Rituala
Chapter 0410 min read

Hair Type Chart (1A–4C)

This hair type chart runs from 1A to 4C. The number (1 to 4) is the curl family: straight, wavy, curly, or coily. The letter (A, B, or C) is where your hair sits inside that family, from looser or finer to tighter or coarser. Find the row that looks most like your hair after an air-dry with no product, then read how care usually differs by pattern. This guide is educational: your pattern is one input, and porosity, density, and strand width matter too.

Know your pattern? Build your hair profile.

The quiz asks about your curl family, scalp, density, and goals. Create an account at the end to save your profile and see matched products and guides.

Chapter 01

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

How to find your type on the chart

  1. Wash, skip leave-ins and stylers, and let your hair air-dry.
  2. Look at the mid-lengths, not the crown or the ends: does the hair lie flat (1), bend into an S (2), form ringlets (3), or coil tightly or zig-zag (4)?
  3. Pick the letter: looser or finer is A, in-between is B, tighter or coarser is C.
  4. If two rows fit, use the one that matches most of your head and note the other.

Your type tells you the styling approach. Strand width, porosity, and density tell you how light or rich your products should be. Build my hair profile to put those together.

Complete Hair Type Chart: 1A to 4C

What the letters A, B, and C mean

The number is the curl family. The letter is the scale inside it. A is the loosest or finest version of that family, B sits in the middle, and C is the tightest or coarsest.

So 2A is a soft, loose wave and 2C is a deeper wave that starts closer to the root. 3A is a big, loose curl and 3C is a tight corkscrew. 4A is a defined S-shaped coil and 4C is the tightest, most compact coil. In Type 1 there is no curl to measure, so the letter mostly tracks how fine or coarse a straight strand is (1A fine, 1C coarse).

Read the chart as one scale from 1A to 4C. Many heads sit between two letters or mix two patterns, so pick the closest row rather than waiting for an exact match.

Hair Type Reference Table

TypePatternDescriptionKey Need
1AStraightVery fine, soft, silky. No curl. Gets oily quickly.Volume, lightweight products
1BStraightMedium body, more volume than 1A. Holds styles better.Texture, regular trims
1CStraightCoarse, thick, resistant to styling. May have slight bend.Smoothing, anti-frizz
2AWavyFine, tousled texture. Gentle S-shaped waves.Lightweight mousses, sea salt spray
2BWavyDefined S-waves from mid-length. Frizz-prone.Medium-hold gels, anti-frizz
2CWavyThick S-waves from roots. Mix of waves and curls.Strong-hold gels, deep conditioning
3ACurlyLoose curls, chalk-sized circumference. Shiny when healthy.Moisture, frizz control
3BCurlySpringy ringlets, marker-sized. More volume and dryness.Rich creams, leave-in conditioner
3CCurlyTight corkscrews, pencil-sized. Very prone to dryness.LOC/LCO method, protein treatments
4ACoilyTightly coiled S-pattern. Visible curl definition.Rich moisturizers, protective styles
4BCoilySharp Z-pattern. Up to 75% shrinkage. Less defined.Daily moisturizing, gentle detangling
4CCoilyDensely 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.

Know your pattern? Build your hair profile.

The quiz asks about your curl family, scalp, density, and goals. Create an account at the end to save your profile and see matched products and guides.

Build my hair profile

Or browse the best shampoo for wavy hair guide if you already know your pattern.

Chapter 02

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 03

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.

Find a lightweight gel for your waves

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.

Find a curl cream that defines your waves

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 04

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.

Find a deep conditioning mask for your curls

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 05

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.

Find a hair oil for coily hair

Type 4B: Z-Pattern Coils

Sharp-angled 'Z' pattern instead of curls. Less defined curl pattern. Experiences significant shrinkage.

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. Significant 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. For maximum curl definition, try techniques like shingling or finger coiling.

4A Routine 4B Routine 4C Routine

Chapter 06

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 a strand stretches before breaking. Treat this as a description of the strand, not a diagnosis of protein deficiency or a measure of overall hair health.

Know your pattern? Build your hair profile.

The quiz asks about your curl family, scalp, density, and goals. Create an account at the end to save your profile and see matched products and guides. Start the quiz. Or jump straight to a routine:
Wavy HairType 2A-2CCurly HairType 3A-3CNatural HairType 4A-4CFine HairAll types
Key Takeaways
  • 01Hair types range from Type 1 (straight) to Type 4 (coily)
  • 02Subtypes A, B, C indicate how fine/coarse or tight the pattern is
  • 03Type 1: Focus on volume and avoiding buildup
  • 04Type 2: Balance definition without weighing down (2C is the waviest, closest to curly)
  • 05Type 3: Prioritize moisture and frizz control
  • 06Type 4: Intense moisture, gentle handling, protective styling
  • 07Consider porosity, density, and elasticity alongside type
  • 08Take our quiz to build a profile from your curl family, scalp, and goals
Chapter 07

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the hair types from 1A to 4C?
The 12 hair types from 1A to 4C are: 1A (pin-straight, fine), 1B (straight with body), 1C (straight, coarse). 2A (loose S-waves), 2B (defined waves from mid-length), 2C (thick S-waves at the root, on the curly border). 3A (loose, sidewalk-chalk-sized curls), 3B (springy ringlets, Sharpie-sized), 3C (tight corkscrew curls, pencil-sized). 4A (defined S-pattern coils), 4B (Z-pattern coils with sharp angles), 4C (tightest zig-zag coils, up to 75% shrinkage). Numbers describe the curl family; letters describe how loose or tight the pattern is within that family.
Is there a 1D or 5C hair type?
Not on this chart. The chart this guide uses runs from 1A to 4C: 12 types across four curl families. Labels like 1D or 5C show up in some online charts and communities, but they are not part of the standard 1A to 4C scale. If your hair seems tighter than 4C or straighter than 1A, use the closest row. Strand width, porosity, and density will tell you more about your routine than an extra letter.
How do I find my hair type?
Wash your hair, let it air-dry without product, and look at the natural pattern through the mid-lengths. Straight hair that lies flat is Type 1, S-shaped waves are Type 2, defined ringlets are Type 3, and tight coils or zig-zag patterns are Type 4. The letter (A, B, or C) reflects how loose or tight your pattern is within that family. If you want a profile that also covers porosity, scalp, and goals, start the quiz to build your hair profile.
What are the four main hair types?
The Andre Walker system classifies hair into four types: Type 1 is straight and has no curl pattern; Type 2 is wavy with an S-shape; Type 3 is curly with defined ringlets; and Type 4 is coily with tight curls or a Z-pattern. Each type has three subtypes (A, B, C) ranging from looser to tighter patterns.
What is 2C hair?
2C is the boldest wave pattern, sitting at the border between wavy and curly. It has thick, defined S-shaped waves that begin at the roots and is more frizz-prone than 2A or 2B. 2C hair often responds well to a modified Curly Girl Method using lightweight gels and sulfate-free cleansers — heavy curl creams designed for Type 3 hair tend to weigh 2C down.
What is the difference between 3C and 4A hair?
3C hair forms tight corkscrew curls about the size of a pencil and retains a clear curl pattern when dry. 4A hair has a similar circumference but coils more tightly into an S-pattern with significant shrinkage (up to 75%). Both need rich moisture, but 4A typically benefits from heavier butters and the LCO/LOC layering method, while 3C can usually use lighter creams.
Can I have more than one hair type on my head?
Yes — most people do. It is common to have looser waves at the crown and tighter curls at the nape, or finer hair around the hairline and coarser hair at the back. When choosing products, match them to your dominant pattern and use targeted techniques (like extra moisture on the tighter sections) for the rest.
Does the 1A to 4C chart work for men's hair?
Yes. The chart describes the shape of the strand, not who it grows on, so 1A to 4C reads the same for men and women. Short cuts can hide a pattern, though: waves and curls often need some length before they show clearly. If your hair is short, look at the longest section, or check again as it grows out. Then match products to your pattern and strand width the same way.
Is hair type the same as hair texture?
No. Hair type refers to the curl pattern (1A through 4C), while texture refers to the diameter of each strand — fine, medium, or coarse. You can have fine 4C hair or coarse 1B hair. For routine-building, both matter: type tells you the styling approach, while texture tells you how heavy or light the products should be.
Why does my hair type matter for product choice?
Different hair types have very different needs. Straight hair (Type 1) gets oily quickly and needs lightweight products that won't weigh it down. Coily hair (Type 4) is fragile and moisture-starved and needs rich, layered hydration. Using a curl cream designed for 3B hair on 1A hair will leave it greasy; using a volumizing spray made for 1A on 4B will leave it dry and tangled. Matching products to your type is the difference between a routine that works and one that fights against your hair.
How is hair type different from porosity?
Hair type describes the shape of your hair (curl pattern), while porosity describes how easily your hair absorbs and holds onto moisture. Two people with identical 3B curls can have completely different routines if one has low porosity (water beads up and rolls off) and the other has high porosity (water absorbs fast but evaporates faster). For the best results, build your routine around both — type plus porosity.

Know your pattern? Build your hair profile.

The quiz asks about your curl family, scalp, density, and goals. Create an account at the end to save your profile and see matched products and guides.

Or browse the best shampoo for wavy hair guide if you already know your pattern.

Continue Reading

Hair Care Routines by Type

Step-by-step routines tailored to your specific hair type.

Read article

Hair Porosity Guide

Understand how your hair absorbs and retains moisture.

Read article

Curly Girl Method

The well-established method for caring for wavy and curly hair types.

Read article

Hair Growth Guide

Evidence-based strategies for growing healthier hair.

Read article

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