How to Determine Your Hair Type and Texture
Key Takeaways
- Understanding your hair type and texture can help you choose the right products and treatments to elevate your hair.
- Hair type refers to the curl pattern of your hair, while hair texture refers to the thickness of each hair strand.
- The four main hair types are straight, wavy, curly, and coily.
- The three main hair textures are fine, medium, and thick.
Jump to
- What’s the Difference between Hair Type and Texture?
- What Are the Four Different Hair Types?
- What Is Hair Texture?
- Hair Type and Texture Concerns
How to Determine Your Hair Type and Texture
For haircare to deliver great results, specificity is key. Knowing your hair type and texture will narrow down and determine the right products and treatments to help elevate your hair. The world of hair types and textures is quite complex, with several variants to determine your unique texture, appearance, and feel. Your hair type could be dry, thick, curly, and 3a all at once. If you want to learn more, keep reading for the complete guide to determining your hair type and texture.
What’s the Difference between Hair Type versus Texture?
The terms “hair type” and “hair texture” are often used interchangeably, but they actually mean two different things. Hair type refers to the natural curl pattern of your hair, while hair texture refers to the thickness of each individual hair strand. For example, someone’s hair type might be type 2a wavy, but their hair texture could be medium.
What Are the Four Different Hair Types?
There are four different hair types. Each number represents a specific hair type: 1 for straight hair, 2 for wavy hair, 3 for curly hair, and 4 for coily hair. Within these hair types are subtypes (A, B, and C) that specify your hair pattern even further. Use this chart from Mind Body Green to help you find out your hair type:
Use this detailed breakdown to help you determine your hair type and create a haircare routine that’s tailored to you.
Type 1 (Straight)
If you have straight hair with no bends or waves, then you have type 1 hair.
Type 1a
If you have pin-straight hair, you probably have type 1a hair. Type 1a hair is the straightest hair type, and it’s often smooth and shiny.
Type 1b
Type 1b hair is still straight, but upon close inspection, you may notice a slight bend or wave in it.
Type 1c
Type 1c hair has a little bit more body and waviness to it than 1b or 1a hair. Type 1c hair is almost wavy, but not quite.
Type 2 (Wavy)
If you have wavy hair, you likely have type 2 hair. However, your waviness will vary depending on your hair subtype.
Type 2a
Type 2a hair is characterized by its loose, beachy waves. Typically, those with type 2a hair may start to see their waves begin a few inches from their roots.
Type 2b
Type 2b hair tends to have an elongated “S”-shaped wave pattern. The wave pattern in type 2b hair is much more noticeable than in type 2a hair.
Type 2c
Those with type 2c hair have more voluminous “S”-shaped waves. Type 2c waves tend to start at your roots, all the way down to the ends of your hair.
Type 3 (Curly)
If your hair has bouncy ringlets or spirals, you may have type 3 hair. The tightness of type 3 curls can vary.
Type 3a
Type 3a curls typically have a loop-shaped pattern and are about as wide as a quarter.
Type 3b
Type 3b curls are defined ringlets around the size of a penny. These curls are much more defined than type 3a curls.
Type 3c
Type 3c curls have a spiral shape and are about the circumference of a pencil. If you have type 3c hair, your curls are much tighter and more defined than type 3a or 3b hair.
Type 4 (Coiled)
Type 4 hair is also referred to as coily hair. It’s known for its extremely tight curls, which give it plenty of volume.
Type 4a
Type 4a curls have a visible looped-shaped pattern and are about the circumference of a crochet needle.
Type 4b
Type 4b curls have more of an angular zig-zag shape. These curls are much tighter and smaller in circumference than type 4a coils.
Type 4c
Type 4c hair is known for its super tight zig-zag spirals. The zig-zag pattern may even be difficult to see at first.
What Are the Three Different Hair Textures?
You’ve seen the shampoos and conditioners labeled “for fine hair” and the like, but have you wondered which you are? Some may presume curly or coily hair types have the thickest hair texture, but the truth is that these three textures—fine, medium, and thick—can apply to any hair type. The texture of your hair is the diameter of a single strand of hair. Use the below hair texture chart to help you determine your hair texture:
Fine Hair Texture
Fine hair is the most fragile texture. It’s easy to blow out and straighten, but doesn’t hold a style well, tangles easily, and is more susceptible to damage and breakage. It is also incredibly soft and silky! Not sure if you have fine hair? Take a strand of hair and rub it between your fingers. If you can barely feel the strand of hair, you likely have fine hair texture. When styling, it's important to apply products that help with volume, due to the structure of fine hair texture types, it tends to go flat. For fine hair textures, less product is more! Start with pea-sized amounts, then work your way up (if needed) to avoid build-up and greasiness.
Wondering what shampoo and conditioner products to use for fine hair? Use those specifically formulated for the needs of fine hair texture, like No.4FINE Bond Maintenance® Shampoo and No.5FINE Bond Maintenance® Conditioner. Together, they provide an optimal balance of repair, weightless hydration, and healthy body and volume.
Medium Hair Texture
Medium hair is often confused with thick hair because it populates the scalp densely. It is versatile and can be styled in a variety of ways. It is also referred to as ‘normal’ hair on styling products to convey its popularity as the most common texture. If you take a strand of your hair between your fingertips and can feel it but it doesn’t feel coarse, you likely have a medium hair texture. Like fine hair, less is more when it comes to styling it. Start with a pea-sized amount of product while styling your medium hair, then work your way up to avoid unsightly build-up.
Thick (Coarse) Hair Texture
Thick hair is the most resilient hair texture. It holds a style impeccably, tolerates heat and various treatments the most, and is overall less susceptible to breakage than fine or medium hair. However, it tends to get dryer than other textures. Thick hair is referred to as ‘coarse’ hair because of its thickness per strand of hair; it often looks like people with thick hair have more hair. Unsure if you have thick hair? Rub a strand of hair between your fingertips. If it feels thick, strong, or coarse, you have a thick hair texture. This hair texture can handle more products in the hair without the risk of it weighing down easily and can handle more heat without breakage.
Hair Type and Texture Concerns
Everyone's hair type and texture has unique concerns based on hair history, climate, and lifestyle. The primary concerns are dryness, oily, color-treated, and compromised. Your hair type could fall into a couple of different concern categories, such as color-treated and dry. Here are a few common hair concerns with our product recommendations:
Dry Hair
If your hair is dry, try OLAPLEX® products that provide moisture, like Nº.5 Bond Maintenance® Conditioner, Nº.6 Bond Smoother®, and Nº.8 Bond Intense Moisture Mask.
Oily Hair
Is your hair oily? First, cleanse with Nº.4C Bond Maintenance® Clarifying Shampoo to remove excess oil and build-up. Then, restore weightless moisture with Nº.8 Bond Intense Moisture Mask. From there, keep greasy roots away with Nº.4D Clean Volume Detox Dry Shampoo.
Brassy Blondes
If you want to maintain your blonde hair and steer clear of brassiness, Nº.4P Blonde Enhancer™ Toning Shampoo and Nº.5P Blonde Enhancer™ Toning Conditioner are for you.
Damaged Bonds
For any hair type, bond-building is essential, especially for hair that is color-treated and compromised. For healthier hair, strengthen bonds with OLAPLEX Bond Building Technology™ using Nº.0 Intensive Bond Building Treatment and Nº.3 Hair Perfector®. Identifying your hair type, texture, and concerns brings you closer to healthy, thriving hair because you can specifically address it and eliminate the bulk of trial and error. It may also help you understand any lifestyle and routine choices that affect your hair’s integrity. To get a personalized haircare routine, take our Hair Quiz today to find the best products for your hair type and texture.