Whether you’re curly, blonde or bald, you might have very different hair tomorrow. All 35 different types of hair can change completely in your lifetime. Some people evenwake up one day with a totally different hair textureafter a major hormonal shift… oops!
Hair is weird. This might not come as a surprise, knowing that it is made of the same stuff as rhino horns, horse hooves and bird feathers. There is plenty of room for experimentation. But don’t try anything crazy without consulting a trichologist or a dermatologist!
Let’s do the un-hair-able now and look at all the variations of this amazing organism called ‘hair’, and find out what your type is!
1. Different Types of Hair Based on Texture & Curl
Whether you havepin-straight strandsorbouncy coils, your type iswritten in your DNA… but that doesn’t mean it won’t change overnight. Hormones, aging, and even the weather couldflip the scripton your locks.
Let’s break it all down—what type of hair do you have?
Types of Straight Hair (Type 1)
Sleek, smooth, and naturally glossy—straight hairhas a mind of its own. If curls refuse to stay put, you’re probably in this category!
1A
Ultra-fine, silky, and flat. Zero volume, zero wave.
1B
Still straight, but with a little body. Might flip at the ends.
1C
Thick, coarse, and naturally resistant to curling. Hello, stubborn hair!
Types of Wavy Hair (Type 2)
Not straight, not curly—wavy hairsits right in between. It’s effortlessly messy andbeach-ready 24/7.
2A
Barely-there waves, soft and flowy.
2B
More defined, slightly frizzy, andhello, humidity!
2C
Almost curly! Thick, voluminous, and unpredictable.
Types of Curly Hair (Type 3)
Springy, full of life, and naturallybouncy. But don’t be fooled—curly hair has a mind of its own.
3A
Loose spiral curls, soft and shiny.
3B
Tighter curls with loads of volume.
3C
Corkscrew curls, super-defined and densely packed.
Coily/Kinky (Type 4)
The tightest curls of all—coily hair defies gravity. Shrinkage is real, but so is itsincredible volume.
4A
Well-defined, “S”-shaped coils.
4B
A zig-zag pattern, super soft and fluffy.
4C
The tightest coils, ultra-dense, and full of shrinkage magic!
2. Hair Porosity: The Secret to How Your Hair Absorbs Moisture
Ever feel like your hairdrinks up oil like a spongeor, on the contrary,repels water like a raincoat? That’shair porosity at work—the invisible trait that determines how well your strands absorb and retain moisture.
Wonderingwhat is low porosity hairorhow high porosity hair works? Let’s break it down!
Low Porosity Hair: Hydration Struggles Are Real!
Your hairrepels water like it’s dodging responsibilities. Products justsit on topinstead of sinking in.
- Key signs:Hair takes forever to dry, product buildup happens fast, and water beads up instead of absorbing.
- Care tip:Uselightweightproducts and deep conditionwith heatto open up the cuticle.
Medium Porosity Hair: The Golden Balance
Not too thirsty, not too resistant—medium porosity hair is the easiest to maintain. It absorbs moisture just right and holds on to it without drama.
- Key signs:Hair dries at a normal rate, holds styles well, and stays moisturized without effort.
- Care tip:Stick to a balanced hair routine—don’t overdo protein or moisture.
High Porosity Hair: Thirsty, But High Maintenance
Your hairsoaks up moisture like a sponge, but itloses it just as fast. Porous strands mean frizz, breakage, anda love-hate relationship with humidity.
- Key signs:Hair dries super fast, frizz is out of control, and moisture disappears in hours.
- Care tip:Load up ondeep conditioners, oils, and leave-insto lock in hydration.
3. Different Hair Colors: Every Shade Has a Story
Your hair color ismore than just pigment—it’s agenetic fingerprint, a rare trait, or even a sign of evolution. Each shade comes witha science-backed reasonwhy it exists.
But let’s be honest… somehair colors are rarer than diamonds. Ready to find out where yours ranks?
Types of Blonde Hair: More Than Just ‘Blonde’
Only 2% of adults worldwide are naturally blonde. Fromplatinumtohoney, blonde hairisn’t just one color—it’s awhole spectrum!
- Platinum Blonde– The lightest of them all, almost white!
- Ash Blonde– Cool-toned, silvery vibes.
- Golden Blonde– Warm, sun-kissed glow.
- Strawberry Blonde– A soft blend of blonde and red.
- Dirty Blonde– Blonde with a touch of brown, naturally “lived-in.”
- Dark Blonde– Almost light brown but still qualifies as blonde.
👉Did you know?Naturallyblonde curly hair is one of the rarest combinations in the world!
Types of Black Hair: The Most Common… But Not Always The Same
Black hair isthe dominant hair color worldwide, but that doesn’t mean it’s all the same. Some shades havecool blue undertones, while others leantoward deep brown.
- Jet Black– The darkest, deepest black with a blue sheen.
- Soft Black– A natural, warm black that looks brownish in sunlight.
- Blue-Black– A stunning mix of deep black and cool-toned blue.
- Brown-Black– Almost black, but with warm brown reflections.
👉 Black hair istechnically the strongest, as it hasthe thickest individual strands.
Texture Variations in Black Hair (Common in African Hair Types)
Not all Black hair is the same! It comes indifferent textures, from silky straight to ultra-coily.
- Fine Black Hair– Soft but dense; may be wavy or loosely coiled.
- Coarse Black Hair– Thick strands with strong curl patterns.
- Kinky Black Hair (Type 4A, 4B, 4C)– Extremely coiled or tightly curled, forming dense patterns.
- Wavy Black Hair (Type 2B-2C)– Naturally wavy black hair found in some African, South Asian, and Indigenous groups.
👉Wild fact:Some Indigenous Melanesian peoplenaturally have blonde Afro-textured hair, withzero European ancestry!
Types of Brown Hair Color: The Most Versatile of Them All
Brunettes, this is your moment! Brown hairranges from deep chocolate to sun-kissed caramel.
- Light Brown– The softest brown, almost dark blonde.
- Ash Brown– Cool-toned and slightly greyish.
- Golden Brown– Warm, honey-like reflections.
- Chestnut Brown– Rich brown with a hint of red.
- Mahogany Brown– A dark, reddish-brown hybrid.
- Dark Brown– Almost black, but with deep brown warmth.
Types of Red Hair Color: The Rarest of Them All!
Only1-2% of the world’s populationhasnatural red hair, making itone of the rarest hair colors in existence! It’s all thanks to theMC1R gene mutation.
- Strawberry Blonde– A subtle mix of blonde and red.
- Ginger– The classic fiery red shade.
- Copper Red– Bright and orange-toned.
- Auburn– A deep, brownish-red.
- Burgundy– Dark red with purple tones.
👉Wild fact:Redheadsproduce their own Vitamin D more efficientlythan other hair types!
Different Types of Gray & White Hair: Nature’s Silver Lining!
Going grey isn’t just about age—some people areborn with white streaks (poliosis), while othersdevelop silver strands as early as their teens.
- Salt & Pepper– A blend of black/brown with silver strands.
- Steel Grey– Dark, almost metallic grey.
- Silver Grey– Bright and reflective.
- White Hair– Completely pigment-free, making itactuallysee-through!
👉Did you know?Blonde hair is more likely to turn white, while darker hair usually goessilver or grey first.
4. Types of Hair Density: How Much Do You Have?
Ever wondered why some people’s hair looksfull and voluminous, while others struggle to cover their scalp? It’s all abouthair density.
Spoiler alert: You might havefewer strands than your blonde best friend, but that doesn’t mean your hair isn’t thick! Density is all abouthow many strands are packed onto your scalp.
Ready to find outwhere you rank?
Low Density Hair: The Struggle for Volume
If your scalppeeks through easily, you’ve gotlow-density hair. It’s not necessarilythin—there are justfewer hairs per square inch.
- Key signs:Hair looks flat, doesn’t hold volume, and your scalp is noticeable.
- Care tip:Go forlightweight volumizing products, avoid heavy oils, and try a layered haircut tofake fullness.
👉Did you know?Someblonde people have up to 150,000 strands, while redheads might only have90,000—but red hair is naturally thicker!
Medium Density Hair: The Balanced Type
Not too thick, not too thin—medium-density hairis thegolden middle ground. You’ve gotenough volumeto work with, but not so much that styling becomes a nightmare.
- Key signs:Hair covers the scalp well but isn’t super dense. Styles hold easily.
- Care tip:A mix ofhydration + light styling productskeeps your hair looking naturally full.
High Density Hair: Thick, Full, and Hard to Tame
If your hairfeels like a jungleand your stylisttakes forever to thin it out, congrats—you’ve gothigh-density hair. There’sa LOT of it, and that meansmajor volume.
- Key signs:No scalp visibility, thick ponytails, and hair thatrefuses to go flat.
- Care tip:Usehydrating, anti-frizzproducts to keep it manageable. Heavy conditioners are yourbest friend.
👉Wild fact:High-density hair takeslonger to drybecause there’s literallymore of it—so if you’re wondering why your hairstays wet for hours, you’ve got your answer!
5. Hair Thickness: It’s Not About How Much Hair You Have!
Think your hair isthinjust because it looks flat? Orthickjust because it feels heavy? Think again!Hair thickness isn’t about how much hair you have—it’s about the size of each strand.
Yes, individual hair strands come indifferent thicknesses, and that changeshow your hair looks, styles, and feels. So…what’s your type?
Fine Hair: Delicate, Soft, and Hard to Style
If your strands arebarely visible when you hold one up, you’ve gotfine hair. It’s naturally soft, silky, andprone to falling flat—but it also gets oilyfaster than a burger wrapper.
- Key signs:Hair feels super soft, gets greasy fast, and struggles to hold volume or curls.
- Care tip:Uselightweight, volumizing shampoosand avoid heavy oils or butters. Dry shampoo is yourlifesaver!
👉Did you know?People withfine hair actually have more hair strands—because the strands take up less space!
Medium Hair: The Perfect In-Between
Not too thin, not too thick—medium hairisthe easiest to manage. It holds styles, has decent volume, andbalancesoil production.
- Key signs:Hair isn’t too soft or too coarse. Holds curls but isn’t super thick.
- Care tip:Stick tohydrating, balanced products—too much weight makes it greasy, too little moisture makes it frizzy.
Coarse Hair: Strong, Thick, and Unbreakable
If your hairfeels like a single strand of thread, you’ve gotcoarse hair. It’s thethickest type, meaningstronger, more resistant strands—but also more prone tofrizz, dryness, and rebellious behavior.
- Key signs:Hair feels rough, dries slower, and might be naturally frizzy.
- Care tip:Deep condition often!Coarse hair craves moisture, so usecreamy, hydrating productsto keep it smooth.
👉Crazy fact:Coarse hair is the strongest type—it can handle up to 200 grams of weight per strand!
Hair Elasticity: The Secret to Strong, Bouncy Strands
Ever stretched a strand of hair between your fingers and watched itbounce back or snap? That’shair elasticity! It determineshow well your hair stretches without breaking, and it’s ahuge dealfor styling, strength, and hair health.
So…is your hair a superhero or a breakage-prone villain?
High Elasticity Hair: The Ultimate Bounce Back
If your hairstretches like a rubber bandand snaps back into place, congrats—you’ve gothigh elasticity hair! This means your hair isstrong, healthy, and resistant to breakage.
- Key signs:Hair stretchesfar without snapping, curls stay defined, and it resists heat damage better.
- Care tip:Maintain that strength withprotein treatments + deep conditioning—balance is key!
👉Did you know?Healthy curly and wavy hair usually has high elasticity, which helps it keep its shape!
Medium Elasticity Hair: The Best of Both Worlds
Not too stretchy, not too stiff—medium elasticity hairisthe perfect balance. It’sstrong enough to handle stylingbut still needs a little extra care to stay bouncy.
- Key signs:Hair stretchesa little before returningto normal, holds styles well, and isn’t too fragile.
- Care tip:Keep up amoisture-protein balanceto prevent it from shifting into low elasticity.
Low Elasticity Hair: Fragile and Breakage-Prone
If your hairsnaps almost instantly when stretched, you’ve gotlow elasticity hair. It’sweakened, brittle, and prone to breakage—but don’t worry, it can be fixed!
- Key signs:Hairbreaks easily, struggles to hold curls, and feels weak after chemical treatments.
- Care tip:Load up onprotein treatments and strengthening masksto rebuild elasticity andavoid excessive heat styling.
👉Crazy fact:Bleaching, excessive heat, and chemical treatments can destroy hair elasticity, making it more prone to snapping!
Hair Growth Patterns: Why Your Hair Has a Mind of Its Own
Fromwhorls to cowlicks, yourhair growth patternisgenetically programmed, and let’s be honest—sometimes, it’s pure chaos.
Whorls: The Hair Swirl That Defines Your Style
Ahair whorlis thatnatural spiralon your crown thatdetermines which way your hair falls. Some people haveone, some havetwo, and some (the lucky ones) havenone!
- Key signs:Hair naturally falls in a spiral at the crown, sometimes causing avisible “swirl” effect.
- Care tip:If styling feels impossible, workwithyour whorl—not against it!
Cowlicks: The Annoying Rebel Strand
If you have arandom tuft of hair that refuses to lay flat, congrats—you have acowlick. It grows in theopposite direction from the rest of your hair, and let’s be honest… it has a mind of its own.
- Key signs:A stubborn patch thatsticks up or grows sideways, especially near the forehead or crown.
- Care tip:Useheat stylingto tame it, or just embrace themessy-chiclook!
👉Wild fact:Cowlicks are genetic—if your parents have one, chances are, you do too!
Straight-Growing Hair: The Lucky Ones?
Some people’s hairgrows in one direction,lays flat, andnever fights back. Is it the dream? Maybe… unless you’re trying to getvolume or texture.
- Key signs:Hair falls straight down, rarelysticks up or changes direction.
- Care tip:Usetexturizing sprays or layered cutsfor extra volume.
Hair Health: Is Your Hair Thriving or Struggling?
Your hair might bebouncy and thriving, or it might bedamaged and screaming for help. But how do you know? Let’sdiagnose your strands!
Virgin Hair: Never Touched, Never Treated
Never dyed, never permed, never chemically processed?That’s virgin hair!It’s thestrongest, healthiest versionof your strands.
- Key signs:Naturally shiny, smooth, andholds moisture well.
- Care tip:Keep it that way withgentle shampoos and minimal heat styling.
👉Fun fact:Once you color or chemically treat hair, it can never be “virgin” again!
Processed Hair: Treated but Still Thriving
If you’vecolored, relaxed, or permedyour hair, it falls underprocessed hair. This means your cuticles have beenaltered, making itmore fragile.
- Key signs:Hair ismore porous, sometimes drier, and needsextra care.
- Care tip:Usebond-building treatments(like Olaplex) to keep it strong.
👉Crazy fact:Bleach literally eats away your hair’s protein, so deep conditioning is a must!
Damaged Hair: In Need of Serious Help
If your hair feelslike straw, breaks easily, and hassplit ends everywhere, it’s indamage control mode. But don’t panic—there’s hope!
- Key signs:Hair feelsrough, dry, brittle, and frizzes uncontrollably.
- Care tip:Hydration, protein, and trims—your hair needsall threeto recover!
👉Shocking fact:Split ends can travel UP your hair shaft—so if you don’t trim them, they just keep going!
Which of the Following is Not a Type of Hair?
Trick question? Maybe. But if you’ve made it this far, you probably knowhair isn’t just straight or curly—it’s a whole spectrum!
So, let’s play a quick game.Which of the following is NOT a real hair type?
- A)Coily Hair
B)Porous Hair
C)Wavy Hair
D)Straight Hair
Got your answer? 🤔
If you guessedB (Porous Hair)—you’re right!Porosityis ahair characteristic, not a type! Hairporositydetermines how well your strandsabsorb and retain moisture, but it doesn’t definewhether your hair is straight, curly, or wavy.
Now that we’ve settled that—are you sure youknow your true hair type?Let’s find out!
What Type of Hair Do I Have?
Stillunsure about your hair type? Maybe your strands feel straight some days, wavy on others—or you’re not sure if your curls are2C or 3A.
Figuring it outmatters more than you think. The rightproducts, treatments, and haircare routinedepend on knowingyour exact hair type.
Get a Free Hair Type Analysis with Dr. Serkan Aygin
Why guess when you can getexpert advice for free?
Dr. Serkan Aygin, voted Best Hair Doctor in Europe (2019)by a European medical committee in Paris, is offeringfree online consultations.
✅Find out if you have high or low porosity hair
✅Identify your true curl pattern or straightness level
✅Discover the best care routine based on science
Click here to book your free consultation with Dr. Serkan Aygin!
