From Waves to Coils: Understanding Hair Texture and Porosity

Identify your curl pattern:

Understanding your curl pattern is a great way to simplify your hair care routine and get the best results from your products. Curl types are generally categorized by the shape your hair strands make, ranging from wavy to coily.

​Here is a breakdown of the different categories to help you identify where your hair falls:

​Type 2: Wavy Hair

​Wavy hair sits between straight and curly. It typically lays flatter at the crown and forms "S" shapes as it gets longer.

• ​2A: Fine, thin waves that are easy to straighten.

• ​2B: More defined S-waves, often starting from the mid-lengths.

• ​2C: Thick, coarse waves that can start to form loose spirals.

​Type 3: Curly Hair

​This type ranges from loose loops to tight corkscrews. These curls have a definite "spring" to them and are prone to frizz if they lack moisture.

• ​3A: Large, loopy curls about the diameter of a piece of sidewalk chalk. They usually have a natural shine.

• ​3B: Springy, tighter curls similar in circumference to a Sharpie marker.

• ​3C: Densely packed, tight corkscrews (roughly the width of a pencil). This type often has a lot of natural volume.

​Type 4: Coily Hair

​Coily hair (often called kinky-coily) has very tight, small curls or a "Z" pattern. This hair type is naturally very fragile and requires a lot of hydration.

• ​4A: Tight S-pattern coils that retain moisture better than other Type 4s.

• ​4B: Z-shaped patterns with sharp angles rather than round curls.

• ​4C: Very tight, dense zig-zag patterns with significant shrinkage.

​How to Identify Your Type

​The best way to tell is to look at your hair while it is wet and freshly washed without any product in it.

• ​Look at the shape: Is it a wave (S), a curl (spiral), or a coil (Z)?

• ​Check the diameter: Are the loops wide like a large coin, or narrow like a straw?

• ​Note the texture: Does it feel soft and fine, or coarse and wiry?

​Pro Tip: Most people actually have a mix of two or even three different patterns on their head! It’s very common to have tighter curls underneath and looser waves on the top layer