What Are the Different Hair Types?
When people ask what are the different hair types, they usually want a complete list with plain-English meaning—not a brand quiz gate. This page names every code in the Andre Walker twelve-type chart, shows how the four big families fit together, and links out so you can go deep on whichever label matches your wash-day hair.
Four families, twelve codes
Type 1 is straight (no natural spiral). Type 2 is wavy—elongated S-bends. Type 3 is curly, with spirals and ringlets. Type 4 is coily, with tight coils or zig-zag angles and often heavy shrinkage. Letters A, B, and C always mean within that family: A is the loosest pattern, C the tightest.
For a visual grid, open the hair type chart; for a question flow, use the hair type quiz.
Every different hair type, quick-linked
Click any code for characteristics, challenges, care highlights, and sub-pages for care, products, and hairstyles.
- 1A — Pin-Straight, Fine & Silky
- 1B — Straight with Medium Body
- 1C — Straight, Thick & Coarse
- 2A — Loose, Gentle S-Waves
- 2B — Defined Medium S-Waves
- 2C — Thick, Deep S-Waves Bordering Curls
- 3A — Loose, Bouncy Spiral Curls
- 3B — Tight, Springy Corkscrew Curls
- 3C — Tight Corkscrews with Maximum Volume
- 4A — Tight, Defined S-Pattern Coils
- 4B — Z-Pattern Coils with Sharp Angles
- 4C — Tightest Coils with Maximum Shrinkage
Category hubs if you want the wide lens first
- Type 1: Straight — Type 1 hair is naturally straight with no curl or wave pattern. It ranges from fine and silky (1A) to thick and coarse (1C).
- Type 2: Wavy — Type 2 hair falls between straight and curly, forming S-shaped waves. It ranges from loose tousled waves (2A) to deep waves bordering curls (2C).
- Type 3: Curly — Type 3 hair features well-defined curls and ringlets. It ranges from loose bouncy spirals (3A) to tight corkscrews (3C).
- Type 4: Coily — Type 4 hair has the tightest curl pattern, forming coils and zigzag shapes. It ranges from tight S-coils (4A) to virtually no defined pattern (4C).
Beyond curl size: what this list does not include
The twelve-type list does not replace porosity, density, or strand thickness—three variables that change product outcomes for people who share a code. Read what is hair porosity after you know your letter/number so you do not over-oil fine waves or under-moisturize dense coils.
Related questions people bundle with this search
If you specifically wanted the four macro types only, see what are the four types of hair. If you wanted popularity context, see most common hair type. If you are curly-only, jump to what type of curly hair do I have.