Meaning & use
coily hair
Last updated
UK/ˈkɔɪli heə/
US/ˈkɔɪli her/
Meaning
noununcountable
Hair that grows in tight, small curls or spirals, often with a springy texture.
Grammar: Uncountable; say 'coily hair' not 'a coily hair' unless referring to a single strand.
Patterns
- have coily hair
- coily hair type
- products for coily hair
She loves her coily hair and often wears it in an afro.
Coily hair needs extra moisture to stay healthy.
Many people with coily hair use a wide-tooth comb.
Common combinations
- coily hair texture
- This conditioner is designed for coily hair texture.
- coily hair care
- She follows a simple coily hair care routine.
- natural coily hair
- He decided to embrace his natural coily hair.
Synonyms and how they differ
- kinky hair
- Kinky hair is a more specific term for very tight coils, but it can sound negative, so use with care.
- curly hair
- Curly hair is a broader term that includes looser curls as well as coils.
Word family
- coil noun
- A spiral or circular shape.
Commonly confused: coily hair or curly hair?
coily hair vs curly hair
Curly hair refers to any curl pattern, while coily hair specifically means tight, small spirals.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'coily hair' correctly?
Choose one answer.
'Coily hair' is uncountable, so it does not take 'a' or a plural form. The other options are grammatically incorrect.
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