There’s a lot that goes into figuring out your curl type, which is why it can be a little confusing to do. Your hair type and curl pattern are ways for you to describe the natural shape of your hair strands as they grow out of your head. Hair types are broken down into four categories (Type 1 to 4) and then further separated into three subcategories for each type (1A, 1B, 1C, etc.), ending with 12 categories total.
It sounds easy, but the tricky part is determining which one your hair falls into since many of the subcategories have similar appearances, not to mention that it’s possible (and very common) for a person to have more than one curl pattern.
Still, if you’ve looked at all the diagrams and want a general idea of what each hair type looks like, read ahead as we take you through a few examples courtesy of some of your favourite celebrities as your guide.
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Type 1 Hair Type
Type 1 hair is the type that’s generally straight, though not all type 1 hair is the same. 1A hair is fine and straight, and can often look lifeless and weighed down if there’s too much product in it, while 1B hair (like Kendall Jenner’s) tends to have a slight bend in it. 1C hair is mostly straight with a few waves, and it’s usually thicker than the other type 1 hair types and more prone to frizz.
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Getty / Steve Granitz
Type 2: Lorde
People with type 2 hair have natural waves, but again, there are a few variations. For example, 2A hair is fine and has somewhat of a just-got-out-of-bed look to it, while 2B hair contains an S-shaped wave that can’t be straightened with heat tools as easily as 2A hair can. 2C hair is a bit thicker and bouncier, and the wave often starts at the root.
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Getty / Morgan Lieberman
Type 3: Tracee Ellis Ross
Type 3 hair is curly and springy, with type 3A curls being loose and large in diameter, while 3B curls tend to be a bit tighter and shaped like spirals. 3C curls are the tightest of this hair type, as they’re normally the size of a pencil and are thicker and more prone to frizz.
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Type 4: Viola Davis
Type 4 hair is the kinkiest of all the hair types. People with this hair type are more likely to deal with dryness and shrinkage. 4A hair features spirals that are a bit smaller than 3C curls, while 4B strands are bendy and Z-shaped. 4C hair has sometimes been characterized as not having a defined curl pattern, though it’s pretty similar to 4B hair. The major difference between the two is that the curl pattern of the former is slightly tighter, causing it to shrink more when wet and making it more difficult to detangle.
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