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

[naturalmanenyc]

I'm confused now too. I always say that I'm 4a but maybe I'm not?


My hair did blend well with this texture, Milkyway human hair weave - corkscrews - 4a

After BKT my hair blends better with this texture. Milkyway human hair weave - coil curls - 3c

Are they both 4a?

 

[Nonie]

I'm confused now too. I always say that I'm 4a but maybe I'm not?


My hair did blend well with this texture, Milkyway human hair weave - corkscrews - 4a

After BKT my hair blends better with this texture. Milkyway human hair weave - coil curls - 3c

Are they both 4a?

I personally wouldn't call the second one 4A. The first one looks like shingled 4A. The second one looks like 3C to me.

 

[dollface0023]

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?

Your hair is SO much like my own!

Mine doesn't have any real curl pattern to it as well, but when it does show some type of curl towards my ends its fairly large. My hair pretty much just waves up or goes in a zig zag...

 

[kblc06]

Random question: I think I'm 4a/3c, am I more of one than the other?

You look more like a silky/thready 3c/3b to me, but I can't quite tell from your pic

 

[ryanshope]

I posted the pictures of her comb coils to simply make her coil diameter more obvious since it hard to tell in the pics I posted .....when you do comb coils on someone you're simply defining their natural coil diameter....it doesn't alter the width of the coils like setting it in rollers would.

Hair typing is all about curl diameter and nothing else....thats the most important thing to keep in mind. Really the biggest point that was made here is that 4a is the widest coil of the kinky hair types and the coils get smaller from there

Co-signing and thank u!! Hair typing isn't hard at all--the bigger the curls, the closer you are to 3; the smaller coils are 4. I have always known I have 4a/b/c hair, no "z" patters per se, but definitely corkscrews(from pen coil to straw size). The smaller coils are definitely more fragile than the looser ones, but fortunately I have coarse hair throughout so my hair can take a licking and keep on ticking.

 

[Ms.Christ3n]

:

You look more like a silky/thready 3c/3b to me, but I can't quite tell from your pic

Thank you so much! I;ve been looking for my hair twin for months looking at 4a/3c hair types. I just looked at some 3b/3c mixtures and I found my hair twin on the second picture!!! My friend said before that I couldn't be 3b/3c because I was too dark in skin color. That's what I get for listening to her ignorant arse...

 

[ycj1]

This is to Noni and BlackMasterPiece, could you please help me and tell me my hair type! I am so confused at times. Here are some pictures when my hair was relaxed and when I bc'd. Also the ones that were bc'd some are without product right after I washed and dc and some are with me just combing my hair back after I applied lv-in con. TIA

I think it's a combo of 3c on crown and back and 4a or 4b on the sides

 

[ycj1]

Here are more pictures. I think my hair is identical to the mother on youtube from familygoingnatural! Just need some clarification. I welcome all opinions as well!

 

[Nonie]

Your hair is too short for me to really tell. Maybe you're 3C/4A or 4A. I don't think you've got 4B anywhere from the pics you posted.

 

[davisbr88]

You guys better be around in January 2011 when I cut off my ends so someone can type meeeeeee!

 

[ycj1]

Your hair is too short for me to really tell. Maybe you're 3C/4A or 4A. I don't think you've got 4B anywhere from the pics you posted.

OK, I have some more recent ones. Those were taken when I bc'd in Dec 08.

Ok, the last two are from me cutting off the texlaxed hair completely off, and wanted to see how long it will take for the section I cut to catch up with the rest of my hair that still has the textlaxed ends. Hope these are better to determine. So the last two are my natural hair with no product in it. TIA

 

[ycj1]

Your hair is too short for me to really tell. Maybe you're 3C/4A or 4A. I don't think you've got 4B anywhere from the pics you posted.

One more showing the back of my hair. My hair is extremely curly in the nape.

Also, I've been transitioning since Feb 09 if that helps!

 

[Nonie]

OK, I have some more recent ones. Those were taken when I bc'd in Dec 08.

Ok, the last two are from me cutting off the texlaxed hair completely off, and wanted to see how long it will take for the section I cut to catch up with the rest of my hair that still has the textlaxed ends. Hope these are better to determine. So the last two are my natural hair with no product in it. TIA

I can't really tell. Is the hair out of braids? I ask because the waves look different and larger than your previous pics, as if your hair has been manipulated, kinda like this difference:

 

[Nonie]

One more showing the back of my hair. My hair is extremely curly in the nape.

Also, I've been transitioning since Feb 09 if that helps!

These pics look like they would show your texture better, except they are blurry.

 

[ycj1]

These pics look like they would show your texture better, except they are blurry.

OK, when I take them out which won't be until around the 1st wk or so in July I will post some more just washed and then some with after my dc. I try my best taking them since I live alone. It's a bit hard to take yr own especially the back. But I will do my best. Thanks anyway NONIE

 

[tamikachu =]]

Here is my hair freshly conditioned

ok so whate type is this because this is what my hair looks like when wet

 

[Nonie]

ok so whate type is this because this is what my hair looks like when wet

4A Geminigirl told her hair type when she posted that pic in post #46 and then BMP confirmed it in post #47.

 

[tHENATuRALhAiRpRoJEcT]

Your hair is too short for me to really tell. Maybe you're 3C/4A or 4A. I don't think you've got 4B anywhere from the pics you posted.

HEY NON!!!

although i'm not into the type thingy ma doo!!!

what do you think about a thread seperating the all types....just for you to nuture these ladies who love your typing advice (for real).... you are great at this

 

[Nonie]

HEY NON!!!

although i'm not into the type thingy ma doo!!!

what do you think about a thread seperating the all types....just for you to nuture these ladies who love your typing advice (for real).... you are great at this

I'm not really that good. Not like BlackMasterPiece. I am good at identifying 4B though and its many faces. CNapp is just manipulated 4B so still 4B to me. 4C doesn't exist in my book.

You are either unafraid or crazy to start so many typing threads when they annoy folks.

 

[tHENATuRALhAiRpRoJEcT]

I'm not really that good. Not like BlackMasterPiece. I am good at identifying 4B though and its many faces. CNapp is just manipulated 4B so still 4B to me. 4C doesn't exist in my book.

You are either unafraid or crazy to start so many typing threads when they annoy folks.

i know.... but you encouraged me!
honestly...i'm hoping "minimal dialogue (to avoid confusion).... maximum pics"

perhaps that will reduce confusion...and AVOID IRRITATION & CONFLICT!!

I'M SERIOUSLY HOPING ....i'll pray on that one.... positive thoughts sis! positive thoughts!

 

[ycj1]

:

Thank you so much! I;ve been looking for my hair twin for months looking at 4a/3c hair types. I just looked at some 3b/3c mixtures and I found my hair twin on the second picture!!! My friend said before that I couldn't be 3b/3c because I was too dark in skin color. That's what I get for listening to her ignorant arse...

I have never heard of anything like that before in my life! Look at SEMO's hair! I guess yr friend would have a fit if she saw her's! It does not matter what the skin color of a black person is regarding hair type.

I've seen the most beautiful heads of hair on dark skinned people! Da** she really needs to be educated on different hair types and not different skin tones!

 

[LaFemmeNaturelle]

^^By beautiful you mean.....well taken care of and healthy looking riiiiight?


SMH!

 

[wavezncurlz]

:

Thank you so much! I;ve been looking for my hair twin for months looking at 4a/3c hair types. I just looked at some 3b/3c mixtures and I found my hair twin on the second picture!!! My friend said before that I couldn't be 3b/3c because I was too dark in skin color. That's what I get for listening to her ignorant arse...

what the ....?
smdh. we've been fighting this stereotype since forever. jesh louise.

 

[TwistNMx]

Well, here's my hair shot. I could never know for sure my type. 4a /4o, etc. 'cause it's not kinky and the curls not big but springy when dry. It's even curlier with conditioner.
Any clue?

 

[TwistNMx]

Any experts? etc...
I'd love to hear your thoughts.

 

[ReeseNicole]

So I have a question then ladies, I haven't quite decided where I fall into the hair type bc my hair has obvious curls but its also incredibly pic. I've included some pics. I wish I knew how to include the pic in the post and not as an attachment, I'd be able to tell the story better. There are pics of my hair wet and dry; I chose the dry pics without product to make this easier.

 

[ReeseNicole]

okay one more

 

[loonggood]

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


Tips

• Use styling creams, butters and oils for type 4 hair

• This hair type needs extra moisture and tender-loving care because it can be fragile

• Detangle hair with a lot of conditioner in your hair and use a comb or detangling brush

• Let hair air dry or use a hood dryer

• Do not use a brush or comb on your dry curls

• Reduce tangles by sleeping on a satin pillowcase or wrap hair in a satin cap


Subtype 3c is really more than a subtype. It's a type NaturallyCurly members developed because the original system left out this hair type, which falls between 3b and 4a, having its own special characteristics.

• Type 3c hair has tight curls in corkscrews

• Circumference: Pencil or straw

• The curls can be either kinky, or very tightly curled, with lots and lots of strands densely packed together

• Getting this type of hair to blow dry straight is more challenging than for 3a or 3b, but it usually can be done

• The very tight curls are usually fine in texture

• 3c celebrities: Heather Headley, Alicia Keyes, Jada Pinkett-Smith
Tips

• Use styling creams, butters and oils for type 3c hair

• This hair type needs extra moisture and tender-loving care because it can be fragile

• Detangle hair with a lot of conditioner in your hair and use a comb or detangling brush

• Do not use a brush or comb on your dry curls

• Reduce tangles by sleeping on a satin pillowcase or wrap hair in a satin cap

 

[ReeseNicole]

hahah I just noticed I said pic....lol..i meant thick..duh :/

 

[TwistNMx]

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


Tips

• Use styling creams, butters and oils for type 4 hair

• This hair type needs extra moisture and tender-loving care because it can be fragile

• Detangle hair with a lot of conditioner in your hair and use a comb or detangling brush

• Let hair air dry or use a hood dryer

• Do not use a brush or comb on your dry curls

• Reduce tangles by sleeping on a satin pillowcase or wrap hair in a satin cap


Subtype 3c is really more than a subtype. It's a type NaturallyCurly members developed because the original system left out this hair type, which falls between 3b and 4a, having its own special characteristics.

• Type 3c hair has tight curls in corkscrews

• Circumference: Pencil or straw

• The curls can be either kinky, or very tightly curled, with lots and lots of strands densely packed together

• Getting this type of hair to blow dry straight is more challenging than for 3a or 3b, but it usually can be done

• The very tight curls are usually fine in texture

• 3c celebrities: Heather Headley, Alicia Keyes, Jada Pinkett-Smith
Tips

• Use styling creams, butters and oils for type 3c hair

• This hair type needs extra moisture and tender-loving care because it can be fragile

• Detangle hair with a lot of conditioner in your hair and use a comb or detangling brush

• Do not use a brush or comb on your dry curls

• Reduce tangles by sleeping on a satin pillowcase or wrap hair in a satin cap

I don't seem to fit in either of these categories. Is it written in stone? erplexed