The hair type chart, sometimes called the Andre Walker hair typing system, classifies hair by curl pattern. It runs from straight (Type 1) to coily (Type 4), with subtypes A, B, and C describing how tight the wave or curl is.
The four main types
Type 1 — Straight. No visible curl pattern. Hair lies flat and reflects light easily.
Type 2 — Wavy. S-shaped pattern, ranging from loose to deep waves.
Type 3 — Curly. Defined ringlets and spirals, ranging from loose curls to tight corkscrews.
Type 4 — Coily. Tight zig-zag pattern with very small curls or coils.
The subtypes (A, B, C)
Within each type, A is the loosest pattern and C is the tightest:
1A: Pin-straight, very fine. 1B: Straight with a bit of body. 1C: Straight, coarse.
2A: Loose, fine waves. 2B: Defined S-waves. 2C: Deep waves on the edge of curly.
3A: Big, loose ringlets. 3B: Springy curls about the width of a marker. 3C: Tight corkscrew curls.
4A: Defined small coils. 4B: Z-shaped tight zig-zag. 4C: Very tight coils, often most fragile.
What hair type doesn't tell you
Type only describes the curl pattern. Two people with identical 3B curls can need completely different routines because of differences in:
Porosity — how easily moisture moves in and out of the hair shaft.
Density — how many strands per square inch.
Texture — the thickness of individual strands (fine, medium, coarse).
Damage history — colour, heat, and chemical treatments.
You can have more than one hair type
Most people do. The crown is often a different pattern from the nape, and the temples can be different from both. Build your routine around your dominant pattern but adapt techniques per area.
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Not sure of your type? Take the quiz — it'll figure it out from a few photos and questions.