Find Your Hair Type

Why hair typing changed my whole routine

I didn’t grow up knowing there was an actual “hair type chart.” I just knew my hair could look cute one day… and then turn into a frizzy mystery the next 😅. For the longest time, I treated haircare like guesswork: random products, too much heat, brushing at the wrong time, and wondering why nothing “worked.”

Learning about hair types (Type 1 to Type 4, plus A/B/C subtypes) made everything make sense. Not because a chart magically fixes your hair—but because it helps you understand what your hair naturally wants to do. And once that clicks, choosing a routine gets so much easier.

One important reminder (because I wish someone told me sooner): hair products are not “for” an ethnicity. They’re for hair patterns, strand thickness, density, and porosity. If a product works for your hair type and your hair needs, it works. Period.

The 4 main hair pattern categories (Type 1–4)

Most charts break hair into four big groups: Straight, Wavy, Curly, and Coily. Then each group has subtypes A, B, and C to describe how loose or tight the pattern is.

Type 1: Straight (1A, 1B, 1C)

Type 1 hair falls straight from root to tip with little to no bend. It often reflects light easily, so it can look naturally shiny. But straight hair can still struggle with oiliness, flat roots, or dryness at the ends—especially if it’s fine.

1A is the straightest and usually very fine. It can get oily faster and may struggle to hold curls.

1B is still straight but with a bit more body and thickness. It tends to hold styles a little better than 1A.

1C is straight with more density or coarseness, and it can have a tiny bend or puffiness, especially with humidity.

Helpful routine notes: lightweight conditioning on the ends, gentle cleansing for scalp balance, and heat protection if you style often. If hair gets weighed down easily, less product usually looks better.

Type 2: Wavy (2A, 2B, 2C)

Type 2 hair lives in that in-between world: not pin-straight, not fully curly. The pattern usually looks like an “S” wave, and it can be soft and fluffy with lots of movement. Waves can also be sneaky—sometimes they disappear if hair is brushed dry or weighed down with heavy creams.

2A has a loose wave that may look almost straight until it air dries. It’s often fine and can fall flat at the roots.

2B has more defined “S” waves, usually starting mid-length. Frizz can show up easily, especially without hold products.

2C is the strongest wave pattern, sometimes with a few loose ringlets. It can feel thicker, get frizzy in humidity, and need more moisture than 2A/2B.

Helpful routine notes: waves usually love a balance of moisture + hold. Too much oil or heavy butter can make waves limp, but too little conditioning can turn them into a frizz cloud. Styling on soaking-wet hair and scrunching gently can help waves clump and show their pattern.

Type 3: Curly (3A, 3B, 3C)

Type 3 hair forms ringlets or corkscrews. It has bounce, volume, and definition—when it’s happy. But curly hair can also deal with dryness and frizz because natural scalp oils have a harder time traveling down the bends of the hair shaft.

3A has larger, looser curls. It can look shiny and bouncy but may lose definition without enough hold.

3B has tighter, springier ringlets. It’s often more prone to frizz and shrinkage than 3A.

3C has the tightest curls in the Type 3 family—dense, voluminous, and often more fragile if handled roughly.

Helpful routine notes: curls usually do best with consistent conditioning, gentle detangling, and styling techniques that encourage curl clumps. Dry brushing tends to break up definition and create frizz. Many curl routines focus on applying styling products while hair is wet, then drying without disturbing the curl pattern too much.

Type 4: Coily/Kinky (4A, 4B, 4C)

Type 4 hair is tight, springy, and full of texture. It can form coils, zig-zags, or very small curl patterns, and it often experiences the most shrinkage (which is not a bad thing—just a reality!). Because the pattern is so tight, it can also be more prone to dryness if moisture isn’t maintained.

4A usually has a visible coil pattern—small, springy “S” shaped coils.

4B often looks more like a “Z” shape bend with less obvious ringlets. It can be super fluffy and voluminous.

4C has the tightest pattern, often with less visible definition unless styled. It can be incredibly soft and dense, but also very delicate if over-manipulated.

Helpful routine notes: Type 4 hair often thrives with gentle handling, moisture layering, and protective styling habits (like low-tension styles and nighttime protection). Detangling with slip and patience matters a lot. Keeping ends protected can help reduce breakage over time.

How to figure out your hair type (without overthinking it)

If you’re staring at charts thinking, “Okay but what am I??” here’s a simple way to start:

Step 1: Look at clean hair with no styling products. The most honest “pattern read” usually happens when hair is freshly washed and conditioned, then left alone. Product can fake definition, and heat can hide your natural pattern.

Step 2: Let it dry with minimal disturbance. Touching, brushing, or constantly fluffing while drying can change how the pattern sets.

Step 3: Compare the overall pattern family first. Ask: does it fall straight (Type 1), form waves (Type 2), make ringlets (Type 3), or coil tightly (Type 4)? Then decide the subtype (A/B/C) based on how loose or tight it is.

Step 4: Accept that you can have more than one type. This is so common. Many people have looser pieces in the front, tighter curls underneath, or different patterns at the crown. Having “multiple curl patterns” doesn’t mean you’re doing anything wrong—it’s just your hair being real.

Pattern is only one piece: strand thickness and density matter too

This is where a lot of people get stuck: two people can both be “3B,” but their routines can look totally different. Why? Because hair typing charts describe pattern, not everything else.

Strand thickness (fine vs coarse) changes how hair reacts to products. Fine hair can get weighed down easily, while coarse strands may need richer moisture to feel soft.

Density (how much hair you have) changes how you style and how much product you need. High-density hair can look bigger and take longer to dry. Low-density hair might need lighter layering to avoid looking flat.

Some charts also mention texture feelings like fine & fragile vs coarse & thick, and curl shapes like ringlets vs Z-shape strands. Those details matter when you’re troubleshooting frizz, dryness, or lack of definition.

Common struggles by hair type (and what usually helps)

Straight hair struggles

Flat roots / oily scalp: focusing cleansing on the scalp and using lighter conditioners on the ends can help. Over-conditioning the roots can make hair look greasy faster.

Ends feel dry: even straight hair benefits from conditioning and gentle drying habits. Heat styling without protection can rough up the cuticle and make ends feel crunchy.

Wavy hair struggles

Frizz + undefined waves: waves often need a little hold to keep the “S” shape from puffing out. Also, brushing waves dry can turn them into a triangle shape real quick.

Waves disappear: heavy creams and oils can stretch waves out. Many wavy routines work better with lightweight layers and water-based styling.

Curly hair struggles

Dryness: curls often need consistent conditioning and careful handling. Since oils travel slower down curly strands, mid-lengths and ends can feel dry even if the scalp is fine.

Frizz: frizz is often a mix of dryness + disruption. Too much touching while drying, rough towel drying, or not enough conditioning can all contribute.

Coily hair struggles

Breakage: tight coils can be more fragile if detangled aggressively or styled with too much tension. Slow detangling and protecting ends can make a noticeable difference.

Shrinkage confusion: shrinkage can make hair look shorter than it is, which can be frustrating if you’re tracking length. But shrinkage also shows elasticity and health in many cases.

Heat, frizz, and the “I didn’t know” phase

I relate so hard to anyone who spent years fighting their hair because they didn’t know what it needed. A lot of people (me included) used heat like a solution for everything—frizz, puffiness, uneven texture—without realizing we were training our hair to be dependent on it.

If hair has been heat-styled for a long time, the natural pattern might look different at first. Some sections may not match the chart right away, and that can feel confusing. That’s normal. Hair pattern can also shift with hormones, stress, age, and even haircut shape.

Quick “cheat sheet” vibes (if you just want the basics)

Type 1: sleek, straight, usually shiny. Needs balance so it doesn’t get oily or flat.

Type 2: “S” waves, can be frizzy, needs light moisture + hold.

Type 3: ringlets/corkscrews, prone to dryness, loves conditioning and gentle styling.

Type 4: tight coils or zig-zags, lots of shrinkage, thrives with moisture + low manipulation.

Try this: comment your best guess (and what you struggle with most)

If you’re still unsure, that’s okay. Hair typing is a starting point, not a final exam. If you want a more accurate guess, think about what your hair does on a “no product, no heat” day and which family it fits best: 1 (straight), 2 (wavy), 3 (curly), or 4 (coily). Then narrow it down to A/B/C.

And if your hair looks like a mix—welcome to the club. Multiple patterns are extremely common, and learning how to work with them (instead of fighting them) is where the real glow-up happens ✨