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

System

Are you curious about your hair type? Are you thinking it may be type 4, then look no further!!!!

Here is a little info about type 4 hair, pulled from the section for type 4 hair on Naturally Curly Curly Hair Tips, Styles & Products - NaturallyCurly:

"Facts"

• Type 4 is kinky, or very tightly curled, with a clearly visible curl pattern

• Circumference: Crochet needle or even smaller

• The hair is very wiry, very tightly coiled and very, very fragile

• Type 4 hair can range from fine/thin to wiry/coarse with lots and lots of strands densely packed together

• Type 4 hair has fewer cuticle layers than any other hair type, which means that it has less natural protection from the damage you inflict by combing, brushing, curling, blow-drying and straightening it

• Type 4 hair is known to shrink up to 75% of the actual hair length

• There are two Type 4 subtypes:

•4a: Tightly coiled hair that, when stretched, has an "S" pattern, much like curly hair. It tends to have more moisture than 4b; has a definite curl pattern

•4a celebrities: Macy Gray, Monique Coleman, Leela James

•4b: Has a "Z" pattern, less of a defined curl pattern. Instead of curling or coiling, the hair bends in sharp angles like the letter "Z"; has a cotton-like feel

•4b celebrities: Esperanza Spalding, Jill Scott, Erykah Badu

Things to keep in mind are:

There is no one size fits all method to hair care. Knowing hair type very rarely (if ever) gives you any insight into the products and methods you need for your own hair care. It will take much trial and error and patience to figure it out. This is a learning experience! Things will start to make sense in time.

If you have anything to add, feel free to do it here. Also, if you have any questions regarding hair typing then this thread would be the place to post those questions!

Thanks a million!!!

LolaKinkz

THANK YOU!!!!

CurlyElectra

Thanks Foxy!

soleilmoncur

Thanks Foxy!

And yes, this gif is of my natural mixed-race(Italian, Jewish, Black, Puerto Rican and a little of Japanese), gift from my ancestors, non relaxed/heat damaged/color damaged hair.

*Marah*

This is great.. now I hope people actually pay attention and not miss it but if they do one of us can post them a link directly to this thread.

System

You're welcome ladies.

soleilmoncur wrote: »

Thanks Foxy!

And yes, this gif is of my natural mixed-race(Italian, Jewish, Black, Puerto Rican and a little of Japanese), gift from my ancestors, non relaxed/heat damaged/color damaged hair.

You are in time out. Go to the corner.

Keenylicious

Hallelujah

On my EVO. I'm too fancy for proofreading.

Jo Somebody

Thanks Foxy!

I thought some photos might help:
http://www.naturallycurly.com/curltalk/4a/69386-post-pictures-your-4a-4b-hair.html

NoodleNaps

PHEW!

System

Naturalista

We need a holy ghost gif... I shouted Hallelujah when I saw this!!!!

Ninjarette

I love the Lord....He heard my cry, and pitied every groan. Long as I live, and troubles rise, I'll hasten to His throne.

Amen...give thanks!

coilynapp

Hopefully this will curb the "HALP! what's my hair type" threads. Thanks Foxy!

CurlyElectra

LOL there's so much shade in here already, I'd be scared to actually ask my hair type. :evil4:

Naturalista

CurlyElectra wrote: »

LOL there's so much shade in here already, I'd be scared to actually ask my hair type. :evil4:

Not shade, just real talk sigh of relief! Woo Jesus! Lol!

System

Okay, I have a hair type question. What is the difference between an "S" shaped curl and a "O" shaped curl? For the life of me, I can't get the LOIS system.

Keenylicious

Raizal wrote: »

Okay, I have a hair type question. What is the difference between an "S" shaped curl and a "O" shaped curl? For the life of me, I can't get the LOIS system.

one is shaped like an S, and the other looks like an O.

i'm honestly not trying to be snarky here, i just don't know how else to answer this.

System

Keenylicious wrote: »

Raizal wrote: »

Okay, I have a hair type question. What is the difference between an "S" shaped curl and a "O" shaped curl? For the life of me, I can't get the LOIS system.

one is shaped like an S, and the other looks like an O.

i'm honestly not trying to be snarky here, i just don't know how else to answer this.

My issue is more with the "S" type curl. I picture wavy type 2 hair, or a dude with an earring on a texturizer box. I don't get the LOIS system in general.

System

Raizal wrote: »

Keenylicious wrote: »

Raizal wrote: »

Okay, I have a hair type question. What is the difference between an "S" shaped curl and a "O" shaped curl? For the life of me, I can't get the LOIS system.

one is shaped like an S, and the other looks like an O.

i'm honestly not trying to be snarky here, i just don't know how else to answer this.

My issue is more with the "S" type curl. I picture wavy type 2 hair, or a dude with an earring on a texturizer box. I don't get the LOIS system in general.

I have some Ss. Pics of my hair are in this thread.

http://www.naturallycurly.com/curltalk/4a/139971-aloe-vera-pectin-jelly-recipe-results.html

They are not large at all. Small ones. Still tight.

soleilmoncur

FoxyCleopatraGuide wrote: »

Raizal wrote: »

Keenylicious wrote: »

one is shaped like an S, and the other looks like an O.

i'm honestly not trying to be snarky here, i just don't know how else to answer this.

My issue is more with the "S" type curl. I picture wavy type 2 hair, or a dude with an earring on a texturizer box. I don't get the LOIS system in general.

I have some Ss

http://www.naturallycurly.com/curltalk/4a/139971-aloe-vera-pectin-jelly-recipe-results.html

They are not large at all. Small ones. Still tight.

Foxys hair is an S curl. It's really just the shape of an S that can be tightly coiled or looser. O curls have a more defined curl shape and can also be tightly coiled or loose. The O curl is the more traditional looking curl.

HTH

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

NaturalTeenLife wrote: »

is my hair 4a ?

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

kinkicurlyfyne

NaturalTeenLife wrote: »

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. :confused2:

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

greenandchic wrote: »

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

valcave wrote: »

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......

NoireNapps wrote: »

valcave wrote: »

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.

Sent from my PC36100 using CurlTalk App

artemis513

valcave wrote: »

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.