maintain the health of your hair.”

Healthy curls begin with building a strong foundation at home, with Ryan explaining that you must invest in your hair and give it good products that promote health. The good news is that there are now countless products available in supermarkets, pharmacies, and speciality shops designed specifically for curly and wavy hair. However, the key is knowing your own hair and understanding what it needs; some curls need extra moisture while others benefit from frizz control or protein support.

Ryan chooses to work with organic, locally sourced products because he believes they are especially beneficial for textured hair. “Ideally, on most hair types, but especially curly hair, you want to be using products that are silicon, sulphate, and paraben free.” The Earl of Curl uses Organic Colour Systems, a globally trusted brand, with its factory and head office located near the salon. Their ranges are formulated with specific ingredients focused on hair health, such as the Power Build line, which uses hydrolysed wheat protein to combat protein loss. These products are effective in the salon as well as for clients to use at home.