Many of us long term naturals have noticed it. The hair closest to our forehead or nape is easier to detangle, softer and the curl pattern appears little looser than the rest of our hair.
We are quick to assume that we have multiple textures but somehow we don’t consider that manipulation may play a big role in why our textures vary so much throughout our head.
Even though to all intents and purposes it may look like your texture is just naturally looser at the crown, there are actually some reasons other than nature that cause this phenomenon. Let’s look at a couple.
Tension
The first reason is that the hair at the crown gets more tension applied to it in comparison to any other area of your head during styling.
Take a simple low buns for instance which are very popular among natural ladies, you will notice that even if your hair is not tied tightly, the hair at the crown will usually be under more stretch/tension than the hair elsewhere. If you wear your hair like this often enough, then over time the hair at your crown will be looser.
Its a similar situation if you often wear medium high buns only this time you will find that both the crown and the nape area are kept under more tension than the rest of the hair. Again over time the textures in both areas will start to look slightly elongated.
What is definitely true for very many of us is that the texture at the nape is finer and looser than the texture elsewhere by nature’s design. Now if you were to couple this natural trait with constant tight updo’s that keep the nape hair under tension, it’s no wonder that many ladies often have trouble with nape hair breakage even while the rest of the hair remains healthy and long.
This idea holds true even for ponytails, cornrows and to a certain extent afro puffs. Bottom line is that when hair is kept under tension because of your styling choices then similar to a rubber band that is stretched over and over the hair will lose some elasticity and change permanently.
Please note that I am not saying that this is a bad thing at all! Our hair is very kinky*, curly or coily so it is to be expected that whatever styling choices we make, except perhaps for shrunken styles, they will definitely have an effect on our hair anyway.
Shonta Lavender says
Explains a lot
Aegina Beoranje Manson says
THE MIDDLE OF MY HEAD IS AS THICK AND AS COURSE AS A FOREST FRONT MY SIDES ARE ABOUT THE SAME.
Priscilla Dixon says
The higher yo hair go the lesser it looks long
Drina No'MoreLyes Phillip says
I say its because when our hair is always in an updo or pony tail and even we “focus” on the front of our hair the most… It becomes stretched… The same with the very back…. Everything in the middle isn’t very stretched which is more course.
Carla says
My hair is looser in the crown and front than on the sides and back (except the very back center from crown to nape – that part is also a looser curl pattern on my head) . When I wear it loose, it gives the illusion that my entire head is full of the looser curls and has a “V” shape at the back. Because the looser curls hang lower (pretty much the same length as the sides & back), it looks more like a mushroom when I wear a wash-n-go (which I generally stay away from, at least until I decide to get a deva cut – or a cut that I think is cute on me). I used to desire the same texture all over, but have come to accept, embrace and love all of the textures of my natural hair. It’s just one more trait that reminds me that I am unique.
Isha Walker says
not true
Nehita Burnett says
Mine is the opposite. My crown is different texture and much drier that it needs constant attention
Malakah Angellia Gladston says
Hmm….I don’t agree with this. When I first bigchopped, I had no idea what I was doing when it came to my hair so I would just wash it and leave alone for weeks at a time, and even then, I noticed that the hair at the front of my head was way looser than everywhere else.
Malakah Angellia Gladston says
It is a FACT that you can have many different textures on your head. The hair in the back of my head is very soft and curly 3 something and different from everywhere else
Dominique Jones says
hmm..its possible I guess
Journey to Waist Length says
yes i have about 3 textures
Rae Faye says
Yeah….I have 3 different textures.
Jericka Renee Hinton says
My crown is thicker, tighter and more dry then the rest of my hair. The back is the most loose
Nefray Demetrius says
True for me.
Kai McIver says
This is why I do not use the hair typing system. My hair has always been 3 or 4 different textures no matter where I put my pony tail.
NaKisha Harvey says
The crown of my hair is straight the back is fine n curly and the front is wavy.
Nichole Davis says
My sons is like this fine at the crown and kinkier at the back
Lachelle Lala Francis says
I have that same problem … my Front hair or Crown is looser than the back .. my back Kinkier … sigh the struggle ?
Maybell Lena Killion says
My hair is so like this but I have no choice but to work it out and keep it moving. It is annoying sometimes.?
Anyelina Devers says
My crown is the thickest and kinkier than my front , sides and back . Making it impossible to ponytail . #curlygirlstruggles
Kierei Broadus says
The middle of my hair? I swear the texture belongs to someone else. The tightest curls I’ve ever seen. But the rest of my hair? Loose. So frustrating when trying to style
Jasmine says
Yess I thought something was wrong because my whole front and middle side of my head is around 4c or 4b.However, in the back is an extremely looser curl. At first I thought it was heat damage but when I cut it it’s actually growing looser and I use no heat. I have been natural all my life. No perm
Gabrielle Seunagal says
This makes sense! I do wear lower buns more often than top buns and my hair at the back of my hair has much tighter curls than the top and the side. I will start wearing my hair up to loosen up the texture!
Desiree says
This is not accurate at all and is a bunch of bunk… there are different textures growing from the root, has nothing to do with tension or hairstyles. My daughters have always been natural and all three of them clearly have different textures individually
Anonymous says
Not mine!
Jess says
Not accurate. If that were the case braids would permanently loosen your curls. I’ve been natural three times and mostly wear cornrows and the back of my head is loose. The middle and sides are really tightly curled, and the front is less coarse but still softer than the middle and sides.