Newbie on hair typing, frustration.

Brinstarr · 08-02-2011, 04:36 AM

Honestly, does it matter? I’m so confused about mine it’s not even funny.
At first I was like “I’m a 3c/4a”. Then I saw a gallery full of 3c’s and was like…okay, I’m a full 3c according to these pictures and descriptions. (The description matches my hair, but some of the pictures do not. My hair is not fine textured save for on the sides. )
Then I see some 4A’s with hair similar to mine (though the description doesn’t describe it…I think?) and think…oh no, I must be a 4a. Then I go no, I’m a 3c. Or, maybe both again!

Then I go wait— does it matter? I think our hair typing issues are more than just a guideline staple to learn how to care for our hair. I think it’s a rehashing of the Good hair/Bad hair thing. But, it’s cleverly disguised. This may not be the case for some natural people (and I am very, very new to all of this) but I mean…I’ve seen people already accusing others of ‘lying’ about their hair type. When it’s like “Why does it matter? Maybe they know what they are better than you do” and I can smell “She’s trying to claim good hair” on them a mile away. Through the internet even. I also find myself feeling guilty when I think my hair might be 3c rather than 3c/4a or 4a alone. Like,am I lying to myself? And when I think I am 4a, I can’t stop an instinctual feeling of “Ho Hum, guess I better live with it!” as if something is wrong with it. And when I think I am a 3c/4a I get a feeling in the back of my head like “Am I not thinking 3c alone because I am stupid or not thinking 4a because I secretly dread it?” I don’t like feeling like that. I hope no one else does, because it’s stupid.
My hair type is thick, pretty, spiral like in curls about the size of a pencil. It is healthy. It is cared for. It looks nice. It’s a bit uneven since I chopped myself. It’s Type Me. And I am closer and closer to leaving that chart in the dust…

Ooogh, exasperated. Am I alone in this?

BekkaPoo · 08-02-2011, 06:02 AM

In the grand scheme of things, no curl size (I hate to say curl type) doesn't matter. I just think by looking it is obvious where one lies on the spectrum. It only "matters" in the sense of how styles might look on your hair. What matters more is porosity, density, how elastic your hair is, etc. and that will determine how products work with (or against) your hair. I don't think someone should automatically assume that it's "good hair vs. bad hair" because not everyone thinks that. It's only "good v. bad" if you want it to be that. If you're merely describing your hair, then it is what it is.

poe · 08-02-2011, 10:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brinstarr

Honestly, does it matter?

No. I wouldn't focus on it, especially if it's causing you frustration.

coco_bunny · 08-02-2011, 07:47 PM

Yes hair typing can be somewhat helpful. However it's more of a guideline on where your hair texture MAY fall with others. At first I thought I was a 3c/4a when I realized that the curls on the top of my head that I thought were 3c were MUCH bigger than a pencil. And what I thought was my 4a on my nape was about the size of pencil. HOWEVER I still go on the 4a boards for advice. Because I feel although my curls may be much bigger than theirs my hair TEXTURE is still the same. My hair texture is much more coarse and dry than most 3b's even though our curl sizes are the same, so the advice they can give is very limited to my needs. If you feel your texture is more like a 4a than go for it. For most people curls size doesn't determine texture. The one thing about being natural is that you should just DO WHAT'S BEST FOR YOUR HAIR. If your a 3a and your hair loves "4a" products it doesn't matter. Hope this clears thing up for you...

Brinstarr · 08-02-2011, 07:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by coco_bunny

Yes hair typing can be somewhat helpful. However it's more of a guideline on where your hair texture MAY fall with others. At first I thought I was a 3c/4a when I realized that the curls on the top of my head that I thought were 3c were MUCH bigger than a pencil. And what I thought was my 4a on my nape was about the size of pencil. HOWEVER I still go on the 4a boards for advice. Because I feel although my curls may be much bigger than theirs my hair TEXTURE is still the same. My hair texture is much more coarse and dry than most 3b's even though our curl sizes are the same, so the advice they can give is very limited to my needs. If you feel your texture is more like a 4a than go for it. For most people curls size doesn't determine texture. The one thing about being natural is that you should just DO WHAT'S BEST FOR YOUR HAIR. If your a 3a and your hair loves "4a" products it doesn't matter. Hope this clears thing up for you...

I dig this. And you just described my hair texture/problems/curls to a T. Hair twin, I guess? Hah.

greenandchic · 08-03-2011, 02:06 AM

You're right, it doesn't really matter - curl size that is. It matters in terms of tangles, knots, etc, but not when it comes to certain products, protein/moisture balance, etc.

I have 4a/3c and probably other curl and wave sizes and shapes, but my "hair twin" is a 3b/3c. We have very similar porosity, texture, etc and use a lot of the same products.

I know people who's curls look like mine, but they are able to use certain products (due to their true type and texture) I wouldn't use in a million years.

Brinstarr · 08-03-2011, 09:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by greenandchic

You're right, it doesn't really matter - curl size that is. It matters in terms of tangles, knots, etc, but not when it comes to certain products, protein/moisture balance, etc.

I have 4a/3c and probably other curl and wave sizes and shapes, but my "hair twin" is a 3b/3c. We have very similar porosity, texture, etc and use a lot of the same products.

I know people who's curls look like mine, but they are able to use certain products (due to their true type and texture) I wouldn't use in a million years.

Too true. I gotta admit that hair typing has helped me as much as it has irritated me. I'm learning how to define my curls instead of just having a fro at all times. I suppose I'm still getting to know my hair. It's just frightening to me that some places are grading people according to their hair. I just want to shake them and say "Oh COME ON guys, this is like the opposite of the reason you went natural!"

coco_bunny · 08-05-2011, 10:43 AM

I think they should put on the hair typing systems some kind of warning that ALL your curls are not going to be the same size...I think that's what confuses newbies...They think they have to type EVERY curl and end up with like 5 slashes in there hairtype...I wish we could use the LOIS system...I think its a much more precise system...But it's like trying to use the metric system in America...it ain't NEVER gonna happen lmao we're too stubborn to change

greenandchic · 08-05-2011, 11:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by coco_bunny

I think they should put on the hair typing systems some kind of warning that ALL your curls are not going to be the same size...I think that's what confuses newbies...They think they have to type EVERY curl and end up with like 5 slashes in there hairtype...I wish we could use the LOIS system...I think its a much more precise system...But it's like trying to use the metric system in America...it ain't NEVER gonna happen lmao we're too stubborn to change

I think they should do away with hair typing all together.