What’s My Curl Type? A Guide to Wavy, Curly & Coily Hair

Knowing your curl type can help you identify the best products, treatments and styling techniques for your curls.

By Maggie Couto
October 1, 2025
3 min read

Knowing your curl type can help you identify the best products for curly hair - along with the right treatments and styling techniques for your natural hair.

The curl type system focuses on 3 types - wavy hair, curly hair, and coily/ afro hair - which are then broken down into 3 further sub-types determined by the shape and diameter of your curl.

Match your curl type to the chart below to see where your natural texture fits in. This will help you understand which products and application techniques will work best for your textured hair routine.

Note that no curl is the same, so you may not fit perfectly into one category or subcategory. Having many different curl types is completely normal - and what makes our natural hair unique! :)

What’s My Curl Type?

Type 2 - Wavy Hair

Wavy hair lies somewhere between straight and curly, and falls in loose S shapes. It has less sheen than straight hair and is more prone to frizz. It needs some extra hydration, but not too much, as this will quickly weigh the waves down.

Avoid heavy leave-in conditioners - a light application of Curl Creme and Mega Hold Curl Gel works well to enhance and hold those waves in place. These are some of the best products for wavy hair to keep definition without heaviness.

2a – Tousled, beachy waves that sit close to the head, with a little volume.
2b – More defined waves, beginning a few inches down from the root with slight volume.
2c – Waves that begin at the root with a more defined S shape and extra body. Hair texture is usually varied with some true curls in the mix.

Type 3 - Curly Hair

Curly hair strands clump together and wind around in a spiral shape forming ringlets. This hair type can be dry, as the natural oil from the root struggles to make its way down the spirals.

Curly hair benefits from regular deep conditioning treatments and using the best products for curly hair to lock in moisture. Follow our curly hair routine for perfect ringlets.

3a – Defined loops the size of a cork from a wine bottle.
3b – Springy ringlets the size of your index finger with more volume than 3a curls.
3c – Tight corkscrew curls the circumference of a straw with lots of volume.

Type 4 - Coily & Afro Hair

These curls range from a very tightly coiled S-shaped to a Z-shaped kinky pattern. The hair can appear shorter than it is due to the tightness of the curl (known as shrinkage) and can feel soft and fine or coarse and wiry depending on the hair thickness.

Coily hair and afro hair are prone to breakage, dryness, and tangles. Hydrating textured hair products with oils and deep conditioning are essential. To maximize results, follow our coily hair routine and add in sealing oils for hydration. Many people with natural hair also seal in moisture with jojoba oil - which you’ll find in our Intense Range!

4a – Tightly coiled S-shaped corkscrews the size of a crochet needle. Coils are compact and dense but with a visible curl pattern.
4b – Very tightly coiled curls like the spring in a pen, bending in angles like the letter Z. Tighter than 4a and less defined.
4c – The tightest curl pattern, z-shaped like 4b but denser with greater shrinkage.

So, What is My Curl Type?

As always, if you have any questions about your curl type or which routine fits you best, we’re here to help.
Whether you’re working on a wavy, curly, or coily hair routine, the right steps and the right products will help you get the most out of your natural hair!