Hair Type Chart 1A to 4C: Complete Hair Types Guide

Chapter 1

The Hair Typing System Explained

Andre Walker Hair Typing System

A classification system that categorizes hair into four main types (1-4) based on curl pattern, with subtypes (A, B, C) indicating how tight the curl or wave is.

Remember: Hair type is just one piece of the puzzle. Your hair's porosity, density, and thickness also affect what products and routines work best.

Did You Know

You can have multiple hair types on your head! It's common to have tighter curls at the nape of your neck and looser patterns at the crown.

Explore the Hair Type Spectrum

Drag the slider to see how hair patterns change from straight to coily

Curly

Type 3A — Loose Curls

Big, loose ringlets about the width of sidewalk chalk. Shiny when healthy, frizz-prone when dry.

View 3A Routine

Complete Hair Type Chart: 1A to 4C

Type	Pattern	Description	Key Need
1A	Straight	Very fine, soft, silky. No curl. Gets oily quickly.	Volume, lightweight products
1B	Straight	Medium body, more volume than 1A. Holds styles better.	Texture, regular trims
1C	Straight	Coarse, thick, resistant to styling. May have slight bend.	Smoothing, anti-frizz
2A	Wavy	Fine, tousled texture. Gentle S-shaped waves.	Lightweight mousses, sea salt spray
2B	Wavy	Defined S-waves from mid-length. Frizz-prone.	Medium-hold gels, anti-frizz
2C	Wavy	Thick S-waves from roots. Mix of waves and curls.	Strong-hold gels, deep conditioning
3A	Curly	Loose curls, chalk-sized circumference. Shiny when healthy.	Moisture, frizz control
3B	Curly	Springy ringlets, marker-sized. More volume and dryness.	Rich creams, leave-in conditioner
3C	Curly	Tight corkscrews, pencil-sized. Very prone to dryness.	LOC/LCO method, protein treatments
4A	Coily	Tightly coiled S-pattern. Visible curl definition.	Rich moisturizers, protective styles
4B	Coily	Sharp Z-pattern. Up to 75% shrinkage. Less defined.	Daily moisturizing, gentle detangling
4C	Coily	Densely packed, tightest coils. Most fragile. Up to 75% shrinkage.	Intense moisture, minimal manipulation

Based on the Andre Walker Hair Typing System. Most people have a mix of types across their head.

Chapter 2

Type 1: Straight Hair

No visible curl pattern. Hair lies flat from root to tip.

Type 1A: Fine & Straight

Very fine, soft, and silky. Difficult to hold a curl. Tends to get oily quickly because sebum travels down the hair shaft easily.

Best products: Lightweight products, volumizing formulas, frequent washing, avoid heavy oils and butters.

Type 1B: Medium & Straight

More body and volume than 1A. Holds styles better but still mostly straight.

Best products: Medium-weight products, texturizing sprays, regular trims to prevent flatness.

Type 1C: Coarse & Straight

Thickest and most resistant to styling. May have a slight bend but no curl. Can appear frizzy.

Best products: Smoothing products, anti-frizz serums, heat protectants for styling.

See the complete straight hair routine

Chapter 3

Type 2: Wavy Hair

Forms an 'S' shape. Falls somewhere between straight and curly.

Type 2A: Loose Waves

Fine, tousled texture with a gentle 'S' pattern. Easy to straighten or curl. May get weighed down easily.

Best products: Lightweight mousses and gels, sea salt sprays for texture, avoid heavy creams.

Browse Lightweight Gels

Type 2B: Defined Waves

More defined 'S' pattern that starts at mid-length. Tends toward frizz. More volume and body than 2A.

Best products: Medium-hold gels and creams, anti-frizz products, diffusing or plopping for definition.

Browse Curl Creams

Type 2C: Coarse Waves/Loose Curls

Thick, coarse 'S' waves that start at the roots. More prone to frizz. Can have a mix of waves and curls.

Best products: Strong-hold gels, leave-in conditioners, deep conditioning masks, protein treatments.

Wavy Hair Tip

The key to great waves is finding products that define without weighing down. Start with lighter products and only add more if needed. 2C hair in particular benefits from the Curly Girl Method with lighter product modifications. See our wavy hair routine guide.

2A Routine 2B Routine 2C Routine

Chapter 4

Type 3: Curly Hair

Well-defined spiral curls that form ringlets. Prone to frizz and dryness.

Type 3A: Loose Curls

Big, loose curls with a circumference similar to sidewalk chalk. Shiny when healthy but prone to frizz.

Best products: Lightweight creams and gels, mousse for volume, regular deep conditioning.

Browse Deep Conditioning Masks

Type 3B: Tight Curls

Springy ringlets with a circumference similar to a Sharpie marker. More volume and dryness than 3A.

Best products: Rich creams and butters, leave-in conditioners, oils to seal moisture, minimal heat styling.

Type 3C: Corkscrew Curls

Tight corkscrew curls or coils with circumference of a pencil or straw. Lots of volume, very prone to dryness and shrinkage.

Best products: Heavy creams and butters, layering products (LOC or LCO method), regular protein treatments.

The LOC/LCO Method

A layering technique for maximum moisture retention:

Liquid (water or leave-in conditioner)
Oil (to penetrate the hair shaft)
Cream (to seal in moisture)

Try both orders (LOC vs LCO) to see what works best for your hair! Learn more in our LOC Method glossary entry.

3A Routine 3B Routine 3C Routine

Chapter 5

Type 4: Coily/Kinky Hair

Tightly coiled hair with significant shrinkage. Very fragile and prone to dryness.

Type 4A: Coiled

Tightly coiled 'S' pattern with visible curl definition. Retains moisture better than 4B/4C.

Best products: Rich moisturizers, butter-based products, regular deep conditioning, protective styling.

Browse Hair Oils

Type 4B: Z-Pattern Coils

Sharp-angled 'Z' pattern instead of curls. Less defined curl pattern. Experiences significant shrinkage (up to 75%).

Best products: Heavy butters and oils, daily moisturizing, gentle detangling when wet, protective styles.

Type 4C: Tightly Coiled

Most fragile hair type. Densely packed coils with little to no visible curl pattern. Up to 75% shrinkage.

Best products: Intense moisture (water-based products), sealing with heavy oils/butters, minimal manipulation, protective styling essential.

Handle With Care

Type 4 hair is the most fragile. Always detangle gently with conditioner, use your fingers or a wide-tooth comb, and avoid excessive manipulation.

4A Routine 4B Routine 4C Routine

Chapter 6

Beyond Hair Type: Other Important Factors

Hair type alone doesn't tell the full story. These additional characteristics are equally important when building your routine:

Porosity: How well your hair absorbs and retains moisture. This determines which products and techniques will actually work for you. Learn more
Density: How many hair strands you have per square inch — thin, medium, or thick. Affects how much product you need and which styles work best.
Width/Diameter: The thickness of individual strands (fine, medium, or coarse). Fine hair needs lighter products; coarse hair can handle richer formulas.
Elasticity: How much your hair stretches before breaking. Low elasticity signals protein deficiency; high elasticity means your hair is healthy and resilient.

Get a Routine for Your Hair Type

Now that you know your hair type, take our 2-minute hair quiz to get a personalized routine with product recommendations matched to your exact hair type, porosity, and goals. Or jump straight to a routine:

Wavy HairType 2A-2C Curly HairType 3A-3C Natural HairType 4A-4C Fine HairAll types

Key Takeaways

1Hair types range from Type 1 (straight) to Type 4 (coily)
2Subtypes A, B, C indicate how fine/coarse or tight the pattern is
3Type 1: Focus on volume and avoiding buildup
4Type 2: Balance definition without weighing down (2C is the waviest, closest to curly)
5Type 3: Prioritize moisture and frizz control
6Type 4: Intense moisture, gentle handling, protective styling
7Consider porosity, density, and elasticity alongside type
8Take our quiz for a personalized routine based on your exact type

Hair Type Chart: Find Your Pattern (1A-4C)