What is the difference between 3c and 4a hair?

[BlackMasterPiece]

/\ Just post some pix & I can help

 

[Dee_33]

^^^wet pics or dry pics? Which show texture best? Also the hair should be product free correct?

Thanks

 

[PJaye]

/\ Just post some pix & I can help

Thank you, I would appreciate that.

 

[Nonie]

^^^wet pics or dry pics? Which show texture best? Also the hair should be product free correct?

Thanks

Post both. Post even combed out hair. Post product free (hence the reason it's washed first)...and if you like you can also show with product...but bare is best.

If you saw type 3 hair wet, it stretches and looks wavy, but curls up as it dries. So seeing the hair in all its forms is what would give a clear picture of the type one is dealing with.

 

[glamazon386]

Post both. Post even combed out hair. Post product free (hence the reason it's washed first)...and if you like you can also show with product...but bare is best.

If you saw type 3 hair wet, it stretches and looks wavy, but curls up as it dries. So seeing the hair in all its forms is what would give a clear picture of the type one is dealing with.

The front of my hair does this. The back half doesn't. It's weird.

 

[MzK]

After reading this thread I know I am a 4a. I have shrinkage but not like Nonie. I can wear WNG and my coils are noticeable...I think.

Here is my hair freshly conditioned

This is pretty much the texture of all of my hair. I heart it. Or is it 4ab?

......I heart your hair too! )

 

[Petiteness]

My 3yr old ,id love to see what you ladies say.

I think no hair type/texture is exactly the same and one shouldnt compare their hair to the next person.

His hair in all stages

 

[Petiteness]

Later in the week..pony with no product

 

[loulou82]

Is anyone up for the thought that there may be a "silky" 4B just like that are "silky" and "dull" 4As, 3Cs, etc.? I realize that strand size, porosity, and density can make two ladies within the same hair type look different. So what are the different looks of 4B? I'm leaning toward the conclusion that all 4B may not look a like AND I'm thinking I'm a "fine-strand and sheeny" 4B. A lot of my hair is frizzy and with no definable curl pattern. The coils that I do possess can vary from pen spring to smaller than pen spring. My hair tangles very badly after WNGs and puffs so I don't do them often anymore.

Natural Hair Blow Dried and Flat Ironed

Sorry for the big pics .

 

[Stiletto_Diva]

^^^ I'm no expert, as you can tell from my previous post, but I would say you are closer to 4a than 4b. You seem to have more defined curls than me and I've been labeled 4a/4b. You have very pretty hair by the way.

 

[TaraDyan]

I'm totally loving this thread!!! I definitely have both: 3c in the front and sides / 4a in the back.

 

[BlaqBella]

Is anyone up for the thought that there may be a "silky" 4B just like that are "silky" and "dull" 4As, 3Cs, etc.? I realize that strand size, porosity, and density can make two ladies within the same hair type look different. So what are the different looks of 4B? I'm leaning toward the conclusion that all 4B may not look a like AND I'm thinking I'm a "fine-strand and sheeny" 4B. A lot of my hair is frizzy and with no definable curl pattern. The coils that I do possess can vary from pen spring to smaller than pen spring. My hair tangles very badly after WNGs and puffs so I don't do them often anymore.

Natural Hair Blow Dried and Flat Ironed


Sorry for the big pics .

Beautiful ^^^ hair!....I'm curious too.?

 

[BlaqBella]

My 3yr old ,id love to see what you ladies say.

I think no hair type/texture is exactly the same and one shouldnt compare their hair to the next person.

His hair in all stages

Hi is so HANDSOME...and has SO MUCH BEAUTIFUL HAIR!

 

[BlackMasterPiece]

My 3yr old ,id love to see what you ladies say.

I think no hair type/texture is exactly the same and one shouldnt compare their hair to the next person.

His hair in all stages

He's definitely 3c all over

Is anyone up for the thought that there may be a "silky" 4B just like that are "silky" and "dull" 4As, 3Cs, etc.? I realize that strand size, porosity, and density can make two ladies within the same hair type look different. So what are the different looks of 4B? I'm leaning toward the conclusion that all 4B may not look a like AND I'm thinking I'm a "fine-strand and sheeny" 4B. A lot of my hair is frizzy and with no definable curl pattern. The coils that I do possess can vary from pen spring to smaller than pen spring. My hair tangles very badly after WNGs and puffs so I don't do them often anymore.

Natural Hair Blow Dried and Flat Ironed

Sorry for the big pics .

First of all your hair is beautiful Your coil diameter still falls within the 4a type So you're a 4a silky.

I've been wondering if I'll ever see a 4b silky as well....I have yet to ever see that.

 

[TCatt86]

I'm definitely a cottony 3c/4a. My hair i have bigger curls around the perimeter and smaller curls in the middle. I can make my hair fro up by picking or fluffign it out. Am I right in my ascertian BMP and Nonie?

 

[belleza]

When i had a TWA - I would put activator in it and it would have these soft little curls or I would put black gel in it and it would slick down with waves. Would that be 4a or 3c?

 

[BlackMasterPiece]

/\ We can't know without seeing wet naked hair pix hun.

I'm definitely a cottony 3c/4a. My hair i have bigger curls around the perimeter and smaller curls in the middle. I can make my hair fro up by picking or fluffign it out. Am I right in my ascertian BMP and Nonie?

You called it 100% correct

 

[Nonie]

I've been wondering if I'll ever see a 4b silky as well....I have yet to ever see that.

I think the reason it's hard to see shiny 4B hair unless it's stretched is because the small kinks make it impossible to have a large enough "straight section" along the curve that can bounce off like and appear shiny. Even if the hair may feel like silk, it may not look like it due to not reflecting light. But if you straightened silkier 4B hair, I bet it'd bling a lot more than straightened duller-looking hair.

 

[peachfuzzz]

Does gel ever work for 4b hair then?

I'm still learning how to apply gels and stuff and my first attempt was a hot mess. I've been watching CoilsKinksCurls on yt http://www.youtube.com/user/CoilsKinksCurls and used her rake technique and I'm loving the results! So, gel worked this time! I used IC Fantasia w/Elucence leave in underneath on one part and I used AfroVeda Gelly w/Elucence underneath for the other side, just to see if it'd work differently. They look the same to me. Curls poppin everywhere!

 

[Nonie]

I'm still learning how to apply gels and stuff and my first attempt was a hot mess. I've been watching CoilsKinksCurls on yt http://www.youtube.com/user/CoilsKinksCurls and used her rake technique and I'm loving the results! So, gel worked this time! I used IC Fantasia w/Elucence leave in underneath on one part and I used AfroVeda Gelly w/Elucence underneath for the other side, just to see if it'd work differently. They look the same to me. Curls poppin everywhere!

When you guys say gel worked or didn't work, what do you mean? How is gel supposed to work? And how do you know when it isn't working?

I think of gel as this sticky, wet, jelly-like product that can moisturize but also stick strands together but not like a mousse but more gently kinda. (Think of S Curl gel, aloe vera gel, etc)

So it works? It doesn't work? What do these mean, pray do tell!

 

[peachfuzzz]

When you guys say gel worked or didn't work, what do you mean? How is gel supposed to work? And how do you know when it isn't working?

I think of gel as this sticky, wet, jelly-like product that can moisturize but also stick strands together but not like a mousse but more gently kinda. (Think of S Curl gel, aloe vera gel, etc)

So it works? It doesn't work? What do these mean, pray do tell!

I think different applications of gel does different things. Gel can cause the hair to clump, minimize frizz, imparts hold & shine, and reduces obscene shrinkage. It also does the obvious slicking the edges and such.

The first time I tried scrunching gel in my hair(this was supposed to freeze the curls that I see when wet so I could have them while dry), it eliminated the curl definition that I had. It ended up looking like waves instead of defined coils. I tried shingling my hair on my second attempt w/gel. I don't know what went wrong but there were no curls in sight (even though I see lots of curls when my hair is wet).

I tried shingling again today and my hair is coily/curly, I have definition, shine, hold...my hair is not completely dry yet so I can't tell you about shrinkage yet, though it hasn't shrunken too much yet. I tried getting a pic, but they come out fuzzy.

I hope this explains what I meant by the gel working (doing what I wanted it to do).

 

[Nonie]

^^Yes it does. Thank you.

 

[UrbainChic]

Guys, I am now even more confused than before. First of all I am completely lost on my texture, i used to think it was coarse, then i wasn't sure anymore because I had 2 hairstylists called my hair fine, but i know so many people with even finer strands than mine, but i figured, well they see more heads of hair up close and personal than i do, so maybe they are right.....so I then was like okay. I guess I dont really know my strand texture.

NOW, I am not sure if i am 3C or 4A, and even worse, is that my hair really doesnt curl without putting in much effort so my hair does what BMP's 2A picture does, (where it waves up untill the end of the hair)--- except with the frequency of change in direction a 3C/4A head would have.... with a few distinct 3C curls instead of squiggle in some spots in the back. I know my hair is definitely not straight, but there's too many bumps or wavies per inch to call it wavy, I always call it curly but seeing all those perfect coils are making me think i am some kind of hair freak. I just want to call it 3C/4A mix, but now I'm confused on that as well.

It has a lot of volume, but it flops, its silky strands, theres a whole lot of hair so its always thick, and it really doesnt curl like the rest of you posted without some manipulation. I dont even comb it often with anything other than my fingers, so I dont think i'm "brushing out the curls" Its not heat damaged, or even color damaged. I leave it alone. The top part of my hair has more "wavy" tendencies than the rest of my hair, but i repeat, there are too many turns to call it wavy, i definitely call it something kinky/curly/nappy. It literally just grows this way. PLEASE tell me I'm not the only one or i will start to cry.

Don't you guys ever see 4Bs or 4A's that go in an s or z pattern? I dont think i would be the only one here with this kind of curl. I have seen it before on one of my good friends who used to be natural. Her hair made tiny zig zags, but not always necessarily a curl.

The only thing I know for certain now, is that my hair is thick, as in I have numerous strands on my head compared to the average human being. This at least has never been a question. The rest I need some serious help on.

 

[UrbainChic]

Also, I have a non african decent friend who has what i have always considered 3C-4A hair, but like mine, her hair goes in a zig zag or S and not really spirals. But again, there is no way her hair could be classified as wavy... no way!

ETA:

Think in pasta terms--- Ramen noodles instead of Fusilli:

Ramen
http://timeinthekitchen.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/dried-ramen-noodles-1024x552.jpg

Instead of
Fusilli
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/8f/Fusilli_lunghi_bucati.jpg

 

[BlackMasterPiece]

/\ I have two words for ya: Pics please!

Just post some pics of your naked hair wet/dry whatever you have so we can judge

 

[NikkiGirl]

Hey, BMP I have a question for you. Can you tell my hair type if I only have pics of new growth. I don't know for sure and I think it would be helpful for products I can buy to help me as it grows out. (I am transitioning) Thanks so much.

 

[PJaye]

Since I don't know how to post pictures within a thread, I had to attach them.

The first picture was taken while doing a ponytail rollerset; some Lacio Lacio was applied prior to making the ponytails. The second picture is of my typical post-wash ponytail air dry; the "wrigglies" at my nape are clearly visible.

Although my hairline is smoother than the center and nape, it all has some manner of "wrigglies." Can you tell me what type(s) this is?

 

[UrbainChic]

I will post some in a bit! They are definitely ramen noodley more than fusilli.... someone else has to have this kind of "curl" also.

 

[UrbainChic]

Okay, I think I am between 3c and 4a, but now in addition to being even more confused about hair type then before, I am freaked out that everyone's hair seems to spiral and mine is just doing something crazy.

So here are some pictures of my hair completely naked. All I used was a bar of solid shampoo, did not even condition in these pictures.

Sorry if these are too large!

This is my hair wet:

This is the curly part of my hair, dry

Here is some Ramen noodle action going... uncombled, not in the shower or anything, just doing its own thing....

THIS weird thing is what a shed hair looks like... as you can plainly see, it is not curling, twirling, or anything of the like, it is just changing directions a lot. In fact, I almost never find a hair that looks coiled, not a stretched coil or a coiled coil, mostly just schizophrenic hairs.

and here's me and the whole thing, uncombed, no product, just shampooed and air dried.



I am pretty sure this is still easily 3c/4a, not sure which one, but I didn't see many of you with the zig zag/ or S pattern, just 2 of you. Are there more? or do you all actually curl?

 

[NikkiGirl]

I don't really know my hair type at all.. so I have some pics here. It is not down. I am transitioning. So I don't wear it out much. So sorry, but you may not be able to tell at all.