What Hair Type Do I Have? How to Identify Your Hair Type

Why Knowing Your Hair Type Matters
Understanding the Four Main Hair Types
How to Identify Your Hair Type at Home
Hair Type vs Hair Texture vs Hair Porosity
What Your Hair Type Needs
Final Thoughts
FAQs

Choosing the right shampoo, styling products, or hair tools starts with one simple question: "what hair type do I have?"

If you've ever felt unsure whether your hair is straight, wavy, curly, or coily—or wondered why products that work for someone else don't work for you—you're not alone. Many people confuse hair type with hair texture, making it harder to build a routine that actually suits their hair.

The good news is that identifying your hair type is easier than you might think. Once you understand your natural pattern, you'll be able to choose styling techniques, products, and tools that work with your hair rather than against it.

In this guide, we'll walk you through how to identify your hair type at home, explain the difference between hair type, texture, and porosity, and share practical tips to help you care for your hair with confidence.

Why Knowing Your Hair Type Matters

Knowing your hair type is the foundation of an effective haircare routine. Once you understand your natural pattern, you can choose products, styling methods, and tools that work with your hair instead of against it.

Understanding your hair type can help you:

Once you know whether your hair is straight, wavy, curly, or coily, you can stop relying on trial and error and start making choices based on how your hair naturally behaves. This can help you:

Choose products that are better suited to your hair's needs.
Select styling techniques that enhance your natural texture.
Reduce unnecessary heat damage and breakage.
Create styles that last longer with less effort.
Build a routine that delivers more consistent results.

The 4 Main Hair Types Explained

The four main hair types—straight, wavy, curly, and coily—are based on the widely recognised Andre Walker Hair Typing System, developed by celebrity hairstylist Andre Walker to classify different natural hair patterns. Each type is divided into A, B and C subtypes, which describe how loose or tight your natural pattern is.

Use the chart below as a quick guide to identify your hair type before looking more closely at each category.

Type 1: Straight Hair

Straight hair has little to no natural curl pattern and typically lies flat from root to tip. Because the hair cuticle is smooth, it often reflects light well, giving it a naturally shiny appearance. However, natural oils can travel more easily down the hair shaft, meaning straight hair may become oily more quickly than other hair types.

You may have straight hair if:

Your hair dries straight without styling.
It struggles to hold curls or waves.
Your roots become oily quickly.
Your hair feels smooth and sleek.

Type 2: Wavy Hair

Wavy hair forms loose "S" shapes that sit somewhere between straight and curly. It often has natural body and movement but can also be one of the most unpredictable hair types, appearing smooth one day and frizzy the next.

You may have wavy hair if:

Your hair forms soft waves as it air dries.
It becomes frizzy in humid weather.
It holds styles better than straight hair.
Some sections are wavier than others.

Type 3: Curly Hair

Curly hair forms defined loops or ringlets that remain visible even without styling. Because the natural oils produced by the scalp have a harder time travelling down the curls, this hair type is often drier and benefits from regular hydration.

You may have curly hair if:

Your hair naturally forms spirals or ringlets.
It shrinks as it dries.
It tends to feel dry between washes.
It benefits from curl-defining products.

Type 4: Coily Hair

Coily hair features tight curls or zigzag-shaped strands and is often the most delicate of the four hair types. Because of its structure, it requires consistent moisture and gentle handling to help minimise dryness and breakage. For a more detailed explanation of hair structure and care, you can refer to the American Academy of Dermatology.

You may have coily hair if:

Your hair forms tight coils or a zigzag pattern.
It experiences noticeable shrinkage after washing.
It feels dry unless regularly moisturised.
It is prone to tangling or breakage without gentle care.

How to Identify Your Hair Type at Home

Now that you're familiar with the four main hair types, it's time to identify your own. The easiest way to do this is by observing your hair in its natural state, without any styling products or heat tools influencing the result.

Follow these simple steps to determine your natural hair type.

Step 1: Start with Clean Hair

Begin by washing your hair with a gentle shampoo and conditioner to remove any product build-up. Avoid applying leave-in conditioners, mousses, gels, or styling creams afterwards, as these can alter your hair's natural pattern.

For the most accurate results, let your hair dry naturally without using a hair dryer, diffuser, or straightener.

Step 2: Let Your Hair Air Dry Completely

Once your hair is clean, allow it to air dry completely. Resist the temptation to brush or reshape it while it's drying, as this can stretch out waves or curls.

Your natural hair pattern is much easier to identify once your hair is fully dry.

Step 3: Observe Your Natural Hair Pattern

Take a close look at your hair in the mirror and ask yourself which description best matches what you see.

If your hair...	You likely have...
Dries completely straight	Type 1 – Straight Hair
Forms loose "S" shaped waves	Type 2 – Wavy Hair
Forms visible curls or ringlets	Type 3 – Curly Hair
Forms tight coils or a zigzag pattern	Type 4 – Coily Hair

Don't worry if your hair doesn't fit perfectly into one category. Many people have slightly different patterns in different areas of their hair, especially around the front, crown, or underneath layers.

Step 4: Pay Attention to How Your Hair Behaves

Your hair's behaviour can provide just as many clues as its appearance. Think about how your hair responds throughout the day and after washing.

For example:

Gets oily quickly? You may have straight hair.
Becomes frizzy in humid weather? Wavy or curly hair is more likely.
Shrinks noticeably as it dries? This is common with curly and coily hair.
Feels dry even after conditioning? Curly and coily hair often needs more moisture.
Struggles to hold curls? Straight hair typically has difficulty maintaining shape.

Hair Type vs Hair Texture vs Hair Porosity

Hair type, hair texture, and hair porosity are often used interchangeably, but they describe three different characteristics of your hair. Understanding the difference between them will help you choose products, styling techniques, and tools that better suit your hair's individual needs.

Hair Type

Your hair type refers to your natural hair pattern or shape. This is the classification you've just identified—straight, wavy, curly, or coily.

Your hair type influences how your hair behaves, including how easily it holds a style, how prone it is to frizz, and how much moisture it typically needs.

Hair Texture

Your hair texture refers to the thickness of each individual strand of hair, not how much hair you have.

Hair texture generally falls into three categories:

Fine: Individual strands are thin and delicate. Fine hair can become weighed down easily but is often soft and silky.
Medium: The most common texture, offering a balance between manageability, strength, and styling versatility.
Coarse: Individual strands are thicker and stronger. Coarse hair often appears fuller but may require more moisture to stay smooth.

It's important to remember that hair texture and hair type are separate. For example, you can have fine curly hair, coarse straight hair, or medium wavy hair.

Hair Porosity

Hair porosity describes how well your hair absorbs and retains moisture. It depends on how open or closed the hair cuticle is and can affect everything from drying time to how your hair responds to conditioners and styling products.

There are three levels of hair porosity:

Low porosity: Hair absorbs moisture slowly but retains it well. Products can sometimes sit on the surface of the hair.
Medium porosity: Hair absorbs and retains moisture easily, making it generally easier to care for.
High porosity: Hair absorbs moisture quickly but also loses it quickly, which can leave it feeling dry or prone to frizz.

Together, your hair type, texture, and porosity provide a more complete picture of your hair, helping you choose products and styling techniques that are better suited to its individual needs.

What Your Hair Type Needs

Once you've identified your hair type, the next step is understanding how to care for it. Every hair type has different strengths and styling challenges, so choosing the right products and tools can make a noticeable difference to your everyday routine.

Straight Hair

Straight hair is naturally smooth and shiny because oils can travel easily from the scalp to the ends. While this gives it a sleek appearance, it can also become oily more quickly and may struggle to hold volume or curls.

Focus on:

Use lightweight, volumising shampoos and conditioners with ingredients such as rice protein, biotin, or panthenol to add body without weighing the hair down.
Avoid heavy oils and rich butters if your hair becomes greasy quickly.
Use volumising mousses or root-lifting sprays to create lift before styling.

Recommended styling tools:

Blowout Boost – Adds root lift, bounce, and movement for fuller-looking hair.
Whirlwind Curl – Creates soft curls and waves that add texture and dimension to straight hair.

Wavy Hair

Wavy hair naturally has body and texture but can become frizzy or lose definition depending on humidity and styling. The goal is to enhance your natural wave pattern while maintaining softness and volume.

Focus on:

Choose lightweight, hydrating products with ingredients such as aloe vera, glycerin, or coconut water to maintain moisture without weighing waves down.
Use anti-frizz creams or lightweight serums sparingly, focusing on the mid-lengths and ends.
Avoid brushing dry hair, as this can disrupt your natural wave pattern and increase frizz.

Recommended styling tools:

Blowout Boost – Smooths frizz while creating soft volume and movement.
PowerWave – Enhances loose waves or creates more defined beachy texture.

Curly Hair

Curly hair naturally requires more moisture because the scalp's oils have a harder time travelling down the hair shaft. Keeping curls hydrated helps improve definition while reducing frizz and dryness.

Focus on:

Look for moisturising shampoos and conditioners containing shea butter, argan oil, avocado oil, or glycerin.
Use leave-in conditioners or curl creams to help lock in moisture and define curls.
Limit heat styling where possible and always apply a heat protectant before using heated tools.

Recommended styling tools:

Cool Curl Pencil – Refreshes curls or creates more defined ringlets with precision.
Steam Sesh – Gently smooths or stretches curls using steam technology to help retain moisture.

Coily Hair

Coily hair is naturally the driest of the four hair types and benefits from a moisture-focused routine. Gentle handling and protective styling can help minimise breakage and keep curls healthy.

Focus on:

Choose nourishing products containing shea butter, castor oil, jojoba oil, or coconut oil to help maintain moisture.
Incorporate deep conditioning treatments into your routine regularly.
Protective styles and satin or silk pillowcases can help reduce friction and moisture loss.

Recommended styling tools:

Steamline Pro – Uses steam technology to help smooth and stretch textured hair while maintaining hydration.
Vent Sesh – Wide titanium plates make straightening thicker sections quicker and more efficient.

Final Thoughts

There's no such thing as the "best" hair type—only the one that's uniquely yours. Whether your hair is straight, wavy, curly, or coily, understanding its natural characteristics makes it easier to work with rather than against it. Instead of following every trend or copying someone else's routine, you can make choices based on what your hair actually needs.

As your hair changes over time, don't be afraid to adapt your routine too. Small adjustments to your products, styling techniques, and tools can make a noticeable difference to how your hair looks and feels.

FAQs

Can I have more than one hair type?

Yes. It's completely normal to have different hair patterns across your head. For example, you may have looser waves around your face and tighter curls underneath. When identifying your hair type, focus on the pattern that's most common, as this will help you choose the right products and styling techniques.

Can my hair type change over time?

While your natural hair type is largely determined by genetics, factors such as hormones, ageing, pregnancy, medication, and chemical treatments can affect how your hair looks and behaves. If you notice significant changes, it may be worth reassessing your routine to better suit your hair's current needs.

What's the difference between fine hair and thin hair?

Fine hair refers to the thickness of each individual strand, while thin hair describes the overall density of your hair, or how many strands you have. You can have fine, thick hair or coarse, thin hair, so the two terms aren't interchangeable.

How do I know if my hair is wavy or curly?

The easiest way to tell is by looking at your natural pattern after washing and air drying your hair. Wavy hair forms loose "S" shapes, while curly hair forms more defined spirals or ringlets. If you're still unsure, focus on how your hair behaves rather than trying to fit it into a perfect category.

Does hair type affect which styling tools I should use?

Yes. Different hair types benefit from different styling tools and techniques. For example, thermal brushes are great for adding volume to straight hair, while steam styling tools can help smooth curly or coily hair with less reliance on high heat. Choosing tools designed for your hair type can make styling easier and help you achieve better results.

Can heat styling change my hair type?

Heat styling won't permanently change your natural hair type, but frequent use of high temperatures can temporarily alter your hair's pattern or cause damage over time. Using a heat protectant, selecting the appropriate temperature, and limiting unnecessary heat exposure can help maintain your hair's natural texture.

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