To determine your hair type, you need to observe your hair’s natural pattern when it air-dries without any styling products or heat. Hair types are generally classified into four main categories, each with three subtypes based on texture and thickness
:
Type| Main Pattern| Subtypes (A/B/C)| Description
---|---|---|---
1| Straight| 1A / 1B / 1C| Lays flat, no bends or curls. 1A is fine, 1B is
medium, 1C is coarse68.
2| Wavy| 2A / 2B / 2C| Forms an "S" shape. 2A is loose/fine, 2B is more
defined, 2C is thick/coarse678.
3| Curly| 3A / 3B / 3C| Springy curls or ringlets. 3A is loose, 3B is tighter,
3C is very tight78.
4| Coily (Kinky)| 4A / 4B / 4C| Tight coils or zig-zags. 4A is defined, 4B is
zig-zag, 4C is very tight7.
How to Identify Your Hair Type:
- Wash your hair and let it air dry with no product or manipulation.
- Observe the pattern:
- If it dries straight with no bends, you have Type 1 (Straight).
- If it dries with an “S” shape or loose waves, you have Type 2 (Wavy).
- If it forms curls or ringlets, you have Type 3 (Curly).
- If it forms tight coils or zig-zags, you have Type 4 (Coily)
Texture (Thickness):
- Fine: Hardly feel a strand between your fingers.
- Medium: Slightly feel the strand.
- Coarse: Strand feels thick and strong
Example:
If your hair dries with a defined S-shape from root to tip and feels thick,
you likely have Type 2C (wavy, coarse) hair
. If you want a more precise answer, describe how your hair looks and feels when it air-dries naturally.
