Understanding Your Hair Type, Part 1 Straight and Wavy (2024)

FAQs

What hair type is between straight and wavy? ›

Type 1C – Straight with Almost-Waves

It has a suggestion of waves without falling into the wavy category, and your strands will be relatively coarse. An attractive, tousled look comes naturally to 1C hair.

Type 1A: The rarest hair type, this one is very straight and fine with a “wispy” appearance. It's very difficult to get it to hold a curl. Type 1B: Though still straight, this type has a medium (rather than fine) texture and a little more volume.

Type 1 hair is generally straight with no visible curl pattern. However, some individuals with type 1 hair can experience a slight wave or bend to their hair, especially if it is longer.

“The difference between 1A and 1B is the width of the hair strand,” says Wiley. Type 1A hair "tends to be the flattest and silkiest of the hair types.” 1B hair, by contrast, has a thicker diameter, which gives it a touch more body and movement—and makes it better able to hold styles than its pin-straight counterpart.

Those with straight hair have hair that air dries completely straight without the intervention of products or a straightener. Those with wavy hair will notice that their hair doesn't airdry fully straight or only dries straight in certain areas, needing a straightener to touch up certain sections.

It's recommended that those with 1a hair shampoo every 2-3 days for best results. When washing hair, aim for cooler water rather than hot water so that moisture is locked in and cuticles are closed rather than open, as open cuticles can introduce humidity to hair and cause it to be frizzy.

Your hair can be curly underneath and straight on top due to the natural shape of your hair follicles. Follicles' shapes determine curliness, with more oval follicles leading to curls and round ones to straight hair. Genetic factors and hair care practices can also influence this pattern.

Type 1A hair is very straight and fine, with no waves or curls whatsoever. This hair type tends to get very oily and requires frequent shampooing. It is the rarest hair type and is common among women of Asian descent.

A general observation across experiments was that straight hair was perceived as younger, healthier, and more attractive than wavy hair and darker shades (medium copper and brown) were perceived more positively than blonde hair.

“One way to identify 1A hair is that the hair strand (diameter) is extremely fine and it does not hold a curl, even when styled with a curling iron,” says Saviano. “Type 1A hair is completely straight, no wave pattern to it—not even when it's wet—and most of the time it's very flat, with no body to it.”

What is the most popular hair type? ›

1B hair, on the other hand, is the most common hair type. It is straight and flat but has some volume. 1C hair is the next type. 1C hair is straight but thick and coarse.

Type 1a Hair: This type of hair is naturally straight and can't hold a curl at all. It is flat with little or no body and is completely straight from root to tip. Type 1c Hair: Few areas with slight bends. Not quite waves though.

Determine your hair type to figure out if you have any natural wave at all. Grow your hair out so it's at least 1 to 2 inches (2.5 to 5.1 cm) long so you can see if it has any natural wave to it. If it doesn't, you probably have true type 1 hair (straight), which can be nearly impossible to wave.

Caring for 1b Hair

While all hair is different, generally 1b hair should be washed every 1-3 days, with cool water as opposed to hot to keep that shine. Condition after every shampoo from the mid-strand down, paying special attention to the ends.

Type 1A hair is very straight and fine, with no hint of wave or curl. As it is so straight and fine, when the natural oils travel to the ends, it tends to cause it to look like oily hair. It is the rarest hair type and is common among women of Asian descent. Type 1B hair is straight, but has more volume than Type 1A.

Puberty, menopause and pregnancy all cause hormonal shifts that can make your tresses go from straight to curly hair. In fact, 40-50% of women experience major changes in their hair while pregnant or breastfeeding. In fact, one of those women was one of the founders of Royal Locks.

Signs you may have wavy hair

It looks straight when wet and shrinks in length when it's dry. It's prone to frizz and 'puffy' ends which flick out.

Soft Waves

Charles Hutton of New York City told Glamour “Wavy hair that's soft and moves is sexy-perfect for running your fingers through.” Now we all know that running your fingers through waves is not the best idea, but knowing that men enjoy the idea is all that matters!

2C hair falls somewhere in the middle of the curly hair types and is characterized by the S-shaped curl. “2A and 2B hair are looser waves, while 2C hair starts to form more of an S-shaped curl,” says Matias. “You can begin to see the ribbon of curl in 2C. It will hold curl definition longer than 2A or 2B.”

If your curls can wrap comfortably around a pencil, then your hair is considered type 3C. These curls are often called “tight corkscrews” because of their shape and size. When you examine 3C curls close up, they tend to stretch into their signature S-shape.

What is the hair that is somewhere between curly and straight called? ›

Wavy hair lies somewhere between straight and curly, and falls in loose S shapes. It has less sheen than straight hair and is more prone to frizz.

Type 1A hair is the rarest of them all. Straight as a pin and can be prone to greasiness.