Why Your 'Frizzy' Hair Might Actually Be Irish Curls: the Viral Phenomenon Explained
By Alexander Ross
Q1: Is "Irish curls" an official scientific classification?
A1: No. It is an informal, culturally driven descriptor for uneven, multi-textured hair, most commonly featuring a mixture of straight or loose wave canopies combined with tighter curls near the neckline and temples. Trichologists classify hair using numerical types (such as Type 2A through 3A) rather than geographic or ethnic labels.
Q2: Why does my hair look curly when wet but dries frizzy and straight?
A2: Water temporarily creates hydrogen bonds that pull strands into visible curl clumps. As water evaporates without a film-forming styling product (such as a light gel or foam) or proper airflow management, those bonds break. Mechanical actions like towel rubbing or dry combing dismantle the clumps, dispersing the strands into ambient frizz.
Q3: Should I stop brushing my hair entirely?
A3: You should stop brushing your hair when it is dry. Dry brushing tears through natural wave groupings and fluffs the cuticle open. Detangle exclusively while your hair is saturated with water and conditioner in the shower, using your fingers or a flexible, wide-tooth comb.
Q4: How can I tell if my hair is high or low porosity?
A4: Observe how quickly your hair absorbs and releases water in the shower. If warm water beads on top of your strands and takes minutes to soak through, you have low porosity. If your hair becomes instantly soaked the second it hits the stream but dries within 20 minutes, your cuticle layers are raised, indicating high porosity.
Alexander Ross has covered the video game industry for a decade, writing deep dives on game design, esports tournaments, VR developments, and gaming culture.
