How To Grow & Retain 20" Of 4c Hair

[CurlyMoo]

This is becoming a real problem. I am seeing more and more people claiming that they are 4C and they are CLEARLY not. It's almost like click bait. I get that the hair typing system is confusing for some but if you have big a** shiny, juicy curls, you know darn well you aren't a 4C. It is becoming very deceptive and it must be annoying for those who truly are 4C.

Can you post photo's of an example of 4C hair?

 

[CurlyMoo]

This is what true 4c hair looks like wet, Keep in mind this is after a smoothing treatment. I normally would have more shrinkage. There are tiny coils and z patterns throughout View attachment 392933 this is what my hair looks like with conditioner. I have heat damage in the front of my hair. The only reason you see my coils somewhat enlongated is because of the smoothing treatment. View attachment 392935

Can you show what 4C looks like dry?

 

[Tefnut]

I would consider her to be a cross between 4a and 3c.

My hair is 4a but there are parts that are 3c. Her individual strands look like a mix between the two, IMHO.

Again, the hair typing system is flawed.

I agree with ladies who say that people will label their hair in the 4s when its really in the 3s. I think that goes to their perception of their hair being unmanageable, too "kinky" and any shrinkage. I think it also goes back to what they consider (even subconsciously) to be manageable hair, which is usually in the 2s or 3a or 3b. Since they see their hair as unmanageable, they automatically assume its in the 4s (4 hair can be very manageable btw) when it may be 3b, 3c or maybe a 3a. My mom is like that.

What would you all consider Naptural85's main hair type to be?

 

[sweethair]

You are so right!! The system is
Flawed and people equate unruly and coarse hair as 4c. It's more about texture/curl type. As naturals we know there are more then just a handful of curls and texture to categorize. But what should be clear is 4c or whatever you want to call it has the tiniest coils/ texture. The only reason you see mine is because my hair was treated. It's normally much tighter.

I would consider her to be a cross between 4a and 3c.

My hair is 4a but there are parts that are 3c. Her individual strands look like a mix between the two, IMHO.

Again, the hair typing system is flawed.

I agree with ladies who say that people will label their hair in the 4s when its really in the 3s. I think that goes to their perception of their hair being unmanageable, too "kinky" and any shrinkage. I think it also goes back to what they consider (even subconsciously) to be manageable hair, which is usually in the 2s or 3a or 3b. Since they see their hair as unmanageable, they automatically assume its in the 4s (4 hair can be very manageable btw) when it may be 3b, 3c or maybe a 3a. My mom is like that.

 

[Saludable84]

My entire head looks like hers and I'm definitely 4a

4A maybe?
The majority of my hair looks similar to hers

 

[sweethair]

Can you show what 4C looks like dry?

Girl my hair tangles and knots too much to let it dry unstretched. But here is a pic of my edges. I had horrible postpartum shedding. You can see the coils growing back in

Also my hair after a failed blow out

 

[Saludable84]

This is what true 4c hair looks like wet, Keep in mind this is after a smoothing treatment. I normally would have more shrinkage. There are tiny coils and z patterns throughout View attachment 392933 this is what my hair looks like with conditioner. I have heat damage in the front of my hair. The only reason you see my coils somewhat enlongated is because of the smoothing treatment. View attachment 392935

Did you have a permanent treatment because your hair does not look 4c.

 

[sweethair]

Did you have a permanent treatment because your hair does not look 4c.

I got the keratin complex smoothing treatment. They say it's last 3 months. But my hair is very fine when its straighten it there is going to be damage to a degree. My roots are always more textured then the rest of my hair.

I had to get the treatment my hair was matting, the ends were tangling and knotting no matter what I did I was bra strap length at the time. Beings new mom I just couldn't do 3 hour detangling sessions anymore.

 

[Saludable84]

I got the keratin complex smoothing treatment. They say it's last 3 months. But my hair is very fine when its straighten it there is going to be damage to a degree. My roots are always more textured then the rest of my hair.

I had to get the treatment my hair was matting, the ends were tangling and knotting no matter what I did I was bra strap length at the time. Beings new mom I just couldn't do 3 hour detangling sessions anymore.

Gotcha. Because I'm like, you are not 4c lol. It looks very nice.

 

[AgeinATL]

My entire head looks like hers and I'm definitely 4a

+1

I have a very small patch of 4b in the front but the majority is 4a.

 

[Tefnut]

Yep, that's another thing: conditioned and treated hair will yield different results no matter your texture.

When my hair is well conditioned, hyrdrated and detangled, I'm able to run my fingers through it without product. My hair is very coily and I am able to do that! My hair isn't stretched and isn't completely dry either.

I've gone to hair salons that specialized in natural hair but their products weren't the greatest now that I think about it. They were great for styling but the shampoos stripped the hair and the conditioners weren't very moisturizing. Some of the stylists would make comments about people with 4 hair being unruly and just dry. Umm, it was the products.

You are so right!! The system is
Flawed and people equate unruly and coarse hair as 4c. It's more about texture/curl type. As naturals we know there are more then just a handful of curls and texture to categorize. But what should be clear is 4c or whatever you want to call it has the tiniest coils/ texture. The only reason you see mine is because my hair was treated. It's normally much tighter.

 

[sweethair]

Gotcha. Because I'm like, you are not 4c lol. It looks very nice.

I wouldnt have let my hair be out unstretched even with conditioner if my hair wasn't treated. my shrinkage was real!!! It would have been half the lengths you see in the pics. My freshly washed 4c hair was well above my shoulders. But was past my boobs with pulled down. So my coils were much tighter.

 

[YvetteWithJoy]

Yep, that's another thing: conditioned and treated hair will yield different results no matter your texture.

When my hair is well conditioned, hyrdrated and detangled, I'm able to run my fingers through it without product. My hair is very coily and I am able to do that! My hair isn't stretched and isn't completely dry either.

I've gone to hair salons that specialized in natural hair but their products weren't the greatest now that I think about it. They were great for styling but the shampoos stripped the hair and the conditioners weren't very moisturizing. Some of the stylists would make comments about people with 4 hair being unruly and just dry. Umm, it was the products.

Wow. I can't imagine running my fingers through my hair. Drenched with water and conditioner, it's still not happening. Lol.

 

[Tefnut]

Yeah, I was a bit shocked.

I did that overnight egg, olive oil and coconut oil treatment and then deep conditioned. My hair is very coily, has tons of shrinkage and has S and O coils (think a slinky).

Wow. I can't imagine running my fingers through my hair. Drenched with water and conditioner, its still not happening. Lol.

 

[sweethair]

Yep, that's another thing: conditioned and treated hair will yield different results no matter your texture.

When my hair is well conditioned, hyrdrated and detangled, I'm able to run my fingers through it without product. My hair is very coily and I am able to do that! My hair isn't stretched and isn't completely dry either.

I've gone to hair salons that specialized in natural hair but their products weren't the greatest now that I think about it. They were great for styling but the shampoos stripped the hair and the conditioners weren't very moisturizing. Some of the stylists would make comments about people with 4 hair being unruly and just dry. Umm, it was the products.

I just went though this with 2 stylist that each cut off 2 inches of my hair and then told me I was doing something wrong. Not that them washed my hair wrong, ripping through it with the comb and blow dryer caused it. I was so mad but my husband was begging me to wear my own hair since it had grown. Now Im a little last apl with real heat damage. I will never let a stylist besides the one that did my smoothing treatment touch my hair again! She stay booked and is pregnant so it seems unlikely.

 

[Saludable84]

Yep, that's another thing: conditioned and treated hair will yield different results no matter your texture.

When my hair is well conditioned, hyrdrated and detangled, I'm able to run my fingers through it without product. My hair is very coily and I am able to do that! My hair isn't stretched and isn't completely dry either.

I've gone to hair salons that specialized in natural hair but their products weren't the greatest now that I think about it. They were great for styling but the shampoos stripped the hair and the conditioners weren't very moisturizing. Some of the stylists would make comments about people with 4 hair being unruly and just dry. Umm, it was the products.

Products make a world of a difference.

Most wash days my hands glide through my hair. Type 4 hair is not hard to deal with when you have the right stuff.

 

[NICOLETHENUMBERONE]

Yours looks similar to mine - 4b.

Here is a true 4c, Glamazini (aka Roshini):

...and another. Her hair is waist length, fine, and lightened:

I have seen coils tiny enough to slide inside a coffee stirrer.

Okay, the second girl below has such pretty hair. I've watched her videos before. It seems that this is what healthy 4c hair looks like. It soft and cottony looking.

I couldn't watch the videos without replying. But I'm 4a and i notice when I was just doing protective styling, deep conditioning and moisturizing years ago with no heat, the curl pattern got bigger. If I don't moisturize, then it's my regular size curl diameter.

Anyone else notice this with moisturizing?

 

[faithVA]

Products make a world of a difference.

Most wash days my hands glide through my hair. Type 4 hair is not hard to deal with when you have the right stuff.

I agree with this. I can run my fingers through my hair with shampoo in it when it's the right shampoo. Changing shampoo has made all the difference in the world.

 

[Bunnyhaslonghair]

@sweethair your hair looks looser than Napp Queen's. I think she is a 4c. I was looking at some of her other videos and she shows photos of her shunken hair. I think her hair is just well managed and taken care of. Maybe even stretch a little because of the length.

 

[beingofserenity]

Yours looks similar to mine - 4b.

Here is a true 4c, Glamazini (aka Roshini):

...and another. Her hair is waist length, fine, and lightened:

I have seen coils tiny enough to slide inside a coffee stirrer.

Thank you, lol. I'm still not sure I see a major difference between 4b and 4c especially some of the pics that posters have posted of their own hair in this thread. I do think I have 4a hair at my nape.

I will say that my hair is also very easy to run my fingers through with the right products especially after I have deep conditioned with my protein conditioners.

 

[CurlyMoo]

Girl my hair tangles and knots too much to let it dry unstretched. But here is a pic of my edges. I had horrible postpartum shedding. You can see the coils growing back in

Also my hair after a failed blow out

Thank you for sharing your pictures.
This is the issue I am having with tangles and knots.
I guess I will never let it dry unstretched, because girrrrl.
I am at the point of fantasizing about cutting my hair down to 2 inches.

 

[Tefnut]

I know better now and am not afraid to question stylists again. I had one girl who would start combing out my hair from the roots instead of the ends. SMH. I had to say something. I had another who was surprised to my "kinky" hair be apl and bsl lightly blown out. She said she had never never kinky hair (read: 4a, 4b, 4c or 4z hair) get long (past shoulders). As conscious as she is, her perceptions about kinky hair were very skewed. I think it's because of how others viewed her 4c hair when she was kid and that her hair has never been below chin or shoulder length.

I just went though this with 2 stylist that each cut off 2 inches of my hair and then told me I was doing something wrong. Not that them washed my hair wrong, ripping through it with the comb and blow dryer caused it. I was so mad but my husband was begging me to wear my own hair since it had grown. Now Im a little last apl with real heat damage. I will never let a stylist besides the one that did my smoothing treatment touch my hair again! She stay booked and is pregnant so it seems unlikely.

 

[Tefnut]

Exactly!

And ACV works wonders. Everyone has to know what works best on their hair.

Products make a world of a difference.

Most wash days my hands glide through my hair. Type 4 hair is not hard to deal with when you have the right stuff.

 

[sweethair]

@sweethair your hair looks looser than Napp Queen's. I think she is a 4c. I was looking at some of her other videos and she shows photos of her shunken hair. I think her hair is just well managed and taken care of. Maybe even stretch a little because of the length.

Again shrinkage and texture are two different things. I said before the pic I had a smoothing treatment. If not my hair coils have fallen to bottle of my ears. The smoothing treatment elongated my coils but there still coils. The front of my hairs heat damaged that's why it likes loose. Unfortunately I don't have old pics of my texture it was on my old phone. But my hair was like naturally high on YouTube, tight, tiny coiled hair. Doesnt reflex light even when heathly and mosturized. Has a sheen but doesnt shine. The diameter of my coils was like this--- O and smaller. If you look at the pic of my edges that's my texture. But even my treated hair i still has small coils you can see the texture especially in the back. Napp queen has curly hair with lots of shrinkage. But she still has curls her hair still smooths out and her baby hair is laid! That's not 4 c hair.

 

[yaya24]

Heres my 4c hair.
I have 4BC throughout.

 

[beingofserenity]

Again shrinkage and texture are two different things. I said before the pic I had a smoothing treatment. If not my hair coils have fallen to bottle of my ears. The smoothing treatment elongated my coils but there still coils. The front of my hairs heat damaged that's why it likes loose. Unfortunately I don't have old pics of my texture it was on my old phone. But my hair was like naturally high on YouTube, tight, tiny coiled hair. Doesnt reflex light even when heathly and mosturized. Has a sheen but doesnt shine. The diameter of my coils was like this--- O and smaller. If you look at the pic of my edges that's my texture. But even my treated hair i still has small coils you can see the texture especially in the back. Napp queen has curly hair with lots of shrinkage. But she still has curls her hair still smooths out and her baby hair is laid! That's not 4 c hair.

I think she is 4c. Or at least her hair is kinky enough imo that I don't take issue with her calling herself 4c. I don't think I would describe her edges as laid naturally, there is still some kink there. But just because it is a little easier for her to smooth them down doesn't negate that most of her texture is 4cish.

 

[charmtreese]

This is what true 4c hair looks like wet, Keep in mind this is after a smoothing treatment. I normally would have more shrinkage. There are tiny coils and z patterns throughout View attachment 392933 this is what my hair looks like with conditioner. I have heat damage in the front of my hair. The only reason you see my coils somewhat enlongated is because of the smoothing treatment. View attachment 392935

Your hair looks almost like my hair and I categorized my hair as 4b. Typical 4b hair has "Z" shape less defined curl pattern.

 

[sweethair]

4 c hair doesn't have baby hair. Most natural black women, especially girls with 4 hair type, our hair would generally look the same if we wear it unstretched fro. It's when you wet your hair you can see the texture more. When your hair moisturized you either have curls, waves or coils.
She can smooth her hair down and have shine. The tight texture of 4c hair will look dull even when it's soft and moisturized yo the touch.
Her wet hair shows her curls and she has baby hair how is that 4c??

I think she is 4c. Or at least her hair is kinky enough imo that I don't take issue with her calling herself 4c. I don't think I would describe her edges as laid naturally, there is still some kink there. But just because it is a little easier for her to smooth them down doesn't negate that most of her texture is 4cish.View attachment 392971 View attachment 392973 View attachment 392975 View attachment 392977

 

[GGsKin]

First time I'm seeing this luscious head of hair of Napp Queen's. 4a, b, or c I can't tell but I can see that it is Type 4 and looks super dense, I've never heard of her before today. Her hairline (or baby hairs) looks really weird to me, especially in that pic with the red top...like how is it so deep but ok.

 

[beingofserenity]

4 c hair doesn't have baby hair. Most natural black women, especially girls with 4 hair type, our hair would generally look the same if we wear it unstretched fro. It's when you wet your hair you can see the texture more. When your hair moisturized you either have curls, waves or coils.
She can smooth her hair down and have shine. The tight texture of 4c hair will look dull even when it's soft and moisturized yo the touch.
Her wet hair shows her curls and she has baby hair how is that 4c??

I saw her wet hair. It still looks like 4c hair to me. Even Dephyne who is undeniably 4c looks like curls and waves start to form in her hair when wet and conditioned. Baby hair only refers to the hair at your edges and women use gels, edge tamers, hot combs etc. to force those hairs to lie down. So someones baby hairs isn't always an indicator of whether or not they have kinky hair.

Hair types are made up anyway. There's no scientific data backing up the different categories, so I don't see why people are trying to redefine someone else's hair just because it's not like theirs.