Guide
Identify Your Hair Type: A Practical Guide
Two people can both have "curly hair" and need completely different routines. Type alone isn't enough — you need the full picture.
The Andre Walker hair typing system (1A through 4C) is the starting point most people know. It describes curl pattern — straight, wavy, curly, or coily — and how tight that pattern is. But pattern is only one of five variables that determine what your hair actually needs.
The full picture: pattern (1-4 A/B/C), density (how many strands per square inch), thickness (how thick each strand is), porosity (how the cuticle behaves), and length. A fine, low-density 3A is very different from a thick, high-density 3A even though they share a pattern.
This guide breaks down each variable, shows you how to measure it without lab equipment, and explains why two people with "the same" hair type often need opposite products. Start with the pattern article, then add layers from each subsequent guide.
Curl pattern (1-4 A/B/C)
Pattern is the entry point — what most people mean by 'hair type'.
Hair types
Curly Hair: Complete Routine for Types 3A, 3B, 3C
Type 3 curls need specific products and technique. Here's the complete routine for defined, bouncy curls.
Hair types
Coily & Afro Hair (Type 4): Complete Care Guide
Type 4 coils need the most moisture and gentlest handling of any hair type. Here's the science-backed routine.
Density and thickness
Two different things — most people confuse them.
Hair characteristics
Fine vs Thick Hair: How to Tell and How to Care for Each
Fine and thick refer to individual strand diameter — not how much hair you have. Each type needs very different products.
Hair characteristics
Hair Density: Low, Medium, High — How to Tell and Why It Matters
Density is how many hairs you have on your head. It affects product quantity, styling options, and how hair loss reads.
Porosity and elasticity
Even more important than pattern for product selection.
Hair characteristics
Hair Porosity Explained: How to Test Yours and Why It Matters
Learn what hair porosity actually is, how to test yours with a simple water glass, and how it should shape your product choices.
Hair characteristics
Hair Elasticity: What It Means and How to Test It
Elasticity tells you if your hair has the right protein-moisture balance. Here's the stretch test and what results mean.
Building a routine for YOUR combination
Once you know all five variables, the routine writes itself.
Tools & techniques
Building Your First Hair Routine: A Practical Framework
Stop collecting products. A simple, layered framework to build a routine that fits your hair without overwhelm.
Moisture & protein balance
Hydration vs Conditioning: They're Not the Same Thing
'Hydrating' and 'conditioning' get used interchangeably, but they do different things. Understanding the difference transforms your routine.
Frequently asked
What's the difference between density and thickness?
Density = number of strands per square inch (sparse vs full). Thickness = diameter of each individual strand (fine vs coarse). You can be fine and dense, or thick and sparse — they're independent.
Can my hair type change?
Pattern can change with hormones (pregnancy, menopause), severe damage, or aging. Density and thickness change slowly over years. Porosity changes with damage, often within weeks. So yes — what worked at 25 may not work at 40.
Do I need to know all five variables?
For a basic routine, pattern + porosity is enough. For optimal product selection — especially if you've had recurring problems — knowing all five removes guesswork.
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