Hair Type Quiz
Find your exact hair type using the Andre Walker classification system (1A-4C). Answer 8 questions about your curl pattern, porosity, density, and texture to get a personalized care routine.
A hair type quiz is a free, browser-based tool that places your hair on the Andre Walker scale from 1A to 4C by asking about curl pattern, porosity, density and texture. Eight questions return your dominant type plus a matching wash, condition and styling routine. Most people turn out to have two or three types across the head. Updated 2026-09-09.
How Hair Type Quiz Works
Discover your exact hair type and curl pattern with this quiz. Get your Andre Walker type (1A-4C), porosity, and care routine. Answer the questions honestly and the tool calculates your result based on research-backed criteria — everything runs privately in your browser.
Understanding the Hair Type Chart (1A to 4C)
The Andre Walker Hair Typing System classifies hair into 4 main types: Type 1 (Straight), Type 2 (Wavy), Type 3 (Curly), and Type 4 (Coily). Each type has subtypes A, B, and C based on the tightness of the pattern. Type 1A is pin-straight with no wave, while Type 4C has the tightest coils that may appear to have no defined curl pattern. Most people have a mix of 2-3 types across their head — the crown, sides, and nape often differ.
Hair Porosity and Why It Matters
Porosity describes how well your hair absorbs and retains moisture. Low porosity hair has tightly sealed cuticles — products sit on top rather than absorbing. High porosity hair (often from damage or genetics) absorbs moisture quickly but loses it just as fast. Knowing your porosity determines which products and techniques work best: low porosity needs lightweight products and heat to open cuticles, while high porosity benefits from heavy butters and sealants.
Building a Routine for Your Hair Type
Type 1 (Straight): Wash every 1-2 days. Use lightweight volumizing products. Avoid heavy oils that weigh hair down. Focus on scalp health.
Type 2 (Wavy): Wash every 2-3 days. Use mousse or light cream for definition. Scrunch while damp. Avoid brushing dry — it removes wave pattern.
Type 3 (Curly): Wash every 3-5 days. Use curl cream and gel for definition. Detangle with conditioner in the shower using a wide-tooth comb. Diffuse or air dry.
Type 4 (Coily): Wash every 5-7 days. Deep condition weekly. Use heavy creams, butters, and oils for moisture retention. Protective styles reduce breakage. The LOC method (Liquid, Oil, Cream) seals in moisture.
Andre Walker Hair Type Chart: 1A to 4C at a Glance
The quiz gives you one answer; this is the whole scale, so you can sanity-check it against what you see in the mirror. Read down until a row matches your hair when it is clean, product-free and air-dried — that last condition matters, because product and heat routinely make hair read a full type straighter than it is.
| Type | Pattern | What it looks like air-dried |
|---|---|---|
| 1A-1C | Straight | No curl; 1C has body and a slight bend at the ends |
| 2A | Loose wave | A soft S that is easily brushed out flat |
| 2B | Defined wave | S-waves that start around mid-length, flatter at the roots |
| 2C | Strong wave | Waves start at the root, a few loose curls mixed in, frizz-prone |
| 3A | Loose curl | Large springy loops about the width of a wine cork |
| 3B | Springy curl | Ringlets about the width of a marker pen, lots of volume |
| 3C | Tight curl | Corkscrews about the width of a pencil, densely packed |
| 4A | Soft coil | Visible S-coils roughly the width of a crochet needle |
| 4B | Z-coil | Bends at sharp angles rather than curling; cotton-like |
| 4C | Tight coil | Little visible pattern unshrunk; up to 75% shrinkage |
Two caveats worth knowing. The scale describes pattern only — it says nothing about porosity, density or strand width, which is why two people who are both 3B need different products, and why the quiz asks about all four. And the system is a styling convention rather than a clinical one: a 2025 systematic review of high-curl-pattern classification in PMC found the A/B/C subtypes are applied inconsistently and that curvature is better captured by measured metrics than by eye. Treat your letter as a shorthand for choosing products, not a diagnosis. Updated 2026-09-09.
Common Hair Type Mistakes
The biggest mistake is using products designed for a different hair type. Straight hair does not need heavy curl creams. Coily hair does not benefit from volumizing spray. Another common error is overwashing — Type 3 and 4 hair loses essential oils with daily washing, leading to dryness and breakage. Finally, many people misjudge their porosity and wonder why products do not work — the float test (placing a clean strand in water) helps determine if yours is low, medium, or high.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Andre Walker hair typing system?
Created by Oprah's hairstylist Andre Walker, it classifies hair into 4 types: 1 (Straight), 2 (Wavy), 3 (Curly), 4 (Coily). Each has subtypes A, B, C based on pattern tightness. It is the most widely used hair classification system worldwide.
Can I have more than one hair type?
Yes, most people have 2-3 types across their head. The crown is often curlier than the sides, and the nape may have a different pattern. This quiz identifies your dominant type.
What is hair porosity?
Porosity is how well hair absorbs and retains moisture. Low porosity hair resists moisture (cuticles are tight). High porosity absorbs fast but loses moisture quickly. Medium porosity is balanced. A float test (clean strand in water) helps determine yours.
How do I know my hair density?
Density is how many strands you have per square inch. Thin density means you can easily see your scalp. Thick density means scalp is barely visible. Most people have medium density. This quiz helps estimate yours based on visual cues.
Does hair type change over time?
Yes. Hormonal changes (puberty, pregnancy, menopause), medication, aging, and chemical treatments can alter your curl pattern and texture. Many people find their hair gets curlier or straighter over time.
What products should I use for my hair type?
This quiz provides personalized product recommendations. Generally: Type 1-2 needs lightweight products (mousse, light oils). Type 3 needs curl cream and gel. Type 4 needs heavy creams, butters, and deep conditioners.
Is my data private?
Yes. This quiz runs entirely in your browser. No data is sent to any server or stored anywhere.
What is the Andre Walker hair type chart from 1A to 4C?
It is a four-tier scale with A/B/C subtypes. Type 1 is straight, 2 is wavy, 3 is curly and 4 is coily, and the letter marks how tight the pattern is within that tier. As a size guide: 3A loops are about wine-cork width, 3B about marker-pen width, 3C about pencil width, and 4A coils about crochet-needle width. 4B bends at sharp angles rather than curling, and 4C can shrink up to 75% of its true length.
Why does my curl pattern look different from my quiz result?
Judge your hair clean, product-free and air-dried. Heat, silicones and brushing routinely make hair read a full type straighter than it is, and length pulls curl out under its own weight. Humidity does the reverse. Most heads also carry two or three patterns at once, with the crown usually the curliest, so the quiz reports the dominant type rather than the only one.