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Hair Type Quiz: Find Your Curl Pattern

Discover your hair type. This quiz uses FIA & Andre Walker criteria, assessing curl pattern, density, and scalp, to suggest your category with tips.

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Hair Type Quiz

Your hair behaves in patterns. When you learn those patterns, care gets simpler. This quiz helps you find your pattern at home and gives practical care tips. It also notes where typing falls short, so you can use it as a tool, not a rule.

What “hair type” means

Hair type usually refers to the shape of strands when they dry without styling: straight, wavy, curly, or coily. Two popular systems describe this:

  • Andre Walker groups hair into Types 1 to 4 with a, b, c subtypes by curl size.
  • FIA looks at curl pattern, volume, and strand width.

Researchers are also testing quantitative ways to classify curls, such as counting curves per length. That work is ongoing, but it helps explain why two people with “3C” hair can still behave differently.

How to identify your hair type at home

Use a clean slate and simple checks. You do not need special tools.

Step 1. Start with a reset wash

Shampoo and condition as usual. Skip heavy stylers for this test. Let your hair dry without brushing. Blot with a cotton T-shirt or microfiber towel. Do not rough-rub.

Step 2. Observe the pattern

  • Straight dries flat from root to tip.
  • Wavy forms loose S-shapes, often straighter at the roots.
  • Curly forms clear loops or spirals.
  • Coily forms tight coils, zigzags, or springy corkscrews.

Look at multiple sections. Many people have mixed patterns.

Step 3. Note density

Stand in good light and look at your scalp without parting. If you see a lot of scalp, density is low. If you barely see scalp, density is high. A quick check is a low ponytail. If the ponytail looks slim, density is likely low. Thick means high. Medium falls in between.

Step 4. Consider porosity

Porosity is how easily hair absorbs and holds water. After washing, time how fast your hair goes from wet to damp without heat. Fast-drying hair can be higher porosity. Slow-drying hair can be lower porosity. You do not need a “float test.” Watch real behavior over a few wash days.

Step 5. Check scalp oiliness

How your scalp feels 24 hours after washing matters. Oily scalp often needs more frequent cleansing or lighter conditioners at the roots. Dry or tight scalp may need gentler cleansing and more hydration. For general care guidance, see dermatologist tips on everyday hair care.

Key factors beyond “type”

  • Strand width. Fine strands need gentle handling and lighter products. Coarse strands often tolerate richer formulas and more hold.
  • Density. Low density benefits from airy stylers and less layering. High density often needs stronger hold to reduce puffiness.
  • Porosity. High porosity tends to lose moisture quickly. Look for creams and film-forming gels. Low porosity benefits from light layers and occasional warm-water rinses to help products sink in.

How this quiz uses your answers

The quiz reads signals you can observe at home. Pattern, density, porosity, strand width, and scalp feel guide the result. We do not diagnose. We suggest a starting point so you can test products with less guesswork. If you are choosing a new style after you learn your type, What Haircut Should I Get? walks through shape and length decisions with examples.

Next steps after you find your type

  • Match routine to goals. If you want volume and movement, you may prefer lighter products and minimal oils. If you want definition, layer hydration and finish with gel.
  • Adjust for length and lifestyle. If you are debating a big chop, Should I Cut My Hair Short? can help you think through upkeep and face framing.
  • Fringe needs its own plan. If you are considering a fringe on wavy or curly hair, see Should I Get Bangs? for pros and cons by hair behavior.
  • Color changes porosity. If you plan to color after identifying your type, read What Color Should I Dye My Hair? to think through shade families and maintenance.

When to see a professional

Book with a licensed stylist or a dermatologist if you notice sudden shedding, scaling, burning, or patchy loss. A pro can tailor care to your scalp health and styling goals. For routine basics, these evidence-based care tips are a solid starting point.

Limitations of our hair typing quiz

Hair typing is a guide. Many heads have more than one pattern. Health, hormones, and chemical processes change behavior over time. Culture and identity also shape hair choices. Use the labels to narrow options, then trust what you see in the mirror. If something works for you, it works.

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Questions of The Quiz

1
After a wash with no styling products, how does your hair dry naturally?
A young woman is drying her hair with a hair dryer.

  • Straight from roots to ends

  • Loose S-waves

  • Defined spirals

  • Tight coils or zigzags

2
After washing with no products, about how long does your hair take to air-dry to 80%?
A woman with red curly hair is posing for a photo.

  • Less than 1 hour

  • 1–2 hours

  • 2–3 hours

  • More than 3 hours

3
Looking at a naturally dried strand, what shape do you see?
A woman in a white robe is smiling while sitting on a bed.

  • Straight line

  • Gentle S

  • Full S or loose spiral

  • Tight coil or zigzag

4
When dry with no products, how much lift do you see at the roots?
A woman is tying her hair up in a pink bikini.

  • Lays flat

  • Slight lift

  • Visible lift

  • Strong lift/shrinkage

5
Which letter looks most like your hair strand when dry?
A woman wearing a colorful top and backwards hat.

  • I

  • J

  • S

  • C

6
Gently stretch a wet shed strand. What happens when you let go?
A young woman in a leather jacket leaning on a bench.

  • It breaks easily

  • Stretches a bit and returns

  • Stretches and fully springs back

  • Stretches but stays longer

7
Air-dried with no products, how is your frizz level?
A woman getting her hair done in a salon.

  • Minimal

  • A little at mid-lengths

  • Noticeable throughout

  • High with shrinkage

8
About 24 hours after washing, how does your scalp feel?
A woman with a bun in her hair looking at a green wall.

  • Oily at the roots

  • Balanced/comfortable

  • Slightly dry or tight

  • Dry/itchy

9
How would you describe your strand width between your fingers?
A young asian woman smiling in the street.

  • Fine

  • Medium

  • Coarse

  • Varies across my head

10
Average clump size when your hair dries naturally:
A young woman sitting on the beach in floral pants.

  • No clumps, strands separate

  • Large S-sections

  • Ringlet-size clumps

  • Very small tight clumps

11
On a humid day with no product, your hair becomes:
A black woman sitting at a table in a restaurant.

  • Flatter or oilier at roots

  • Slightly frizzier at ends

  • Frizzier with bigger volume

  • Very frizzy with shrinkage

12
Wash frequency for scalp comfort is usually:
A woman sneezing in bed.

  • Daily or every other day

  • Every 2–3 days

  • Weekly

  • Longer than a week

13
If you lightly rake through fully dry hair with fingers, what happens?
A woman is getting her hair cut by a pair of scissors.

  • Stays smooth and straight

  • Soft waves loosen a bit

  • Ringlets break up and frizz slightly

  • Coils frizz and shrink more

14
Where does your pattern start when hair dries naturally?
A girl with long blonde hair is standing in a field.

  • No pattern, stays straight

  • From mid-lengths

  • Near the roots

  • From the scalp

15
When wet and left alone, your strands form:
A young woman posing in front of a city at night.

  • Straight ribbons

  • Soft S-waves

  • Springy spirals

  • Tight coils or zigzags