Your definitive guide to 1a hair

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If you have fine, pin-straight hair, it may have been add you’re adrift in a sea of ​​waves, curls, and kinks. There’s a reason for that: it’s the raarest of all Hair Typesso you may actually be only person in the room with the thin, straight strands that Andre Walker (oprah’s longtime hairstylist) has sorted into a category CALLED 1A HAIR.

JUST AS CATEGORY 2 HAIR (WAVY) OR CATEGORY 3 (curly), Straight Hair has its Own Rewards and Challenges. Ahead, learn more about how to tell if you’re a member of the 1a club, how hairstylists recommend caring for your hair, and 1a haircut ideas.

In this story:

Meet the Experts:

What does 1a Hair Like, and How to Know I HAVE IT?

This Hair Category is the Straightest of All the Hair Types. “It Lies Flat, With No Natural Wave or Curl,” Says Vanessa Ocandoa hairstylist in New York City. “IT’S TYPICALLY VEY SOFT AND CAN SOMESTEMES Appear Almost Slippery.”

Dendy EngelmanMD, A Board-Certified Dermatologist Father Shafer Clinic in New York City, Adds that its Effartless Shine Can Be A Boon to Some. “Becofe of (1a’s) Smooth Structure, Oil from the scalp Can Easily Travel Down the Hair Shaft, Often Resulting in Shinier Hair Compared to More Textured Types, “Says Dr. Engelman. Long Weekend with your girlfriends, and all of you werewed for your hair you left home on thighsday.

Still not sura if you have this hair type? Think Back to Last Time You Let Your Hair Air-Dry With Zero Assistance from Products or Styling Tools. If it dried Completely Straight, IT’S LIKELY YOU HAVE 1A. Becuse 1a Hair is so Fine and Thin, You May Also Notice That You Can See Through Your Strands to Your Scalp, Says Raven Hurtadoa stylist at Maxine Salon in chicago. (A Dear Friend with 1a Hair Calls the Areas of Scalp That Show Through “Holes” in Her Hair.)

How to Keep 1a Hair Healthy

“This Hair, Because Is Fine and Delicate, You Want to Treat it Like Silk,” Says Sanae Furutani, A Stylist at Jerome Lordet Salon in New York City. Our hairstylists have tips for that.

First, Let’s Talk Brushes. You want a gentle brush for use at all time, but especally when your hair is wet. Ocando Recommends a brush like the tangle teezer the ultimate detangler (which has soft, flexible teeth), a wide-tooth combo, or a Bristle Brush. The Latter Options Can Run the Gamut on Pricing, But Allure editors recommend the Mason Pearson Bristle Hair Brush (If You’re Ready to Make an Investment) or the Hair Edit Bristle Finishing Brush (if you’re look to give bristles a try on a budget).

The ultimate Detangler Brush

$ 16.00, Nordstrom

Mason Pearson Bristle and Nylon Brush

$ 200.00, bluemercury

The Hair Edit Gold Finish & Shine Bristle Brush

$ 21.00, low

AFTER YOUR HAIR IS WASHED, BRUSHED, AND READY FOR Styling, Make Sure the Products You’re Reaching for Aren’t So Heavy that they Weigh Down the Hair. Acciting to Ocando, That Might Mean Avoiding Creamy Styling Products entirely, as well as oils or oily serums. (With so much natural shine, you won’t needing those oils anyway.) InsTead, “Opt for Lightweight Serums or Mists to Enhance Shine with Compromising Movement,” Furutani Says. Try a spray like Allure Best of Beauty Award-Winning Full Blown Volume Texturizing Spray, Which Adds Bounce and Absorbs Excess Oil, Or Olaplex Voluzing Blow Dry Mist, Which Protects Hair Heat and ENHANCES VOLUME YOU’LL FROM A blowout.

FEKKAI FULL BLOWN Volume Dry Texturizing Spray

$ 27.00, Ultha Beauty

Olaplex Volumizing Blow Dry Mist

$ 30.00, Amazon

Lastly, Plan to Visit The Salon Every 10 to 12 Weeks for a Trim. This will “Prevent Split Ends from Traveling Up the Hair Shaft,” Furutani Says.

Tips for Washing 1a Hair

You might have heard your friends or favorite contents Creators say you don’t need to WASH YOUR HAIR EVERY DAY. If you have 1a hair, that Advice might not be for you. “Because Type 1a Hair is more property to oiliness, it typically Needs to be shampooed more frequently,” Says Dr. Engelman. “This Varies, Though, Based on the Individual.”

Many People with 1a Hair Wash their Hair Other Day. SINCE 1A-Ers Will Be Shampooing Often, Dr. Engelman Implores you to “Avoid Harsh or Overly Drying Formulas.” Choose a Gentle Option like OUAI FINE HAIR SHAMPOOwhich was formulated specifically to Strengthn and Thicken Fine Hair. Hurtado Recommends Seaweed Bath Co. Volumizing shampooWhich contains “Barley protein that adds both thickening and fullness.”

Fine Hair Shampoo

$ 32.00, Amazon

Volumize shampoo

$ 15.00, Amazon

Dr. Engelman Also Suggests Incorporating A SCALP Scrub Into Your Routine. (We like the acid-swirled Drunk Elephant T.LC. HAPPI SCALP SCRUB.) Scrubs can “Help Extend the time between by removing excess oil and buildup, but should use no more than on me.”

TLC HAPPI SCALP SCRUB

$ 39.00, Amazon

Dove Scalp + Hair Therapy Density Boost Hydrating Shampoo and Conditioner

$ 10.00, Amazon (Shampoo)

Of Course, A Little Grease Never Hurt Anybody! Spreads you prefer to go Longer with Washing, Using Dry shampoos to stem the tide, or letting your hair’s natural oils shine through. Ocando has a plan for you: “if you go three to the day with the shampooing and have a lot of Oil Buildup, I would be reCommend shampooing twice,” She Says. “Once to break up the budildup and the second to go the hair and scalp.”

That taks care of the shampooing routine, now for the Grand Final. Don’t let the need for lightweight products fool you: Hair Type 1a Requires Conditioner. “Conditioner is Still Very Important,” Ocando Says. She suggests avoiding the roots, where buildup can be a problem, and applying conditioner only to the hair’s mid-threths and ends. For a light wash that still leaves you hydrated and refreshed, we love the Beauty of Beauty Award-Winning Duve Scalp + Hair Therapy Boost Hydrating SHAMPOO and Conditioner.

Tips for Styling 1a Hair

Wen As asced for the best hairstyles for 1a hair, all three of the expert stylists have two words: Blunt Bob. “It will Create an Illusion of Thicker Hair, and Isy to Maintain,” Says Hurtado. “The Style Accentuates Its Sleekness and is Fashion-Forward,” Furutani Adds. “It Creates Structure and Movement with Looking Too Flat,” Ocando Says. BLUNT BOBS REQUIRE REGULARS TRIMS TO KEEP THEIR SHAPE AND CLEAN LINES, SO THE STYLE WILL ENCOURAGE YOU TO YOUR 1A DUTY AND GET TO YOUR Hairstylist’s Chair 10 to 12 Weeks.

If you prefer to have long hair, Hurtado recommends face-facing layers to add Movement and Volume. Furutani takes that Shape a Step Further, suggesting curtain bangs. “The Layers Add Dimension, while the curtain bangs frame the face with Overwhelming that fine texture,” Sheys.

Cloud it to styling, take advantage of your hair Naturally Smooth Texture and Lean Into Slick Styles. Ocando loves a sleek, Low ponytail or bun for 1A Clients, Given the Hair’s Texture, She Says, They “Can Look Ultra-Polished with Minimal Efffort.”

Originally appeared on Allure