Find your real hair type, zone by zone
Answer 10 quick questions about how your hair looks and behaves. Get your curl pattern from 1A to 4C for each part of your head, plus your strand thickness, density, and porosity. Then build a routine that fits it, if you want one.
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2C
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What hair type do I have? The quick answer
Your hair type is your natural curl pattern. It is rated from 1 (straight) to 4 (coily), plus a letter from A to C that shows how loose or tight the pattern is. To find it, wash your hair, skip all products, and let it air-dry. Straight hair is Type 1, S-shaped waves are Type 2, loops or spirals are Type 3, and tight coils or zigzags are Type 4.
Knowing your curl pattern is a great start, but it does not tell you everything. Two people with the same type can need very different care. That is why the quiz above also checks your strand thickness, density, and porosity. Together, these four things tell you much more than a single code.
Hair type chart: all 12 types from 1A to 4C
Each number is a group: straight, wavy, curly, or coily. Each letter shows how tight the pattern is inside that group. Moving from A to B to C, the pattern gets tighter. The letters do not describe how thick your hair is.
| Type | What it looks like | Easy way to spot it |
|---|---|---|
| 1A | Pin straight, soft, and very shiny | No bend at all, even when it air-dries |
| 1B | Straight with some body | A little lift at the roots, straight ends |
| 1C | Mostly straight with a slight bend | Ends flip or bend and can frizz in humid weather |
| 2A | Loose, soft waves | A gentle S shape that brushes out easily |
| 2B | Clear S-shaped waves | Waves start around mid-length while the roots lie flat |
| 2C | Deep waves with a few ringlets | Strong S shapes that start close to the root |
| 3A | Big, loose curls | Loops about as wide as sidewalk chalk |
| 3B | Bouncy ringlets | Curls about as wide as a marker |
| 3C | Tight corkscrew curls | Curls about as wide as a pencil |
| 4A | Small, springy coils | Tight coils with a clear S shape |
| 4B | Zigzag coils | The hair bends in sharp Z shapes instead of round coils |
| 4C | The tightest coils | The pattern is hard to see and the hair shrinks a lot when dry |
How to find your hair type at home
You do not need any special tools. You just need clean hair and a little patience. Follow these steps on your next wash day.
- Wash with a clarifying shampoo. It removes product buildup, which can hide your real pattern.
- Use a light conditioner, then rinse it out well.
- Skip all styling products. No gel, cream, mousse, or oil this time.
- Let your hair air-dry. Do not brush, scrunch, or touch it while it dries.
- Check it in daylight once it is fully dry. Look at the top, the sides, and underneath separately.
- Compare each area with the chart above, or take the quiz at the top of this page.
Always judge your type when your hair is fully dry. Wet hair hangs straighter and heavier, so waves and curls look looser than they really are.
Is my hair wavy or curly?
This is the most common question people ask, because Types 2 and 3 can look alike. These four signs will help you tell them apart.
| Sign | Wavy (Type 2) | Curly (Type 3) |
|---|---|---|
| Shape | S-shaped bends that lie fairly flat | Full loops or spirals |
| Where it starts | Often from mid-length down | Usually close to the root |
| Wet vs. dry | Shrinks very little | Shrinks noticeably as it dries |
| Gentle stretch | Falls back into a loose bend | Springs back into a loop |
If your hair shows signs from both columns, you may sit between 2C and 3A. That is very common. Many people have deep waves on top and loose curls underneath. Try care tips from both types, then stick with the ones your hair likes.
Hair type vs. texture vs. density vs. porosity
These four words get mixed up a lot, but they mean different things. This table sorts them out.
| Term | What it means | How to check it |
|---|---|---|
| Hair type | The shape of your curl pattern, from 1A to 4C | Air-dry test |
| Texture | How thick each single strand is: fine, medium, or coarse | Roll a strand between your fingers |
| Density | How many hairs grow on your head | Look at how much scalp shows |
| Porosity | How easily your hair takes in and loses water | Watch how fast it dries |
Why does this matter? Picture two people with 3B curls. One has fine strands that dry slowly. The other has coarse strands that dry fast and feel rough. The first person needs light products. The second needs richer ones that lock in moisture. Same type, very different routine.
How to check strand thickness and density
Strand thickness: the roll test
Pull out one clean, dry strand and roll it between your thumb and finger.
- Fine: you can barely feel it.
- Medium: it feels like a thin thread.
- Coarse: it feels thick, strong, or wiry.
Density: the mirror test
Stand in front of a mirror with your hair dry and unparted. If you can easily see your scalp, you likely have low density. If you see a little, it is medium. If you can hardly see it at all, it is high.
If your hair is long enough, you can also measure around a ponytail at the base. As a rough guide, under 2 inches suggests low density, 2 to 3 inches suggests medium, and more than 3 inches suggests high density.
Porosity: better tests than the float test
Porosity is how easily water gets into your hair and back out again. It helps you pick the right weight of products.
You may have heard of the float test, where you drop a strand in a glass of water. If it floats, you are told you have low porosity. If it sinks, you are told it is high. The trouble is that this test does not really measure porosity. Cosmetic chemists explain that what you are seeing is mostly surface tension, which is how water acts at its surface. Oils, conditioner, and product residue on the strand can change the result.
These methods give you a more useful picture:
| Method | How to do it | How useful it is |
|---|---|---|
| Drying time | Note how long your hair takes to air-dry after washing | Useful and easy |
| Product feel | Notice if products sit on top or seem to vanish fast | Useful over a few weeks |
| Spray test | Mist a clean section and watch if the water beads up or soaks in | Fairly useful |
| Float test | Drop a strand in a glass of water | Not reliable |
No home test is exact. The best clue is a pattern you notice over several wash days. Hair that stays wet for hours and makes products sit on top tends to be low porosity. Hair that soaks up water, dries fast, and feels rough tends to be high porosity.
Want to go deeper? Our guide to low porosity vs. high porosity hair explains what causes each type and how to care for it.
What if my hair is short, treated, or in a protective style?
Most guides assume you have long, natural hair. Many people do not. You can still find your type. You just need a slightly different method.
Very short hair
Hair under about 2 inches hides its pattern. This is common for men with short cuts and fades. Watch how your hair grows back after a cut. Does it lie flat, form soft waves, or start curling within a few weeks? Let it grow to 2 or 3 inches if you can, then do the air-dry test for your exact type.
Relaxed, permed, or keratin-treated hair
Chemical treatments like relaxers, perms, and keratin treatments change the shape of your hair for a long time. Only your new growth near the scalp shows your natural pattern. Look at the first inch or two at the roots.
Colored, bleached, or heat-damaged hair
Bleach, color, and heat can loosen your pattern over time. Judge your type by the first few inches from the root, where the hair is newest and healthiest.
Locs, braids, and protective styles
Check your new growth on a wash day. If you can take your hair out, look at it after it has fully air-dried.
Most people have more than one hair type
It is normal to have a different pattern in different spots. Hair at the nape is often tighter. Hair near your face may be looser. The crown can be different from the sides.
That is why the quiz above checks the top and underneath separately. You might get a result like “2C on top, 3A underneath.” This is not a mistake. It simply shows how your hair really grows. Care for each area based on how it behaves, instead of forcing one routine on your whole head.
Can your hair type change?
Yes. Hair can change over time for many reasons, including:
- Puberty, pregnancy, and other hormone changes
- Getting older, which often makes hair finer or drier
- Damage from bleach, color, or heat
- Some medicines and health conditions
If your pattern has changed, retake the quiz. Your old routine may not suit your hair anymore.
Some shedding is normal too. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, it is normal to shed about 50 to 100 hairs a day. If you notice sudden hair loss, bald patches, or a big change in how thick your hair feels, see a dermatologist.
What most hair type guides get wrong
Hair typing comes with a lot of myths. These are the ones that come up again and again.
| Myth | Fact |
|---|---|
| The letters A, B, and C mean fine, medium, and coarse. | The letters show how loose or tight your pattern is. Strand thickness is a separate thing. |
| The float test tells you your porosity. | It mostly shows surface tension. Oils and product residue can change the result. |
| You only have one hair type. | Most people have two or more patterns on their head. |
| Frizz means your hair is low porosity. | Frizz is more often linked to dryness, damage, or humid weather. |
| 1A (or 4C) is the rarest hair type. | There is no reliable data that ranks all 12 types worldwide. |
| Your hair type never changes. | Age, hormones, and damage can all change your pattern. |
| Some hair types are better than others. | No type is better. Each one is simply different and needs different care. |
Is hair typing accurate?
The chart most people use today goes back to the 1990s. Stylist Andre Walker, who did Oprah Winfrey’s hair at the time, built it to help sell his own product line. It caught on fast. Now brands, stylists, and curl communities all speak its language.
The chart has flaws. The original version did not include 3C or 4C, so others added them later. It has also been criticized for seeming to rank straighter hair above coily hair. Some people call this texturism, which means treating certain hair textures as better than others.
Other systems try to fix these problems:
- LOIS uses the shapes of letters to describe your pattern instead of numbers, so no type ranks “above” another.
- FIA adds strand thickness and overall volume to your curl pattern.
Our view is simple. Your hair type is a helpful starting point, not a label of good or bad. It works best when you pair it with your thickness, density, and porosity, which is exactly what the quiz above does.
Frequently asked questions
What are the 4 main hair types?
Hair typing sorts hair into four groups by shape: straight (Type 1), wavy (Type 2), curly (Type 3), and coily (Type 4). Every group then splits into A, B, and C. Each step down the alphabet means a tighter pattern.
What do the letters A, B, and C mean?
The letter is about size, not strength. A 2C wave is deeper than a 2A wave, and a 4C coil is smaller than a 4A coil. Two people can share the same letter and still have very different hair, because the letter says nothing about how thick each strand is.
What is the most common hair type?
Nobody has done a worldwide count of the 12 hair types, so any “most common type” claim is a guess. Straight and wavy hair show up a lot in many groups, but curl patterns vary widely, even between brothers and sisters.
Can I have more than one hair type?
Yes, and it is completely normal. Mixed patterns are one of the main reasons people feel stuck between two types. If that sounds like you, go by the pattern that covers most of your head and treat the other areas as their own zones.
Should I check my hair type when it is wet or dry?
Always fully dry. Thick or long hair can take many hours to dry all the way through, so the inside may still be damp when the outside feels dry. If you can, wait until the next morning before you judge your pattern.
Does my hair type depend on my ethnicity?
Anyone can have any hair type. Some patterns are more common in certain groups, but you should never guess your type from your background. Look at your own hair instead.
How accurate is an online hair type quiz?
A good quiz is a strong starting point, but it depends on your answers. For the best result, answer after a product-free wash day. A licensed stylist can confirm your type in person.
Does my hair type decide which products I should use?
Only partly. Your porosity and strand thickness often matter more. Low porosity hair usually does better with lightweight, water-based products. High porosity hair usually needs richer creams plus an oil to seal in moisture.
How often should I check my hair type?
Check again once a year, or any time your hair seems to behave differently. Big changes like pregnancy, a new medicine, or years of heat styling can all change your pattern.