Hair types: Curly, wavy, straight & coily hair

Your hair is a world of its own that is unpredictable, expressive, and unapologetically unique. There are four main hair types, each one a universe with its own rules, its own rhythm.

Within every type lives a range of subtypes like subtle shifts in curl, wave, volume, or texture that make your hair yours. These details matter. They whisper what products will nurture it, what ingredients to avoid, how it behaves in humidity or heat.

Today, we’ll explore these hair types and their subtypes, the differences between them, and the care they quietly ask for. Because knowing your hair is the first step toward truly respecting it.

What are the 4 main hair types: How to identify?

Let’s begin with a comparison that does more than define.

Best hairstyles for curly hair

Pineapple updo

High and proud, the pineapple gathers curls at the crown of your head and lets your coils spill freely like a fountain of texture. It’s a go-to for day-two hair or preserving curls overnight. But more than that, it says: this is how my hair rests, and it still slays.

Wash-and-go

The most honest hairstyle a curl can wear. A good cleanse, a defining leave-in or gel, and a little patience. This style reveals your natural curl pattern; in all its tight, loose, or in-between glory.

Half-up, half-down

For days when your curls want a little structure but don’t want to be boxed in. Pulling the top half back while letting the rest flow freely creates balance, a little elegance, a little edge. You can add a silk scrunchie or a few loose tendrils for softness.

Braided crown or twist halo

Part protective, part poetic, this look weaves your curls into a crown around your head. It’s tried well for weddings, long days, or whenever you want your hair to stay put without staying boring.

Flattering hairstyles for wavy hair

Loose low bun with face-framing waves

Not every updo has to be sleek. The low bun with soft waves around the face keeps things elegant without erasing your hair’s natural rhythm. It’s graceful and sure to be expressive for days when you want to be polished but still feel like you.

Textured beach waves

Yes, even waves can wear exaggerated ones. A little sea salt spray, a diffuser, or a few minutes with a curling wand (used strategically, not obsessively) gives your natural texture a carefree lift. 

Half-up twist or knot

Pulling back the top half of your hair with a simple twist or knot lets your waves shine while keeping them out of your face. It’s romantic without trying too hard.

Layered shag or curtain bangs

Some styles aren’t a “look,” they’re a statement. A shag cut with layers or curtain bangs adds dimension to wavy hair, letting every bend and curve catch the light.

Most sleek hairstyles for straight hair

Glass hair bob

Minimal, modern, and sharp enough to make a statement without saying a word. The glass hair bob turns straight hair into sculpture. It works best with hair that naturally lies flat and showcases every angle like a reflection.

High ponytail

There’s power in pulling it all back. A high ponytail on straight hair reads clean and confident, like you have places to be and stories to tell. Smooth edges, a little shine serum, and a wrapped strand around the base.

Middle part with long layers

Sometimes, you just need to part. A precise middle part paired with subtle long layers gives movement to otherwise uniform lengths. It’s that barely-there shift that makes a straight style look effortless and intentional.

Slicked-back wet look

Daring in its simplicity, this runway favorite lets your natural straight texture take the spotlight. With gel or styling cream, comb your hair back to reveal your face and bone structure.

Charming hairstyles for coily hair

Afro with a halo glow

Let it live. Let it rise. With the right moisture and a soft pick, your coils form a natural halo that doesn’t need accessories to shine. This look says: my hair grows toward the sky, and that’s exactly where it belongs.

Flat twists into a puff

Two textures, one story. Flat twists across the scalp pull your hair into a puff at the crown. It protects your roots, defines your coils, and puts the spotlight right where it belongs: on your beautiful volume.

Mini twists

Not every style has to be big to be bold. Mini twists are delicate but powerful and a protective style that offers versatility, low maintenance, and charm all at once. Wear them loose, pin them back, or gather them up.

Bantu knots

Coils, rolled into spirals, stacked like little sculptures. Bantu knots are traditional and timeless, each one a coil within a coil, echoing the strength of your strands. They’re protective, radiant, and when undone, leave behind a curl pattern that dances for days.

Hair dryer for different types of hair

No matter what shape your hair takes, it deserves care that honors its truth. Heat, if used without intention, can be harsh. It can dull the shine of straight strands, scatter the wave, collapse the curl, or exhaust the coil. That’s where the Laifen Swift Special steps in, not as a loud machine, but as a tool that listens.

For straight hair:

Straight hair can be stubborn, oily at the roots, dry at the ends. The Laifen Swift Special reads the balance. Its intelligent heat control and ionic airflow smooth the cuticle without overworking the hair. It leaves behind a shine that’s more glow than gloss.

For wavy hair:

Waves walk a fine line and easily weighed down, easily fluffed out. They want lift without the crunch. The Laifen’s diffuser cradles each wave, drying them in place without stealing their bounce. You walk away with texture that speaks softly, but stands tall.

For curly hair:

Curly hair is a story, you know that every loop, a sentence. But curls don’t like being rushed. The Laifen Swift Special offers patience, not pressure. Its constant airflow and gentle temperature shifts define the curl as it dries, locking in shape, moisture, and memory. Because curls don’t forget how they were treated.

For coily hair:

Coils are strong, but they’re not invincible. They tangle with humidity, shrink with tension, break without warning. The Laifen’s even heat and low-decibel motor create a peaceful drying experience, not just for your hair, but for your headspace. The diffuser lifts each coil, letting it stretch, set, and shine on its own terms.

Styling tips for different hair types

For straight hair

• Volume starts at the root. You can use a root-lifting spray or mousse before blow-drying, and dry upside down to give fine strands a lift they’ll actually hold.

• Don’t skip the texture spray. Straight hair often slips out of styles so a light mist helps braids, buns, or waves stay put without adding weight.

• Invest in a heat protectant that doesn’t weigh down. Straight hair is quick to show damage, and even quicker to fall limp under heavy formulas.

For wavy hair

• Apply a curl cream or light gel when hair is soaking wet not damp. Wavy strands respond best when they’re clumped and hydrated from the start.

• Scrunch gently with a microfiber towel or cotton T-shirt to preserve your natural pattern without adding frizz.

• To refresh waves on non-wash days, use a spray bottle with water + leave-in conditioner, then finger-twirl pieces to reset definition.

For curly hair

• Section before styling. Curls need direction, and breaking hair into sections helps you evenly distribute product and preserve shape.

• Layer leave-in + cream + gel — the holy trinity of curl definition. Just enough to define, not so much that it suffocates your bounce.

• Use a diffuser on low heat, low speed, and hold it still. Let your curls dry into themselves. Movement causes frizz, stillness defines.

For coily hair

• Don’t style dry. Ever. Coils thrive on water, so remember to hydrate first, then detangle with fingers or a wide-tooth comb while hair is wet and coated in conditioner.

• Twist-outs, braid-outs, or banding can give length and definition without heat. Let your coils stretch gently overnight while staying protected.

• Seal your ends with a rich butter or oil. Coily hair loses moisture faster especially at the tips. Keep it soft and safe.

All in all

Whether it coils tightly, ripples softly, spirals with joy, or falls smooth and straight, your hair type is not a flaw or a challenge. It’s a feature. A fingerprint. A quiet kind of pride. Listening when it’s dry, responding when it frizzes, and celebrating every day it simply shows up as itself.

Sienna Marlowe

Sienna holds a degree in cosmetic chemistry and has tested products for top brands. Her advice is honest, precise, and always with a touch of glam.