Learning how to find your hair type takes one wash day and a little patience. "Hair type" is really four separate things: the shape of your strands, how thick each strand is, how many strands you have, and how oily your scalp is. Together they explain why a product that works for a friend may do nothing for you.
Check 1: Curl pattern
Curl pattern is the natural shape of your hair. To see it clearly:
- Wash and condition your hair.
- Do not apply styling products.
- Let it dry in the air without brushing or touching it.
- Look at the shape of the strands.
| Type | Shape | Typical behavior |
|---|---|---|
| Type 1: Straight | No bend from root to tip | Shiny, gets oily quickly, struggles to hold a curl |
| Type 2: Wavy | Loose S-shaped bends | Can be flat at the root and frizzy at the ends |
| Type 3: Curly | Defined loops and spirals | Prone to dryness and frizz, shrinks as it dries |
| Type 4: Coily | Tight coils or zigzags | The most fragile and dry, shrinks the most |
Each type is often divided into A, B and C, from loosest to tightest. Many people have two or more patterns on one head, for example looser waves on top and tighter curls underneath.
Check 2: Strand thickness
This describes how wide a single hair is.
- Roll one strand between your fingers. If you can barely feel it, your hair is fine. If you feel it clearly, it is medium. If it feels wiry, it is coarse.
- Or compare a strand with a piece of sewing thread. Thinner than the thread is fine; about the same is medium; thicker is coarse.
Fine hair is easily weighed down. Coarse hair can take richer products.
Check 3: Density
Density is the number of hairs on your head, which is separate from strand thickness.
- Look at your scalp in a mirror with dry hair hanging naturally. If you see the scalp easily, density is low. If you can hardly see it, density is high.
- Or gather your hair into a ponytail. A thin ponytail suggests low density, a thick one high density.
Fine Hair vs Thin Hair: What's the Difference? explains why fine hair and thin hair are not the same thing.
Check 4: Scalp type
Notice how your scalp feels on the second day after washing.
- Oily: roots look greasy within a day.
- Balanced: comfortable for two to three days.
- Dry: tight or flaky, seldom greasy.
Your scalp type decides how often to wash. See How Often Should You Wash Your Hair?.
A fifth factor: porosity
Porosity is how easily your hair takes in and holds water. It affects how products behave. Hair Porosity: What It Is and Why It Matters shows how to check it.
Putting the results together
Write your results as a short profile, for example: "wavy, fine, medium density, oily scalp". Then use it to choose products:
- Fine or low-density hair: light, volumizing products; conditioner on the ends only.
- Coarse or high-density hair: richer conditioners and creams.
- Curly and coily hair: extra moisture and gentle handling. See Curly Hair Routine: A Step-by-Step Guide.
- Oily scalp: wash more often, whatever your curl pattern.
Things that change your hair type
Hormones, age, medicines, coloring, bleaching and heat styling can all change how your hair behaves. Curl pattern can loosen or tighten over the years. Repeat the checks if your usual routine stops working.
You can also answer a few questions in the Hair Type Quiz and compare the result with your own checks.
Related on ArniSun
- Hair Type Quiz: Find Your Texture and Curl Pattern
- Hair Porosity: What It Is and Why It Matters
- Fine Hair vs Thin Hair: What's the Difference?
- How Often Should You Wash Your Hair?
- Curly Hair Routine: A Step-by-Step Guide
Sources and further reading
Frequently asked questions
Can I have more than one hair type?
Yes. It is common to have two or even three curl patterns on one head. Care for your hair according to the type that covers most of it, and adjust for the rest.
Is the hair typing chart scientific?
It is a practical styling guide, not a medical classification. It is useful for describing shape, but thickness, density, porosity and scalp type matter just as much.
Does hair type change with age?
It can. Hair often becomes finer, drier and less dense with age, and hormonal changes can alter curl pattern.