Hair Typing...I just don't get it.

The most difficult part of my transition has been trying to figure out what my hair type is. I've lurked* around many blogs, forums and website trying to learn my hair type and I just get confused and it doesn't help that it appears there are different situations going on up there. The alpha-numeric (or Walker) system seems to be just based on curl/wave pattern; but this LOIS systems has my brain in knots. It also takes sheen, shine (I thought those two things were the same), frizz and the moisture absorption. 
So, since I have yet to figure out what my hair is like with a cute little code, you'll be getting the long, wordy, drawn out version. Yay you.