What do people have against type 4 hair?
Amemus
Registered Users Posts: 16
I have always admired very tightly coiled curly hair. I can remember when I was about six I was jealous of a girl in my ballet class who had type 4 hair because when she whipped her head around when we did pirouettes, her hair stayed in place (mine got messed up so easily). When I was eleven or so, I wanted to put braids in my hair, but my mom refused to let me ("because that's for black people."). Now that I know more about curly hair I have come to respect how much natural girls have to do to keep their hair healthy, but at the time, as a wavy/curly girl who treated my hair as if it was straight and was constantly frustrated by the way my hair would poof and frizz no matter how much I brushed it, kinky hair looked effortlessly beautiful to me. And there are so many rockin' awesome hairstyles you can create with tightly curly hair! Seriously, I'm surprised to hear about all the rude comments natural girls get for their hair. I think all hair types and textures (if the hair is well-defined and healthy) are beautiful. Do any other wavies agree with me?
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Hair Type: 3B with a concoction of random 3a/3c mixed in.:blob3:
Fine/Normal Texture, Oily/ Normal, Normal Porosity, No hair dyes, no chemicals, all natural.
Deep Conditioning Treatment: Honey&Coconut Conditioner mixed together for lightening and protein.
Organix Coconut Shampoo (Sulfate free):glasses2:
I switch up my normal conditioners all the time.
I think maybe it relates back to old, ingrained racial stereotypes tbh. That, and you rarely see naturally kinky hair in magazines/models etc. (Or any curly hair really beyond a wavy/3a). There is a stereotypical western standard of beauty that people still respond to sadly. I think things are changing, just slowly.
'Kinky' and 'afro' are also still used as insults as well. I used to be called 'afro-head' as a child when I was bullied (it was always about my hair).
I personally am envious of all types of curls I see on the board across the ranges lol. The grass is always greener....
Incidentally, my dad, who is white, had an afro when he was a teenager. He went through trying to relax it and thin it out, and now it's so thin and short you can't really tell it's curly. So that combined with my mom's Asian stick straight hair gave me my mixture of textures which I am learning love because it makes me unique.
Last relaxer: Not sure. 3/08 or 4/08
BC'd: 9/18/09
Co-wash: Suave Naturals, HEHH, Trader Joe's Tea Tree Tingle, CJ Daily Fix
Leave-In: KCKT, Giovanni Direct Leave-In, CJ Smoothing Lotion
Stylers: ORS Twist and Loc Gel, KCCC, Ecostyler, SheaMoisture Deep Treatment Masque
Deep Conditioner: DevaCurl Heaven In Hair, CJ Deep Fix
http://confessionsofladyv69.wordpress.com/
I have nothing relevant to add to the conversation...I just wanted to say it.
I'm not CG - tried it and failed for two years. My scalp hates it.
+1
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Sodomy non sapiens.
- Terry Pratchett
Fine hair, normal porosity, and normal elasticity.
I'm still new to this CG stuff, so ANY tips you could give me are appreciated.
I have Celiac Disease, which means I can't eat or use products with wheat in it.
Formerly known as curlygirl92 and mixofwavescurls
I feel this way as well. I'd love to have tightly coiled, big, cool hair! Type 4 hair rocks. It probably is a 'grass is always greener' thing: My hair has become less curly over the past few years, and I'd love to have some of that curl back. There are many times in my life, though, that I'd have killed for straight hair. I used to envy the straight-haired girls in school, too, LadyV69. I'm white, but my hair was always so knotted and frizzy and my mother was pretty hard on it with the brushing and braiding and stuff (she didn't know how to deal with curly hair; come to think of it, I'm still trying to figure it out myself). I actually had my hair chemically straightened a few times as a teenager before I realized that all this fighting against natural texture is . . . well, unnatural.
Of course, I guess I'm still doing that in a way, desperately trying to reduce frizz and coax a little more curl into my hair . . .
Someone said before me it's a racial thing that goes back to slavery and she's right and smart lol. If you haven't read "Hairstory" by Ayana Byrd and Lori Tharps, I HIGHLY recommend it. It's not just for African Americans, I really wish a lot more people, non-African American, would read it because it explains literally EVERYTHING about African Americans and our hair, why some people may hate it.
Nowadays, it's mostly the good hair/bad hair thing (which I choose not to buy into). Our hair is "nappy", "dirty", "unmanageable", and deemed "ugly". It's "bad" because of all these reasons. A lot of the hate for type 4 hair that I've seen personally comes from African American women. My mom went natural and she hates our hair type. The only reason she doesn't relax anymore is because she wears wigs 24/7 so there's no need to straighten. Once I was talking about a friend, she's got curly hair like 3a, and discussing the similarities between her and I (we both hate when people run their fingers through our curls) and my mom goes "Yeah, but it's different! Her hair is good! Ours isn't!" And it hurts when she comes to me, all overly dramatic I might add, out of breath saying "Livy! I just combed my hair...and this stuff is NAPPEHHHHHHHH!" I hate the term "nappy", and I say in my head "Well, maybe if you learned how to properly treat our hair, and stopped dry combing it, then it wouldn't be difficult!"
I haven't really experienced any hate from non-AA people. They're usually the ones that praise my hair lol. I live overseas and the people here think my hair is gorgeous. OP you're right when you say it's changing, no matter how slowly, it is changing. And it's nice to know that we have the support of wavy/curly girls :hello2: It's so funny that we all want each other's hair :sign5:
My Arsenal:
Shampoo: Waiting on SM African Black soap shampoo to makes its way to me...
Conditioner(s): CJ Beauticurls Argan and Olive Oil, Curl Junkie Smoothing Lotion
Treatments: CJ Curl Rehab, CJ Deep Fix, CJ Repair Me!
Oil: Apricot Kernel Oil
Stylers: CD Loc Butter for twists, CJAF, CJCQ (haven't figured out how to work this though...)
As for the comments, there are a lot of people in the world who don't like people who are different from them. When someone is, they are more subject to be tormented by other people. This could also have to deal with the fact that these people cannot accept change as well.
+1 to the multiple posters who said it all goes back to racism and the concept that white/straight hair is "good" and any kind of ethnic/kinky hair is "bad". It's absurd that these connotations exist to this day, but it's ingrained into the Western culture. :sad8:
*****HG Routine*****
Cleanse: Care Cure Conditioner
LI: Biolage Conditioning Balm (not very often used anymore, really)
Styling: Eco Style Protein Gel and a diffuser (pixiecurl method).
There are a lot of things that are ingrained in Western Culture. Another includes you need to be tall and skinny to be beautiful.
You know, as much as I agree about the skinny part, I've never seen the tall part in action. Maybe it's because I'm just shy of 6', or because I'm not tall and skinny at the same time, but I've always been made to feel like being tall is unwieldy and unfeminine. I don't believe that anymore, but growing up as tall as I am was pretty hard when I was younger.
Now I just embrace my Amazonian looks and love it.
*****HG Routine*****
Cleanse: Care Cure Conditioner
LI: Biolage Conditioning Balm (not very often used anymore, really)
Styling: Eco Style Protein Gel and a diffuser (pixiecurl method).
I see it a lot of times in clothing stores, especially the more popular ones. The thing which is sad is that it breaks the EEO Act.
I personally grew up in a mostly Hispanic culture and I agree with someone above who said that the majority of the dissaproval came from the 4 type people. My hair is different, my family is so mixed I couldn't even begin to describe my nationality... I call myself a "glocal" (global local) The majority of the latino girls I knew had straight or wavy hair... and they always teased me about my curls... and asked me why my hair was curly... and other relatives of mine had straight hair... etc, then the African American girls at school didn't like me either because they all had these ridiculous complexes about their hair being 4 type which I thought was awesome, but they didn't so they teased my about mine... and let's not even talk about most Hispanic countries and their relationship with "good vs bad hair" Its crazy! I actually heard a lady ask someone behind my back one time I had my hair blow dried... " I wonder if she really has good hair, or if she blow dries it... cause she is dark skinned" INSANITY! People need to research, read, look up their ancestors, look up the mutation of human cells throughout the years and how certain people went from tall to short and curly to straight, straight to curly! People have to let go of imaginary prejudices because we are all African and Asian and European... we are all a mix of everything.:laughing8:
Hair Type: 3B with a concoction of random 3a/3c mixed in.:blob3:
Fine/Normal Texture, Oily/ Normal, Normal Porosity, No hair dyes, no chemicals, all natural.
Deep Conditioning Treatment: Honey&Coconut Conditioner mixed together for lightening and protein.
Organix Coconut Shampoo (Sulfate free):glasses2:
I switch up my normal conditioners all the time.
I agree!
Type 4 hair is gorgeous and I find myself envious of the girls who have it more often than not.
3b
medium texture, high porosity
fan of GFTN and krystal ecostyler
That being said, I do not envy the amount of time that it takes them to do these styles. I think it is a shame that Type 4 ladies have to spend all that time on their hair, yet still are often not viewed as attractive by society, other black women, etc.
I don't think I would survive as a Type 4 because I don't have the patience for those styles. I hated being a little girl and having my hair pressed, twisted, braided, sitting in the "little chair" with my mom complaining about how she had to hunch over and how I wasn't sitting up straight. (Which led to the dreaded relaxer! bah! That I continue to have until today, except now I have curl still) Then it seems like a lot of Type 4's say that they have a long drying time.
I barely have the patience to wash and comb through my hair in the shower. Still looking for a cleanser I like that doesn't make my hair tangle. If I was a Type 4, I guess my hair would always have to be loose and free because my scalp itches and burns if I try to go more than four days without washing, and I'm too lazy to do a great, but time consuming, style that often.
My mom BCed this summer. She has small curls that I guess are Type 4 but they are really fine and thin.
Officially Transitioning since March 2011.
Last Relaxer September 2010
Got some kind of curly bangs going here! And I think my bangs are all natural!
I think that my natural hair is somewhere between a 3b and a 3c, I hope it's not too soon to tell! :blob4:
:afro:
4a hair is not hard to deal with. You just have to find what works for you. I only use 3 products for my hair, shampoo sometimes, condition and a leave in, somtimes I leave it alone, sometimes, I twist it into a bun then take it out for wavy hair. I only wash it every 2 weeks, unless I work out and it feels really dirty.
The only people who can't "survive" 4a/b hair are those who constantly try to maintain a look that isn't natural to what 4a does, i.e. straightening all the time, or that they use the wrong products. It's when you constantly try to alter, that it becomes a hassle.
There are some very beautiful women with 4a hair whom people of all backgrounds find attractive, maybe not the media, but their ideal beauty is bland anyways.
I wouldn't trade my 4a hair for any other hair type. It's so much fun to style and play with.
http://julafashions.deviantart.com
https://twitter.com/JulaFashions
I agree with the sentiment expressed here. 4 hair is just really versatile. I have bad hair days like everyone else, and yes I do admire other girls with different hair types. But at the end of the day, I wouldn't trade my hair for the world. I really feel that me and my hair were meant to be :love4:
all natural since 7/30/10
Shrinkage happens.
Back to what I said about surviving Type 4 hair, if you look again I talk about all the time consuming styles--none of which are unnatural for Type 4 hair, but the twisting, the braiding, the having a spray bottle handy while styling, I'm too lazy for all that. I could only be loose and free. I would never have any different looks.
Officially Transitioning since March 2011.
Last Relaxer September 2010
Got some kind of curly bangs going here! And I think my bangs are all natural!
I think that my natural hair is somewhere between a 3b and a 3c, I hope it's not too soon to tell! :blob4:
You don't have to do time consuming styles with Type 4 hair. I rarely do. If a style is going to take more than an hour, most of the time, I don't do it.
Last relaxer: Not sure. 3/08 or 4/08
BC'd: 9/18/09
Co-wash: Suave Naturals, HEHH, Trader Joe's Tea Tree Tingle, CJ Daily Fix
Leave-In: KCKT, Giovanni Direct Leave-In, CJ Smoothing Lotion
Stylers: ORS Twist and Loc Gel, KCCC, Ecostyler, SheaMoisture Deep Treatment Masque
Deep Conditioner: DevaCurl Heaven In Hair, CJ Deep Fix
http://confessionsofladyv69.wordpress.com/
I rarely braid my hair. No styles are time consuming unless u have an intricate style with tiny braids or u want to braid super long hair. Many women wear wash n go hair, I don't use a spray bottle. ideally hair should be moisturized enough not to need one.
You're making assumptions about a certain hair contributing to the ignorance that's already prevalent about 4a hair.
http://julafashions.deviantart.com
https://twitter.com/JulaFashions
Deep Conditioner- Aubrey Organics Honeysuckle Rose
Conditioner AOHR
Frizz Control- Aphogee Moisturizing Oil Sheen
Protein Treatment- Aphogee Keratin 2 Minute Reconstructor
Hair type 2c
Goal long, bright red, soft hair!
Bless your heart, I am so lazy, I could never spend and hour
Officially Transitioning since March 2011.
Last Relaxer September 2010
Got some kind of curly bangs going here! And I think my bangs are all natural!
I think that my natural hair is somewhere between a 3b and a 3c, I hope it's not too soon to tell! :blob4:
and yes, type 4 hair is thebomb.com/thesh*tandtheurine
Ok, I've been watching you for a good bit on the boards, and I can't for the life of me figure out what you gain by being here. You have folks here and in other threads wracking their brains over why they can't seem to help your hair curl, well..what a wonder--
You can't comment on "surviving" or being a type 4, or even being natural, because you're relaxed. You state on other boards (when you think others aren't paying attention) that you've been on creamy crack FOR YEARS. Now, there's nothing wrong with being on the crack, but seriously, your pump faking on NaturallyCURLY is getting old and sour. You don't have natural hair to comment on how "hard" or "easy" anything is. Furthermore, you can't even comment on being a 4, because you don't know your hair beyond the crack until you cut dat crap off and allow your hair to grow naturally. For all you know, you could be a type 3. Your ignorance on our issues due to your personal choices makes your contribution to the natural conversation pretty worthless to ladies like us walking the line. There are other forums here dedicated to women on a similar path as you that you could take advantage of. Even LHCF is better suited to your needs than here.
In spite of all this, if you ARE going to continue to be here, stop with the faking in-the-shade tactics and come real. You're relaxed; you aren't interested in transitioning and state your agenda. Otherwise, it's just deceptive, and tasteless.
Low porosity thick/coarse texture. nml elasticity
Routine: No rules, just happy hair
Cleanse: CJDF, Prell, LUSH Curly Wurly, Bobeam
LI/RO:BBB, CJ, SheaM, HEHIS, Garnier, KBN Shealoe, CD Chocolat, Oyin HH
Styling: CJ, CR, UFD, Zuresh, Ecostyler,MJ
PT/DT: BBB, CJ, Lather, MJSSB
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