What is My Hair Type?

The key to understanding your hair is knowing your hair type. Your hair may look the same as someone else's but you could in fact have completely different characteristics. So, how do you know what hair type applies to you?

There are a number of factors that differentiate hair. From curl pattern to porosity, understanding which categories you fall under will help you select the best products, techniques, and routines to help your hair thrive. Here is all you need to know about understanding your hair type. Hair type is just one part of the picture: the hair texture and density guide covers the strand width and density characteristics that work alongside type to give you the full picture of your hair.

How to Identify Your Hair Type

One of the most universal ways of determining hair type is by using the Andre Walker hair typing system. The hair chart was developed in the 1990s to help customers figure out which hair products were best suited to their hair, and it is still widely used today.

It is important to note that this system does not tell you everything about your hair. Andre Walker focused on texture and appearance, so factors such as porosity are overlooked. However, it is still a great starting point for understanding your hair type. Porosity is covered separately in the hair porosity guide, which explains how porosity affects product absorption and moisture retention.

The simplest way to identify your hair type is to wash and condition your hair with a gentle sulfate-free shampoo bar, let it air dry without applying any styling products, and observe the natural pattern it settles into. Whatever shape forms naturally without product is your baseline hair type.

Type 1: Straight Hair

Type 1 hair is typically straight but varies in thickness. Straight hair tends to become oily more quickly than other types because natural oils can travel easily from the scalp down the full length of the strand.

Type 1A

Type 1A hair is thin and delicate. It does not hold curls well and appears very flat with little body. Because 1A hair is so fine and delicate, it is more prone to breakage and often becomes greasy quickly.

Care Tips for Type 1A Hair

Type 1A hair requires gentle handling. Invest in a good brush that will detangle knots without causing breakage. Avoid tight hairstyles that may weaken fine hair over time. Wash regularly with a gentle, volumising formula to keep sebum at bay without stripping the strand.

Type 1B

Type 1B is slightly thicker than 1A. It falls straight but may have a slight natural bend. It is mostly made up of fine hair strands but often has a few coarser strands throughout.

Care Tips for Type 1B Hair

1B hair can appear oily, so oil-controlling products are a good choice. However, avoid overwashing as this can increase oil production. Apply conditioners to the mid-lengths and ends rather than directly on the scalp to avoid weighing the hair down.

Type 1C

Type 1C is the thickest of the Type 1 category. It tends to be the shiniest as natural oils can travel easily down the full length of the strand. This hair type tends to have flat roots with arcs, bends, and subtle body running through the mid-sections, making it ideal for holding curls and air drying.

Care Tips for Type 1C Hair

Type 1C is the most coarse of the Type 1 category, making it susceptible to frizz and flyaways. Lightweight products such as serums or light oils nourish the hair while taming frizz. A satin pillowcase is a great way of avoiding unnecessary tension overnight.

Type 2: Wavy Hair

Type 2 includes all wavy hair types, from subtle to well-defined. Wavy hair sits between straight and curly and benefits from lighter products that enhance the wave without weighing it down. The wavy hair routine UK guide covers the full product and technique approach for every Type 2 sub-type.

Type 2A

Type 2A is characterised by delicate S-shaped waves that are not fully defined or voluminous. The roots tend to be straight until just a few inches down where waves begin.

Care Tips for Type 2A Hair

Type 2A hair is quite manageable and relatively low maintenance. Because it is a blend of straight and wavy, choose products that will not weigh the hair down but still enhance the waves. Lightweight leave-in conditioners and hydrating hair masks will keep frizz at bay and allow your natural waves to come through.

Type 2B

Type 2B hair has a more defined S-shaped wave pattern compared to 2A. It has more body and is prone to frizz.

Care Tips for Type 2B Hair

Moisture-rich shampoos and conditioners help your natural waves come through. When styling, try finger-curling each section for more definition. An afro comb at the roots can give lift and volume to 2B hair, which can struggle with flatness at the crown.

Type 2C

If your hair sits somewhere between waves and curls, you are likely to have 2C hair. Unlike 2A and 2B, the waves in 2C start at the root.

Care Tips for Type 2C Hair

Using curl styling creams such as the Superfood Combo Curl Cream helps your wave and curl patterns form consistently and stops the hair from drying out. Avoid overwashing. The Cocoa Vanilla Waffle Moisturising Shampoo Bar is a gentle, sulfate-free cleanse that preserves the natural oils 2C hair needs to stay hydrated between wash days.

Type 3: Curly Hair

Type 3 is the curly hair category, including loose curls all the way through to tight spirals. Type 3 hair benefits from rich moisture, consistent conditioning, and styling products that support and define the curl pattern. The best routine for curly hair guide covers the full wash day sequence for Type 3 hair.

Type 3A

Type 3A hair is defined as large, loopy curls, often about the diameter of a piece of chalk or a banana. 3A curls often have a lot of volume but the individual strands can be lightweight.

Care Tips for Type 3A Hair

Gels and lighter curl creams work well for 3A hair, providing enough hold to maintain the curl pattern without weighing the curls down. Regular trims are important: the longer 3A hair gets, the more the curl can loosen, so keeping the ends healthy preserves definition. The Plant Peptide Conditioner delivers the slip and moisture needed after washing without adding excess weight to the curl.

Type 3B

Type 3B curls are medium-sized ringlets that are tight and springy, usually about the circumference of a Sharpie. This hair type is prone to frizz and can become puffy, but unlike 3A curls, 3B curls tend to maintain their definition well.

Care Tips for Type 3B Hair

Layering your styling products using the LOC (leave-in, oil, cream) method builds and retains moisture so styles last longer before frizzing. Protecting your curls at night with a satin bonnet or satin pillowcase is essential for 3B hair. The Superfood Combo Curl Cream works as an all-in-one leave-in and styler for 3B hair, simplifying the routine without sacrificing definition.

Type 3C

Type 3C hair consists of tight coils with significant volume and lots of strands packed closely together. The curls tend to be smaller than 3B and appear as corkscrews.

Care Tips for Type 3C Hair

Because 3C curls are so tightly packed, careful detangling is important. Use a wide-tooth comb and detangle in small sections on wet, conditioned hair to maintain length and avoid breakage. Thicker styling formulas and regular deep conditioning with the Mint and Cocoa Ayurvedic Butter Treatment provide the moisture that 3C curls need. The deep conditioning guide covers the full technique and timing for 3C hair.

Type 4: Coily, Kinky, and Afro Hair

Type 4 is the last category and includes kinky, coily, and afro hair. Type 4 hair is the driest of all hair types because the tight coil pattern prevents natural scalp oils from travelling down the length of the strand. It also has the most shrinkage of any hair type: Type 4 hair can shrink to as little as a quarter of its actual length when dry. Deep conditioning and consistent moisture are the most important routine steps for Type 4 hair.

Type 4A

Type 4A hair has medium-sized, loosely packed coils with a springy S-shape, approximately the size of a crochet needle. Unlike Type 3 hair, Type 4 hair grows upward and outward rather than downward. Type 4A has notable shrinkage but the coil pattern is clearly defined when the hair is wet.

Care Tips for Type 4A Hair

Type 4A hair benefits from a consistent moisture routine: a sulfate-free shampoo, a rinse-out conditioner after every wash, and a weekly deep conditioning treatment. The Rosemary Root Stimulating Shampoo Bar cleanses thoroughly without stripping the natural oils that Type 4A hair needs to maintain moisture between washes. Sealing in moisture with an oil or butter after styling helps prevent the rapid moisture loss that Type 4 hair is prone to.

Type 4B

Type 4B hair has a Z-shaped or sharp-angled pattern rather than a defined coil. The strands fold in sharp angles from side to side rather than spiralling in a consistent curl. Type 4B hair is very dense and has significant shrinkage, often shrinking to less than a quarter of its stretched length when dry. The texture appears very full and voluminous.

Care Tips for Type 4B Hair

Type 4B hair benefits from pre-washing with a moisturising treatment before shampooing, to protect the strand from any dryness during the cleansing step. Apply the Mint and Cocoa Ayurvedic Butter Treatment to dry hair one hour before shampooing as a pre-wash mask. After cleansing, use a generous amount of conditioner and detangle gently in sections from ends to roots. Protective styles such as twists and braids work particularly well for Type 4B hair between wash days, reducing the daily manipulation that can cause breakage in this fragile hair type.

Type 4C

Type 4C is the most tightly coiled of all hair types. The coils are so small and packed together that they may not have a clearly defined curl pattern when dry, though they are present when the hair is wet and stretched. Type 4C hair has the most shrinkage of any type, often shrinking 70 to 75 percent of its actual length. It is also the most fragile of all hair types and requires the most intensive moisture routine.

Care Tips for Type 4C Hair

Type 4C hair thrives with a regular pre-wash treatment, gentle sulfate-free cleansing, generous conditioning, weekly deep conditioning, and consistent sealing of moisture with oils and butters. The Mint and Cocoa Ayurvedic Butter Treatment used weekly as a pre-wash treatment is particularly valuable for Type 4C hair, delivering intensive moisture to the cortex that the strand cannot retain on its own. Detangle very carefully in very small sections using a wide-tooth comb or fingers only, always on wet, conditioned hair. Protective styles are strongly recommended between wash days to minimise manipulation and retain length.

Find Your Hair Type With the PCH Curl Quiz

If you are still unsure of your exact hair type after reading through the categories above, the PCH Curl Quiz helps you identify your type quickly and matches you with the right PCH products for your specific curl pattern, porosity, and texture. Hair type is a great starting point, but knowing your full hair profile means products are selected for your actual needs rather than a general category.

Why Choose The Pure Curls House for Your Hair Type

The Pure Curls House range is formulated for every hair type from Type 2A wavy through to Type 4C coily, with sulfate-free, silicone-free, paraben-free products at every step. Whether you have fine, low-density wavy hair or dense, high-shrinkage coily hair, the PCH range has a product matched to your needs.

The right products for your hair type go beyond curl pattern. The harmful chemicals in hair products guide covers which ingredients to avoid regardless of hair type. The healthy curls maintenance guide shows how to build a consistent routine that works for your specific type over time. Take the curl quiz for a personalised product recommendation based on your complete hair profile.

Frequently Asked Questions: What Is My Hair Type?

Understanding your hair type gives you a reliable starting point for building a routine and selecting products that work with your hair's natural characteristics rather than against them. From fine Type 1A straight hair through to tightly coiled Type 4C, every type has specific needs that are met by products and techniques suited to that pattern. Use the guide above to identify your type, read the porosity guide to complete the picture, and take the curl quiz for a personalised PCH product recommendation matched to your complete hair profile.

About The Pure Curls House

The Pure Curls House is a UK curly hair brand based in Bury, Greater Manchester. The range is formulated for every curl type from Type 2A wavy through to Type 4C coily, with every product sulfate-free, silicone-free, and paraben-free. Take the curl quiz at thepurecurlshouse.com/pages/quiz for a personalised product recommendation based on your hair type.