Hair Texture If it dries straight without a bend or curl, then you have straight hair (or type 1 hair as it is commonly referred to). If it dries with a slight curve or “S” shape, then it's considered wavy hair (type 2).
Chances are, you have Type 1 hair, more commonly known as 'straight hair'. Straight hair, or Type 1 hair, is characterised by its lack of natural curls. Falling from the scalp, usually without any curl or wave, or if you're a Type 1C you may have a touch of texture.
2A type hair has dense waves starting at the root of the hair. 2B waves start at about midpoint of hair and the waves are extremely heavy. 2C has soft and gentle waves only at the bottom half portion of the hair.
Straight hair (Type 1) lies flat, or straight on the scalp. As the hair's natural oils are able to travel from the scalp to the ends, Type 1 hairs reflect the most sheen. There are three subcategories for straight hair: Type 1A hair is very straight and fine, with no hint of wave or curl.
Now the numbers are graded from 1 to 4. Number 1 is straight hair without any curl pattern so curls start from the number 2 which is wavy textured hair, 3 is for curly hair, and 4 is for…
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.
While they're both straight hair types, 1B typically has a straight texture with a slight bend to the strands, whereas 1C is thicker, coarser, and has noticeable body and volume. 1B hair types will need to focus on flyaways and tangles, whereas 1C is prone to frizz.
The Wavy Hair Type
It falls right in that sweet spot between straight and curly. While wavy hair is less likely to get excessive oil build up like straight hair, it is more prone to frizz. But a natural wave is actually a very desirable look with an amazing amount of natural volume and texture.
1A is the rarest hair type. It is usually found on people of Asian descent. 1B hair, on the other hand, is the most common hair type. It is straight and flat but has some volume.
Hair type and texture are determined by several factors, including genetics. The African hair is more coiled and drier; Asian hair (Korean, Japanese) is straighter and thicker; and Caucasian hair is somewhere in between with around 45% having straight hair, 40% having wavy hair, and 15% having curly hair.
A person with 2A hair has the loosest waves out of all wavy hair types, so much so that it can appear straight at the roots with a slight wave or curl definition through the length. 2A hair differs from straight hair since the 2A hair type has subtle bends along the shaft and at the ends.
Type 2A curls, for example, are loose and have a gentle wave pattern, while Type 2C curls are more defined and have a tighter wave pattern. Type 3A curls are loose and have a well-defined "S" shape, while Type 3C curls are tight and have a corkscrew-like pattern.
If your hair air-dries with a slight wave or forms an “S” shape, it's likely wavy. On the other hand, straight hair will dry without any bends or curls.
It has been long established that curly hair is a dominant trait in Caucasians and straight hair is recessive.
If you've ever looked at your hair and thought, “Wow, my strands are unbelievably straight!”, you may have 1A hair. This hair type, often seen in people of Asian descent, is the straightest and most delicate of all hair types. Imagine a silky ribbon: smooth, glossy, and super-fine.
Straight hair owes its structure to the fact that it grows from symmetrically shaped follicles, and comes straight out of the scalp (curly hair grows at an angle). If you've got curly hair, it doesn't mean you can't have straight hair.
Nature's Rarest Palette: Red Hair Standing at the apex of rarity, natural red hair occurs in just 1-2% of the global population. This striking shade results from a specific genetic variant of the MC1R gene, requiring both parents to pass on the recessive trait.
Most Afro hair falls into one of the type 4 categories, but it's also possible to have a different hair type: Type 1A-1C — Straight hair.
The least common hair type, 1A hair is extremely fine and perfectly straight. Consequently, it can look a bit flat and limp and might prove difficult to style. Dry shampoo can be your ally in the fight against excessive oil and thick hair products that might weigh your hair down are best avoided.
So now that we know how we get straight or curly hair, does a particular type of hair type make you more susceptible to hair loss? All things being equal, there's no evidence that there's any difference in the natural cycle of hair loss for people with either straight or curly hair.
Brunette hair is often seen as the most attractive by both men and women. Blonde hair is associated with youth and fun, making it appealing to younger audiences. Red hair has a unique charm that many find attractive, though it is less common.
An oval face is considered one of the best attractive face shapes for women, but unfortunately not for men. Though, for hair cuts it is a good face shape to have, because many look will look good on you. Men with an oval face can pull off different shapes and lengths because the face is well balanced.
Caucasian hair can be a myriad of colours naturally, from light blonde through to bright red and even through to black, until it too greys with age. It is usually straight or wavy, although curls can be quite common too. Structurally, it has an oval cross section.
Caring for 1a Hair Type
Washing 1a hair can be a bit of a balancing act. While you don't want to overwash hair, which can make your scalp produce more oils, you also don't want to go too long between washes. It's recommended that those with 1a hair shampoo every 2-3 days for best results.
“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.”