Understanding Hair Types: Everything You Need to Know

Understanding Hair Types: Everything You Need to Know

• October 28, 2025
• Dr Paul Spano

Last updated on November 21, 2025

Hair comes in an incredible range of textures and patterns, from fine and straight to thick and tightly coiled. Understanding your hair type helps you choose the right care routine and spot early signs of thinning or damage.

Types of hair vary across regions and cultures. In Australia, straight and wavy hair are widespread, but our diverse population means that curly and coily textures are equally important to understand. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander hair types, for example, often feature tightly coiled structures adapted to Australia’s warm climate.

Knowing how your hair behaves allows for better scalp care, more effective styling and tailored treatment solutions. At Hair Transplants Melbourne, we assess all types of hair to deliver personalised restoration plans for healthy, natural results.

What Determines Hair Type

Your hair type is largely genetic, influenced by the shape of the follicle beneath the scalp. A round follicle usually produces straight hair, while an oval or flattened follicle results in wavy or curly hair. Other factors, such as the angle at which the follicle grows and the shape of the hair shaft, contribute to overall texture and curl pattern. Hormones, health and age can also affect your hair’s characteristics over time.

The Four Main Types of Hair

Hair is commonly classified into four main categories based on curl pattern and structure. This widely used hair texture chart groups them as follows:

1. Type 1: Straight Hair
   Straight hair lies flat and reflects light easily, often appearing shiny. It is more likely to become oily because natural scalp oils travel down the hair shaft without obstruction.
2. Type 2: Wavy Hair
   Wavy hair has a natural “S” shape that can range from loose bends to defined waves. It tends to hold volume and texture well, though it can frizz in humidity.
3. Type 3: Curly Hair
   Curly hair features tight, springy curls. It can be more prone to dryness, as the scalp’s natural oils have difficulty moving along the curved strands.
4. Type 4: Coily or Kinky Hair
   Coily hair has very tight curls or zig-zag patterns. It often feels dense and spongy but can also be delicate. This hair type benefits from extra moisture and gentle handling to prevent breakage.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Hair Types

Many Aboriginal Australians have hair types that vary across the Type 3 and Type 4 categories. These hair structures often evolved to protect the scalp from Australia’s intense sun and heat. Coily or tightly curled hair naturally provides insulation and reduces direct UV exposure to the scalp. However, this hair type can also experience unique challenges, such as dryness, breakage, or traction alopecia caused by tight hairstyles.

For Torres Strait Islander individuals, hair may range from looser curls to tightly coiled textures depending on regional ancestry and genetic heritage. Understanding the specific hair texture types common among Indigenous Australians allows clinics to create targeted scalp care and restoration plans that respect cultural differences and deliver the best results.

How to Know Your Hair Type

To determine your hair type, start by washing and air-drying it without any products. Observe the natural shape, texture and volume once dry. Straight hair tends to lie flat, wavy hair forms soft bends, curly hair coils and coily hair forms tight spirals or zig-zags. You can also compare your hair to images on a hair texture chart to find the closest match.

Texture also includes the diameter of individual strands. Fine hair feels delicate and smooth, while coarse hair feels thicker and more robust. Medium hair falls somewhere in between. This combination of curl pattern and strand thickness determines how hair behaves and responds to care routines.

What Is the Most Common Hair Type?

Globally, the most common hair types are Type 1 and Type 2, particularly among Asian and European populations. In Australia’s multicultural society, there is no single dominant hair type. Straight and wavy hair are prevalent among people of European and Asian backgrounds, while curly and coily hair are more common among Aboriginal Australians, Pacific Islanders and those of African descent.

Can You Change Your Hair Type?

Your natural hair type is genetically determined, so it cannot be permanently changed. However, temporary changes in curl pattern or texture can occur due to heat styling, chemical treatments, or hormonal shifts. Some people notice that their hair texture becomes finer or curlier with age, after pregnancy, or due to medical conditions affecting hormones or the scalp.

Healthy hair care and professional treatment can improve the condition of your natural hair type, even if its texture remains the same. At Hair Transplants Melbourne, our doctors assess hair structure, follicle health and scalp condition to develop personalised hair restoration, hair growth and strengthening plans.

Why Understanding Hair Type Matters

Knowing your hair type helps you make informed choices about products, styling techniques and treatment options. Straight hair, for example, benefits from lightweight formulas that do not weigh it down, while curly and coily hair needs deeper hydration and gentle detangling.

Hair type awareness also plays a vital role in hair loss treatment. A fine, straight hair strand may show thinning sooner, while dense or coily hair may mask early signs of shedding. Clinics use this information to design more effective solutions, from Growth Factor Therapy and exosomes stem cell treatment to hair transplants and scalp micropigmentation.

Hair Type, Genetics and Hair Loss

Genetics determines not only hair texture but also susceptibility to certain types of hair loss. Straight or fine hair may be more affected by androgenetic alopecia (pattern hair loss), while coily hair can experience breakage and traction-related shedding from tight hairstyles. Understanding these distinctions ensures that treatment addresses the root cause rather than only the visible symptoms.

Medical Hair Growth Solutions for All Hair Types

Your hair type is more than just a visual characteristic. It reflects your genetics, heritage and the biology of your scalp and follicles. By understanding how your hair behaves and what it needs, you can protect its health and identify issues early. For anyone concerned about hair thinning or loss, a professional assessment ensures that treatment aligns with your unique hair structure and lifestyle.

At Hair Transplants Melbourne, we help men and women of all backgrounds understand their hair, restore growth and maintain healthy, lasting results through advanced hair loss treatments and expert medical care. Contact us for more information or get a free online quote today.

FAQs

What are the 4 main hair types?

The four main hair types are straight (Type 1), wavy (Type 2), curly (Type 3) and coily or kinky (Type 4). Each type has unique care needs and responds differently to products and styling. At Hair Transplants Melbourne, our specialists analyse your hair and scalp to recommend the best treatment. You can request a free online quote to explore the most suitable options for your hair type and hair loss concern.

How do I tell what my hair type is?

Wash your hair, let it dry naturally and observe its shape. Straight hair lies flat, wavy hair forms soft bends, curly hair coils, and coily hair creates tight spirals. Our doctors at Hair Transplants Melbourne can assess your hair structure more precisely and recommend medical hair growth treatments or hair transplantation. Get a free online quote or contact us to learn more about your hair type and how our tailored treatments can restore its strength and vitality.

What is the rarest hair type?

The rarest hair type worldwide is Type 1A, which is completely straight, fine and smooth. It’s most common in East Asian populations and tends to show thinning more visibly. Hair Transplants Melbourne provides medical solutions for all hair types, from fine straight strands to dense curls, including Growth Factor therapy, exosomes treatment and hair transplants. You can request a free online quote to find out how our doctors can help restore thickness and improve scalp health.

What is the most difficult hair type?

Coily or kinky hair (Type 4) can be the most delicate, as its tight curl pattern makes it prone to dryness and breakage. It requires gentle care and regular hydration. Our Melbourne clinic offers treatments designed to strengthen follicles and protect natural curl structure. Whether your goal is repair or regrowth, our experts can help. Get a free online quote today or contact our team to discover the best growth treatment for your unique hair type.

Can you change your hair type?

Your natural hair type is determined by genetics and follicle shape, so it cannot be permanently changed. However, hormones, health, or heat styling may alter its texture temporarily. At our Melbourne hair loss clinic, we assess these changes to ensure your scalp remains healthy. If you’ve noticed a shift in your hair’s texture or thickness, request a free online quote to see what treatments can support your hair’s natural structure and promote healthy hair growth.