Is 4b hair DESIGNED to be SHORT?

[notlookingback06]

Can't thank you enough on these boled. You have got to keep your mind strong about what it is your are trying to accomplish and know that you are in it for the long haul.

Thank you mscocoface, and I couldn't agree with you more!!!

 

[mscocoface]

Thank you so much; this is extremely helpful.

Just another question for clarification: what leave-in are you using? Also, do you still use Ayurvedic products for your hair?

Thanks again so much! At this point in this thread it would be most useful to trade tips on what works for different women.

I have to admit, due to time issues I have not used my Ayurvedics in about 6 months. So I have depended heavily on my deep conditioning with oils. But when I did use them I loved them. For me now I had to focus on getting the most for the time I had to deal with my hair.

As for the leave in I was using the carefree curl, but I saw the kimmaytube and thought if I could get my hair to stay soft for much longer time with putting a leavin on once and just spritzing for moisture that would be the best for me.

I had the products the basic products she mentioned so I thought let me give it a try and it worked. So that was good for my hair during and after my styling now I wanted something for conditioning that would be just as simple and that for me was the ceremides and deep conditioning. Again simpler than using the Ayurvedics powders and preparing me, the room, the floor you get what I am saying. I LOVE Ayurvedics just could no longer spend the time with them like I was able to in the past.

The goal was more with less time involvement. My haircare can no longer consume my time, money and energy. There had to be a happy medium. I am in this healthy haircare journey for the long haul so I had to find a way that made sense for the foreseeable future.

 

[notlookingback06]

You guys know what I am talking about the sound of snap, crackle and pop when you take your hair down from braids or twists, yeah that sound, well for me that is looong gone now.

Yes indeedy! Actually, unrefined Virgin Coconut Oil helped me to get rid of that snap, crackle, and pop sound! Yep, loooong gone now too!

 

[naijamerican]

I have to admit, due to time issues I have not used my Ayurvedics in about 6 months. So I have depended heavily on my deep conditioning with oils. But when I did use them I loved them. For me now I had to focus on getting the most for the time I had to deal with my hair.

As for the leave in I was using the carefree curl, but I saw the kimmaytube and thought if I could get my hair to stay soft for much longer time with putting a leavin on once and just spritzing for moisture that would be the best for me.

I had the products the basic products she mentioned so I thought let me give it a try and it worked. So that was good for my hair during and after my styling now I wanted something for conditioning that would be just as simple and that for me was the ceremides and deep conditioning. Again simpler than using the Ayurvedics powders and preparing me, the room, the floor you get what I am saying. I LOVE Ayurvedics just could no longer spend the time with them like I was able to in the past.

The goal was more with less time involvement. My haircare can no longer consume my time, money and energy. There had to be a happy medium. I am in this healthy haircare journey for the long haul so I had to find a way that made sense for the foreseeable future.

Thank you again so much. As for the bolded, I am at the same point in my hair journey and in life in general. I simply don't have oodles of time to devote to my hair and I'm trying to work smarter, not harder. I've been checking out Kimmay's leave-in but I have to be honest: my hair does not seem to respond very well to aloe vera, whether it's the gel or the juice. I'll need to substitute that for something else. Maybe I'll try coconut water instead...

 

[mscocoface]

Thank you again so much. As for the bolded, I am at the same point in my hair journey and in life in general. I simply don't have oodles of time to devote to my hair and I'm trying to work smarter, not harder. I've been checking out Kimmay's leave-in but I have to be honest: my hair does not seem to respond very well to aloe vera, whether it's the gel or the juice. I'll need to substitute that for something else. Maybe I'll try coconut water instead...

Give it a try with the coconut water. As we have always known what works for one may not work for the other. If you can find something to lower your PH if you feel that is your issue then it will be a big help with your hair and retaining its softness.

 

[virtuenow]

But many 4b ladies, such as myself, KISS without having to leave a style in for many weeks at a time. I leave mine in two weeks maximum and can detangle/wash/condition my hair in about 1 hour. I also have VERY thick hair and have seen a lot of growth.

Hi, could you share your detangling technique. I am trying to get my detangling time down as low as possible. An hour would be a dream! How long is your hair?? Suggestions from anyone else successfully doing this are welcome also!

 

[almond eyes]

I have fine dense 4B hair with some sparse 3cs hanging out in the back of my hair and dispersed inside my hair.

My parents are from Africa and in the villages all the women wore their hair braided without extensions but never worn out. The women with thicker and longer hair could wear one big braided bun. My mother said that all of her friends had hair that was at least shoulder length or longer but always kept braided.

The problems with the hair started when women wanted a more modern look in Africa and started to wear their hair out and wanted to wear relaxers without knowing how to apply them properly and weaves/extensions without understanding the proper techniques.

Of course being in a Western society, the dream is to wear the hair loose and flowing. And I tried to do that and my hair failed miserably and looked terrible.

Now, I realise that wearing my hair out is not the best thing for my hair and I can never style my hair neat enough (if that makes sense). I am now back in West Africa and many of the women here wear twists, braids, locks and cornrows (with and without extensions). Many of them have "long hair" but of course due to the shrinkage you can't tell. I recently took out my sew-in and put in some nicely done cornrows. And you know what I like my braids and I like how I look in them and they are the best protective style for my hair. I also think they look extremely professional for my job. If I want to have that wear my hair out look, I'll wear a weave.

It is what it is.

Best,
Almond Eyes

 

[SND411]

Hi, could you share your detangling technique. I am trying to get my detangling time down as low as possible. An hour would be a dream! How long is your hair?? Suggestions from anyone else successfully doing this are welcome also!

Prior to washing/detangling, I seal my hair with olive oil. I find olive oil loosens many knot or tangles in my hair. Then I put my hair into seven sections and pin them up. Then I get into the shower. I use Kimmaytube's technique by smoothing out my sections first under water to get many of the shed hairs out first. Then I put Organix shampoo in my hair to wash the section. Next, I put Trader Joe's conditioner on the section and comb through the section with a wide-tooth comb; from tip to root. After a few strokes that section is detangled and I pin back up my section. All this plus taking a quick shower takes me about 1 hour.

Granted, after I wash my hair I twist my hair accordingly at each section using my leave-in (Kimmaytube). I may just comb through each twist section with two strokes to make sure it is tangle/knot-free.

 

[J Hazel]

I have started using an oiling technique on my wash day regimen, recommended to me by Sereca. I co-wash my hair as usual then place some type of oil (usually coconut or olive) on my hair and let it sit for 2-3 minutes while in the shower or up to 2 hours if not in the shower, then rinse and condition my hair as normal. I am not sure why this works but it makes my hair softer and cuts down on time spent detangling. It works for me and may be something for you to consider too.

 

[mscocoface]

I have started using an oiling technique on my wash day regimen, recommended to me by Sereca. I co-wash my hair as usual then place some type of oil (usually coconut or olive) on my hair and let it sit for 2-3 minutes while in the shower or up to 2 hours if not in the shower, then rinse and condition my hair as normal. I am not sure why this works but it makes my hair softer and cuts down on time spent detangling. It works for me and may be something for you to consider too.

There is something about the oil that just works. I think it helps keep the coiling or kinking from becoming tight so you are able to bring the comb down the shaft of the hair without so much resistence.

It works!

 

[notlookingback06]

I don't know if its designed to be short, but I'm very discouraged right now. I haven't been on here in months- it seems- for that reason exactly. Feels like I'm fighting a [losing] battle w/my 4b hair sometimes.

Okay, from your siggy/avatar, your hair is BEAUTIFUL!!! I'm curious to know what's making you feel like you are fighting a [losing] battle at times.....

 

[notlookingback06]

The explains the APPEARANCE of being shorter which should be miscontrued with being short in the true sense. The hair oftentimes *is* long but if you straighten it some way , you'll find it long.

AA

AA, I agree with you! I truly believe that type 4a/b hair APPEARS or SEEMS to be short or shorter than it truly is due to the coilyness of it; actually, I love the mystique of my natural, predominately type 4 hair because MANY people are absolutely STUNNED when I straighten it out!

 

[Prettyeyes]

I would like to add that if 4b hair was meant to be short simply because of shrinkage then ALL CURLY and COILY hair would be meant to be short because ALL curly and coily hair looks shorter than it is in it's natural state.SO WHY SINGLE OUT 4B? My dd is 3c she has about 40% shrinkage. My 3c and 4a hair have 40% and 50% shrinkage respectively and I am sure our 3c and 4a hair is also harder to maintain than type 1 or 2 hair (though I never see why we should want to compare) so why single out 4b? Someone said that they only see 1 or 2 people with 4b long hair that is not true, I see them everyday little girls looking like Rudy Huxtable when their mother is caring for their hair and keeping it braided but they often grow up and start relaxing and then their hair is short...Just like many of us 3c and 4a hair types.

 

[naijamerican]

I would like to add that if 4b hair was meant to be short simply because of shrinkage then ALL CURLY and COILY hair would be meant to be short because ALL curly and coily hair looks shorter than it is in it's natural state.SO WHY SINGLE OUT 4B? My dd is 3c she has about 40% shrinkage. My 3c and 4a hair have 40% and 50% shrinkage respectively and I am sure our 3c and 4a hair is also harder to maintain than type 1 or 2 hair (though I never see why we should want to compare) so why single out 4b? Someone said that they only see 1 or 2 people with 4b long hair that is not true, I see them everyday little girls looking like Rudy Huxtable when their mother is caring for their hair and keeping it braided but they often grow up and start relaxing and then their hair is short...Just like many of us 3c and 4a hair types.

I understand what you're trying to get at, but the purpose of this thread was not to suggest that other curly/kinky-haired women don't share some commonalities with 4B hair types. The purpose was to try to elucidate why it is that many who have this hair type have a particularly hard time growing it out. The simple fact is that 4B hair is different than even 4A hair and 3c hair. Fundamentally different. The nature of the coils themselves are different. "Different" doesn't imply "better" or "worse;" it's just different. I'm glad that you have seen several little girls with 4B hair that is long. Quite frankly, I have not seen that very often in these parts, and as Mscocoface so eloquently stated, 4B hair is the type of hair that is most quick to receive a relaxer treatment or to assume that a relaxer is required.

This isn't a "woe-is-me" post and this mentality isn't permeating this thread. We're simply discussing some of the challenges we've had, issues that many in the thread have provided excellent suggestions for.

 

[notlookingback06]

Hi, could you share your detangling technique. I am trying to get my detangling time down as low as possible. An hour would be a dream! How long is your hair?? Suggestions from anyone else successfully doing this are welcome also!

Hi virtuenow, my detangling technique is very simple. Here are my steps:

1. Prior to pooing or co-washing, I take down my hair (it's usually in 2-strand twists) & clip it into about 5-6 sections
2. using my handy spray bottle, I saturate each section with water
3. then I saturate each section with my Kirkland (Costco) Hydrating Conditioner (careful not to pull or tug at my hair)
4. then I slowly detangle with my fingers (I never use a comb when detangling)
5. sometimes, after doing steps #1-4, I allow the conditioner to sit on my hair for about 30-60 min. prior to actually washing the hair

***I've pretty much perfected the above and it takes about 30-45min. to complete the steps and when I get into the shower to actually wash it out, my fingers and/or wide-toothed shower comb glide through my hair like butter!!!! HTH!!!

 

[notlookingback06]

Quite frankly, I have not seen that very often in these parts, and as Mscocoface so eloquently stated, 4B hair is the type of hair that is most quick to receive a relaxer treatment or to assume that a relaxer is required.

The bolded statement above is unfortunately so true....again, my entire head isn't 4b but about 65%-70% of it is and that's exactly how i ended up relaxed and with a hair cut at age 7....it's just a matter of continuing to take the time to properly educate ourselves, to equip ourselves with the right tools for proper hair care and also to dispel the myths of natural type 4 hair.

 

[Freespirit02]

Come on now you know what she meant. Not all black people have 4b hair either, but you cannot deny that that is a characteristic that is commonly associated with black folk. Not all black folk have 4b afros yes. not all black folk have flat noses true. not all black people have large lips. however the non-aquiline nose and larger lips are a common trait of black folk. this is not ignorance, its just a generalized statement.

damn some of ya'll are seriously reaching for drama with this

Not reaching for drama..if that is how you took it..then apologize. I just was stating not all black ppl have flat/large noses..or full lips. I was just a statement..

 

[Junebug D]

Oh, I saw that. I thought you were just emphasizing "density." That's an interesting theory. I've always thought the opposite that the thickness of the strand is more important. If all your strands are fragile and thin (like mine), it doesn't matter how much of them you have (like me), the strands will break leading to short hair. If your strands are thicker (which I tend to think of as stronger, less prone to breakage. Maybe this is incorrect?), the density does not matter, you'll still have long hair though it won't be as voluminous as some one who has dense hair. I think that's why black hair doesn't retain as easily. Our strands tend to be finer with less cuticle layers. Like spaghetti vs a lead pipe. I think it's all in the strands.

That sounds right to me as well, but just from looking at heads, it seemed to me that people with longer hair tend to have higher density, and I haven't really seen that play out as much with strand size. On a day-to-day basis, I see very few low density people with long hair, but maybe people with less dense hair tend to wear it shorter anyway...?

My idea was that breakage does not have as much an effect on the length of those with high density, unless of course they were putting their hair through uncommon stress & treatment. But you are right that thicker hair is stronger and can deal with more uncommon/bad treatment. However, given the uncommonly bad treatment that black people's hair experience on the whole, those with more strands may have an advantage. :scratchch

And on a related point, I think low density is more common for Black people than thin hair strands. This is just from observing as well. I see more type 4bs and "suspected" (can't tell because of relaxer) 4bs with lower density hair than I see other hair types with it. I see the argument for race-based differences here more clearly than I see with strand size.

Y'all, Sera said she takes up to 6 hours to detangle her hair. I'm just saying, even look at the favorite example. Is 6 hours of detangling what we're meant to do? I mean, humans style their hair, so who knows what it's "meant" to do. We do what we want to do to it whether it's "meant" to be or not. But just speaking for myself, I think my hair is meant to be locked or kept cut really short. Braids take a gazillion years to do, cornrows are painful, and twists take a long time and still tangle. Of course I can do these things, but every time I do any of them, I always feel that I am fighting my hair.

I agree wholeheartedly with this post. Even then, are you "meant" to take scissors to your hair every few months to maintain a short 'do? All of it feels like fighting, unless you, like some people have mentioned, enjoy and/or have grown accustomed to braiding and twisting sessions. Personally, I don't think any of it is "meant" except for organic, freeforming locs. But we reject that on the whole; "doing something" to your hair is seen as a part of basic grooming. (I don't put much stock into what people did before slavery as a way of determining what is "meant" to be, because they had their own grooming and spiritual and cultural ideals as well. Maybe they had "little braids vs. big braids vs. locs vs. shaved head" arguments as well. )

But many 4b ladies, such as myself, KISS without having to leave a style in for many weeks at a time. I leave mine in two weeks maximum and can detangle/wash/condition my hair in about 1 hour. I also have VERY thick hair and have seen a lot of growth.

Not necessarily true. I KISS and I don't have long detangling sessions.

I bet this has something to do with thickness and density. These 2 things can make all the difference in the world between two heads of similar hair.

 

[tocktick]

Haven't read through everything yet. But these are my 2 cents. I do not think it was designed to be short. If this was the case I believe the idea of terminal length would come into play but it doesn't because clearly people like Sonce and Sera are defying what many of us thought was common perception about 4b hair. These women know how to take care of their hair, which is the most important thing here. If you are equipped with the tools, the knowledge and the right mindset then I believe you can grow long hair.

When people say it's hard to maintain or it's difficult...well, compared to what? If you approach your hair with the idea that it was never meant to be treated as straight hair, wavy or looser curly hair and thus can only be compared to itself or similar hair types then your idea of "difficult" changes, imo. You accept there may be things you need to do that maybe other people don't and vice versa. I have seen and heard many women born and raised in a few African countries (before relaxers were introduced to them) with type 4b hair speak of their hair experiences - there was no perception of what straight hair was like to deal with. They dealt with the hair they were given for what it was and most importantly had the knowledge of how to care for it - handed down to them from older ladies such as aunts, mothers and grandmothers.

I've never heard from these ladies how "difficult" it was to care of their hair and their regimens seem a damn sight more simple than what I see a lot of women on this board doing. Even including myself in that! To expound, the main basics of their regimen was some kind of cleansing, moisturising (I've heard castor oil mentioned) and protective styling (braiding or wrapping thread around the hair). One of these women is my own mother who had thick, BSL hair and she knew girls who had longer hair than she did.

I get that type 4 hair is the most fragile, has less cuticle layers and it is a dryer hair type. Yet I think the best thing for those with this hair type trying to grow it in it's natural state is to realise their hair simply has needs - not flaws - that need to be addressed. Some of these needs are different to other hair types but that shouldn't signify to anyone that it's inferior or flawed. It's simply different. Sure, that may mean it works better to keep it stretched in some way (like banding or twistouts) or needs more DCs or [fill in the blank]. I think some on this board prefer to complain (no you OP) about why type 4 hair is difficult, make non-type 4 hair seem like Teflon-coated Rapunzel hair (when it really isn't!) and maintain a self-defeatist attitude that makes their hair journey far more problematic than it needs to be.

Now, to read the rest of the thread...

 

[Nonie]

I bet this has something to do with thickness and density. These 2 things can make all the difference in the world between two heads of similar hair.

Can you elaborate please? I have very fine strands (I'll try to post pics with some reference so you can see) and I have a lot of them, which I'd think would be more susceptible to tangling. No? I just don't give them a chance to.

 

[Junebug D]

^^ I think coarser strands may be more prone to tangling. Coarse strands are described as feeling "rough" or wiry, and it tends to stay in the place that you put it as opposed to fine strands that can be "fly away". It seems like it would make sense that coarse hair strands are more prone to catch on each other and stay that way, no?

But also, if you don't have a lot of hair (thin)... then there isn't as much of it to tangle, thus less time spent detangling. :scratchch

 

[Prettyeyes]

I understand what you're trying to get at, but the purpose of this thread was not to suggest that other curly/kinky-haired women don't share some commonalities with 4B hair types. The purpose was to try to elucidate why it is that many who have this hair type have a particularly hard time growing it out. The simple fact is that 4B hair is different than even 4A hair and 3c hair. Fundamentally different. The nature of the coils themselves are different. "Different" doesn't imply "better" or "worse;" it's just different. I'm glad that you have seen several little girls with 4B hair that is long. Quite frankly, I have not seen that very often in these parts, and as Mscocoface so eloquently stated, 4B hair is the type of hair that is most quick to receive a relaxer treatment or to assume that a relaxer is required.

This isn't a "woe-is-me" post and this mentality isn't permeating this thread. We're simply discussing some of the challenges we've had, issues that many in the thread have provided excellent suggestions for.

I appreciate your opinion, BUT, I was commenting on the OP's original post(she determined the purpose of the thread) and sharing my feedback on that post and a few other replies that I felt singled 4b out because of the super shrinkage. AND I am well aware of what this thread is about since I have read it in it's entirety and replied a couple times.

I do agree that this is a very informative thread, so people who want to grow 4b hair can have more info about what challenges they will face and can choose to overcome or not but it is a choice! It was not designed to be short!

 

[Prettyeyes]

It's not designed to be short, it just needs more maintenance which not many people are willing to learn

ITA with THIS

 

[NYDiva]

As a 4b I don't believe that our hair is designed to be short. It just needs lots of tlc to reach it's full potential.

 

[Nonie]

^^ I think coarser strands may be more prone to tangling. Coarse strands are described as feeling "rough" or wiry, and it tends to stay in the place that you put it as opposed to fine strands that can be "fly away". It seems like it would make sense that coarse hair strands are more prone to catch on each other and stay that way, no?

But also, if you don't have a lot of hair (thin)... then there isn't as much of it to tangle, thus less time spent detangling.

Really? I would think the opposite. Have you ever tried smooth out frills that are fine at the end of a scarf? The finer they are, the harder to separate they are, especially if you wash the scarf while they're not straight and separate. On the other hand, coarser thread fibers separate with so much ease coz they are fat and even your fingers can feel them to pull them apart. But fine fibers...

Even if we focus on the other point you made: roughness vs softness. I can still bet my bottom dollar that the softer item would be harder to keep from tangling. For a visual, let's compare mohair which is uber fine with sisal:

Mohair:

Sisal:

To me the former would be more of a pain to detangle than the latter. The former is finer and softer while the latter is coarser and harder, but it is precisely these characteristics that make one easier to work with: IMO the latter is easier to work and to keep from tangling than the former.

You can test this by taking pieces of cotton thread and wetting them then rolling them together, and then take satin threads wet them and roll them together and then see which of the two will be easier to open up and separate. I bet it'll be the cotton threads.

So this is why I honestly believe it's not because I have fine strands that I don't need to detangle but rather because I have figured out how to avoid tangles happening in the first place.

BTW, fine and silky do not mean the same thing to me. Hair can be fine without being shiny/slippery which is what I think of when I hear "silky". Fine to me just has to do with diameter.

Page 143 of the book The Science of Hair does agree with me on fine hair being more susceptible to damage and to tangling. Click here and then scroll down to read.

So does this blog: http://swiftcraftymonkey.blogspot.com/2010/06/chemistry-of-your-hair-fine-hair.html

So does this site: http://hair-care.suite101.com/article.cfm/tips_for_tangled_hair

So really, my fine hair is more vulnerable to damage than someone else's coarse hair, yet a KISS regimen has somehow saved me from having to subject my hair to the trauma that would lead to its demise. And that I think is the ticket: doing less to it reduces the likelihood of abusing its delicate nature.

 

[GraciousMystique]

"Is 4b hair meant to be short? Because if we have to do all this work to achieve length then it must be designed for purposes of being naturally short".

Firstly, Nobody can answer as to weather type 4 hair was designed to be short except the Creator.

Secondly, my answer to the OP question is "So what if it was? And should it even matter?".If it were designed to be short, does that mean we should let it stay at a shorter length and not put "unnecessary" work into the growth process. Think about it this way: There are things in life that some people have to work hard to obtain, while to others easily.

For example, I'm naturally horrible at mathematics and during grade school I would become frustrated as I watched others learn and understand concepts quicker than I ever would. Nature made me bad at solving numerical problems, but I wasn't going to accpet what nature given me. I put in hours of studies toward mathematics, because I desired a particular outcome that was beneficial I willing to go against nature.

Maybe comparing mathematics and hair is strange, but there are also plenty of other examples. Cacuasians have less melanin in there skin, so therefore they have to take certain precautions to protect their skin from damaging sun effects if they do not want skin damaging effects or faster aging process. It's called diversity. Everyone is not equal.


The point is if nature undermined or shorthanded you, but you desire a particular result then there is effort to be put forth if you want to bringforth a desired outcome. If you feel there is too much effort to put forth, or you are not willing to put in the work necessary to achieve the desired result, then by all means quit.

Personally, I like to think of my hair journey as equivalent to my mathematical struggle during grade school. I not naturally gifted blank numbers but I was able to better myself by using these particular techniques.

I hope upon success of my hair journey I can pass techniques onto other black women who are also having similar problems which can be easily facilitated with a shift in techniques and thinking. So they can know although it may be difficult to achieve, it definitely can learn how to grow long hair, if they want to.

Thirdly, great post OP. This same question has been asked in other hair boards.

 

[naturalgyrl5199]

^^ I think coarser strands may be more prone to tangling. Coarse strands are described as feeling "rough" or wiry, and it tends to stay in the place that you put it as opposed to fine strands that can be "fly away". It seems like it would make sense that coarse hair strands are more prone to catch on each other and stay that way, no?

But also, if you don't have a lot of hair (thin)... then there isn't as much of it to tangle, thus less time spent detangling. :scratchch

I don't know....I have fine hair but I have a lot of it (covers every square inch of my head) so it (appears) course...but please believe that stuff tangles as the day is long!

@Bolded...I think this is the issue more than anything....The less hair you have (not length but density for lack of a better term)....then your hair MAY NOT tangle as much...however I have seen some people with thin hair have major tangles...however that may be a Hair CARE issue....

 

[Junebug D]

Really? I would think the opposite. Have you ever tried smooth out frills that are fine at the end of a scarf? The finer they are, the harder to separate they are, especially if you wash the scarf while they're not straight and separate. On the other hand, coarser thread fibers separate with so much ease coz they are fat and even your fingers can feel them to pull them apart. But fine fibers...

Even if we focus on the other point you made: roughness vs softness. I can still bet my bottom dollar that the softer item would be harder to keep from tangling. For a visual, let's compare mohair which is uber fine with sisal:

Mohair:

Sisal:

To me the former would be more of a pain to detangle than the latter. The former is finer and softer while the latter is coarser and harder, but it is precisely these characteristics that make one easier to work with: IMO the latter is easier to work and to keep from tangling than the former.

Great examples, the visuals are extremely helpful. thank you.

@Bolded...I think this is the issue more than anything....The less hair you have (not length but density for lack of a better term)....then your hair MAY NOT tangle as much...however I have seen some people with thin hair have major tangles...however that may be a Hair CARE issue....

I think so too, especially after Nonie's excellent explanation.

 

[Kurlee]

BTW, fine and silky do not mean the same thing to me. Hair can be fine without being shiny/slippery which is what I think of when I hear "silky". Fine to me just has to do with diameter.

I think many people confuse coarse with the TEXTURE of someone's hair. If they see 3 type hair, they call it "fine". If they see type 4 hair it's "coarse". I don't think the understanding of strand size is widely accepted.

 

[SND411]

I think many people confuse coarse with the TEXTURE of someone's hair. If they see 3 type hair, they call it "fine". If they see type 4 hair it's "coarse". I don't think the understanding of strand size is widely accepted.

This is so true. And when I said my hair is VERY coarse, I meant that most of my individual strands are as thick as small pencil leads!