Styling is a challenge for most people with 1A hair. Because, it always wants to return to its straight nature.
Whether you add waves, curls, or texturizing spray, 1A hair will try to return to straight.
But, it doesn’t have to be that way.
Here’s how to style your straight hair, even when it’s the difficult type 1A.
What Is Type 1A Hair?
Type 1A hair is the straightest and finest among all hair types. Your hair texture is smooth, with no visible curl or wave pattern.
It is classified under type 1 hair, which is known for being straight. Type 1A hair is characterized by its fine strands and consistent flatness.
Due to its fine nature, 1A hair can be more prone to breakage. Your hair follicles produce sebum, which travels along your fine hair strands, causing it to look oily.
To maintain the health of your type 1A hair, you should focus on gentle care to prevent damage and keep it looking its best.
Styling Challenges for 1A Hair
With 1A hair, there’s no need for straightening irons, but you’ll face other challenges:
- Volume
- Waves
- Curls
- Greasy roots
- Product buildup
Volume
Your 1A hair might struggle with volume due to its straight and fine texture.
Waves
Achieving waves is tricky with straight hair. This is large because the fine hair doesn’t hold the waves well. It quickly returns to its straight form.
Curls
Creating curls in 1A hair is a challenge similar to waves. Due to the hair’s natural resistance to taking any other shape than its straight nature, it doesn’t hold curls well.
Greasy Roots
Greasy roots are a problem for 1A hair, as the hair’s natural oils travel easily down the hair shaft.
Type 1A hair doesn’t have a lot of texture. This means the hair strands are without bumps. These bumps in Type 1B or 1C hair stop the oils from going down the hair. But not in 1A hair.
So if you have greasy roots, you know why.
Product Buildup
Product buildup occurs when hairstyling products build up on your hair strands. This weighs down your 1A hair and makes it look dull.
Now that you know what problems to look out for, it’s time for styling tips to deal with them.
7 Styling Tips for 1A Hair
When styling 1A hair, be gentle and use light products. Because your hair is light and fine, it breaks faster than other hair types. That also means you need to reduce heat styling and watch out for harsh hair products.
Here are the most important things to remember when styling 1A hair:
- Be gentle
- Use volume products
- Blow dry to add volume
- Salt spray for body
- Heat protection
- Light hair spray
- Regular haircuts
1. Be Gentle
When styling 1A hair, it’s essential to be gentle. Since your hair is straight and delicate, handle it with care to prevent breakage or damage.
Use a wide-tooth comb to detangle your hair, and avoid pulling or yanking on your strands.
2. Use Volume Products
To add volume to your straight 1A hair, invest in volumizing products like mousses or root-lifting sprays.
Apply these products to your damp hair and work them evenly, focusing on the roots. This helps create the appearance of fuller, thicker hair.
3. Blow Dry to Add Volume
Another trick to add volume to 1A hair is to blow dry it upside down. This technique helps lift the roots and create body.
Hold the blow dryer at a safe distance from your hair, and use a low-heat setting to minimize heat damage.
4. Salt Spray for Body
For a textured, beachy look, use a salt spray on your 1A hair. This product helps create body and waviness in your otherwise straight strands.
Spritz it throughout your damp hair, scrunch, and let your hair air dry to achieve a casual, tousled finish.
5. Heat Protection Spray
When heat-styling your 1A hair, always use a heat protection spray to shield your strands from damage.
Heat protection sprays are essential when using flat irons, curling irons, or any other heat-styling tools. Apply it to your damp hair before heat styling.
6. Use Light Hair Spray
To hold a style in place without weighing your 1A hair down, use a lightweight hair spray.
It’s important that it’s light. That means, it’s not too strong or full of heavy ingredients. Again, heavy products will weigh your hair down and ruin your hairstyle.
7. Get a Haircut Regularly
Because your 1A hair is thin and prone to damage, you need regular trims.
Visit your hairstylist every 6-8 weeks to remove any split ends and keep your hair looking its best.
How to Make 1A Hair Wavy & Curly
It’s easy to make 1A hair wavy, curly, or fluffy. The difficulty part is keeping it that way.
Make 1A Hair Curly
To make your 1A hair curly, you need to first add salt water to your damp hair. After that, apply a heat protectant and grab your curling iron. Curl your hair, and afterward, blow dry gently with cold air. This locks the hair in place. Lastly, apply a light hair spray.
You can also add a styling cream before curling to give it some extra hold.
Make 1A Hair Wavy
Follow the same process, but shake out the curls before using the hair spray. This loosens up the curls, without removing the texture completely.
Hairstyles for 1A Hair
1A hair strands are naturally straight and thin. While it might seem like a challenge to create volume and texture, there are a few hairstyles that work great with your hair type:
- Precision cut with an all-one-length style
- Bangs and face-framing layers
- High ponytail
- Short or medium-length bob
- Side-swept styles or curtain bangs
These all have one thing in common: They work great for 1A hair because they add body, volume, or texture.
Learn how to do these hairstyles at home in our article about the best 1A hairstyles.
Frequently Asked Questions
What products work best for 1A hair?
Light products work best for 1A hair. They won’t make your hair heavy. Use a gentle, easy shampoo and conditioner for straight, fine hair. You can also use a light leave-in conditioner or hair serum. This will make your hair soft and shiny. But don’t use heavy creams or oils. Your hair might look oily.
How can I add volume to 1A hair?
To add volume to your 1A hair, use a volumizing mousse or a texturizing spray. Apply these products at the roots and then blow-dry your hair using a round brush to lift and add body.
How to prevent 1A hair from becoming too greasy?
To prevent your 1A hair from becoming greasy, avoid touching your hair frequently. The oils from your hands can contribute to the greasiness. Wash your hair with a gentle, sulfate-free shampoo to keep it clean without stripping its natural oils. You can also try dry shampoo between washes to absorb excess oil.
Should I use heat styling tools on 1A hair?
While you can use heat styling tools on 1A hair, use them sparingly and with caution. Since 1A hair is fine and straight, it’s more prone to heat damage. If you decide to use a flat iron, curling iron, or hairdryer, always apply a heat protectant spray. Use the lowest heat setting possible and avoid using heat tools every day.
