Hair Types: The Full Chart From 1A to 4C and How to Find Yours

Hair types are most often described with a chart that sorts natural texture into four groups: Type 1 straight, Type 2 wavy, Type 3 curly and Type 4 coily, each split into A, B and C from looser to tighter. The system was popularized in the 1990s by celebrity stylist Andre Walker and is now the common language of curl products, salons and online tutorials. It describes the shape of the strand, not its health, and many people have two or three types on one head.

Curl pattern is only part of the picture. How your hair behaves also depends on porosity (how easily it absorbs and holds water), strand thickness (fine, medium or coarse) and density (how many strands grow on your scalp). Knowing all four tells you far more about which products, cuts and routines will work than the curl number alone. This guide gives the full hair type chart, shows how to find your type, and explains porosity, thickness and density, with links to detailed guides for each type.

Hair type chart

Type	Group	What it looks like
1A	Straight	Very fine, soft, pin-straight; hard to hold a curl
1B	Straight	Straight with some body and volume
1C	Straight	Straight but coarser, may have a slight bend at the ends
2A	Wavy	Loose, stretched "S" waves; fine and easily weighed down
2B	Wavy	Defined "S" waves from mid-length; some frizz at the crown
2C	Wavy	Deep, well-defined waves starting near the root; thicker, frizz-prone
3A	Curly	Large, loose spiral curls about the width of a sidewalk chalk
3B	Curly	Springy ringlets about the width of a marker
3C	Curly	Tight corkscrews about the width of a pencil or straw; dense
4A	Coily	Tight, defined coils about the width of a crochet needle
4B	Coily	Z-shaped, sharply angled bends; less defined coil pattern
4C	Coily	Very tight zigzag pattern, little visible definition; most shrinkage

Each subtype is a point on a spectrum, not a strict box. Detailed guides: Type 2 wavy hair (2A, 2B, 2C), Type 3 curly hair (3A, 3B, 3C), Type 4 coily hair (4A, 4B, 4C) and hair porosity.

How to find your hair type

1. Start with clean hair. Wash with a gentle shampoo and a light conditioner, and skip styling products, oils and heat.
2. Let it air-dry. Do not brush, scrunch or twist it while it dries; blow-drying and brushing stretch the natural pattern.
3. Look at a section from the side and the back. Check the middle lengths and ends, which show the pattern better than the crown and the hairline.
4. Match the shape. Straight from root to tip is Type 1; an "S" bend is Type 2; a loop or spiral is Type 3; tight coils or zigzags are Type 4.
5. Pick the letter. Looser and wider is A; tighter and smaller is C.
6. Expect more than one. It is common to have 3A at the crown and 3C underneath, or waves at the back and straighter hair in front. Care for the dominant type and treat the rest as variations.

Things that change how your type looks

• Length: long hair is heavier, which can pull waves and loose curls straighter.
• Heat damage and chemical treatments: straightening, relaxers, perms and bleach can loosen or change the pattern until the treated hair grows out.
• Humidity: curly and coily hair often tightens or frizzes in humid weather.
• Hormones and age: many people notice texture changes during puberty, pregnancy, after childbirth or around menopause.
• Products and routine: heavy products can flatten waves; rough towel-drying and brushing dry curls create frizz that hides the pattern.

Type 1: straight hair

Type 1 hair has no natural curl. Because the scalp's natural oil travels easily down a straight strand, it tends to look shiny but can get oily faster than curlier types. 1A is very fine and flat, 1B has more body, and 1C is coarser and may bend at the ends.

• Common concerns: limp roots, oiliness, difficulty holding curls or volume.
• What helps: lightweight shampoo and conditioner applied mainly to the lengths, volumizing products at the roots, avoiding heavy oils near the scalp.

Type 2: wavy hair

Type 2 hair forms an "S" pattern. 2A waves are loose and easily weighed down, 2B waves are more defined from the mid-lengths, and 2C waves start close to the root and can include a few loose ringlets. Wavy hair is often mistaken for frizzy straight hair and brushed out, which hides the pattern. See Type 2 hair for routines and products by subtype.

Type 3: curly hair

Type 3 hair forms loops and spirals, from loose 3A curls to tight 3C corkscrews. Curly hair is usually drier than straight hair because scalp oil does not travel easily along the bends, so moisture, gentle detangling and leave-in products matter more. See Type 3 hair.

Type 4: coily hair

Type 4 hair forms tight coils and zigzags, from defined 4A coils to the very tight, less defined 4C pattern. It is the most fragile type: each bend is a potential weak point, and it can shrink to a fraction of its stretched length. Protective styles, moisture and low-manipulation routines are the core of care. See Type 4 hair.

Beyond curl pattern: porosity, thickness and density

Porosity

Porosity describes how easily water and products get into the hair and how long they stay. Low-porosity hair resists water and products tend to sit on top; high-porosity hair absorbs water quickly and loses it just as fast, often because of damage from heat, bleach or chemical treatments. Porosity often predicts product choices better than curl type. Full guide: hair porosity.

Strand thickness

Take a single strand and roll it between your fingers. If you can barely feel it, it is fine; if you feel it clearly, it is medium; if it feels thick and wiry, it is coarse. Fine hair is easily weighed down by rich products; coarse hair usually handles heavier creams and butters.

Density

Density is how many hairs grow per area of scalp. Part your dry hair in the middle: if you see a lot of scalp, density is low; if you barely see the part, density is high. High-density hair needs more product and more time to dry; low-density hair looks fuller with lighter products and layered cuts.

Trait	Low / fine	High / coarse
Porosity	Water beads up, slow to dry; use lighter products, warmth helps absorption	Absorbs fast, dries fast, frizzes; use leave-ins and sealing oils or creams
Thickness	Easily weighed down; use light lotions, mousses, gels	Handles richer creams and butters
Density	Less product, volume-focused cuts	More product, sectioning when styling

Hair care basics for every type

The American Academy of Dermatology gives these tips, adjusted by hair type:

• Wash to suit your scalp. If you have straight hair and an oily scalp, you may want to shampoo every day; dry, textured, curly or thick hair can be shampooed as needed, "at least once every 2 to 3 weeks."
• Shampoo the scalp rather than the full length of the hair.
• Condition after every wash. Fine or straight hair: conditioner on the ends. Dry or curly hair: conditioner along the entire length.
• Detangle gently. Use a wide-tooth comb on wet hair; with thick, curly hair, comb in the shower before rinsing out conditioner; let straight hair dry a little before combing.
• Dry by blotting. Wrap hair in a towel or a T-shirt to absorb water instead of rubbing.
• Limit heat. Use blow-dryers, flat irons and curling irons less often, on low or medium heat, with a heat protectant.

Styles that pull hard at the scalp, such as very tight ponytails, braids or extensions worn for long periods, can damage the hair at the hairline, so alternate styles and keep tension low.

If you notice sudden shedding, patches of hair loss, a scaly or painful scalp, or breakage you cannot explain, see a board-certified dermatologist; these are medical issues, not hair-type issues.

Choosing products by hair type

Hair type	Look for	Go easy on
1 (straight)	Lightweight, volumizing shampoos and conditioners; dry shampoo	Heavy oils and butters at the roots
2 (wavy)	Light leave-in, mousse or light gel; curl-friendly shampoos	Rich creams that flatten waves; brushing dry
3 (curly)	Moisturizing conditioner, leave-in, curl cream and gel; wide-tooth comb	Harsh, drying shampoos; rough towels
4 (coily)	Rich conditioners, leave-ins, creams, butters and oils; satin or silk at night	Frequent heat, tight styles, daily manipulation

When you try a new product, change one thing at a time and give it two or three washes before judging it; hair often needs a few days to adjust, and changing several products at once makes it impossible to tell what helped.

Labels such as "curly girl approved" or "for 4C hair" are marketing terms, not standards. Your porosity, thickness and density are a better guide than the type number printed on the bottle.

Routines by hair type at a glance

	Type 1	Type 2	Type 3	Type 4
Shampoo	Often, if the scalp gets oily	Every 2–4 days for many people	Less often; gentle or sulfate-free shampoo or co-wash between	As needed, often weekly or less
Conditioner	Ends only	Mid-lengths and ends	Full length; detangle in the shower	Full length; deep condition regularly
Styling	Volumizing mousse or spray at the roots	Light mousse or gel, scrunched in	Leave-in plus curl cream and/or gel	Leave-in, cream or butter, sealed with oil
Drying	Blow-dry or air-dry	Diffuse or air-dry, avoid brushing dry	Diffuse or air-dry, plop in a T-shirt	Air-dry or stretch with twists or braids
Night	Loose braid or nothing	Loose "pineapple" ponytail on top	Pineapple and a satin pillowcase	Satin or silk bonnet or scarf, protective style

Haircuts that work with your hair type

• Type 1: blunt cuts make fine straight hair look thicker; long layers add movement to thick straight hair.
• Type 2: long layers and face-framing pieces let waves form instead of falling flat; very heavy one-length cuts can weigh waves down.
• Type 3: curls shrink when dry, so many stylists cut them dry, curl by curl; ask for layers that avoid a triangle shape.
• Type 4: shape is usually cut on stretched or styled hair; tapered cuts and rounded shapes work with shrinkage.

If you are growing out heat damage, relaxed ends or a perm, regular small trims let your natural pattern take over gradually without a drastic cut.

Whatever your type, a stylist experienced with your texture makes the biggest difference. Ask to see photos of their work on hair like yours.

Hair types for men and for kids

The chart works the same for everyone. Men with short hair often do not see their full pattern; growing the top out an inch or two and letting it air-dry usually shows whether it is wavy, curly or coily, which changes which products and cuts work. Short curly cuts, for example, often look better with a curl cream than with a stiff gel.

Children's hair often changes as they grow. Many babies start with fine, straight or loosely wavy hair that becomes curlier or coarser during childhood or puberty, so a child's type at two may not be their type at twelve. Gentle detangling, a wide-tooth comb and conditioner are the basics at any age.

Common myths about hair types

• "Your hair type never changes." The basic shape is genetic, but texture can change with hormones, age, damage and some medications.
• "4C hair can't grow long." Coily hair grows from the scalp like any other type; shrinkage and breakage, not slow growth, make it look shorter.
• "Curly hair should never be brushed." Many curly and coily routines detangle with a wide-tooth comb or brush on wet, conditioned hair; brushing dry curls is what causes frizz.
• "Wavy hair is just frizzy straight hair." Type 2 is its own pattern and usually needs lighter curl-defining products, not straighteners.