The Hair Typing System Explained
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.
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.
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.
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 GelsType 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 CreamsType 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
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 MasksType 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.
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!
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 OilsType 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
Beyond Hair Type: Other Important Factors
Density
How many hair strands you have per square inch (thin, medium, thick).
Width/Diameter
The thickness of individual strands (fine, medium, coarse).
Elasticity
How much your hair stretches before breaking.
- Hair types range from Type 1 (straight) to Type 4 (coily)
- Subtypes A, B, C indicate how fine/coarse or tight the pattern is
- Type 1: Focus on volume and avoiding buildup
- Type 2: Balance definition without weighing down
- Type 3: Prioritize moisture and frizz control
- Type 4: Intense moisture, gentle handling, protective styling
- Consider porosity, density, and elasticity alongside type