If you’ve ever scrolled through a curl type chart feeling more confused than before, you’re not alone. Curl typing can feel overly complicated, but the basics are actually simple once you know what to look for.
Understanding the Curl Type System
Curl types are grouped into three main categories: wavy (type 2), curly (type 3), and coily (type 4). Each category has subtypes A, B and C, ranging from loose to very tight patterns. But rather than memorizing a chart, it’s more useful to look at a few key signs in your own hair.
Look at Your Natural Dry Pattern
Wash your hair, apply no products, and let it air dry completely. What you see is your most natural curl pattern. A slight bend means wavy hair. Defined spirals point to curly hair. Tight zigzags or coils mean you likely have coily hair.
Check Your Curl Size
Take a single curl and compare it to a common object. Wavy hair is often wider than a marker. Curly hair ranges from finger-sized to pencil-sized. Coily hair curls are usually smaller than a straw, sometimes barely visible without stretching the strand.
Pay Attention to Shrinkage
Shrinkage is how much your hair “shrinks up” from its wet length to its dry length. Wavy hair has little to no shrinkage. Curly hair shrinks moderately. Coily hair can shrink by 75% or more, which is completely normal and a sign of healthy elasticity.
Notice How Your Hair Clumps
When wet, does your hair separate into strands, form loose clumps, or clump into tight little ringlets? Looser clumping usually points to looser curl patterns, while tight, small clumps are common in coilier hair types.
Why This Matters
Once you know your curl type, choosing products and techniques becomes far less overwhelming. A routine built for loose waves will not work the same way on tight coils, and vice versa. Knowing your type is the foundation everything else builds on.
If you’d rather skip the guesswork, we built a free quiz that walks you through all of these indicators step by step.