Do you have Type 1 hair?

 Written by ONAYEMI MARY

Welcome and take a seat, this is a journey of hair discovery. I've had people saying they love my virgin hair because it's soft and full but I've always wanted that tightly curled hair that looked endless and super full. I've always wondered why my hair didn't look like those of my fellow ”hair owners”.

If you also have questions about your hair structure, this and the upcoming articles are for you to figure out why your hair is different from others and how to take care of it.

Brief History 

In the 1990s, Andre Walker created the hair typing system which has been widely adopted till now. Hair types were divided into 4 ( Type 1, 2, 3, 4) which were further subdivided into 3 ( a, b, c). 

Type 1 hair 

Straight 

Type 2 hair

Wavy

Type 3 hair 

Curly 

Type 4 hair

Coily

These days, a lot of people claim that they have a particular hair type, but after some research, I realized you might not have just one hair type. Just one person will have type 1c, 2a, and 2b in their mane and it's perfectly fine, you are alright with it and if you have just one hair type all through that's also okay. 

So buckle your seatbelt as this is going to be an interesting ride!

We'll be starting with the type 1 hair and we'll go further down to Type 4, make sure you read them all. You might not need the knowledge, but a friend might, who knows!

Straight Hair (type 1)

In the world of totally perfect hair structure, the type one hair exists. Being straight without a curl and the need to use a flattening iron, this hair type reflects light to the eye best giving it a glossy appearance. Let's go down the first rabbit hole.

Type 1a

When model-gorgeous hair is mentioned this is what comes to mind, pin-straight hair that looks like the owner never had a bad hair day. This is a very rare hair type common among Asian women which is completely straight without a curl. You might be lucky to have it, let's go through its features.

It has a finer diameter which makes it fragile and susceptible to breakage.

The natural oil or sebum that runs down the hair shaft helps it effortlessly maintain its shine. No stress of frizzy hair, phew!

Frizzy hair is hair that lacks moisture which makes it dry and brittle.

This hair type is pin-straight and unable to maintain a curl. This eliminates the need to use a straightener to style it.

When wet it lies flat without volume, almost like the hair is scanty and glued down.

Type 1b

Now, this is the most common type 1 hair, though it appears straight it has subtle waves which gives it a little volume, unlike type 1a hair. Let's see if this is where your mane belongs.

The medium-thick strands has both fine and coarse strands because it's in between 1a and 1c.

No worries to oil your hair because the sebum easily runs down the hair shaft.

Although they have little waves, luckily, they don't have frizz problems.

Of course, it's a bit thicker than type 1a hair but it might struggle to hold a curl without products.

When wet the hair might hang straight down like type 1a hair.

Type 1c 

This is the waviest type 1 hair type, it has enough waves that differentiate it from all straight hair but not enough waves to place it in the wavy section. Yeah, it's quite complicated but let's just know if that's what you have.

The hair strands are coarse and lie flat at the root with slight waves from the midsection to the end.

The natural oil can easily run down the hair but it takes more time due to the hair texture.

With more waves than 1b, it can turn frizzy depending on the environment.

It's easier to hold and maintain a curl with type 1c hair.

Cons of Type 1 Hair

Now that you've identified your hair type, you should know that having type one hair isn't all roses and sunshine, it has its downsides also. But that doesn't stop it from being a great hair to have.

Prone to oiliness 

Type 1 hair is generally straight which allows the sebum to easily run down the hair but with time the hair looks greasy, especially near the scalp. 

Thinness 

This hair type is thin which raises the chances of them breaking when roughly handled. Make sure to treat your type 1 hair with care and baby it, it needs that pampering.

Product buildup 

Heavy styling products can weigh your hair down. Your hair is naturally thin so too many products with oil buildup won't be a good idea for your hair.

How to care for your type 1 hair

It's hair care time! I mean, let your hair make the first impression.

- The internet says to wash your hair 2-3 times a week. But what if you have a hairstyle you want to carry for weeks or you don't have the luxury of time? 

If you have a hairstyle you aren't ready to remove, go ahead but make sure you do a pre-poo after removing the style. Then remember to study your hair, this is important, washing your hair 2-3 times a week might not work for you, you might just need it once in 2 weeks, just notice changes in your hair.

NOTE: You also have to find a balance when shampooing, don't overwash, washing your hair too much can cause your sebaceous glands to produce more sebum to make up for the lost oil which will get your hair more greasy.

- Clarifying shampoos is a good idea, they help to get rid of excess build-up but shouldn't be used too often. Also, avoid heavy or oily products that will weigh your hair down.

- Be careful when brushing your hair, remember your hair is thin so handle it carefully. If it's tangled, brush the tips first then keep inching upwards towards the root.

- Avoid tight styles, applying too much pressure on your type 1 hair is a huge NO. 

In conclusion, as a person rocking type 1 hair you can try side parts hairstyles, it makes it look like your hair has more volume. But make sure not to part your hair at the same place so that part won't get bald.

When you've just permed your hair and you wash it, it looks like a type 1a hair, Yay! But when it gets dry it might be type 1b or 1c. It's probably better to determine your hair type when it's dry.

We have come to the end of figuring out if you belong to the classy type 1 hair type. The next article will be on type 2, stay tuned!

How to Treat Alopecia

By Pelumi Hassan

Everyone wants a good skin, full hair, and a “perfect” body.  When we don’t get our desired look, we tend to blame it on “If no be for this school stress, I for don fresh” or lack of time and money. Sounds familiar right? Well, the good news is there will be no school stress for a while, so you have all the time in the world to take good care of yourself.

Taking good care of yourself goes beyond eating everything at home and adding weight. You can decide to make that skin glow, make that scanty scalp grow hair, and work that body into that wallpaper you wished you looked like. Today, let’s start talking about taking care of your hair. No matter your gender, your hair does a lot to change your look. So, it is essential that you pay great attention to it. While some people are on the way to hair loss, some already have serious conditions, like alopecia from the lack of care and attention to the hair.

Alopecia is the partial or complete absence of hair from areas of the body where it normally grows. It is also known as alopecia areata (AA). It is when the hair shifts away from your original hairline. This condition is real and can affect any gender at any age. Yes, even kids can be affected by alopecia. While tight hairdos and the continuous styling of ponytails can be the cause of alopecia in women, a dry and brittle scalp can be the cause in men.

So, is there a treatment? Yes but it takes a lot of time and patience. The first step to treating alopecia is acknowledging the signs. Most of the time, people just choose to believe that the new hairline was their hairline all along. This is dangerous because they will not give the hair the attention needed.

Stop Manipulative hairstyles.

 The front hair is also known as the baby hair is naturally weaker than the normal hair. If you notice hair loss, you should stop making that Ghana weaving or ponytail. In fact, do not add any hair extension to it for a while. Let it rest if you need to go out, use wigs. As a guy, do not let the barber touch your hairline AT ALL.

Use hair growth oil and products.

As I said, the treatment takes a lot of time and patience. You can buy some hair growth oil like coconut oil, almond oil, jojoba oil, olive oil, and the likes. For better results, you can combine the use of other homemade products with any of these oils.

Homemade products are less expensive and very effective too. You can pick from rice water, onions juice, lemon juice and so on. The only disadvantage is that the smell is not nice. In some cases, people get impatient when the result they are getting is either slow or there is none at all then they start using multiple hair products at once in a bid to get fast actions. No! The hair needs to breath too, often times when people do this, the hair ends up being more damaged. For example, the hair becomes so light and looses its weight making it unhealthy, the hair starts looking scanty and so on.  So in as much as we all want to flaunt a healthy-looking hair, we have to exercise patience and stop using all the ” I heard this works” product hereby causing excessive damage to our hair.

Eat Good Food

This method works for the hair as much as it does for the skin. There is simply no excuse, just eat mum’s sweet food and be happy.

Lastly, trust the process. Believe in the treatment and be consistent, you will get your result soon. However, always put your hair down try not to pack too tight or comb it in any harsh way. Just leave it and let it rest. Stay home, safe stay, and let your hair grow.