Understanding Your Hair Type: A Complete Guide to 1A to 4C Hair

Understanding your hair type is a great first step toward building a routine that supports your hair’s unique needs—but it’s only part of the picture. While the hair type chart (from 1A to 4C) is widely used to categorize hair based on curl pattern, many people find that their strands don’t fit neatly into one box. That’s because real hair is complex. It’s not just about curl shape—it's also about porosity, density, strand width, and scalp health.

Hair typing refers to the natural pattern or texture of your strands—whether straight, wavy, curly, coily, or zig-zag coiled. This pattern is determined by the shape of the hair follicle and the angle at which your hair grows out of your scalp. The more oval or flat the follicle, the curlier your hair is. But even within curl types, hair can behave differently based on moisture levels, protein balance, and environmental stressors.

To identify your hair type, start with the Cécred Double Cleanse and condition. Wash and condition your hair with Cécred’s Clarifying Shampoo & Scalp Scrub, Hydrating Shampoo, and Hydrating Conditioner, then let it air dry without adding any styling product or manipulation. 

Observe the shape your strands form as they dry. Do they fall straight, form an S-wave, spiral, or zig-zag? This natural shape will help you identify your pattern according to the commonly used hair type chart.

Here at Cécred, We Break Down Hair Types Into 5 Categories.

Hair Types:

- Straight to Minimum Wave

- Wavy

- Curly 

- Coily

- Zig-Zag, Coiled

Within the categories above, we also define hair type by the thickness of your hair strand and how defined or tight the pattern is. For example, wavy hair can be fine with a deep wave, while coils can be medium with a defined coil.

Hair Strand Thickness:

- Fine

- Medium 

- Coarse

You may find that your hair fits into multiple categories—and that’s normal. Most people have more than one curl pattern, with textures that vary between the crown, sides, and nape. Chemical processing, heat styling, color treatments, and even hormonal changes can also affect your curl pattern, making it harder to identify.

Take the Cécred Hair Quiz and make your own observations as well to determine your hair type. Here are some questions to consider: 

1. How does your hair respond to moisture?
2. Does it soak up water quickly (high porosity) or take a while to saturate (low porosity)?
3. Does it feel dense and thick or light and fine?

While understanding your pattern is helpful, it’s not the only thing that determines what your hair needs. At Cécred, we focus on hair needs—not hair types—because hair can evolve. What matters most is building a regimen that supports hydration, strength, and protection.

Cécred’s Foundation Collection is designed to meet your hair where it is, whether you’re dealing with buildup, dryness, breakage, or wanting to maintain your hair health. From scalp-nourishing shampoos to protein-rich treatment masks and frizz-fighting stylers, every product is formulated to work across all hair types, with a particular focus on the care textured hair needs.

Hair type is just the beginning of your hair care journey, not the destination. Take the Cécred Hair Quiz to get to know your pattern, but remember: healthy hair comes from understanding what your strands need to thrive, and giving them the consistent care they deserve.