Here’s your complete guide to different types of hair with a hair type chart. So, let’s dive in and discover the secrets to luscious locks! Do you have curly hair like Zendaya, straight hair like Mila Kunis, or wavy hair like Sofia Vergara? What type of hair do you have? Everybody is born with different hair types and textures, and it changes over time. Many women like to style their hair differently, from spiral curly to poke straight hairstyles. You think you know your hair type, but you actually don’t!
That’s because when it comes to hair types, we usually think about only three types of hair: straight, wavy, and curly! But here’s the twist! You’ll be surprised to know that there are 12 different hair types! Yes, you read that right!
This hair type chart is classified on the basis of hair texture, thickness, and curl pattern. Just like your skincare, identifying the type of your hair is crucial. Knowing your hair type and texture plays a significant role in the efficacy of your daily hair care routine. So that you can find and use the right products for your hair.
Don’t know your hair type? Or want to know how to take care of a specific type of hair? If yes, you’re on the right page!
Today in this post, we’ll explain the complete hair type chart. From various hair types to how to take care of your hair, we’ve covered all the important details you need to know about your hair chart type.
So, come with us for a hair care journey. Let’s begin.
Types of Hair
Generally, you can tell whether your hair is straight, curly, or wavy just by looking at them. But to know in detail, you have to look at the hair type chart. Basically, there are four types of hair, but they are also classified into several categories. For example, the curly hair type chart has three sub categories A, B, and C. So, it’s vital to know about each subcategory to identify your hair type.
The hair chart is divided into four categories:
- Type 1: Straight
- Type 2: Wavy
- Type 3: Curly
- Type 4: Coils/Kinky
Importance of Knowing Your Hair Type
So, is it really important to know our hair type?
The answer is YES!
Knowing your hair texture and structure will allow you to understand your hair better. You will know what your hair needs and demands based on these things. A hair type chart will also tell you which hair products, techniques, and hairstyles will work best for you. This way, your hair will be healthy and more manageable.
How to Identify Your Hair Type
Here are three things that play a significant role in determining your hair type:
Hair Structure
Hair structure refers to the thickness of an individual hair strand. Each hair strand has three layers: the cuticle, cortex, and medulla. This can affect how well your hair holds various styles. Different thickness of the hair also reacts differently with certain hair products and treatments. So, hair structure is divided into three categories: fine, medium, and coarse (or thick). According to the hair type chart, these things will further determine their subtype (A, B, or C)
Hair Porosity
Hair porosity refers to the hair’s ability to absorb and retain moisture. It is determined by the hair’s cuticle layers’ condition, which can be tightly closed (low porosity), partially open (medium porosity), or fully open (high porosity).
Low-porosity hair resists moisture absorption, while high-porosity hair easily absorbs and loses moisture. Straight hair is less porous, and wavy hair has medium porosity. Type 3 hair or curly hair is usually more porous. By knowing your hair porosity, you can easily determine your hair type.
Scalp Moisture
Scalp moisture refers to the hydration level of the scalp, which plays a vital role in maintaining healthy hair. This is why it’s vital to identify the condition of your scalp. A well-hydrated scalp promotes hair growth, reduces dryness, and minimizes scalp issues like itching or flaking.
After washing your hair, check your scalp carefully. If your hair roots appear flat and greasy, you have an oily scalp, and if your scalp is dry, your hair has a dry scalp. According to your scalp moisture, you can follow a proper hair care routine to maintain moisture balance and overall hair health.
Hair Type Chart
Let’s Take a Closer Look at Each Hair Type
After reading till here, you know the major types of hair and the importance of identifying hair type; now it’s time to learn about the subtype of each main type of hair. This way, you can easily know specific products and other needs for your hair.
So, let’s peek into each category and its subcategory in detail:
Type 1: Straight Hair
The first type of hair is straight hair which lacks no texture but has lots and lots of shine. In one glance, you can recognize whether anyone has straight hair because they have no curl pattern and lie completely flat on the scalp. Due to this, it’s also hard to add texture to these types of hair, and they do get dirty and oily after as compared to other hair types.
Type 1A
Hair type 1A is the straightest hair among all subcategories of this straight hair. This one has no texture, curl, or wave pattern. They are thin, glossy, and easily get greasy. So, this hair can be a bit challenging to style.
Type 1B
This is the most common hair type among men and women of all ages. These strands are straight and medium-thick. This one has some volume and is not as flat or thin as type 1A so it can hold curls. But still, this one has greasy roots and dry ends.
Type 1C
Straight hair type 1C is thicker and coarser than Type 1A and Type 1B. You can easily create curls or waves but these strands are also prone to frizz. More volume in the hair also comes with poofiness and dryness! And if your hair is damaged from hair coloring, your hair is most likely to fall in this category.
Care Tips For Straight Hair
- Use a mild shampoo and conditioner to maintain natural oils.
- Avoid excessive heat styling to prevent damage.
- Regular trims help maintain a healthy appearance.
- Use dry shampoo to remove greasiness from the scalp.
- Apply hair masks every week to prevent dryness.
Styling Tips For Straight Hair
- You can try several hairstyles, such as sleek ponytails, straightened locks, or polished updos.
- Use volumizing products or teasing techniques for more volume and texture.
- Consider adding waves or curls with a curling iron for a versatile and trendy look.
Type 2: Wavy Hair
Here’s how to recognize the wavy hair: check for the S-shape!
This is one of the easy-to-style hair types. Wavy hair falls between straight and curly. If your hair is making an S-shape or has one or two weird bumps, it’s definitely a wavy hair type (lucky You!). This type of hair has volume, fluffiness, and undefined bends and bumps. You can see these amazing hairstyle ideas here.
Type 2A
2A type of hair is fine and thin but has some texture. The hair seems straight from the roots, but there is a loose wavy pattern at the end. The wavy pattern will help to achieve various hairstyles and looks. With the help of the right products and styling tools, you can easily blow out and straighten your hair.
Type 2B
This type of wavy hair has a more defined wavy pattern with more texture. This means that the top section of the hair is straight, and a visible wavy pattern can be seen from the mid part. These are medium to thick hair which is prone to frizz and poofing.
Type 2C
The last subtype of wavy hair appears thicker with more S-shaped waves. They can also have a few curls with a coarser texture at the end of the hair as they’re on the edge of the hair type 3 curls. This hair looks so beautiful and gorgeous but can easily frizz and lose its definition, especially in humid climates.
Care Tips For Wavy Hair
- Use a hydrating shampoo and conditioner to enhance natural wave patterns.
- Avoid brushing when dry to prevent frizz and maintain definition.
- Apply a leave-in conditioner or curl-enhancing cream to control frizz.
Styling Tips For Wavy Hair
- Embrace the natural texture by scrunching hair while damp and allowing it to air dry for effortless waves.
- You can blow-dry your hair to enhance and define waves.
- Elegant updos or half-up styles will look best on wavy hair as it showcases the natural movement of your hair.
Type 3: Curly Hair
Curly hair, don’t care!
Let’s join the curly hair club if you have naturally curly hair. How to identify whether you have type 3 curly hair or not: check the small, well-defined curls and hair in a flat S-shape. This is the most common way to notice the curly hairs, as they have a mix of textures with waves. The types of curly hair men and women range from loose ringlets to tight coils.
However, one downside to having curly hair is that they’re prone to frizz but can be incredibly beautiful with proper care and styling techniques. So, you can easily style them in so many ways because of the natural volume, but you have to take care of the frizziness.
Type 3A
As you’ve read in the above paragraphs, Type 2C hair has few loose curls and more waves. Now you can check in the Type 3A hair type chart that this one has more curls, few waves, and appears loopy. The curls are fine and thin, so you can easily blow out and style them in many ways. However, unlike type 2C hair, these are sensitive to wind, dryness, and humidity.
Type 3B
An easy to identify this type of hair – check the shape and length of the curl!
In this type, the hair has curls that are just as small as a marker’s circumference or your finger. In simple words, type 3B curls are tighter than type 3A. However, more volume comes with more frizziness and dryness.
This hair is not oily and doesn’t lie completely flat on the scalp but also becomes dry easily. This is why it’s important to give them proper moisture and care.
Type 3C
Check the natural hair type chart because this one has tighter and springier hair than all the other type 3 hair types. These hairs have good volume and texture and are just the size of a pencil. However, one thing you might not feel good about is that they’re prone to extreme hair breakage and damage.
Care Tips For Curly Hair
- Use a silicone and sulfate-free shampoo and moisturizing conditioner to maintain moisture levels.
- Do deep hair conditioning to prevent dryness.
- Apply a moisturizing hair oil and curl-enhancing mousse.
- Avoid towel-drying, as it can cause frizz. Use a microfiber towel or an old T-shirt and gently squeeze the excess moisture.
Styling Tips For Curly Hair
- Apply a curl-enhancing mousse or gel while hair is wet to get more defined curls.
- Opt for wide-toothed combs or your fingers to detangle wet hair gently.
- You can try hairstyles like pineapple updos, twist-outs, or braid-outs to showcase your curls.
Type 4: Coily Hair (Kinky Hair)
Date a girl with naturally coily hair because when she straightens it, It’s like dating two women.
Coily hair, also known as Type 4 hair or kinky-curly or zigzag hair. It is characterized by well-defined tight curls or spring-like coils with minimal definition when stretched.
These ringlets are voluminous and full of movement. Coily hair is most fragile and damage prone, hence requires extra moisture and care to maintain its health and manageability.
Type 4A
The Type 4A hair has tightly coils, often mixed with some 3C curls and an “S” pattern. The curls are usually fine and have a visible circumference similar to a crochet needle. This hair type is prone to dryness and shrinkage when the hair is dry.
Type 4B
Type 4B hair has a tighter coil pattern with less defined curls. It forms a “Z” or “Zigzag” shape and tends to have a cotton-like texture. From fine to coarse, strands are in varying thicknesses. Type 4B hair is highly versatile and can be styled in various ways.
Type 4C
Type 4C hair has the tightest coil pattern with minimal or no defined curls. It appears more like a dense, densely packed coil. Type 4C hair tends to be fragile, delicate, and shrinkage-prone. This is why it requires careful handling and moisture retention.
Care Tips For Coily Hair
- Use a moisturizing shampoo and conditioner to prevent dryness.
- Deep condition regularly to restore moisture and maintain elasticity.
- Cover your hair at night with a satin or silk scarf or bonnet to prevent friction and breakage.
- Use moisturizing hair creams and masks at least once a week.
Styling Tips For Coily Hair
- Leave-in conditioners or oils are your best friend.
- You can easily style your hair with trendy but protective hairstyles like braids, twists, or buns to minimize manipulation and retain moisture.
- Don’t be afraid of trying bold, statement hairstyles such as afros, bantu knots, or twist-outs.
- Be confident and embrace the natural beauty of coily hair.
FAQs
There are four different hair types: straight, wavy, curly, and coily and each one has three subtypes.
You can identify your hair type by observing its natural texture and pattern, such as straightness, waviness, curliness, or coiliness. There are 12 hair types in total; you can check the hair type chart.
Yes, hair type can change over time due to factors like hormonal changes, aging, and external influences such as heat damage or chemical treatments.
Hair Type Chart: Final Thoughts
Each hair type is different and requires different care and maintenance. Understanding your hair type is the first step towards achieving healthy, beautiful locks. You can follow specific care and styling tips by identifying your hair type from a hair type chart. This way, you can easily enhance its natural beauty and maintain its health.
Whether you have straight, wavy, curly, or coily hair, embrace the natural texture of your hair and experiment with different styles. Follow the tips and hair type chart and style your hair with confidence!
I hope this blog on hair type chart men and women has helped you to identify your hair type. If you find this blog informative, share it with all your friends and family members.
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