The Complete Hair Chart: Identify Your Texture, Porosity & Routine

Using hair chart to identify your hair type is the first step toward creating the perfect care and styling routine. Whether you prefer manual observation or rely on AI-driven analysis, knowing your hair type can help you choose the right products and treatments tailored to your unique texture.

How to Identify your Hair Type?

Generally, there are two main methods to help you identify your hair type:

Method 1: Identify Manually

1. Start with clean, natural hair—no products or styling.
2. Observe the pattern of your strands: are they straight, slightly wavy, or tightly coiled?
3. Note your hair’s density, texture, and how it reacts to humidity or styling tools.

Method 2: Hair Type Quiz powered by AI (Most Accurate)

1. Visit Hair Type Quiz.
2. Enable your device’s camera to let the AI analyze your hair type.
3. Get your detailed hair type classification!

Learn More about AI Hair Type Quiz

What are the Different Hair Types?

Type 1 – Straight Hair

All Type 1 hair falls under the straight hair category.

• Type 1A is the rarest—ultra-straight with no natural wave at all. It’s typically shiny and healthy but resists holding curls or styled shapes.
• Type 1B has a slightly thicker texture, giving it more body and the ability to maintain light waves or curls.
• Type 1C is the thickest and fullest among the straight hair types, offering more natural volume and better styling hold.

Type 2 – Wavy Hair

Type 2 hair naturally forms soft “S” shapes, sitting between straight and curly textures.

• Type 2A: Fine and loose waves that can easily be straightened or styled. It tends to look smooth with a subtle bend.
• Type 2B: More defined waves that start from the mid-lengths, often with a bit of frizz and texture.
• Type 2C: Deep, well-formed waves with occasional loose curls—typically thicker and more prone to frizz in humid weather.

Type 3 - Curly Hair

Type 3 hair features visible curls and spirals that create bounce and volume.

• Type 3A: Large, loose curls that form defined loops while remaining soft and shiny.
• Type 3B: Tighter ringlets with more spring and density, requiring extra moisture to prevent dryness.
• Type 3C: Very tight corkscrew curls that are fine in diameter but densely packed, giving a voluminous appearance and needing rich hydration.

Type 4 – Coily Hair

Type 4 hair, often referred to as kinky or Afro-textured, is characterized by its very tight, highly-coiled strands that form small, dense zig-zags or spirals right from the scalp. 

• Type 4A: Features a distinct, tight S-pattern coil that is the size of a crochet needle. It has a visible curl pattern, is springy, and retains moisture better than other Type 4s, but still requires consistent deep conditioning.
• Type 4B: Has a less defined pattern, bending in sharp, angular Z-shapes rather than coiling into spirals. This texture can be fluffy and is more prone to dryness and shrinkage than 4A.
• Type 4C: The tightest coil pattern of all, often appearing as densely packed coils with little to no visible pattern when dry. It has the highest shrinkage (up to 75% of its true length) and is the most delicate, requiring the heaviest, richest moisturizing products and gentle, low-manipulation styling.

Other Key Factors Beyond the Hair Chart

Texture and Density:Knowing Your Strand Thickness

Your curl pattern is only half the story. Hair Texture refers to the width of the individual strand itself, which dictates how your hair absorbs and reacts to products. A Type 3A curl with fine texture will require vastly different products than a 3A curl with coarse texture.

• Fine: Strands are thin and often struggle to hold volume. Easily weighed down by heavy products.
• Medium: The most common texture; offers good body and hold.
• Coarse (or Thick): Strands are wide and strong. Requires heavier products to feel truly moisturized.

Tip: To identify your texture, compare a single strand to a piece of sewing thread. If it's much thinner, it's fine; if it's thicker, it's coarse.

The Porosity Test: How Your Hair Drinks Water

This is arguably the single most important factor for product selection. Porosity is your hair’s ability to absorb and hold moisture, determined by the state of its outer cuticle layer.

• Low Porosity: The cuticle is tightly sealed. Hair resists water and products, leading to buildup. Requires light, humectant-rich products and heat for deep conditioning.
• Medium Porosity: The cuticle is slightly lifted. Hair takes and holds moisture well. The easiest to manage.
• High Porosity: The cuticle is raised or damaged (from heat/chemicals).

Hair rapidly absorbs moisture but loses it just as fast. Requires heavy butters, creams, and protein treatments to seal the cuticle.

Conclusion

You now understand that your unique hair identity is a powerful combination of Hair Types (1-4), Texture (Fine, Medium, Coarse), and, most critically, Porosity (Low, Medium, High). And with AI-powered tools like Hair Type Quiz, discovering your true hair type is easier than ever. Whether you have straight, wavy, or curly hair, AI takes the guesswork out of the process—so you can focus on finding the best care and style for your natural look.

👉 Try the Hair Type Quiz now to reveal true hair types instantly!

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