Different hair types

How to determine your hair type

Think you know your hair type, but struggling to find haircare that works for you? You might need to delve deeper.

What are the 4 types of hair?

You may know your hair type as straight, wavy, curly or coily, but other features such as texture, thickness and porosity also play a part.

This can then be divided into subcategories, A, B, C and D based on the diameter of the wave, curl or coil.

Infographic showing different hair types

Why does your hair type matter?

Understanding where your hair type sits on this sliding scale can help you take the best care of your locks, choose the right products, and create a routine that keeps your hair looking its best.

How to determine your hair type

Wash your hair and let it naturally air dry with no products. See how it falls and check the chart below:

Is your hair Straight or Wavy?

Type 1 – Straight
Straight hair strand
Straight hair dries totally poker-straight, without any bend or curl.

Type 2 – Wavy
Wavyhair strand
Mid-way between straight and curly, wavy hair dries with a slight curve or ‘S’ shape, often flatter at the roots with waves through the lengths:
  • 2a – Fine and thin with loose waves
  • 2b – More defined S-shape waves with a medium texture
  • 2c – Defined waves starting at the roots, thick or coarse with some loops, curls or ringlets


Is your hair Curly or Coily?

Type 3 – Curly
Curly hair strand
Curls are defined and springy, but can range from loose loops to tight ringlets:
  • 3a – Large, loose, well defined curls
  • 3b – Springy ringlets or corkscrew curls, medium circumference
  • 3c – Dense, curly-coily, tightly packed corkscrews with a pencil-width circumference
Type 4 – Coily
Coily hair strand
Coily hair can range from fine to coarse, and can be prone to breakage.
  • 4a – Dense, springy, tight coils with a visible S-shape
  • 4b – Tighter, less defined curls with sharp Z-bends
  • 4c – Densely packed, tightly coiled, delicate strands


Remember, one person can have a mix of different hair types and structures! Everybody’s hair is different, so it’s important to choose products tailored to your needs – whether your goal is to minimise breakage and curl shrinkage, reduce frizz or define your locks.

Shark Beauty celebrates all hair types, created for all Hairkind. Discover hair styling tips for all hair types...