Are you natural/ relaxed/transitioning? Are you a regular direct heat user? Meaning has heat altered your texture considerably?
You're a consistent 3c
.....Theres nothing wrong with having a texture thats different then most....thats part of what makes you unique! 
Pics are a tad big
so that makes it a little hard but you appear to have 3c curlies poppin 
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.
Sorry for the big pics.
Only about curl diameter/wave pattern. Its not gonna give you a completely personalized profile on everything your hair would need but it does steer you in a general direction which can be massively helpful.
I *think* you're a 4a...it'd be easier to tell with the cam a little farther away but I'm leaning pretty strongly toward 4aI hate to hijack, but can someone help me too?
I'm pretty sure I'm 4a. I think. Lol. At least, according to the pics in the first post, that's what it looks like. I know I have 3something in the nape. The texture is looser back there for some reason. Anyway, here are some pictures. Sorry for the blurry ones.
I can't say I found these individuals b/c of the typing system though .. honestly I just looked at pics/videos and found my hair twins/cousins that way LOL!
Have you check out the LOIS system?All that said I really don’t know HOW or IF the typing system should be changed or if we should come up w/ new categories to include both silky & cottony…I don’t even know if that would really benefit anybody but it might- just MIGHT help with all the confusion.
I think the reason why the hair typing system is flawed is due to the lack of differentiating between silky & cottony textures within each group possessing the same curl/coil size/diameter. It leads to so much confusion. This thread and countless other ones just like it is a clear indication that the system is flawed....I want to dismiss the system but I know it has helped me so I don't think we should ignore it...
As for the type 3-type 4 confusion....
All the pics that represent the 3 category in the hair typing system show well defined large-medium curls/coils and silky shiny slick back edges- but do not take into consideration the cottony/frizzy curls of the same size that are not silky and well defined..So anyone w/ a cottony texture who does not see their hair represented in the pics assumes they must be 4B since the basic definition of 4B is hair having no real coil/curl definition/clumping from root to tip, etc. I've seen countless individuals who claim to have 4B hair in videos/pics due to the fact their hair does not naturally clump when wet, however the diameter of their curl was definitely larger than the tight small coils of those w/ 4B hair
Just b/c the hair can easily take on the “afro” appearance does not mean it is in fact 4B.
As a true 4B (according to the same flawed typing system) I can usually tell when someone claims 4B but is actually misled and really a 3B/3C/4A, etc. Every single time I come across one I totally understand why…they typically have more of a cottony frizzy texture than a silky defined texture. However I see them in videos parting, combing, brushing & washing their hair in a way they would not be able to do if their coils were actually tight & small like mine.
All that said I really don’t know HOW or IF the typing system should be changed or if we should come up w/ new categories to include both silky & cottony…I don’t even know if that would really benefit anybody but it might- just MIGHT help with all the confusion.
Some people may think the typing system doesn't matter but I will say that it wasn't until I found those w/ a similar texture that I was able to figure out how to handle my hair properly from the way I wash to the way I style, etc. When I tried to follow the regimens of those w/ a looser coil/curl pattern, my hair suffered tremendously (case in point: doing wash n go's - big no no for my hair and most 4B's I know, but a LOT of those in the 3 category thrive from them). Therefore, it is really important to find others with your hair type, especially when you are new.
In terms of products- the advice I have received from those in the 3 & 4 category have been helpful--honestly I think product preference has more to do w/ personal hair porosity, protein/moisture needs, personal lifestyle, etc and less to do with hair type...
BTW I too am interested to see if there is a such thing as a SILKY 4B – I’ve never come across one and I don’t see how it could be possible w/ such tight-small coils, but hey, who knows?
BlackMasterPiece kudos for providing answers for those who question their hair type
You mean like this?
YES!!!!! EXACTLY!!!!
I usually have to mess with my hair and coax it into some sort of spiral ( and i dont often have the time or energy to do so), otherwise most days my hair is doing the ramen noodle thing instead of fusilli thing.
Many people have curls that flatten out with product, so I guess all this time I thought there were a lot of people's curls that don't actually curl-- looks like its more unique than i thought!
A very good friend of mine has that kind of ramen noodle curl too.
You mean like this?
....
Thanks Nonie for these pics!
If your hair looks like this ^ when wet or after drying (without any manipulation) then I would consider this person a 3a/b/c with a Cottony texture or use another hair typing system like the LOIS. The frizz here is what causes the confusion but notice the large-medium size of the curl/coil/zigzag/wave however you choose to describe it (of course, we know that Nonie stretched out her tight 4B coils w/ braids to get the look in this pic- but this is representative of the UNmanipulated/UNstretched size/diameter of one w/ a looser curl pattern and a cottony/frizzy texture)
As we can see from Nonie's later post, when her hair is wet or allowed to dry (without any manipulation) the tiny coils are very compact and look nothing like the pics above .... So basically if you don't have to manipulate your hair or stretch it somehow to get the look above then you are most likely not in the 4 category of this flawed hair typing system
