high shrinkage vs. low shrinkage hair

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almond eyes

Well-Known Member
My grandmother had low shrinkage natural hair which means that it would dry fast, had little shrinkage and short stranded knots and her hair was naturally long like mid back and she could comb her hair without little breakage. My hair on the other hand is the complete opposite, takes forever to dry, shrinks up to 90% and has to be moisturized or else will get SSKs and I have to be very careful when combing my hair.

I used to wonder, why some women with my hair texture's hair seemed to 'grow' faster or looked longer when stretched out. Now I realize that your hair is either low or high shrinkage. Sometimes, when I see these natural youtube videos and I see women with this low shrinkage hair, they think it's so easy to have this long stretched natural hair but now I finally understand there is a big difference and why sometimes, some women tend to say, my 4b is not your 4b. For women with hair that is high shrinkage, I am not sure if that is what is referred to as low porosity, it's a lot harder for length to show as easily.

Best,
Almond Eyes
 
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faithVA

faithVA

Well-Known Member
almond eyes said:
My grandmother had low shrinkage natural hair which means that it would dry fast, had little shrinkage and short stranded knots and her hair was naturally long like mid back and she could comb her hair without little breakage. My hair on the other hand is the complete opposite, takes forever to dry, shrinks up to 90% and has to be moisturized or else will get SSKs and I have to be very careful when combing my hair.

I used to wonder, why some women with my hair texture's hair seemed to 'grow' faster or looked longer when stretched out. Now I realize that your hair is either low or high shrinkage. Sometimes, when I see these natural youtube videos and I see women with this low shrinkage hair, they think it's so easy to have this long stretched natural hair but now I finally understand there is a big difference and why sometimes, some women tend to say, my 4b is not your 4b. For women with hair that is high shrinkage, I am not sure if that is what is referred to as low porosity, it's a lot harder for length to show as easily.

Best,
Almond Eyes
Click to expand...

I agree that the shrinkage can vary even with the same "hair type" and it is a game changer. My mom was 4 b but her hair didn't really shrink that much. I am 4b my hair shrinks about 70%. There are so many characteristics that vary from head to head that it is really hard to compare hair.

I don't think that shrinkage and porosity are related though. That's just my opinion though. Have no basis for that. I think high shrinkage is more prevalent than low porosity.
 
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Godyssey

Well-Known Member
The tightness of the curls determine shrinkage. My grandmother had low shrinkage, long hair as well, but I wouldn't consider her a type 4 but a 3. As you get lower in type, in order of coily, curly, wavy, straight, your hair shrinks less.
 
faithVA

faithVA

Well-Known Member
Godyssey said:
The tightness of the curls determine shrinkage. My grandmother had low shrinkage, long hair as well but I wouldn't consider her a type 4 but a 3. As you get lower in type, in order of coily, curly, wavy, straight your hair shrinks less.
Click to expand...

Even within a type you can have a wide range. You can have a 4b with 40% shrinkage and a 4b with 70% shrinkage. So it can be a wide range.
 
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Godyssey

Well-Known Member
Well if it isn't the tightness or looseness of the curls on natural hair, then what determines shrinkage?
 
O

Ogoma

Well-Known Member
I have seen similar curl types with different rates of shrinkage.

I think it is more closely correlated with the various forms of texture. One being fine, medium, or coarse, and the other cottony, wiry, silky, spongy, or thready.
 
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Godyssey

Well-Known Member
I was reading on another site that it could be products or long lengths weighing hair more.
Although like you said, it could just be the natural make up of the hair.

Interesting. So it appears that the hair typing method needs to be modified to include shrinkage.
 
A

almond eyes

Well-Known Member
faithVA said:
I agree that the shrinkage can vary even with the same "hair type" and it is a game changer. My mom was 4 b but her hair didn't really shrink that much. I am 4b my hair shrinks about 70%. There are so many characteristics that vary from head to head that it is really hard to compare hair.

I don't think that shrinkage and porosity are related though. That's just my opinion though. Have no basis for that. I think high shrinkage is more prevalent than low porosity.
Click to expand...

Yes, you could be right about the issue of shrinkage and porosity, though many with low porosity hair have hair that takes forever to dry and shrinks more!!!!!!!
 
faithVA

faithVA

Well-Known Member
almond eyes said:
Yes, you could be right about the issue of shrinkage and porosity, though many with low porosity hair have hair that takes forever to dry and shrinks more!!!!!!!
Click to expand...

I misstated. I should have said, I think that porosity can impact shrinkage. But I don't think that it is the sole underlying cause.
 
faithVA

faithVA

Well-Known Member
I'm talking about other people's heads, what about the different shrinkage levels on my own head? :lol: How do we explain that phenomenon?
 
McQuay30

McQuay30

Well-Known Member
Ogoma said:
I have seen similar curl types with different rates of shrinkage.

I think it is more closely correlated with the various forms of texture. One being fine, medium, or coarse, and the other cottony, wiry, silky, spongy, or thready.
Click to expand...

I think u have a very good point abt strand size and texture. I believe texture is not as explored as it needs to be, after porosity i feel next should be texture and strands bcuz these three really determine what your like dont like and why.
 
charmtreese

charmtreese

Well-Known Member
I have varying degrees of shrinkage within my hair. My crown shrinks up the most, the back a lot less...it gives the appearance of an Afro mullet.
 
S

Seamonster

New Member
This is funny that you bring this up. My friends are always thinking my hair will look a lot longer when I straiten or stretch it because of the kinkiness. In fact I have a lot of hair that has the z shape so it doesn't coil very well. My day to day shrinkage is not that much - only get shrinkage if I air dry and pat. Noticed that my afro looks longer than my strait hair because of the volume.
 
Inspiired

Inspiired

Well-Known Member
Honestly it seems like my hair shrinks 95% when wet! SSK doesn't seem to be a problem for me anymore and it might be because my hair tends to be in a stretched and protective style a lot of the time. Hope you continue to enjoy your hair journey and love learning more about your wonderful hair!

[P]http://www.youtube.com/bootyfurl
 
ail221

ail221

Member
I have 3c/4a low porosity dense hair and thick strands and my hair shrinks more than 50%. I think its a texture issue.
 
A

almond eyes

Well-Known Member
I have different textures on my fine hair, but it is amazing my hair shrinks up to almost 95% with the exception of my baby hairs in the back which are low shrinkage and dries quickly. Now, I have been able to combat the SSKs as I have identified the best products and regiment for my hair but my hair still shrinks.

Now, I had a friend in college and her hair was also fine but it was definitely 4b but when she washed it, it would dry immediately and almost look like a texturizer or lightly blown out hair and it never had that tangled look. Because her hair didn't shrink it was easy for her to do natural buns and pressing her hair would be a cinch. And her hair was mid back. She would always say, that I should be patient and my hair would eventually hang, but it never did unless I stretched it or used heat and even a pull test was not an accurate picture of my length.

Now, I am relaxed and when my hair is dry without heat it shrinks to my neck with heat it is past APL.

I think that the hair categories for African textured hair emphasise too much on waviness, curliness, coiliness and kinkiness, I think the focus should be more on density, porosity and shrinkage.

Best,
Almond Eyes
 
A

almond eyes

Well-Known Member
Examples:

high shrinkage

mid range shrinkage


 
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C

CocoaPebbles

Member
I think that the diameter / thickness of each individual strand plays a major role in shrinkage (though I don't think it's the only factor). Two different strands of hair may both have identical curl patterns, but if one strand is thicker than the other, it will be "heavier" and more likely to "obey gravity" thus resulting in less shrinkage. Just my two cents.
 
A

almond eyes

Well-Known Member
CocoaPebbles said:
I think that the diameter / thickness of each individual strand plays a major role in shrinkage (though I don't think it's the only factor). Two different strands of hair may both have identical curl patterns, but if one strand is thicker than the other, it will be "heavier" and more likely to "obey gravity" thus resulting in less shrinkage. Just my two cents.
Click to expand...


Interesting!!!!!!!!
 
z3000zee

z3000zee

New Member
I am another one with high shrinkage and I do think I have finer strands. I don't think that shrinkage is necessarily related to ssks. I don't have many ssks when I use my shea butter mix on the ends of my hair but I think that may also be the case for some low shrinkage naturals. I don't have any problem with growing my hair longer. People just will not notice the length if I don't stretch it. Although it is frustrating some times, I figure that my hair is more versatile.
 
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