kinky hair
Spiraling natural texture
Kinky hair has tight, coiled curls that form a dense, springy texture.
The term describes a natural hair pattern common among people of African descent.
While purely descriptive in hair care contexts, kinky has historically carried negative connotations when used to contrast with straight or "good" hair—a legacy of racist beauty standards.
The natural hair movement has reclaimed the term: She loves her kinky hair and won't straighten it.
- curlyHaving spiral locks
- coilsConnected loops of material
- textureSurface tactile quality
- afroRounded curly hairstyle
- naturalNot artificially produced
big chop · frizzy · tight · spirals · corkscrew · finger coils · nappy · textured · shrinkage · twist out · moisturize · deep condition · leave in · detangle · wash day · twist · braids · curl pattern
kinky hairstraight hair
Locks without curl or wave
flat hair · limp hair · wavy hair · flowing hair · loose waves
kinky, kink, kinks, kinkier, kinkiest, kinkiness, hair, hairs, hairy