1A hair

What does 1A hair look like?

1A hair is the straightest hair type. Each strand is fine and smooth, with no bend from the root to the tip. It often looks shiny, because light reflects evenly off a flat surface. The downside is that it can look limp, and it shows grease sooner than any other type.

Natural oil from the scalp travels down a straight strand with nothing in its way. On curly hair the bends slow it down. That is why 1A hair can look oily a day after washing, while coily hair often feels dry.

How do I know if I have 1A hair?

Check it on wash day, after your hair has dried on its own with no styling products. Look at a section from the middle of your head, not the hairline, which is often looser.

Next to 1B, 1A has less body and no movement at the ends. If your hair lifts or flips out a little at the ends, or holds a curl from a curling iron for most of the day, you are closer to 1B.

For a second opinion, take a close-up and run the free hair type test, or compare the photos on the hair type chart.

How to care for 1A hair

1. Wash as often as your scalp needs, which for many people with 1A hair is daily or every other day.
2. Use a light volumizing or clarifying shampoo, and keep conditioner on the bottom half only.
3. Skip heavy oils, butters and rich masks. They flatten fine straight hair at once.
4. Blow-dry upside down or with a round brush at the roots for lift.
5. Use dry shampoo on the roots between washes to soak up oil.

Best products for 1A hair

Look for words like volumizing, lightweight or clarifying. A root-lift spray or a light mousse helps with body. Silicone-heavy serums and coconut oil usually weigh 1A hair down, so use them only on the very ends if at all.

Your hair's porosity matters as much as its type when you pick products. Low porosity hair needs lighter products and a little warmth to let them in, while high porosity hair needs richer ones to seal moisture. Our hair porosity test shows how to check yours.

Styles and cuts for 1A hair

Blunt cuts make fine hair look thicker. Long layers can help with movement, but too many layers make the ends look thin. If you want curls, set them with a light hold spray before you curl, and let them cool before you touch them.