How to Determine Your Hair Type

Learning how to determine your hair type is less about memorizing celebrity photos and more about repeatable observation. The Andre Walker system gives you twelve reference points (1A through 4C). Your job is to match your naked texture—not your favorite styled look—to those anchors.

Step 1: Reset products, not your personality

Silicones, heavy oils, and leftover dry shampoo can weigh down waves or exaggerate frizz. If you suspect buildup, clarify once, then return to a gentle cleanser for daily use. The goal is a neutral canvas, not stripped straw.

Step 2: Control the variables

Dry indoors at room temperature when possible. Wind, gym ponytails, and hats all introduce mechanical bend that can fake a new pattern. If you must commute wet, note that your “true” snapshot should still happen after the hair finishes drying without tension.

Step 3: Read pattern, density, and strand width separately

Curl size drives the Type 2 vs 3 vs 4 decision. Letter A/B/C fine-tunes within the family. Strand thickness and overall density change styling outcomes but do not erase your base type—they explain why two people with 3C hair might prefer different gels.

Step 4: Cross-check with tools

Use the hair type chart for side-by-side comparisons, then validate with the quiz if you prefer question-driven guidance. Both link into the same twelve detail pages so your journey stays consistent.

Common mistakes

Typing on heat-damaged hair, comparing soaking-wet photos to dry references, or choosing a label because it sounds “easier” online all lead to poor product choices. Be willing to say “I am between 2C and 3A” temporarily while you heal damage—ambiguity is data.

Pair with the question-led guide

If you arrived here from search, also bookmark what hair type do I have for a complementary FAQ tone. Together, the two guides cover both “how” and “why” intents without duplicating thin pages.