Hair Types for Guys: Why It Matters (& How to Find Yours)

Your hair is just as unique as you are—and understanding what makes it so special is an important part of nailing down your perfect hair care routine. One of the most common ways of classifying men’s hair is with a hair type chart that breaks hair down into different curl patterns—but you should also consider factors like your hair density and porosity. We’re taking a deep dive, with help from professional hair stylists.

Hair Type Chart for Men

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Illustration showing curl patterns ranging from 1A to 4C, hair texture (fine, medium, and coarse), and hair density (thin, medium, and thick).

Celebrity hair stylist Noël Reid-Killings says that the hair typing system can help you figure out what products you need to keep your hair healthy. The hair types are:

1A/1B/1C: Straight
2A/2B/2C: Wavy
3A/3B/3C: Curly
4A/4B/4C: Coily

Section 1 of 7:

What is the hair type chart for men?

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The hair type chart refers to the 1A–4C curl pattern typing system. This hair type chart was developed in the 1990s by Oprah Winfrey’s stylist Andre Walker. The hair type chart divides hair into 4 main groups, each with its own number: straight (1), wavy (2), curly (3), and coily (4). Each of those groups is further split into 3 subgroups based on the curl pattern: A, B, and C.^{[1]
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- Reid-Killings explains, “People refer to these different hair types to find the products they need to use to achieve healthy hair.”^{[2]
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  Noël Reid-Killings
  Celebrity Hair Stylist
  
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- There’s some debate over whether the subgroups are based on the tightness of the curl or the thickness of each hair strand, but the haircare tips for each type are the same either way.
- That said, there are a lot of other factors that can impact your hair care routine, including the thickness of the strands, your hair’s density and porosity, and how much oil your scalp produces.
Meet the wikiHow Experts

Noël Reid-Killings is a professional hair stylist and the owner of Noël New York Salon & Boutique. She specializes in custom hair care for all hair textures.

Bianca Cox is a hair stylist and licensed cosmetologist. She’s also the owner of The Hair Throne and the co-owner of Bianchi Salon.

Janet Miranda is a professional hair stylist, makeup artist, and the founder of Be.NYLA. She specializes in hair and makeup for high-profile advertising campaigns, commercial and editorial shoots, runways, and special events.

Section 2 of 7:

Men’s Curl Patterns & Care

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1
Straight (1A–1C) Straight hair has little or no bend to it at all. This allows the oils from your scalp to travel easily down the hair shaft—which means your hair looks naturally shiny, but it can also look greasy quickly if you haven’t washed it. Your hair might also be resistant to holding a style.
- Types: (Note that some people refer to all straight hair as Type 1 and do not divide this type into A, B, and C.)
  - 1A: No bend at all
  - 1B: A slight bend in the hair from root to tip
  - 1C: A soft S-shape from root to tip, but mostly straight
- Hair care: You’ll probably need to cleanse your hair more often than someone who has wavy, curly, or coily hair. Opt for a lightweight volumizing shampoo and conditioner, and aim to shampoo around 3–4 times a week. Brush your hair 1–2 times a day to evenly distribute your hair oils from your scalp to the ends of your hair.
- Styling: Use texturizing powder or paste to add texture and volume to your hair. For stronger hold, use a lightweight, water-based styling product—greasy or heavy products will make your hair look oily and weighed down.
- Haircut suggestions: Caesar, Ivy League, French crop, textured crop, side part, textured quiff, slick back, mid-length shag, long layers^{[3]
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2
Wavy (2A–2C) Wavy hair has a loose bend that usually starts a few inches down from the scalp. It has more volume and texture than straight hair, but it’s also more prone to getting frizzy. And because the oil from your scalp doesn’t travel all the way down the hair shaft as easily, you could be prone to dryness, especially on the ends of your hair.
- Types:^{[4]
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  - 2A: Loose, flowing waves, usually fine hair
  - 2B: Slightly more defined wave pattern
  - 2C: Defined S-shaped wave pattern
- Hair care: Focus on hydrating your waves with a moisturizing shampoo and conditioner. Consider using a deep conditioner about once every week or two.
- Styling: Use lightweight products that help tame frizz and boost volume, like lightweight hair oils or styling creams. Opt for styles that make use of your natural volume and texture.
- Haircut suggestions: Textured crop, Ivy League, wavy fade, wavy side part, wavy quiff, wavy shag, wavy curtains, wavy slick back, flow, wavy layers, messy fringe, surfer waves, shoulder-length waves^{[5]
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3
Curly (3A–3C) Curly hair has an obvious curl pattern, but the curls aren’t as tight as coily hair. This hair type is especially prone to dryness and breakage, but with the right care, your curls can be healthy, vibrant, and totally unique.
- Types:^{[6]
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  - 3A: Loose, spiralled ringlets that may tend to fall flat
  - 3B: Tighter ringlets that may lack definition
  - 3C: Tight, voluminous ringlets
- Hair care: Hairstylist Bianca Cox says it’s important to moisturize your hair and get regular trims if you have curly hair. “Curls have a tendency to get dry and frizzy, which creates more of a poof than a curl. Keep your curls intact by keeping them well-moisturized.”^{[7]
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- Styling: Use a wide-toothed comb to style your hair while it’s wet—avoid heat styling or brushing your hair, which will add frizz and contribute to breakage.^{[8]
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  Research source} Opt for curl-specific products like curling creams and mousses. Cox adds that you can use hair gel to help your curls hold their shape.^{[9]
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  Bianca Cox
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  Expert Interview}
- Haircut suggestions: Textured crop, curly fade, curly fringe, curly crew cut, curly quiff, curly shag, Afro, slicked-back curls, shoulder-length curls, curly side part, curly undercut, long layers
4
Coily (4A–C) Coily hair has the tightest curl pattern. This hair type is the most prone to breakage and it needs a lot of hydration to stay healthy. But with the right products, cut, and haircare regimen, you’ll be rewarded with a unique look that’s perfect for you.
- Types:
  - 4A: Tight S-shaped coils
  - 4B: Tight Z-shaped coils
  - 4C: Very tight zig-zagging coils
- Hair care: Cleanse your hair only as needed with a moisturizing shampoo and conditioner. Consider conditioner-only washes (co-washes) in between shampoos. Comb your hair with a wide-toothed comb while it’s wet, and use leave-in conditioners or hair oils for extra moisture.
- Styling: Find a cut that works with your hair and face shape—work with your coils instead of fighting against them. Avoid heavy styling gels and creams that will weigh your hair down and make it look lifeless.^{[10]
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- Haircut suggestions: Buzz cut, crew cut, short undercut, coily crop, tapered mohawk, low-taper fade, high fade, braids, twists, Afro, Afro fade, locs.

Section 3 of 7:

Hair Texture Chart for Men

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Hair texture refers to the diameter of each individual hair strand. The texture of your hair plays a significant role in how you need to take care of it. To tell which one you have, roll a single piece of hair between your fingers.
- Fine: You’ll barely feel anything there. If your hair is very fine, you’ll need to wash it more often to keep oil from building up.
- Medium: Your hair feels like a small piece of thread.
- Coarse: The hair is more obvious, like a thin piece of wire. If your hair is coarse, prioritize hydration.

Section 4 of 7:

Hair Density Chart for Men

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The density of your hair refers to the amount of hair on your head. The density is what determines how full your hair looks—and it can also impact how you style it. The three main densities are:
- Thin: You can see your scalp through your hair even if you’re not touching it. Opt for short, layered haircuts to make your hair look fuller, and use lightweight products like texturizing powder to give it a little more lift.
- Medium: You can see your scalp if you slick your hair back with your hand. If you want more volume, work a little texturizing powder into your roots when you style your hair.
- Thick: You can’t see much of your scalp even if your hair is slicked back. Full hair is usually desirable, but if your hair is extremely dense, you might opt for a cut like an undercut or longer on top and faded on the sides to help give it the shape you want.

Section 5 of 7:

Hair Porosity Chart for Men

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The porosity of your hair is how easily it absorbs moisture. If you get in the shower and it takes a long time to get your hair wet but then it dries quickly, your hair probably has low porosity. If it soaks up water easily and dries slowly, you probably have high porosity. If it’s somewhere in the middle, you have medium porosity. Here’s what that means for your hair:^{[11]
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- Low porosity: Use lightweight hair oil (like argan) and apply heat when you’re conditioning to help your hair absorb moisture better. Avoid over-conditioning, which can leave your hair stiff.
- Medium porosity: Your hair probably absorbs moisture pretty well, so you don’t need to do anything different based on your porosity.
- High porosity: Moisture can get into your hair easily, but it also escapes easily. Use thick moisturizers to help hydrate your hair.^{[12]
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Section 6 of 7:

Scalp Moisture Chart for Men

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This refers to how quickly your scalp produces oil. After you shampoo your hair, does your hair look oily again in a day or two? Or is it more like a week? Understanding your scalp moisture will help you determine how often to wash your hair.^{[13]
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- If you have dry hair, try going longer between washes, or add in conditioner-only washes (co-washes) between shampoos.
- If you have medium hair, your hair starts to look oily a few days after shampooing. Cleanse your hair as needed.
- If you have oily hair, you may actually be shampooing your hair too often, encouraging your scalp to produce more oils. Try going a little longer between washes (maybe 3x a week) to see if that helps. If not, wash your hair as needed.

Section 7 of 7:

Final Thoughts: Men’s Hair Types

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Your hair care will depend on a combination of all of these factors. Your exact hair type is incredibly unique, consisting of your curl pattern, strand texture, density, and scalp. You might even have multiple hair types—like curly hair behind your ears and straight hair on top, or thick hair near your neck and thin hair at the crown.
- Learning more about your hair helps you care for it: Professional hair stylist Janet Miranda says, “The tip for starting a hair care routine for men is to understand your hair type. Once you determine what type of hair you have, you can choose a shampoo, conditioner, and styling products that go along with your hair type and hairstyle.”^{[14]
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  Janet Miranda
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