This post what is 4c Hair Type and what does 4c Hair look like first appeared on igbocurls.com
If you want to know what 4c hair is, What 4c hair type is, What does 4c hair mean and what does 4c hair look like, then keep reading and watch the video below.
Today I will be teaching you everything about 4c hair.
I am also showing you a visual representation of what 4c hair actually looks like at the end of the video above.
Before we begin, I would like to let you all know that I have written a book on 50 tips and tricks that can help you grow your natural hair faster and longer for anyone who is actually serious about your natural haircare.
If you would like to purchase it, please click on Buy It Now below.
What is 4c Hair Type
Over the years, hair typing has actually become really popular in helping naturals describe their hair type.
It helps naturals to find others with similar hair types and hair typing has also influenced the manufacture and use of natural hair products.
However, it is important to know that hair typing should not be used to compare natural hair negatively.
All types, all-natural hair types are beautiful. Yes, even 4c hair type is beautiful.
Natural Hair Typing Systems
Now there are different hair typing systems, there is Andre Walkers, LOIS system and more to name a few but the most predominant hair typing system that has gained popularity over the years is the Andre Walkers hair typing system.
It is also the first hair typing system that includes, type 4 hair.
Before we go any further, I need you to understand that the hair typing system is not perfect by any means but it is useful in determining your hair pattern or patterns.
What does 4c hair Mean
Do you ever notice that sometimes you can have a sibling that doesn’t share the same hair type as you?
Even your parents, you may not have the same hair type as them.
And here is why.
Your hair type is specifically defined by the shape of the hair follicle that your hair grows out from your scalp.
So the flatter and oval shape your hair follicle is, the curlier your hair.
On the other hand, the more circular in shape your hair follicle is then the straighter your hair.
Also, another thing you need to know is, your curl pattern is actually defined by the shape your hair strands make and this can either curve, kink or form spirals.
As I mentioned earlier, you can have up to two to three different hair types on your hair, but usually one is always the most dominant of all three or two.
For example, you can have type 4 hair but you can have 4a, 4b, 4c curl patterns.
Sometimes you can even have, 3c, 4a, 4b curls.
This is all a combination of coily, kinky and curly hair types.
And the best way to completely see what your hair type is, especially if your hair is 4c, is when it is WET.
What is 4c hair
Whenever you see a hair typing chat online, the first thing you see is Type1 to Type 4. The simplest way to understand this is,
Type 1’s are generally Straight,
Type 2’s are generally Wavy
Type 3’s are generally Curly and;
Type 4 hair types are generally Coily.
So what does A – C mean on the hair typing chart?
What does A-C mean?
A-C generally means the breakdown of each hair type according to the width.
In other words, a, b or c on the hair typing chart shows the hair type according to the size of the curl pattern.
Type C’s are generally the tightest and the smallest hair types in every single category.
With that said, 4c hair can be defined as, tightly coiled or zig-zag patterned coily hair.
4c hair is very similar to 4b hair, that is why most naturals that have 4c hair have a little bit of 4b hair at different points of their head.
Another thing to note is, 4c hair experiences about 70% to almost 80% of shrinkage but one thing I love about 4c hair type is that it is the most versatile of literally every single hair type there is.
I’ll prove it to you in the end.
If you don’t know, type 4 hair is also referred to as Afro textured hair or kinky hair, or coily hair so all those words, generally mean the same thing.
I will like to add here that we should please refrain from calling your hair nappy.
Please stop it.
The history of the word nappy associates our hair with being ugly and our hair is not ugly.
Our hair is absolutely beautiful 110% and you need to begin to know, understand and believe that and see it as well.
Moving on, what are the characteristics of 4c hair. How do you know your natural hair is 4c?
Listen to this.
How To Know if You Have 4c Hair Type
Characteristics of 4c Hair Type
Common traits with 4c hair are that it is naturally dry and spongy in texture and it can also be soft and a bit wiry.
Some people may have extremely soft 4c hair while others may have really dry and hard 4c hair naturally and it can also feel wiry.
It is amazing.
Also, the hair strands form very tight small curls and zig zags.
It is not everywhere that will have a zig-zag but generally, the curls will be tight straight from the scalp and yes it is prone to major shrinkage.
These are the general characteristics of what 4c hair is so if you are trying to find someone that has 4c hair type as you or if you are trying to find out if you have 4c hair then these are the characteristics that you should look out for.
Another thing to note is, 4c hair can also defer from person to person, and that is mostly due to genetics and other factors like hormones, lifestyle choices, stress and more.
In addition, not all 4c hair types have thick dense hair like mine and not all 4c hair types are low porosity.
So 4c hair types can differ in both aspects so always have that in mind when you are trying to find naturals that have 4c hair type as you.
Long 4c Hair
A major misconception with 4c hair is that it cannot grow long.
That is a big fat lie because, I have almost 30 inches long 4c hair and we honestly need to stop that myth.
It can be completely discouraging to new naturals that are looking for inspiration to find out if their hair can actually grow as much as they want it to.
Furthermore, I hope that by reading and watching my natural hair story, you are convinced and motivated that your hair can grow to as long as you want it to if you are serious.
Also, if you are consistent with the right information from my book, the right hair tools to use and products to use, yes, your hair can grow exponentially.
Using me as an example, I have been natural for 8 years at the time this video is being published, and I was actively growing my hair for 5 years.
I need other words, I was making sure to retain most of the length that came out of my scalp and that helped me grow to 24inches long natural hair by 5 years.
Yes, you don’t have to be growing your natural hair for 8years for your hair to be down your back or down your hips.
Although, I am just having fun with my hair now, I am thinking about growing my hair longer.
I can change my mind at any time to get serious again with retaining more length than my hair breaking and not trimming as often and not cutting my hair as often but I have reached my hair goal so I am satisfied with my hair length for now.
I will let you all know if I am going on to grow my hair further but that’s in another video and blog post so make sure you are subscribed so you don’t miss out if I do decide to have a hair growth challenge.
You can also watch my hair story here on Youtube, it’s on my channel.
It is the first thing on my channel so you can’t miss it and if you are really interested in growing your natural hair, then you should get my book 50 tips and tricks to grow your natural hair longer and faster. It is written for the non-readers not only the readers.
I made it is so simple and removed all the clutter and gave you the points head on.
I also explained directly why you should do each tip and the benefits of it in brief points so if you are thinking oh, but I don’t read and I am not really good at studying,
Trust me, it is SO easy to understand.
So if you are serious about your natural hair care, I do suggest that you get my book here.
Before we go on, comment below on what you love about your 4c hair, I would love to hear it and if the comments are really good, I’ll share them in all in my next video.
What does 4c hair look like
Most of you have only seen my hair stretched, because I personally like to keep it stretched to avoid tangles.
As I mentioned earlier, 4c hair shrinks up to 70% — 80% and this usually comes with tangles, single strand knots and creates unnecessary breakage so I always keep it stretched with twists, sometimes braid outs and sometimes with protective styles. I have loads of protective styles on my channel.
Just so you know, I have a new video on my wash day so yes that’s coming soon so don’t forget to subscribe.
I have also had people comment, oh your hair is not 4c, and I laugh all the time because they see my hair stretched like this, and they can’t really tell.
As I said earlier, 4c hair is able to mimic other hair types usually within the range of type 4’s and sometimes type 3 as well.
Of all the hair types, 4c hair is the most versatile. This is because we can enhance our curls with twist outs, form wavy curls with Bantu knots, use flexi rods to form spirals and much more.
We can also have straight hair if we choose or allow our natural hair to shrink up into an afro if we so desire.
That’s the beauty of 4c hair, you can have whatever you want sometimes, depending on what techniques you use and what tools you use.
So hopefully this video will educate you all that my hair is actually mostly 4c. I have 4b curls at my left nape and the centre of my head but mostly, the rest of my hair is super kinky, tightly curled and I am going to show you all what my hair looks like finally when it is completely wet and untwisted.
Now you can see a visual representation of what 4c hair looks like.
I have many more photos and video inspiration on my Instagram page so you can go have a look. If you are looking at my hair and thinking, how am I able to do that, yes, that is how versatile 4c hair is.
Once again you can purchase my book 50 tips and tricks to grow your natural hair faster and longer here and I hope you are all better educated now on what 4c hair type is, what 4c hair is, what 4c hair looks like and you can now answer the question, what is 4c hair?
So make sure to Live well, Live Great and Pray Always, May God bless you all now and forever, take care lovelies. If you read till the end, you are the real MVP, don’t forget to subscribe and leave a comment on what you learnt below.
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Take care lovelies. Bye!
