What is the Rarest Hair Type?

Our hair is as unique as we are, spanning from pin straight to kinky and everything in between. While some hair types are common, others are hard to come by. If you want to know which hair type is the rarest, this article is for you. In it, we’ll reveal just that, in addition to some other hair facts you won’t want to miss.

Hair Types Explained

Hair types may vary from bone straight to highly textured. Andre Walker’s hair typing system groups hair textures into four categories, each with three subcategories:

• Type 1 (Straight) Hair

  • 1A - The straightest hair of all

  • 1B - Very straight hair with slight body

  • 1C - Thick, straight hair with substantial body

• Type 2 (Wavy) Hair

  • 2A - Barely-there waves

  • 2B - Slightly more textured beachy waves

  • 2C - Thick, voluminous, almost-curly waves

• Type 3 (Curly) Hair

  • 3A - The loosest curls of all

  • 3B - Spiral curls that appear stretched out

  • 3C - Thick, corkscrew curls

• Type 4 (Coily/Kinky) Hair

  • 4A - Small, tight coils

  • 4B - Frizzier coils with minimal definition

  • 4C - Thick, dense curls with no visible definition

To learn more about curl patterns, read this article.

1A is the Rarest Hair Type

Out of all the hair types, 1A is the rarest. Recall that 1A hair is the straightest hair texture of them all. This hair type is not only pin straight - it’s also fine in some cases. This hair type is common in people of Asian descent.

If your hair is wavy, curly, or coily, you might think having 1A hair would be a dream. Though the hair type is beautiful (like any other hair type), it comes with some unique challenges you should know about. They include:

• Oiliness. Because of its lack of texture, scalp oils flow freely down the length of the strands. This leads to a greasiness that can be difficult to control.

• Lack of volume. The greasiness weighs down the strands, making them lay flat. For this reason, 1A hair can be hard to volumize.

• Trouble holding curls. Since this hair type has no texture, adding volume or curls is challenging. The hair will always try to revert to its natural straight state.

• Fragile texture. Fine 1A hair is extremely fragile, making it prone to breakage and other forms of damage.

Learn more about 1A hair in this quick guide.

Do You Have a Rare Hair Type?

1A is the rarest hair type, but other rare hair types exist - type 3 and type 4 hair are a couple. So, if your hair belongs to either of those categories, call it rare! Regardless of its rarity, everyone’s hair type is unique and comes with its own list of pros and cons.

So, it’s always best to appreciate your curl pattern, whatever it may be. If you haven’t already done so, we encourage you to check out Daily Dose leave-in conditioner and deep conditioner for all hair types. Both products envelop your hair in natural reparative ingredients that improve your hair’s appearance and overall health. We hope you found all the information you were looking for, and we wish you the best with your hair.

Author: Andrea Reyes

Andrea is a mother, wife, writer, and natural hair enthusiast of 15 years. Currently on her natural hair journey, she’s been trying countless products and techniques to understand and embrace her natural hair. She is the creator of NaturallyTextured.com, a new website featuring informative articles that share tips, tricks, and techniques aimed to help others learn to love their hair through proper hair care. She writes with the hope of making hair care easier to understand and implement.