ATTENTION!!! The Official Type 4 "What's My Hair Type?" Thread!

[Cerendipity]

Depending on how I style my hair I can have O's or S's

Wet, no manipulation O's, dry styled S's* depending on product and shingled or raked

I just say Type 4 and call it a day.

[NaturalTeenLife]

is my hair 4a ?

[Keenylicious]

Originally Posted by NaturalTeenLife

is my hair 4a ?

... we wouldn't be able to tell from those pics...

[kinkicurlyfyne]

Originally Posted by NaturalTeenLife

is my hair 4a ?

Post a pic of your whole head. It's really hard to tell with just that piece.

[AKAdemic]

I have a question about that "circumference," because most of the 4a YouTubers appear to consistently have larger curls than that.

4a is so difficult to define, though. It seems to include on the same head 3c and 4b, and can at different times appear to be one or the other.

And just look at those examples. I would have classified Esperanza as 4a, Macy as 4b. Who knew?

[greenandchic]

Almost 10 years in the online natural hair community and I still don't know my hair type. LOL I have waves and curls big and small. Kinks, frizz, wire, etc. I claim 4a/3c and call it a day.

And at the end of the day, it doesn't really matter.

[AKAdemic]

Originally Posted by greenandchic

Almost 10 years in the online natural hair community and I still don't know my hair type. LOL I have waves and curls big and small. Kinks, frizz, wire, etc. I claim 4a/3c and call it a day.

And at the end of the day, it doesn't really matter.

I would agree with that, just going by the pics.

[valcave]

I just posted about hair type and wondering if knowing your hair type won't help with choosing products?

Sent from my PC36100 using CurlTalk App

[NoireNapps]

Originally Posted by valcave

I just posted about hair type and wondering if knowing your hair type won't help with choosing products?

Sent from my PC36100 using CurlTalk App

Not necessarily. Hair type is more about definition, curl pattern....basically the cosmetic aspects of your hair. Products that are successful or not on your hair are based more so on your hairs porosity, level of damage, protein-sensitivity, and scalp condition etc. Me and another naturalista can both be type 4a and she be high porosity and I'm low porosity. The products that work for her might not work well for me.

[valcave]

Thanks NoireNapps, when searching products I found that in the ratings the same hair types tend to like the same products. being a newbie I did do the water in the cup test and my hair did not sink to the bottom of the cup but was just under the top of the water! Still when just washed its dry and frizzy....so confusing......

Originally Posted by NoireNapps

Not necessarily. Hair type is more about definition, curl pattern....basically the cosmetic aspects of your hair. Products that are successful or not on your hair are based more so on your hairs porosity, level of damage, protein-sensitivity, and scalp condition etc. Me and another naturalista can both be type 4a and she be high porosity and I'm low porosity. The products that work for her might not work well for me.

Sent from my PC36100 using CurlTalk App

[artemis513]

Originally Posted by valcave

Thanks NoireNapps, when searching products I found that in the ratings the same hair types tend to like the same products. being a newbie I did do the water in the cup test and my hair did not sink to the bottom of the cup but was just under the top of the water! Still when just washed its dry and frizzy....so confusing......

That test is highly inaccurate. Think about how many strands you have on your head. Each one is going to tell you only a little bit about what your whole hair needs--a couple of strands in a cup just isn't enough. Think more about:

*how long it takes your hair to wet in the shower
*how much product your hair can absorb at one time before it becomes too much
*how long your hair takes to air-dry
*how much time goes by in between washing/styling before your hair begins to dry out (hours? 1 day? 3 days?)

There will be an overall pattern of "behavior" that your hair will exhibit that the cup test just cannot gauge. For starters you should try using a decent cleansing/clarifying shampoo then a very rich deep conditioner (try using with heat if you can). Personally I would not shampoo again until you absolutely cannot stand it. Use conditioner each time you need to refresh it instead (after rinsing your hair very very well). See how long your hair stays moisturized. If it doesn't last at least 1-3 days, then you can do a search on how to improve that and go from there. Establishing a good moisturizing routine for you and your hair is going to be the best thing to start with regardless of the size of your curls.

[ss40]

Whats my type?
[ATTACH]19431[ATTACH]

[ss40]

?

Originally Posted by sienna40

?
Attachment 19434

It looks like a 4a/4b mix to me

[ss40]

Originally Posted by FoxyCleopatraGuide

It looks like a 4a/4b mix to me

I was thinking that. Its thick as all get out & a little too short to avoid looking like when dry. But I'm being patient. Thanks.

[kellywuvzlye]

Hey guys whats my hair tye im not really sure when i wash it its not a ZZ shapes it looks more like a finger coiling but its not like bouncy i dont know this is it after a washed it and it does have some oil in it it has been flat twisted

[soleilmoncur]

Originally Posted by kellywuvzlye

Hey guys whats my hair tye im not really sure when i wash it its not a ZZ shapes it looks more like a finger coiling but its not like bouncy i dont know this is it after a washed it and it does have some oil in it it has been flat twisted

We can't tell with styled hair. Unstyled is best.


Sent from the mytouch 3g slide. Spell check does not compute.

[artemis513]

Originally Posted by kellywuvzlye

Hey guys whats my hair tye im not really sure when i wash it its not a ZZ shapes it looks more like a finger coiling but its not like bouncy i dont know this is it after a washed it and it does have some oil in it it has been flat twisted

Please re-read the information and characteristics posted in this entire thread. If you still have specific questions after that, someone here may be able to help you. Like soleil said, styling your hair and posting a pic of it is not going to get your question answered.

Originally Posted by kellywuvzlye

Hey guys whats my hair tye im not really sure when i wash it its not a ZZ shapes it looks more like a finger coiling but its not like bouncy i dont know this is it after a washed it and it does have some oil in it it has been flat twisted

I agree that posting a pic of unstyled hair is best. Here is a closeup pic of my dry hair from when I was about 3 months post BC:



I say my hair is type 4 w/o really putting letters on it because I just think it makes more sense to say that than to attempt to subtype it. My hair is tightly coiled. It has a lot of shrinkage, more than 50%. My hair isn't silky (although there are type 4s w/silky hair), and I have some coils/curls the size of pencils and some that are smaller. I have O shaped and S shaped curls and that became more apparent to me as my hair grew out.

[dedede]

Originally Posted by FoxyCleopatraGuide

I agree that posting a pic of unstyled hair is best. Here is a closeup pic of my dry hair from when I was about 3 months post BC:



I say my hair is type 4 w/o really putting letters on it because I just think it makes more sense to say that than to attempt to subtype it. My hair is tightly coiled. It has a lot of shrinkage, more than 50%. My hair isn't silky (although there are type 4s w/silky hair), and I have some coils/curls the size of pencils and some that are smaller. I have O shaped and S shaped curls and that became more apparent to me as my hair grew out.

I am in love with that hair!!!