Types of Curl Patterns: Your Hair Type Guide

Knowing your curl pattern helps guide appropriate hair care strategies for textured hair.

• Most people have multiple curl types on one head, requiring zone-specific product application for optimal health.

If you have textured hair, you have probably stared at a curl pattern chart and felt more confused afterward than before. The types of curl patterns span ten distinct subtypes across four main categories, and knowing where your curls fall changes everything about how you care for them. This guide breaks down each subtype from the loosest waves to the tightest coils, explains what the classification system actually means, and gives you the practical tools to stop guessing and start treating your hair the way it deserves.

Table of Contents

• Key takeaways

• 1. The Andre Walker curl pattern classification system

• 2. Type 1: Straight hair subtypes

• 3. Type 2: Wavy hair subtypes

• 4. Type 3A: Loose, shiny ringlets

• 5. Type 3B: Medium, springy curls

• 6. Type 3C: Tight corkscrews

• 7. Type 4A: Defined coily spirals

• 8. Type 4B: Zigzag coils with high shrinkage

• 9. Type 4C: The tightest coils

• 10. Curl pattern comparison: All subtypes at a glance

• 11. Managing multiple curl types on one head

• My honest take on curl charts

• Find the right products for your curl pattern

• FAQ

Key takeaways

1. The Andre Walker curl pattern classification system

Before you can identify your curl type, you need to understand the framework. The Andre Walker Hair Typing System organizes hair into four numbered types, each divided into three subtypes labeled A, B, and C. Type 1 is straight, Type 2 is wavy, Type 3 is curly, and Type 4 is coily or kinky. Within each number, the letters move from the loosest version (A) to the tightest ©.

Here is what distinguishes each subtype level:

• A subtypes have the widest curl diameter and the least definition under pressure

• B subtypes fall in the middle, with a more defined shape and moderate texture

• C subtypes carry the tightest, most compact curl shape within their type group

The system is a starting point, not a verdict. Two people with the same 3C curls can have completely different care needs depending on their porosity and strand texture. Think of it like a map that gets you to the right neighborhood, but not necessarily to the exact address.

Pro Tip: Assess your curl type when your hair is clean, wet, and completely natural with no products in it. Chemical treatments and heat alter your pattern and can lead you to the wrong type entirely.

2. Type 1: Straight hair subtypes

Type 1 hair has no natural curl or wave pattern. It reflects light easily, tends to get oily faster because sebum travels straight down the shaft, and resists curling without heat or products.

• 1A is pin straight and very fine with zero volume at the root

• 1B has slightly more body and can hold a bend at the ends with some thickness

• 1C is the coarsest straight subtype and can have a slight wave in humid conditions, though it never forms a defined curl

Most of Cocomera’s focus sits with Types 2 through 4, since Type 1 rarely faces the moisture and definition challenges that textured hair does. Still, understanding it gives you the baseline for the whole curl pattern classification.

3. Type 2: Wavy hair subtypes

This is where texture begins. Type 2 hair forms an S-shape that sits between straight and curly. It responds to moisture and products more than Type 1, but does not need the heavy hydration that tighter patterns require. These are some of the most misunderstood examples of curl patterns because many people do not think of waves as a curl type at all.

• 2A creates a loose, flat wave close to the head. It is fine and easy to weigh down with heavy creams

• 2B forms a more defined S-wave with a slight frizz tendency, especially at the crown

• 2C produces thicker waves that can blur into loose ringlets, with noticeable frizz and more volume

If you want to understand what is curl type 2, picture a beach wave: that soft, effortless S-bend. The challenge for Type 2 is frizz control without losing the wave shape. Lightweight mousses and curl-enhancing gels tend to work better than creams for this group. You can read more about building routines that balance definition and moisture in this curly hair care guide.

4. Type 3A: Loose, shiny ringlets

Type 3 hair is where the curl conversation really gets interesting. This subtype sits at the entry point of the curly category. 3A curls form wide, springy ringlets roughly the diameter of a piece of sidewalk chalk. They are usually shiny because the curve of the strand still reflects light well, and they bounce with movement.

The main care concerns for 3A are frizz in humidity and maintaining definition through wash day. Lightweight gels and curl creams work well here, and diffusing on low heat helps lock in the curl shape without disrupting it.

5. Type 3B: Medium, springy curls

3B curls are tighter and more densely packed than 3A. Think of a spiral roughly the diameter of a marker or your finger. They have real body, some shrinkage (around 20 to 30 percent), and tend toward dryness because the curl bend makes it harder for natural oils to travel down the strand.

Hydration becomes a priority here. Products with moisturizing ingredients matter because moisture is critical for curly hair health, influencing product choice significantly. Leave-in conditioners layered under a hold product tend to give 3B hair the best long-term definition.

6. Type 3C: Tight corkscrews

3C sits right at the edge between curly and coily. The curls are tight, densely packed, and about the width of a pencil or a straw. This is one of the examples of curl styles where shrinkage becomes noticeable, around 50 percent, so your dry length looks significantly shorter than your stretched length.

Pro Tip: If your curls clump together into pencil-sized spirals when wet and then shrink noticeably when dry, you are likely a 3C. Stretch a single strand while it is still wet to see your true length.

Frizz, dryness, and shrinkage are the three battles for 3C hair. Deep conditioning regularly and sealing moisture with an oil or butter helps significantly. You can explore styling options for type 3 and 4 curls to match your specific needs.

7. Type 4A: Defined coily spirals

Now you are in coily territory. If you have been wondering what is curl type 4, this is the entry point. 4A hair forms tight, defined coils roughly the diameter of a crochet needle. The coil pattern is visible and consistent, but the hair is also more fragile than Type 3 because the tight bends create weak points along the strand.

Hydration and gentle handling are the two pillars of 4A care. Water-based leave-ins followed by a butter or cream sealant (the LOC or LCO method) work well for keeping these coils soft and defined. Protective styles help reduce daily manipulation and breakage.

8. Type 4B: Zigzag coils with high shrinkage

4B is where the curl pattern changes shape entirely. Instead of a defined spiral, 4B hair forms a zigzag or sharp-angled pattern. The curl bends at angles rather than curving smoothly, which makes it harder to see a distinct coil shape when the hair is dry.

Shrinkage for 4B hair can reach 70 to 75 percent, meaning someone with 12 inches of stretched hair may show only 3 to 4 inches when dry. This is not damage or stunted growth. It is the natural spring of the pattern.

Because of the tight zigzag bend, 4B hair has the lowest moisture retention in the hair type spectrum. Rich creams, butters, and regular deep treatments are not optional. A solid wash day workflow built around moisture is the foundation of healthy 4B hair.

9. Type 4C: The tightest coils

4C is the most tightly coiled pattern in the system. There is often no defined curl pattern visible at all. The hair grows in tight, densely packed coils or zigzags that press close together. Shrinkage can hit 75 percent, and because the coils are so compact, the strands tangle more easily and dry out faster than any other type.

4C hair is also the most misrepresented in mainstream curl charts, often treated as the bottom of the hierarchy. That framing is worth pushing back on. 4C hair is not “less curl” than 3A. It is simply a different structure with its own strengths, including incredible volume and the ability to hold protective styles beautifully.

Rich butters, oils, and cream-based products are your core tools. You can find targeted options in Cocomera’s hair moisturizer collection built specifically for coily and afro textures.

10. Curl pattern comparison: All subtypes at a glance

11. Managing multiple curl types on one head

Here is something most curl guides skip over: most people have more than one curl pattern on their head. Your nape might run 4A while your crown leans 3C and your edges sit somewhere in between. That is not unusual. It is the norm.

The mistake most people make is trying to use one product from root to tip and wondering why some sections look great while others feel dry or weighed down. The fix is zone-based care.

• Use lighter products on your wavier or looser sections so you do not flatten the wave

• Apply richer creams and butters to your tighter coil zones where moisture escapes fastest

• Focus deep conditioning time on your ends and your densest coil sections

• Detangle in sections, starting from the ends and working up, to respect each zone’s texture

Pro Tip: Product weight compatibility with your hair’s thickness matters more than matching products by curl pattern alone. A fine-stranded 4A needs a lighter product than a coarse-stranded 3B, even though the curl tightness is reversed.

Experts recommend adjusting care across zones rather than forcing a single routine across mixed curl patterns. Start by identifying the two or three distinct zones on your head, then build a routine that treats each one on its own terms.

My honest take on curl charts

I have spent a lot of time around curl pattern charts, and my experience with them is complicated. They are genuinely useful for building a starting point. But I have seen too many people get stuck on their number and letter combination, as if it is a final answer, and then feel frustrated when the “right” products for their type do not actually work for them.

What I have learned is that the chart describes shape but not behavior. Two people can both have 3C curls and need completely different routines because one has high-porosity, fine strands and the other has low-porosity, coarse strands. The curl pattern tells you about the bend. It does not tell you how fast your hair absorbs water, how much product it needs, or how it responds to humidity.

I also think curl charts carry some inherited bias that is worth naming. The numbering system moves from “straight” to “coily” in a way that has historically been used to rank hair rather than simply describe it. That framing shapes how people feel about their own hair, and it should not.

What actually moves the needle in my experience is understanding porosity, learning how your hair behaves in different weather, and experimenting with product textures until something clicks. The curl pattern is a door into that process, not the whole room.

— Cocomera

Find the right products for your curl pattern

Once you know your curl type, the next question is always: what do I actually use? At Cocomera, every product in our collection is curated specifically for textured hair across Types 2, 3, and 4.

Whether you are a 2C looking for lightweight wave definition or a 4C building a moisture-first routine, you can find what you need without sorting through products made for straight hair. Browse our curl styling collection for definers, gels, and creams matched to your curl type, or explore our hair treatment range for deep hydration and repair. For coily hair, our curl cream selection is built around the moisture needs of Types 3C through 4C. Your routine, your curl type, one place.

FAQ

What is a curl pattern and how do I find mine?

A curl pattern describes the shape your hair naturally forms, from straight to wavy to coily. Identify yours by washing your hair without products and observing the shape it takes while wet.

What is the difference between curl type 3 and type 4?

Type 3 hair forms defined ringlets or corkscrews with visible curl shape, while Type 4 hair forms tight coils or zigzags and shrinks significantly when dry.

Can I have more than one curl type on my head?

Yes. Most people have multiple curl patterns across different sections of their head, which is why zone-based product application tends to give better results than a one-size-fits-all routine.

Does my curl pattern tell me which products to buy?

Curl pattern is a guide, not a prescription. Porosity and strand thickness affect how your hair absorbs and holds moisture, and those factors should shape your product choices as much as your curl type.

What is curl type 4C and how do I care for it?

4C is the tightest coil pattern, with very little visible curl definition and shrinkage up to 75 percent. It needs rich, moisture-dense products and protective styling to retain length and prevent breakage.

Recommended

• How to choose curly hair products for European curls – Cocomera

• Curly hair care tips for healthy textured hair - Cocomera

• Afro hair styling steps for 3 and 4 curls in 2026 – Cocomera

• Best hair moisturizers for curly, coily & afro hair – Cocomera