Understanding your hair type isn’t about fitting into a box. It’s about learning what your hair actually needs to thrive. From curl pattern to strand thickness, every factor shapes how your hair looks, feels, and responds to products. Whether your strands fall straight or form tight coils, the goal isn’t to change your texture, but to care for it in its healthiest, most natural state.
What Are the 4 Types of Hair?
Cécred organizes hair types a bit differently than the broad categories you might see elsewhere. We start with curl pattern: straight, wavy, curly, and coily. Then, we consider how each one can behave differently based on its, density, porosity, strand thickness, and scalp health. Here are the curl pattern categories we’re referring to:
- Straight Hair: Lies flat from root to tip. Oils travel easily down the strand, so it’s prone to buildup and oiliness at the roots but dryness at the ends.
- Wavy Hair: Has an “S” shape pattern that can range from subtle bends to defined waves. It often experiences frizz and benefits from balanced hydration.
- Curly Hair: Forms defined loops or spirals that can lose moisture quickly, requiring regular conditioning and sealing.
- Coily Hair: Features tight curls or zig-zag patterns. It’s the most fragile texture due to bends in the strand and needs consistent moisture and gentle handling.
Hair texture refers to the thickness of each hair strand (fine, medium, coarse) which adds another layer of complexity. Fine strands are delicate and easily weighed down, while coarse strands are thicker and more resilient, but can also be more prone to dryness. Most people also have multiple curl patterns throughout their heads and can have varying textures
How Do I Identify My Hair Type?
Start with a clean slate. Wash and condition your hair using Cécred Hydrating Shampoo and Hydrating Conditioner, then let it air dry without styling products. Observe how it naturally settles:
- Does it lie flat? You likely have straight hair.
- Does it form gentle bends or “S” shapes? That’s wavy.
- Does it curl or coil tightly from root to tip? You’re in the curly or coily range.
Touch matters, too. Notice if your hair feels fine like silk, medium with some texture, or coarse and full-bodied. This helps determine strand thickness, another key factor in how your hair behaves and which products work best.
Hair type isn’t just about curl pattern, but also defined by texture, porosity, and density.
- Texture describes the width of your strands.
- Porosity measures how easily your hair absorbs and retains moisture.
- Density refers to how closely packed your strands are on the scalp.
You can test porosity at home by observing how your hair absorbs and retains water. If it seems to repel water, takes a long time to get fully wet, and dries slowly, then you may have low-porosity hair. Products tend to sit on top of this hair type instead of absorbing easily. If the hair absorbs and holds moisture well and is able to hold styles with minimal effort, then you may have medium-porosity hair. If it soaks in water and products quickly, your hair may high-porosity, meaning it can absorb moisture quickly but may lose it just as fast and feel dry or frizzy soon after washing.
Understanding these factors helps tailor your routine. For instance, lightweight hydration is best for low-porosity hair, while richer conditioning is more suitable for high-porosity strands.
Still Unsure About Your Hair Type?
Here’s the truth: there’s no exact box your hair has to fit into. Many people have a blend of textures that shift with age, hormones, or chemical processing and heat treatments. The goal isn’t to define it perfectly, but to observe what your hair needs and respond accordingly.
Take the Cécred Hair Quiz to see what fits your hair best right now. But don’t forget, your own observations matter most.
Every texture, from straight to wavy, curly, or coily, needs hydration, strength, and scalp balance. Cécred Foundation Collection is designed to support all hair types, combining fermented ingredients and clean formulations that deliver moisture, resilience, and shine without buildup. Just remember: Your hair type is your signature, and it doesn’t need fixing. By tuning into what your strands naturally do, you can build a care ritual that celebrates, not controls, your texture.