Hair has long been a point of contention when it comes to representing beauty and diversity within that space. Despite most products, services, and guides seemingly catered to straight hair, the reality is that most women have textured hair. In an interview with Scientific American, L’Oréal revealed data showing that 65% of the US population has curly, coily, or wavy hair.
Within this vast section of women, there are also different kinds of curls. With so many individuals dealing with unique textures and shapes, it’s essential to have options that aren’t just one size fits all. This trickles down to ways to style fashion and accessories to accentuate one’s assets best. After all, consumers deserve products and methods that feel tailored to their specific attributes. As many American women also deal with more refractive errors and vision needs, it’s worth looking into the intersection of hair and eyewear — and how to make this fit for a curly-haired queen.
The science of choosing the right eyewear for you
When it comes to finding flattering eyewear, it comes down to your face shape. Hair plays a role here by highlighting certain features and framing your face. Then, other physical aspects come into play to create a whole picture determining what eyewear will work best. Aside from face shape, you also want to look at skin undertones, facial features, size, hair color, and eye color.
These are the most significant factors when looking for personalized eyewear. The aforementioned elements are so crucial due to the effect of color theory and symmetrical aesthetics. An easy way to do this is to use face-scanning technology, which you can find on Sunglass Hut’s site as part of their frame advisor feature. You can manually check this using virtual try-ons to project eyewear onto your face via camera. The advantage of using the frame advisor is that it scans and analyzes the previously mentioned attributes and then curates a selection of frame styles and shapes for your reference. You can also use their try-on tool to experiment with different women’s sunglasses brands and models. This is especially useful if you want to experiment with particular models, such as Ray-Ban’s customizable Aviators, or create your own engravings for Versace’s iconic Biggie M shades.
From here, you’ll have a good base point that you can play around with based on your specific curls and hair length. Since proper volume and curl pattern also play a huge role, you should use hair care solutions for curly hair problems. For starters, you want to reduce frizz, dryness, and tangles by using products that moisturize and seal with the right texture and no unnecessary weight. Ecoslay does this with its vanilla styling whip, and lemongrass & rosemary deep conditioner.
Best eyewear shapes and styles for different curls
Once you’ve identified and taken care of your curls, it comes down to picking eyewear styles that flatter you and suit your personal tastes. Understanding your hair and face shape allows you to play around with different frame shapes and colors more easily. Of course, it’s good to have a reliable go-to to begin with. Here are some options for different curls:
Cat-eyes for Type 2B or 2C
Type 2 hair is more generally defined as wavy, with 2B and 2C being thicker and more defined without fully going into a full curl. As such, a good cat-eye frame can pull up nicely to the edges of the face and accentuate these waves. This type of style works particularly well with longer hair but can also be super flattering with a well-styled shorter cut. Generally, rounded or triangular cuts with more length look best with this texture and frame style.
Wayfarers for 3A or 3B
Wayfarers are a timeless style that looks beautiful when paired with curly hair. 3A and 3B are distinctively curly but still somewhat loose. The shape of the Wayfarer frame nicely complements the texture and bounce of well-cared-for hair within this range. They are not overly sharp or rounded, providing a stylish counterbalance for your curls’ springiness and potential size.
Rimless for 4A or 4B
4A and 4B are the epitome of coily hair, with exceptional levels of fluff and density if appropriately managed. This texture lends itself to numerous beautiful styling options, whether you want to keep things natural and loose or go for various updos or crochet styles. Rimless glasses don’t overwhelm the face and are lightweight enough to draw the eye towards the hair naturally. The lack of bulk in the eyewear’s frames keeps things graceful and fashionable, making space for the hair whether you want a simple or more complex style.
Remember that these are just a baseline, and you should still consider other factors like your face shape, skin undertones, and personal style. After all, a study on eyeglass recommendations from neural networks found that the most aesthetically pleasing choices came from extremely tailored choices that embody each unique individual’s identity. With the basics on your side, you can find the best eyewear to bring out the best in your curls.
