Why Is The Top Of My Hair Not Curly? 10 Reasons Explained

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You wake up, look in the mirror, and there it is again – that frustrating hair situation where your ends are bouncing with beautiful curls, but the top of your head looks like it gave up halfway through the curl party. Trust me, I’ve been there, staring at my reflection wondering if my hair follicles are having some sort of identity crisis.

This isn’t just a “you” problem – it’s actually way more common than you think. Your hair doesn’t hate you (even though it might feel that way on bad hair days), and there are legitimate reasons why this happens. Let’s break down exactly what’s going on up there and how you can fix it.

1. Heat Damage Has Sabotaged Your Crown

Here’s the brutal truth: that flat iron you’ve been wielding like a magic wand? It’s probably the main culprit behind your curl confusion. I learned this the hard way after years of straightening my crown area to “tame” flyaways.

The top of your head gets the most heat exposure because that’s where we typically start styling. Think about it – when you blow-dry, you point that nozzle straight down from your crown. When you flat iron, you begin at the roots. When you use a curling iron, you often focus on the top layers first.

Heat damage doesn’t happen overnight. It’s sneaky, gradually breaking down the protein bonds in your hair that create natural curl patterns. The result? Your crown area becomes limp, lifeless, and stubbornly straight while the rest of your hair maintains its curl.

Signs your top layer is heat damaged:

Hair feels rough or straw-like
Lacks elasticity when wet
Won’t hold curls no matter what products you use
Breaks easily when brushing

2. Your Styling Technique Is Working Against You

Ever wonder why professional stylists can make your curls look amazing, but you can’t recreate it at home? It’s all about technique, and most of us are unknowingly sabotaging our crown curls.

Brushing wet curly hair is curl suicide. I used to brush my entire head after washing, then wonder why only the bottom sections curled properly. The top layer, being most exposed during brushing, gets the worst of it.

When you brush curly hair wet, you’re literally stretching out the curl pattern. The top layers take the brunt of this abuse because they’re easier to reach and we tend to brush more aggressively there to smooth out tangles.

Instead, try these techniques:

Use a wide-tooth comb only when hair is soaking wet with conditioner
Scrunch water out instead of towel-drying aggressively
Apply styling products using prayer hands method, not scrunching from the top
Never brush dry curly hair (seriously, just don’t)

3. Product Buildup Is Weighing Down Your Crown

FYI, that expensive leave-in conditioner might be doing more harm than good if you’re applying it wrong. The crown area tends to accumulate more product buildup because it’s the easiest area to reach, and we often over-apply products there.

Think about your routine – you probably start at the crown when applying mousse, gel, or cream, right? By the time you work the product through your lengths, the top has gotten a double or triple dose. This creates a heavy, greasy layer that pulls your natural curl pattern straight down.

Product buildup symptoms:

Hair feels heavy and greasy even after washing
Curls fall flat within hours of styling
Products seem to stop working effectively
Hair looks dull and lifeless

The solution? Start applying products from mid-length to ends, then use whatever’s left on your hands for the crown area. Your curls will thank you.

4. Genetics Decided to Be Complicated

Sometimes your hair is just being authentically itself, and that self happens to have multiple curl patterns. IMO, this is actually pretty cool once you learn to work with it instead of fighting it.

Many people have varying curl patterns throughout their head. You might be a 2B at the crown and 3A at the ends. This isn’t a flaw – it’s normal curl variation. The top of your head might naturally have looser curls due to:

Different follicle shapes in that area
Varying hair thickness from root to tip
Natural oil distribution patterns
Genetic expression of curl genes

Instead of trying to force uniform curls, embrace the variation. Use different techniques for different sections – maybe finger coils for the crown and scrunching for the lengths.

5. Hormonal Changes Are Messing With Your Mane

Your hormones don’t just affect your mood and skin – they’re also behind the scenes directing your hair’s curl pattern. Pregnancy, menopause, thyroid issues, and even stress can completely change your hair texture.

I’ve seen friends go from pin-straight hair to curly during pregnancy, only to have it change again postpartum. The crown area is often the first to show these hormonal changes because the hair follicles there are more sensitive to hormone fluctuations.

Common hormonal triggers:

Pregnancy and postpartum changes
Menopause
Thyroid disorders
PCOS
Extreme stress periods
Starting or stopping birth control

If you suspect hormones are the culprit, talk to your doctor. Sometimes addressing the underlying hormonal imbalance can help restore your natural curl pattern.

6.You’re Sleeping on Your Curls (Literally)

Here’s something nobody tells you about curly hair – your pillow is not your friend. Cotton pillowcases create friction that flattens the crown area overnight, and if you’re a stomach or side sleeper, you’re basically ironing your curls flat for 8 hours straight.

The top layer of your hair gets the most contact with your pillow, which explains why you wake up with flat crown curls but intact curls underneath. It’s like your pillow is playing favorites, and the crown isn’t winning.

Sleep solutions that actually work:

Switch to a silk or satin pillowcase (game changer, seriously)
Try the “pineapple” method – loosely tie hair at the very top of your head
Use a silk scarf or bonnet
Consider a curly hair-specific pillow with a curved center

7. Chemical Damage From Hair Treatments

That relaxer you got years ago? Those highlights from last summer? Chemical treatments have a way of permanently altering your hair’s structure, and the effects often show up most dramatically in the crown area.

Chemical processing breaks down the disulfide bonds in your hair that create curl patterns. Even if you haven’t chemically treated your hair recently, previous treatments can have lasting effects that become more apparent as your hair grows and changes.

The crown area is particularly vulnerable because:

It’s often processed first during chemical treatments
Gets more concentrated chemical exposure
Has less protection from natural oils
Experiences more manipulation during processing

If chemical damage is the culprit, you’ll need to be patient. Focus on protein treatments and deep conditioning while you grow out the damaged sections.

8. Overuse of Styling Products Is Backfiring

More isn’t always better, especially with curly hair products. I used to layer on gel, mousse, cream, and oil thinking it would give me amazing curls. Instead, I got a crunchy, weighed-down mess that refused to curl properly at the crown.

Product overload creates a barrier that prevents your natural curl pattern from forming. The crown area, being the most accessible, often gets the heaviest product application, leading to flat, lifeless curls that fall out quickly.

Signs you’re using too much product:

Hair feels crunchy or sticky
Curls fall flat within hours
Hair looks greasy or heavy
Products flake off when hair dries

The fix? Less is more. Start with tiny amounts and build up gradually. Your curls need to be able to move and bounce naturally.

9. Environmental Factors Are Fighting Your Curls

Humidity, pollution, hard water, and even seasonal changes can affect your curl pattern differently across your head. The crown area is most exposed to environmental damage because it’s literally on top, taking the first hit from everything.

Hard water is a particularly sneaky curl killer. Mineral buildup from hard water creates a film on your hair that’s most noticeable at the crown. This film weighs down curls and prevents products from working effectively.

Environmental culprits:

High humidity (causes frizz and curl relaxation)
Hard water mineral buildup
Pollution and dust settling on crown
UV damage from sun exposure
Seasonal dryness or excess moisture

Consider installing a shower filter if you have hard water, and use clarifying treatments monthly to remove environmental buildup.

10. Age and Hair Maturity Changes

As we age, our hair follicles naturally change shape and size, which directly affects curl pattern. The crown area often shows these changes first because the follicles there experience the most stress from daily manipulation and environmental exposure.

Hair maturity isn’t just about going gray – it’s about texture changes too. Your curls might be evolving, and what worked for your hair five years ago might not work now. This is completely normal and just means you need to adapt your routine.

Age-related curl changes include:

Follicles becoming more oval or irregular
Decreased natural oil production
Changes in hair diameter and strength
Slower hair growth cycles

The key is adjusting your routine as your hair changes rather than fighting against the natural evolution.

The Fix: Working With Your Crown, Not Against It

Now that you know why your crown isn’t cooperating, here’s how to work with it. Start with a clarifying wash to remove buildup, then use a deep conditioning treatment to restore moisture balance.

For styling, try the sectioning method – treat your crown area differently than your lengths. Use lighter products at the crown and heavier ones on the ends. Experiment with different application techniques like finger coiling or twist-outs specifically for that area.

Most importantly, be patient with yourself and your hair. Curl patterns can take time to recover from damage, and finding the right routine often involves some trial and error. Your crown curls are there – they might just need a little extra TLC to show up 🙂

Remember, hair diversity is beautiful, and learning to work with your unique curl pattern is way more rewarding than fighting against it. Your crown might march to its own beat, but with the right approach, you can get it dancing with the rest of your curls.