How to determine your hair type

Everybody’s hair is different, so it’s important to choose products tailored to your needs – whether your goal is to minimise breakage and curl shrinkage, reduce frizz or define your locks. Remember, one person can have a mix of different hair types and structures!

Shark Beauty celebrates all hair types, created for all Hairkind. Think you know your hair type, but struggling to find haircare that works for you? You might need to delve deeper.

Infographic showing different hair types from 1 to 4c

What are the 4 types of hair?

You may know your hair type as straight, wavy, curly or coily, but other features such as texture, thickness and porosity also play a part.

This can then be divided into subcategories, A, B, C and D based on the diameter of the wave, curl or coil.

Understanding where your hair type sits on this sliding scale can help you take the best care of your locks, choose the right products, and create a routine that keeps your hair looking its best.

How to determine your hair type

Wash your hair and let it naturally air dry with no products. See how it falls and check the chart below:

Is your hair Straight or Wavy?

Type 1 – Straight

Straight hair dries totally poker-straight, without any bend or curl.

Type 2 – Wavy

Mid-way between straight and curly, wavy hair dries with a slight curve or ‘S’ shape, often flatter at the roots with waves through the lengths:

2a – Fine and thin with loose waves

2b – More defined S-shape waves with a medium texture

2c – Defined waves starting at the roots, thick or coarse with some loops, curls or ringlets

Is your hair Curly or Coily?

Type 3 – Curly

Curls are defined and springy, but can range from loose loops to tight ringlets:

3a – Large, loose, well defined curls
3b – Springy ringlets or corkscrew curls, medium circumference
3c – Dense, curly-coily, tightly packed corkscrews with a pencil-width circumference