Exploring Hair Types with the Andre Walker Method

When it comes to hair problems, it’s crucial to get to know which products will be most effective for your hair.

The Andre Walker Hair Typing System, is a classification system for hair types which has been created by Oprah Winfrey’s hairstylist, Andre Walker.

This system is the best way to explain all different hair textures that exist. According to him there are four hair types: straight, wavy, curly, kinky. Each of these types is further subdivided into A, B, and C, corresponding to narrowness, looseness, and thickness of each strand.

Type 1 or Straight Hair:

1A) Thin and delicate hair.

1B) Slightly thicker than 1A.

1C) Thick and typically the shiniest, as scalp oils easily reach the hair tips.

Type 2 or Wavy Hair:

2A) Delicate "S"-shaped waves, neither well-defined nor voluminous.

2B) More defined waves, tightening toward the tips.

2C) Fully voluminous with perfectly defined "S" waves.

Type 3 or Curly Hair: 

3A) "Round S" curls prone to frizz and loss of definition.

3B) Tighter texture, thicker, and more voluminous.

3C) Densely grouped strands for a huge, voluminous look.

Type 4 or Kinky Hair:

4A) Tight spirals with a perfectly defined "S" shape, often thin, high-density, and brittle.

4B) "Z" shape with less defined curls and increased brittleness.

4C) Tightly coiled curls in a "Z" shape, with around 75% shrinkage compared to hair length. Doesn't retain moisture easily and is the driest of all curly hair types.