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What is 1a hair? Learn all about the 1a hair type including 1a hair type products, difference between 1a vs 1b hair and more in this article.
In This Article:
- What Is 1A Hair
- How To Identify 1a Hair
- Differences between 1A, 1B and 1C Hair
- Caring For 1a Hair Texture
- What Are Top Hair Products For 1a Hair
- Why You Should Trust Us?
Hair “types” became popular in the 1990’s when a well-known American hair stylist Andre Walker, created the classification of human hair into 12 different types which today is called as the Andre Walker Scale or more commonly known as the Hair Chart.
Well, earlier hair types were just generalized as straight, wavy or curly hair, but as per the hair chart, you will get to know the extent of how straight or curly your hair actually is. Pretty cool, right?
So the 12 hair types are numbered from 1 to 4 (to know your hair’s texture), each number consisting of 3 alphabets – A, B and C (to know the shape of the hair strand).
In short, hair type 1 is straight hair, hair type 2 is wavy hair, hair type 3 is curly hair and hair type 4 is coily or kinky hair.
What may be hard here is to know whether your “straight” hair comes under the 1A, 1B or 1C category, so here are the details.
What Is 1A Hair
Distinctive characteristics of the 1A hair type
- Very fine in texture.
- Stands very flat and looks limp and weighed down.
- Each hair strand is very thin in diameter.
- Prone to easy breakage because the hair strand is super fragile.
- Hairstyles do not hold for a long time.
- Hair doesn’t have any volume and body.
How To Identify 1a Hair
The 1A hair type is basically the straightest hair can get out there. It is absolutely straight and is extremely fine in texture and very thin in size.
One of the biggest disadvantages of this hair type is how easily it breaks because the hair is very fine and fragile.
Also, most often, even when styling this hair type to get waves or curls, most often the hairstyle doesn’t hold for a very long time unless it is permanent.
Differences between 1A, 1B and 1C Hair
Very often people with the 1A hair type, often confuse their hair with the 1C hair type and this is because the 1A and 1C hair types are rather similar in terms of how straight the hair strands are, but only vary in terms of hair thickness, where the 1C hair strands are way coarser than the 1A hair strands.
When it comes to the 1B hair type, the strands are just relatively straight, but have very subtle bends along the length of the hair, making it easier to differentiate as compared to the 1A and 1C hair types.
| Hair Type 1 A | Hair Type 1B | Hair Type 1C |
| The hair strands that are absolutely straight, but are very fine in texture. The strand is super thin. | The hair strands are relatively straight, but have a few bends which are very subtle, only along the length of the hair. | The hair strands may look similar to 1A hair, because the hair strands are very straight, but are only coarser in texture. |
- Related: What Is 1B Hair
- Related: 1c Hair Guide
Caring For 1a Hair Texture
1. Use the right products to add hair volume
Whenever you are using products like shampoos, conditioners, hair oils and moisturizers, make sure to use ones that are specifically designed for use on “fine” or “thin” hair.
You always need to look out for products that are lightweight, be it oils or moisturizing creams.
The reason lightweight products need to be used on fine and thin hair is because the 1A hair type is already prone to standing dull and limp and most often looks very flat and weighed down.
This hair type has no volume or bounce. Therefore, using a lightweight product will not further weigh down the hair when used.
You can also look out for hair volumizing products that can help give your fine hair a natural bounce.
2. Use the right technique to brush your hair and get rid of tangles
It is not too often that fine hair gets tangled up, but yes there are some pesky tangles that show up sometimes and need to be taken care of. Well, the best way to get rid of tangles is by using a pin hair brush.
Make sure to start with detangling your hair from the bottom and gently holding onto your hair, working your way to the top.
Using this method to detangle 1A hair (or any hair type in general) is very important because 1A hair is extremely prone to breakage and even a little tugging on the hair strand can cause it damage.
3. Wash your hair regularly
Our scalps have natural oils called sebum. This is what keeps our hair moisturized.
And as 1A hair is fine, straight and thin, this natural hair oil flows down along the length of the strand very easily making the hair look very oily and greasy, even though it may have been just washed.
Therefore, for those with 1A hair, it is important that you should wash your hair at least three times a week or once every alternate day.
Here’s a tip, you can stick to conditioning your hair every two hair washes with shampoo. This is because 1A hair is sufficiently moisturized with the hair’s natural oil (sebum) and therefore doesn’t require external conditioning too often.
Make sure not to over-wash your hair, as this will stimulate the sebaceous glands and accelerate the sebum production making the hair super oily in no time. So a moderate amount of washing is ideal.
4. Get yourself a volumizing haircut
Since 1A hair is very thin and fine, it often looks flat and lacks volume. Therefore, one of the best ways to make the 1A hair type look voluminous, apart from using volumizing creams and serums, is by getting a volumizing haircut.
A “volumizing haircut” for 1A hair is simply getting layers. Yes, the more number of layers you get, the more “voluminous” your hair will look.
Some people also go in for asymmetrical and bob haircuts because they give the hair an illusion of looking thicker and bouncier.
5. Avoid the use of heat styling tools
Heat is bad for any hair type in general, but is one of the worst things for 1A hair.
This is because 1A hair is prone to breakage because it is very fragile and using heat on the hair will make the hair dry out easily and succumb to hair damage like breakage and split ends in no time.
6. Dry your hair naturally and avoid using blow dryers
Blow dryers also come under heat styling tools for the hair and therefore must be avoided as far as possible.
One of the best ways out is by pat drying your hair using a microfiber towel so that all the excess water can be got rid of and then let your hair air dry naturally.
Using a microfiber towel will help not only dry your hair quicker, but will also lessen the damage caused to your hair, as it will not tug on your hair strands.
7. Make sure never to sleep with wet hair
A lot of people often wash their hair just before they go to bed. This means that they go to bed when their hair is still wet or maybe, damp.
Either way, sleeping with wet or even damp hair can be detrimental to the hair because the hair strands are at their weakest when it is wet and can break off very easily.
Also, if you sleep while your hair is still wet or damp, it will result in your hair becoming very frizzy.
8. Make use of dry shampoos between washes
Since the 1A hair type is prone to getting oily and greasy very quickly and tends to look flat and stands very limp in no time, dry shampoos can come to your rescue.
Well, since overwashing your hair is no solution to getting rid of the oily texture and hair greasiness, the best way to go longer between washes is by using a dry shampoo on your hair.
It will help absorb some of the excess oil and make your hair look less oily and stand better and less limp.
What Are Top Hair Products For 1a Hair
What Are 5 Top Hair Products For 1a Hair 1a hair is characterized by its straight, fine texture and lack of volume. Styling your 1a hair can be a nightmare but with the right hair products, you can achieve a healthy, voluminous look that will leave everyone turning their heads.
Here are 5 top hair products that ought to be in your beauty arsenal: 1. Dry Shampoo – Living Proof Perfect Hair Day Dry Shampoo is an excellent product for 1a hair. Using it between washes will help to refresh your locks and add volume. It also keeps your hair looking and smelling fresh without leaving any negative residue.
2. Volumizing Shampoo – It is essential to invest in a shampoo that will not leave your hair feeling greasy but instead, add volume to your hair. Tresemme Beauty-Full Volume shampoo is a great product for 1a straight hair. It helps to nourish and add volume to your hair without weighing it down.
3. Volumizing Mousse – Get your hands on the Loreal Paris Advanced Hairstyle Boost It Volume Mousse. This product has been designed explicitly for fine, flat hair like the 1a hair type. It adds body and movement to your hair without leaving any residue.
4. Texturizing Spray – Bumble and Bumble Thickening Dryspun Texture Spray works by adding texture and fullness to your hair while leaving it soft and weightless. The spray gives your hair a bit of lift to make it look effortlessly chic.
5. Heat Protectant Spray – If you are using heat stylers on your hair, it is essential to use heat protectants. The Kindra Heat Protectant Spray is an excellent choice for 1a hair. It protects delicate hair from heat damage while also adding volume.
Why You Should Trust Us?
The author of this article, Leah Marie Priest has a degree in Cosmetology with years of experience in dealing with hair care, scalp care, and hairstyling. As someone who extensively deals with all kinds of hair textures, products, styling methods and more, hair Leah Marie knows what kind of products and procedures suit each hair type and person. We have also tested these hair products and processes ourselves to provide you an unbiased review about every product. Each of our articles are also reviewed by a team of medical professionals so that you get the most accurate and expert-reviewed information.
The final takeaway
Well, the 1A hair type is known to be one of the most uncommon hair types to have.
So if you are one of those people who have the 1A hair type, make sure to follow the right hair care routine to make sure to keep your hair well-maintained and healthy at all times.
Since your hair is super fine and thin and prone to easy breakage, make sure to give your hair the extra care it needs.
Also Read:
Best Shampoos For Straight Hair
To Summarize
