What Are the Different Types of Curls?

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Plus, how to determine your hair and curl pattern type

Co-authored by Jasmin Todd and Aly Rusciano

Last Updated: November 12, 2025 Fact Checked

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Curl Types

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How do you figure out your curl type?

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So, you think your hair is curly. But what type of curly is it? Do you have loose 2A waves or coily 4C locks? In this article, we’ll teach you about every curly hair type. Plus, we spoke with curly hair specialist Jasmin Todd to bring you the best advice on how to care for and style your curly hair. Keep reading for everything you need to know!

Curl Type Chart

Curly hair specialist Jasmin Todd says that “every head of curls is as unique as a fingerprint.” Even so, your curl type can be categorized into one of nine groups: 2A, 2B, 2C, 3A, 3B, 3C, 4A, 4B, and 4C. Curl types are defined by the overall definition and size of the curl.

Section 1 of 2:

Curl Types

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Type 2A Type 2A hair has the slightest wave texture—it’s the least curly of all the hair types. This hair type can be straightened easily and tends to have a flatter, finer texture. Product weighs down 2A hair, which can cause it to look limp rather than defined.^{[1]
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- Best products: Lightweight styling foams and water-based mousses
- Styling advice: Focus on adding volume at the roots to give your hair more body.
- How to care for: Use a leave-in conditioner before brushing to help detangle stubborn knots, add shine, and prevent breakage.
Meet the wikiHow Expert

Jasmin Todd is a curly hair specialist whose expertise spans cutting and styling naturally curly hair, hair coloring, and scalp care. She’s the owner and master stylist at Austin Curls in Austin, TX.
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Type 2B Type 2B hair is flatter at the crown with a defined “S” wave. This hair type tends to be thicker and frizzier when brushed, and it takes a bit of effort to straighten it. The best way to describe 2B hair is: beach waves.^{[2]
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- Best products: Texturizing wave sprays and lightweight curl creams
- Styling advice: Diffuse your hair for maximum volume and to keep your waves in place all day.
- How to care for: Opt for sulfate-free moisturizing shampoos to combat frizz, and use products with coconut oil to nourish and hydrate.
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Type 2C Type 2C hair is thick and defined with “S” waves from the root to the tip. This hair type is the waviest of them all! The “S” bends of 2C hair start at the root (unlike 2B hair) and snake all the way down the lock for a rich curl.^{[3]
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- Best products: Curl leave-in conditioners and enhancing mousses
- Styling advice: Use a leave-in conditioner before mousse to help lock in your natural wave pattern.
- How to care for: Avoid products with heavy ingredients like shea butter and coconut oil that will weigh down your waves.
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Type 3A Type 3A hair has loose, wide curls. This hair type tends to be bouncy, shiny, and wild. But when tamed, the curls are broad ringlets with lots of definition and volume. 3A hair can be brittle, despite its shininess, so curls may not be as defined if the hair isn’t moisturized.^{[4]
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- Best products: Curl creams and refreshing sprays
- Styling advice: Work a squirt of curl cream through damp hair, raking from the roots to ends, flip upside down, and scrunch.
- How to care for: Focus on hydrating your hair to maximize your curls by using a leave-in conditioner regularly and putting it up with the “pineapple” method.
- Expert tip: Todd says that curly hair can be frizzy if it’s dry and lacks moisture. Deep conditioning with a heating cap or hooded dryer weekly can help keep frizz away.^{[5]
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Type 3B Type 3B hair is full-out bouncy ringlets! This hair type is made up of spirally curls with a tight circumference. The texture leans toward the drier side, so moisturizing and using leave-in conditioning treatments is key.^{[6]
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- Best products: Styling gels and sulfate-free shampoo
- Styling advice: Apply styling gels and products while the hair is wet for curl definition without frizz.
- How to care for: Aim to trim your hair every 3 to 4 months to prevent split ends and additional frizz.
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Type 3C Type 3C hair is all about those corkscrew curls! This hair type is tight and bouncy, with compact curls. Strands are packed close together, making for excellent volume, but a fair amount of frizz is also common.^{[7]
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- Best products: Curl creams and styling mousses
- Styling advice: Layer a styling cream over a mousse to help give your curls shape and combat frizziness.
- How to care for: Prioritize hydrating your curls with creams, leave-in conditioners, and masks to prevent frizz and breakage.
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Type 4A Type 4A hair is dense and springy. These gorgeous curls are tightly wound “S” shapes with a very small circumference. The tight, compact curls make for amazing volume, but they can get a bit dry sometimes and can be a little harder to manage.^{[8]
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- Best products: Leave-in conditioners and styling creams
- Styling advice: Pair a curl cream with a leave-in conditioner for shine and definition that doesn’t weigh down your curls.
- How to care for: Aim to wash your hair only once every 7 days to prevent dryness and breakage.
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Type 4B Type 4B hair is densely packed and spirally. This hair type is full of tight, narrow corkscrew curls shaped like a “Z.” With these curls, the hair has a lot of style flexibility—there’s enough structure for all kinds of voluminous styles! Even so, the hair fibers can be drier, so moisturizing is key.^{[9]
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- Best products: Styling creams and curl creams
- Styling advice: Palm-roll your curls into locs or twists for an elegant or edgy style.
- How to care for: Wash your hair once every 6-7 days, and make sure to pat dry with a towel afterward.
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Type 4C Type 4C hair is tightly coiled and voluminous. Type 4C hair is best known for afro styles and its gorgeous, tight “Z”-shaped coils. The curls are tightly coiled with a zig-zag-like pattern. The kink in the hair makes it that much more voluminous, but it also makes it more fragile, especially compared to other curl types.^{[10]
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- Best products: Leave-in conditioners and castor oil
- Styling advice: Use the LOC method—leave-in conditioner, oil, cream.
- How to care for: Spritz the hair daily with water, and use a deep conditioner once a week to keep your curls hydrated.
- Expert tip: Todd recommends using Ouidad curly hair products if you have thick, curly hair, as they are popular and highly rated to help moisturize and restore proteins.^{[11]
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Section 2 of 2:

How do you figure out your curl type?

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Find your curl type by letting your hair air dry. Still unsure which hair type you have? Put down the styling tools and products, and let your hair do its thing (for one night, at least)! Take a shower and wash your hair as you normally would, then let your hair air dry. Once dry, take a close look at the texture and curl.^{[12]
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- If your hair is wavy with a loose “S” curl, you likely have a Type 2 hair.
- If your hair is curly with a springy bounce, you likely have a Type 3 hair.
- If your hair is coily with a “Z” shape, you likely have a Type 4 hair.
- Still not sure what your curl type is? Take our “What Type of Curly Hair Do I Have?” quiz! i
EXPERT TIP

Jasmin Todd
Curly Hair Specialist
Jasmin Todd is a Master Stylist and the Owner of Austin Curls in Austin, TX. With over 20 years of experience, she specializes in cutting and styling naturally curly hair. Jasmin trained at the world-famous Ouidad salon and is Ouidad certified. In 2022, Mane Addicts named Austin Curls as one of the Top U.S. Salons for Curly Hair.

Jasmin Todd
Curly Hair Specialist

Every head of curls is as unique as a fingerprint. Don’t be discouraged if it’s harder for you to determine your curl type! Consult a curl type classification chart, and if that fails, see a hairdresser.
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The Hair Typing System So, what do the numbers and letters of hair types even mean, and how can they help you determine your curl type? We get it—it can be confusing! A number and letter are paired together to describe the hair’s overall texture, curl shape, and thickness. Here’s a quick guide to the hair typing system and what each number and letter represents:^{[13]
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- Type 1: Naturally straight hair
- Type 2: Naturally wavy hair with a loose “S” shape
- Type 3: Naturally curly hair
- Type 4: Naturally coily hair
- Type A: Waves and curls that follow a wider pattern; thinner hair strands
- Type B: Waves and curls with a medium pattern; medium thickness
- Type C: Waves and curls with a small pattern; thicker hair strands
- Learn more about the types of hair with “How to Use a Hair Type Chart: The Ultimate Guide.”