How To Recognize Your Hair Type

How To Recognize Your Hair Type | Hair Type Chart And Care Guide For Type 2, 3, and 4 Textures

Wondering how to recognize your hair type? Read on to find out the different methods of recognizing your hair type and how to use them effectively.

Did you know that there is more to your hair type than just being straight, wavy, or curly? Actually, there are twelve types of hair to be exact. 

In all honesty, I didn’t know about this until a few years ago. I was wondering why none of my hair care products was working even though the bottles said that they were designed specifically for my hair. 

So, I did a little research and consulted with multiple hair experts and found that there’s so much more that goes into figuring out your hair type. This is also when I was introduced to the hair type chart. 

I realized that my hair care products weren’t working because they weren’t designed for my hair. I had gotten my hair type all wrong. 

I understood how important it was to know your hair type when picking out products. What works for your friend’s hair may do absolutely nothing for your hair, even if you both seem to have the same hair type. We need to consider the finer details.

It took me some time to figure out the hair type chart. I couldn’t find much guidance on the web and whatever I did find was too complicated.

Here is a guide to the different types of hair and how to identify them. 

How To Recognize Your Hair Type

What Does Hair Type Mean?

Before we see what the different hair types are, we need to understand what hair type means. 

Hair type is basically your hair’s natural curl pattern. The shape of your hair follicles will decide the amount of curl in your hair. This means it is responsible for whether you have straight, wavy, curly, or coily hair. 

How To Recognize Your Hair Type
Source: Instagram @raidesart

Your genetics play a big role in the shape of your hair follicles. While you can change your curl pattern with chemical treatments or heat, you don’t have much control over the basic curl pattern that you have inherited. 

What Are The Different Types Of Hair?

Hair is categorized into four broad types- type 1 hair or straight hair, type 2 hair or wavy hair, type 3 hair or curly hair, and type 4 hair or coily/kinky hair.

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These hair types are further divided based on the curl pattern which is the way your hair follicle tilts and grows out of your scalp. The divisions are as follows:

  • Type 1 hair is divided into type 1a, type 1b, and type 1c
  • Type 2 hair is divided into type 2a, type 2b, and type 2c
  • Type 3 hair is divided into type 3a, type 3b, and type 3c
  • Type 4 hair is divided into type 4a, type 4b, and type 4c

Let’s have a closer look at what each of these hair types is:

how do i check my hair type
Source: Instagram @curlsandnature

Type 1 Hair

This is perhaps the easiest type of hair to identify. If your hair is straight or has very subtle waves, it most probably belongs to this hair type. 

This type of hair has no natural curl and falls without a wave from the root to the tip. It lies flat and straight.

how to find out which hair type you have
Source: Instagram @hair_types_

Type 1 hair is also prone to oiliness because natural oils from the scalp can easily travel to the tips of the hair. This is also why this hair type reflects much more sheen than other hair types. 

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Straight hair is, in my opinion, the easiest hair type to style. It’s quite compliant and can pull off almost every haircut and style. 

Type 1 hair has three further divisions. They are:

  • Type 1a hair:

This type of hair is the rarest type of hair and is most commonly seen in Asians. There’s no curl or wave and hair falls poker straight from the scalp to the tip. 

Hair is very fine and tends to look oily because of how easily natural oils can travel down from the scalp.

  • Type 1b hair:

When compared to type 1a hair, this hair type has more volume. The medium texture of this hair type gives it a lot more movement and texture. 

  • Type 1c hair:

This hair type is straight with very subtle waves towards the tips. It is often confused with type 1b and type 2a hair because the difference is very slight. 

Type 1c hair is usually thick and coarse and is able to hold some curl. It is prone to frizz, especially in humid environments and climates. 

Type 2 Hair

Type 2 hair is naturally wavy and strands form an S shape. It is not prone to oiliness like type 1 hair because of its shape and texture. 

how do i determine my hair type
Source: Instagram @hair_types_

Thai type of hair ranges from beachy waves to large, undefined waves. This is a pretty no drama type of hair that holds product well and can be styled easily. 

This hair type is divided into:

  • Type 2a hair:

In this type of hair, strands are fine and form an S shape when they dry. As mentioned above, it is not uncommon for this hair type to be mistaken for type 1c hair. This type of hair is easy to style and holds products well. 

  • Type 2b hair:

Type 2b hair forms much more prominent waves. It has a medium texture and is prone to frizz in certain environments and conditions. 

  • Type 2c hair:

This hair type has a coarse texture and is very prone to frizz. The strands take on a prominent S shape when dry. Type 2c hair shows some similarities with type 3a hair and so is easily confused with it. 

Type 3 Hair

Curly hair is also referred to as type 3 hair. In this type of hair, strands have a distinct s or Z shape when dry. 

Natural oils can’t travel easily from the roots to the tips because of the shape of the strands. This makes this hair type prone to dryness, frizz, and breakage. 

how do you know what is your hair type
Source: Instagram @maraiayasmiin

Hydration is so important when you have curls. The tips don’t receive much of natural oils and so it is essential that you use hydrating hair products. At the same time, you need to keep in mind that you want products that won’t weigh your hair down. 

Type 3 hair can range from soft, loose curls to tight, corkscrew curls. Based on the tightness of curls, there are 3 subcategories:

  • Type 3a hair:

This hair type features loose curls that are easily defined. They require minimal or no product. Hair is fine and shiny in this type of hair. 

  • Type 3b hair:

When compared to type 3a hair, this hair type is more prone to frizz. Hair has tight springy curls that have a medium texture. 

  • Type 3c hair:
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Type 3c hair features tight ringlets that are corkscrew-shaped. As beautiful as these curls are, they are extremely prone to frizz, dryness, and breakage. It requires a lot of effort to care for these curls, but with the right hair care routine and products, you can have bouncy and luscious curls. 

Type 4 Hair

Type 4 hair is the curliest hair type. It is most commonly seen in people of African American descent. 

The curls in this type of hair have a tightly coiled shape. The hair holds these tight curls when wet as well as dry. 

Due to the shape and nature of this type of hair, it is prone to dryness, damage, and breakage. People with this type of hair are also susceptible to dry and itchy scalps.

Type 4 hair has 4 sub categories, they are:

how to know my hair type female
Source: Instagram @hairtypesofall
  • Type 4a hair:

Type 4a hair features tight coils. Hair length shrinks to almost half when it dries. This hair type is often mistaken for type 3c hair, however, this hair type has a more definitive curl pattern. 

  • Type 4b hair:

In this hair type, hair strands have a distinct Z shape. It looks a lot like a crimp pattern. Curls are not as defined as type 4a hair but they are more prominent than type 4c hair. 

  • Type 4c hair:

I find that this hair type is the most densely packed hair type. It has a coarse texture. Hair is super coiled and contributes to hair experiencing a lot of shrinkage. 

What Else Can Help Recognize Your Hair Type?

Figuring out your hair type using the hair chart may look simple, but it’s easy to get it wrong. 

Here are some other contributors that can be considered while recognizing your hair type:

  • Hair structure

The hair structure is nothing but how thick each strand of hair is. This influences your hair’s ability to hold different hairstyles and how your hair is affected by hair products. 

Hair can be fine, medium or coarse (thick) in texture. Usually, type ‘a’ hair is fine, type ‘b’ hair is medium, and type ‘c’ hair is medium to coarse. This may vary from person to person.

  • Hair texture

The natural shape or pattern that your hair strands take is your hair texture. To know your hair texture, let your hair air dry after you wash it. 

If you have type 1 hair, it will dry without any bends or curls. Type 2 hair will dry with visible waves or s shape. Type 3 hair will dry with curls and ringlets that are not as dense as type 4 hair.

If when your hair dries, you can see a spiral or a zig zag pattern, you have type 4 hair. Type 4 hair will also show visible shrinkage in length as the hair dries. 

  • Hair porosity

It is important to know how well your hair absorbs moisture and products. This is the porosity of the hair and it is a determinant of your hair type. 

Once you understand your hair’s porosity, you will be able to choose products that are best suited for your hair. 

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FAQs about Learning

Final thoughts

The hair chart will help you understand your hair better. You may show similar traits to your friend’s hair. However, hair products that may work for them, may be disastrous for your hair. 

The hair typing system is an easy and convenient way of understanding your hair’s specific needs.

Knowing exactly what your hair needs is more than half your battle won against hair problems.

Why You Should Trust Haireveryday?

The author of this article, Leah Marie Priest has a degree in Cosmetology with years of experience in dealing with hair care, scalp care, and hairstyling. As someone who extensively deals with all kinds of hair textures, products, styling methods and more, hair Leah Marie knows what kind of products and procedures suit each hair type and person. We have also tested these hair products and processes ourselves to provide you an unbiased review about every product. Each of our articles are also reviewed by a team of medical professionals so that you get the most accurate and expert-reviewed information.

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