Hair Types Explained: 1A to 4C
Understand your hair type, porosity, and density — the foundation of every great hair care routine.
8 min read
What hair type means
Hair typing describes curl pattern on a 1–4 scale (straight, wavy, curly, coily) with A/B/C sub-letters for tightness. It is a starting point — porosity and density matter just as much for product selection.
The four type families
- Type 1 (straight) — no curl, reflects light easily, often gets oily fast.
- Type 2 (wavy) — S-shaped waves; benefits from light gels and salt sprays.
- Type 3 (curly) — defined ringlets; needs sulfate-free shampoo and leave-in moisture.
- Type 4 (coily) — tight coils or zig-zag; thrives on heavy creams, oils, and protective styles.
Why porosity matters more than type
Low-porosity hair repels water; high-porosity drinks it in but loses it fast. A simple float test (clean strand in water for 4 minutes) tells you which products will actually absorb.
What to do next
Identify your type, do the porosity test, then book a consultation with a stylist who specializes in your texture.