Type 1B hair
Straight with slight body and bounce at the ends
Shrinkage
0-5%
Strand diameter
Medium
Porosity tendency
Low to medium
Category
Straight
1B
Photo sourcing: Phase 2
What 1B hair looks like
Type 1B is the most common hair type globally. Straight from root to tip but with slightly more body and volume than 1A. Strands have a gentle bounce and may have a subtle bend at the ends, particularly when long. It does not form waves or curls naturally but holds styled waves or a blowout longer than finer straight types.
1B is the most common straight hair type globally. Strands are medium-diameter (close to the thickness of standard sewing thread), the cuticle lies flat, and the hair has a natural gentle bounce, particularly at the ends. Unlike 1A it holds styled waves or a blowout overnight, and unlike 1C it does not battle frizz. It is the workhorse straight type that mainstream haircare products are largely formulated for, which means most general-shelf shampoos and conditioners work reasonably well. The 1B compromise is that the hair has body without being voluminous; styling adds definition and movement that the natural pattern alone does not produce. Blowouts hold well; curling-iron waves hold reasonably; air-drying produces a smooth, slightly-bouncy finish that suits a low-maintenance routine. 1B appears across most ethnic and regional populations and is the type the typing system was tacitly built around.
Noted examples
1B is the most common type in editorial coverage of European, East Asian, and mixed-heritage hair. Many celebrities photographed with what looks like effortless straight hair, from on-camera anchors to broadly-styled actresses, fall in the 1B range; the typing system was tacitly built around what 1B does naturally.
1B vs neighbouring types
1A is finer, silkier, and lies pin-straight from root to tip with no bend even at the ends. 1B has medium strand diameter and a gentle bounce or slight bend at the ends. If your hair holds a blowout overnight, you are 1B. If a blowout falls within hours, you are likely 1A. The simplest test is to lay a strand against a piece of sewing thread; 1A is visibly thinner, 1B is roughly the same.
Read the 1A full guide1B and 1C are both straight but 1C is coarser, thicker per-strand, and tends to frizz in humidity in a way 1B almost never does. 1B blow-dries smooth easily; 1C often needs a smoothing serum on damp ends to behave. If your hair feels thick to the touch and the individual strand is noticeably thicker than sewing thread, you are likely 1C rather than 1B.
Read the 1C full guideThe 1B care routine
1B can use a balanced routine: standard-strength sulphate-free shampoo every 2 to 3 days, mid-weight conditioner concentrated on lengths and ends, lightweight styling cream or air-dry cream for finish. Heat-style as desired with a lightweight heat protectant; the cuticle holds up to occasional flat-ironing or curling-iron use better than 1A's fragile fine strands. Where 1A's brief is keep it light at all costs, 1B's brief is balance: enough product to give the hair shine and definition, not enough to weigh it down. Avoid Type 3 and Type 4 product ranges entirely; curl creams, butters, and heavy oils flatten 1B's natural body and leave the strands looking limp. If 1B feels coarse on a given day, the cause is usually humidity or a too-rich conditioner rather than the underlying texture.
Cleansing
Shampoo every 2-3 days. Lightweight sulphate-free formulas avoid stripping.
Conditioning
Condition every wash. A weekly deep condition improves definition and reduces frizz.
Styling
Mousse or lightweight gel applied to damp hair encourages wave definition. Scrunch upward.
Night routine
Protect your hair at night with a satin or silk pillowcase or bonnet. Loose styles reduce friction and breakage while sleeping.
Common mistakes to avoid
Treating 1B like 1A; the medium strand diameter handles richer products than 1A can, and undertreating leaves the hair dry
Using curly hair products; the cream-and-gel routine designed for Type 3 will flatten 1B's natural body within one wash
Skipping heat protection; 1B handles heat better than 1A but still accumulates cuticle damage with repeated unprotected flat-iron use
Air-drying without a finishing cream; the hair dries flat and dull, when a small amount of air-dry cream produces visibly smoother results
Over-shampooing; 1B does not need daily washing the way 1A often does, and frequent stripping causes the ends to dry out faster
Products that work for Type 1B
Curated picks by category. Affiliate links included - we earn a commission at no cost to you. See our full disclaimer in the footer.
Shampoo
Smooth Infusion Shampoo
Aveda - $32
Balanced cleanser for medium-texture straight hair; cleans without stripping the natural body that defines 1B.
Hairdresser's Invisible Oil Shampoo
Bumble and bumble - $34
Adds shine and slip without weight; works well with 1B's natural body, gives the blowout-ready feel.
Daily Triple Treat Shampoo
Verb - $18
Affordable everyday option for medium-density 1B; sulphate-free, leaves the hair clean without flattening.
Conditioner
Blowout / styling
Volume / texture
Heat protectant
Hairdresser's Invisible Oil Heat / UV Protective Primer
Bumble and bumble - $32
Excellent dual-purpose primer that protects 1B from heat damage and UV without buildup.
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Next steps
Retake the quiz
Confirm your type or explore borderline results
Test your porosity
Porosity affects product choice more than type alone
Type 1A
Completely straight, fine, and silky with no natural wave
Type 1C
Straight but coarse and resistant with a slight tendency to frizz
Self-test guide
5 steps to type your hair without the quiz