Guide · MAY 1, 2026 · 5 MIN READ

Why your hair texture matters for booking

Emma Reyes

Editor at KnipCloud

Different hair textures need different stylists. Here's how to filter for the right match.

Not every stylist works with every texture. That's not a flaw — it's a craft thing. Knowing your texture and filtering for it is the single biggest upgrade you can make to your booking quality.

The five textures

We use the Andre Walker scale as a rough common language:

Type 1: straight, no curl pattern.
Type 2: wavy, loose S-curves.
Type 3: curly, defined ringlets or corkscrews.
Type 4: coily, tight Z-pattern or springs.
Mixed: changes by region of the head.

What this changes for booking

A stylist trained on straight hair may not know how to cut Type 4 coils dry, where the cut needs to compensate for shrinkage. A specialist in curls may not have a sharp scissor-over-comb fade in their muscle memory.

How to filter

On every KnipCloud salon profile, the stylist bio lists the textures they specialise in. Filter for your type. If nothing's listed, that means the salon is general — fine for routine cuts, riskier for first visits.

What to ask up front

"Do you cut [my texture] dry, wet, or both?"
"Can I see a photo of past work on this texture?"
"How would you approach this style on my hair specifically?"

A pro answers all three without flinching. An amateur dodges. Pay attention.

Frequently asked questions

What are the main hair texture types?+

The Andre Walker classification splits hair into four types: 1 (straight), 2 (wavy), 3 (curly), 4 (coily). Each has subtypes A/B/C based on how tight the wave or curl is. Most stylists work across types but specialise in one or two.

Why does my barber struggle with my texture?+

Most likely they trained on a different texture and haven't built reps on yours. A barber who's worked mostly with straight hair won't intuitively know how a coily 4B section springs up after the cut. Look for shops that explicitly list textured-hair experience.

Should I wash my hair before a cut?+

Most barbers in NL prefer to wash you in-shop — the cut is more accurate on freshly-washed hair, and they want to see how YOUR hair behaves wet. If you wash at home, skip the heavy product on cut day.

How do I know if a salon is good with my texture?+

Check reviews for mentions of your hair type. Ask the salon directly: 'Have you cut [type] hair recently — anything in your Instagram or portfolio?' A confident salon will show you work; a wrong-fit one will be vague.

Why does my cut look different at home than in the chair?+

Three things: salon lighting flatters, salon-style products are different from yours, and the barber styled with techniques you may not replicate. Ask them to walk you through how to style it at home — most are happy to.

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Written by Emma Reyes, Editor at KnipCloud