Find Your Hair Type With Our Free Hair Type Quiz

Understanding your hair type saves you from buying products made for someone else's hair. A lot of frizz, dryness, and flatness comes down to that mismatch.

The quiz asks six questions about your hair as it is, with nothing in it: how it air dries, what humidity does to it, how long it takes to dry, how it takes product, and how thick the strands and your ponytail feel. From that you get:

• Your curl pattern (Type 1A – 4C)
• Your hair porosity level
• Your hair density
• A routine to start with
• A few product types to look for, and articles to read next

It is a starting point, not a diagnosis. Plenty of people have more than one pattern on the same head, so if your result only half fits, read the type next to it as well.

The Hair Type System Explained

Most hair professionals classify hair into four main categories based on curl pattern. Each category has subtypes that describe how loose or tight the pattern is.

Type 1: Straight Hair

Straight hair grows without a visible curl pattern. It tends to reflect light easily and often appears shiny.

Common characteristics include:

• Smooth strands
• Oil traveling quickly from scalp to ends
• Difficulty holding curls

Subtypes range from 1A (very fine straight hair) to 1C (thicker straight hair with slight bends).

Type 2: Wavy Hair

Wavy hair forms loose “S” shapes and sits between straight and curly hair types.

Typical traits include:

• Natural texture with soft waves
• Moderate volume
• Some frizz in humid environments

Type 2 hair is divided into 2A, 2B, and 2C, depending on how defined the waves are.

Type 3: Curly Hair

Curly hair forms visible spirals or ringlets. It tends to be more prone to dryness because natural oils have a harder time traveling down the hair shaft.

Common features:

• Defined curls
• High volume
• Increased frizz potential

Subtypes include 3A, 3B, and 3C, with curls becoming tighter and more springy as the number increases.

Type 4: Coily Hair

Coily hair forms very tight curls or zig-zag patterns. This hair type is often the most delicate and requires consistent moisture.

Typical characteristics include:

• Tight coils
• High shrinkage
• Fragile strands that need gentle care

Subtypes range from 4A to 4C, with 4C having the tightest curl pattern.

Hair Porosity: Another Important Factor

While curl pattern determines the shape of your hair, hair porosity describes how well your hair absorbs and retains moisture.

There are three main levels.

Low Porosity Hair

Low porosity hair has tightly closed cuticles that resist moisture absorption.

Signs include:

• Products sitting on top of hair
• Longer drying time
• Hair feeling weighed down easily

Lightweight products usually work best for this hair type.

Medium Porosity Hair

Medium porosity hair absorbs and retains moisture easily. It is generally the easiest hair type to manage.

Common traits include:

• Balanced moisture retention
• Good elasticity
• Less product buildup

High Porosity Hair

High porosity hair absorbs moisture quickly but also loses it just as fast.

Signs include:

• Hair drying quickly
• Frizz
• Tangling
• Increased breakage

Deep conditioning and sealing oils help maintain hydration.

Hair Density: How Thick Your Hair Feels

Hair density refers to how many strands grow on your scalp.

You may have:

• Low density hair with fewer strands
• Medium density hair
• High density hair with very thick volume

Density influences which styling techniques and products work best.

For example, people with high density hair often benefit from layered cuts and heavier conditioners, while those with low density hair typically prefer lightweight products that do not weigh the hair down.