LYING about your hair texture ???

[Irresistible]

@Irresistable - I think we are saying the same thing. But my point was, just because I'm saying Type 4 does blah blah blah doesn't mean Type 3 can't do it either. I wasn't trying to dismiss other types with my statement just saying what was more likely to happen. But again I think a lot of this only has to do with 3c and 4a. Not 3b on down. I'll be honest though, I know some 3cs have the same issues 4s do but I don't think it's as many people. I don't see broken off 3cs as often as I do 4s. Even on this board I see the 4s participating in more of the Hide Your Hair and Protective Styling Challenges, wearing wigs, weaves, braids, twists, using growth aides, etc. Most of the 3s seem to bun and wash and go. Just the choice of hairstyles speaks to the differences. I also think longer hair is more prone to tangle and wrap around itself (regardless of whether they are a 3c or 4) so that may make a difference too.

I do agree with you on the 3b down thing. I do think my hair has to be the cousin of 4 LOL. I have had to do all the same things for protective styling and strict no heat. never ever was able to do a wash and go. My hair would jump off my head

I also dont disagree with this length creating more challenges in detangling. It is bad bad bad now. Almost crying sessions every time, almost every time coming to the conclusion that I cannot do this. But I want to keep the length because one blessing in it is I can leave it alone for 2 weeks in between the 'hellish sessions of doing it from scratch again' and I know if I cut I would be doing all the same things anyway just with shorter hair. The thickness is part of the issue too. and it got this way by doing all those things you mentioned the 4's do
you ladies have so much to look forward to

 

[Irresistible]

Well I said MOST. Not ALL. And just because Type 4 is typically characterized as being drier than types 1 to 3 does not mean that type 3 can't be dry. I never said that. I never said Type 4 was the be all and end all. I just merely stated the facts and there are always exceptions.

Your hair could be a coarse type 3, hence the shrinkage and tangling. You have kinks and curls as a 3 so I would expect shrinkage, tangling, etc. But not to the same degree as a 4. I mean is type 3 not defined as a looser curl pattern than 3? Irresitable, I'm not trying to downplay your hair characteristics, just saying that many type 4's experience those things and are more likely to experience those things compared to looser textures. Just because something is characteristic of type 4 doesn't mean it can't happen to a type 3. It's not mutually exclusive. You're a 3c right? I also think there is a lot of overlap with 3c and 4a partly because 3c wasn't originally in the typing system. It was added after the fact by the people at NC.com.

Ironically, my hair is a Type 4 however I do not have issues with tangling or dryness. I do have massive shrinkage but again there are exceptions to every rule. That may change when my hair gets longer though.

Also looking at your siggy. your hair is DEFINITELY looser than mine. how are you wearing your hair in your siggy? I mean like what do you have in it and how did you style it

This is where it really gets confusing for me also-seeing 4a's hair with looser curls than me

 

[glamazon386]

Also looking at your siggy. your hair is DEFINITELY looser than mine. how are you wearing your hair in your siggy? I mean like what do you have in it and how did you style it

This is where it really gets confusing for me also-seeing 4a's hair with looser curls than me

That's not my hair. I'm on the Hide Your Hair challenge until June. I just gelled my hair down in the front to blend with the weave. You can see it better here:

This picture is from last spring but here's what my wash and go normally looks like:

 

[Irresistible]

That's not my hair. I'm on the Hide Your Hair challenge until June. Here's what my wash and go normally looks like:

yes I am the first cousin then , right now I have my hair up with conditioner, , just in a pony with the ends up in the pony tail holder and the whole loose part of my hair (I let it dry that way over night) the curls look very close to your coils. even asked my fiance just now and he agreed-looked at my hair right now and your pic.

 

[glamazon386]

yes I am the first cousin then , right now I have my hair up with conditioner, , just in a pony with the ends up in the pony tail holder and the whole loose part of my hair (I let it dry that way over night) the curls look very close to your coils. even asked my fiance just now and he agreed-looked at my hair right now and your pic.

Hi Cousin! Yeah my curls are pretty small. The front of my hair is significantly looser than the rest though. The curls also look different depending on styling, products, airdrying vs blowdrying, etc. It slicks down pretty easy too which can be deceiving.

ETA: Weave blending

 

[Ms Lala]

You're right. Fine hair is more prone to breakage. My fine hair has caused me a plenty of setback. Yet my mom who has a tighter, coarser, thicker hair texture can do anything to her hair and it grows perfectly fine. She has triple prcessed hair right now relaxed with dye and bleach and doesn't have any problems. Her hair is hard to color so they to take some extra steps to get her hair to lift. She doesn't even take care of her hair. She uses grease and direct heat all the time on the highest temperature. I would be bald if I did the things she does. I put highlights on my natural hair once which was a single process and it broke off all over the place. And I increased my DCs, protein, didn't use direct heat, etc. I went to a professional salon that specialized in hair color and had a consultation prior to letting them touch my head.

ITA, I think strand thickness makes so much difference in length retention. I cannot use heat as regularly as some people and grow my hair long. Some people misunderstand and think I mean that applies to all afro-textured hair when I tell them but it's because my strands are rather fine. My hair is dense so people don't see my hair and think that the strands could be as fragile as they are. Then I see people w/my same hair type who can color, use heat etc... and maintain reasonable length of hair because their strands are thicker and can take more.

 

[Irresistible]

Hi Cousin! Yeah my curls are pretty small. The front of my hair is significantly looser than the rest though. The curls also look different depending on styling, products, airdrying vs blowdrying, etc. It slicks down pretty easy too which can be deceiving.

ETA: Weave blending

or lord, you sure you're not a 3c?, see I'm so confused, our hair is just so much alike. I really do think the lines are really really blurred between a 4a and 3c for some of us, I guess you would be a silky 4a with how your hair behaves with product/able to slick back-and I'm a 'course' 3c according to how my hair behaves with product, and according to my curl size/texture compared to other 3c's -my curl size is only very very slightly larger than yours- I'm even more convinced now that some 4a's and 3c's are not that far of a cry from each other

you know I might have been a silky 4a all this time, but came along before a 'silky' 4a was defined around here, and was heat trained unknowingly for ten years , so I got typed a 3c, but my hair is majorly different now- and still got typed a 3c. But now it's all accounted for that hair behaves differently as it grows as well, with the weight of length, So you know its just all confusing now

Thank you for sharing your pics girl. ur hair looks beautiful in every pic and so do you

 

[keepithealthy]

I say I'm 3c 4a but I might be lying lol. The whole hair typing thing is way to confusing fo me.

 

[itsjusthair88]

Well I have no thoughts on hair type lies...umm, if you think you're a 345ABCD then you know, do you...but did nobody else think this lady was super boring? I mean, I only got through the first 2 minutes, how did you guys watch all 7 minutes?

 

[Whimsy]

Oh my gosh....this video is ridiculous.

i gotta go read this thread.

 

[Irresistible]

Got a couple texture shots just a minute ago, since I took my hair down and let it almost fully dry

Although not a totally true texture shot because there is a whole lot of dried conditioner in there. but it's not wet hardly , just slightly damp and there is no oil. So it's a very close no product shot-kind of

Just wanted to show I don't have the same bigger curls usually seen on my head when it has plenty oils/wetness/conditioning and after combing

Hosted on Fotki
Hosted on Fotki
Hosted on Fotki

 

[Irresistible]

a couple more

I'm done playing with the cam now lol
Hosted on Fotki

Hosted on Fotki

I know it can't be seen well with the webcam but it's massive

 

[geejay]

Irresistible, your hair is beautiful!

But on a serious note, I'm afraid your application to the 4a classification is denied due to your extraordinary length. Andre Walker 2.0 hair typing is an ever-changing formula of curl width factored against length, hang, and silkiness. Therefore your Crackin length hair is hereby designated 2b. We understand how desirable the 4a classification is, but only those naturals that represent the highest ideals of Nap Curl Kink(tm) can be admitted. Please feel free to apply at a later date when the fickle winds of internet popularity have shifted.



Really seriously...your hair is so gorgeous!

 

[Lucie]

I know this may not be nice to say but I don't pay attention to 3's. I am a 4a/b and I pay attention to women I feel are more my, "type." I have many friends in the 3's that get upset but I got fluffy, nappy, hurr. So, products that work on finer hair doesn't work on mine. However, I will add that I admire all sorts of hair types. Whether women are lying up or down the hair scale, I am not surprised. I see some people claiming 3 and I just don't see it. And I see some claiming for and I don't see it as well. I don't see women with my sort of fluffiness per se but I still know I am a 4a/b regardless.

 

[Irresistible]

Irresistible, your hair is beautiful!

But on a serious note, I'm afraid your application to the 4a classification is denied due to your extraordinary length. Andre Walker 2.0 hair typing is an ever-changing formula of curl width factored against length, hang, and silkiness. Therefore your Crackin length hair is hereby designated 2b. We understand how desirable the 4a classification is, but only those naturals that represent the highest ideals of Nap Curl Kink(tm) can be admitted. Please feel free to apply at a later date when the fickle winds of internet popularity have shifted.



Really seriously...your hair is so gorgeous!

omg girl :rofl3:

You just kllled me bahahaha. whew!!

& Thank you so much girl.

 

[tHENATuRALhAiRpRoJEcT]

Irresistible, your hair is beautiful!

But on a serious note, I'm afraid your application to the 4a classification is denied due to your extraordinary length. Andre Walker 2.0 hair typing is an ever-changing formula of curl width factored against length, hang, and silkiness. Therefore your Crackin length hair is hereby designated 2b. We understand how desirable the 4a classification is, but only those naturals that represent the highest ideals of Nap Curl Kink(tm) can be admitted. Please feel free to apply at a later date when the fickle winds of internet popularity have shifted.



Really seriously...your hair is so gorgeous!

i second your motion!!!


MESG: from 4a's to irresistible....geyeeett the fuggggg outta here!

 

[EllePixie]

Irresistible, we could never be friends IRL because I would be that annoying girl always trying to play in your hair. Just sayin. Like that's how much hair I want on my head. Where it just takes up the whole camera shot and my face isn't even in the shot and no one notices.

 

[glamazon386]

or lord, you sure you're not a 3c?, see I'm so confused, our hair is just so much alike. I really do think the lines are really really blurred between a 4a and 3c for some of us, I guess you would be a silky 4a with how your hair behaves with product/able to slick back-and I'm a 'course' 3c according to how my hair behaves with product, and according to my curl size/texture compared to other 3c's -my curl size is only very very slightly larger than yours- I'm even more convinced now that some 4a's and 3c's are not that far of a cry from each other

you know I might have been a silky 4a all this time, but came along before a 'silky' 4a was defined around here, and was heat trained unknowingly for ten years , so I got typed a 3c, but my hair is majorly different now- and still got typed a 3c. But now it's all accounted for that hair behaves differently as it grows as well, with the weight of length, So you know its just all confusing now

Thank you for sharing your pics girl. ur hair looks beautiful in every pic and so do you

Thanks! You're right our hair does look very much alike. I thought that immediately while looking at your pictures before I even scrolled up to read this post. Your curls are pretty! I hope mine looks like that when it grows up. Where does your hair fall in it's natural state with shrinkage?

I consider myself to be mostly 4a. When we had that thread about the difference between 3c and 4a Nonie and BMP said I'm a 4a. I don't remember if they said anything about silky 4a but that makes sense. My texture is pretty uniform except for the section in the very front and the very nape. The nape is the finest of all. It's really loose and fine like baby hair. The front is looser but the curl isn't necessarily smaller. If that makes sense. It just doesn't shrink as much. But I think that may have to do with me pulling it back all the time. I don't think it grows looser.

I agree that 3c and 4a overlap a lot. IIRC, Andre's system says 4a has coffee stirrer sized curls and 3c has pencil sized curls. My curls are definitely bigger than a coffee stirrer but I don't think they're quite as big as a pencil which makes it confusing. My hair also looks more like really small corkscrews or spirals than a pen spring which is used to describe 4a hair. You can actually see the space between each twirl. A pen spring or coil is more compact. My shed hairs look more like S's and spirals versus O's and coils. It's like I'm stuck in between the two which makes it confusing.

 

[SweetTea]

I only watched the first two minutes of the video so I'll answer based on the lady's initial question. I will admit that before I found this board, I did not think natural, type 4 hair could grow long. Maybe occasionally it could while relaxed, but not natural. I don't really care much about specific hair types. I usually use the broad categories (type 1, 2, 3, 4) rather than the specifics (3C, 4A, etc.). A lot claim hair typing is hard to understand and I guess for the ultra picky, specific hair types it is, but I always felt like the broad, typical differences between "general" type 3 hair and "general" type 4 hair were plain as day. I used to notice that a lot of type 3 ladies on here would either claim to be a 4 or claim to not know their hair type or wish to use hair typing, and that's understandable. I don't know about anyone else, but I know growing up it was the typical scenario of all the type 4 little girls being relaxed at an early age, with short(er) hair that constantly seemed to be breaking. Meanwhile, little girls with type 3 hair did not "need" a relaxer and always had long, curly hair. This gives the impression that type 3 hair is easier to deal with and grow. We all know this mentality still exists to some extent. And that's why I think some type 3 ladies either don't state their hair type or bump it up to a 4, because sometimes people discredit all their hard work based on presumptions made about their hair type. But anyone who's spent time on this board knows that any hair type can have difficulties. Someone else brought up the nasty comment made on Amazon about Chicoro's book. Someone said Chicoro does not have "normal black people's hair" so achieving length is a breeze, even though Chicoro has said for the longest time that she was stuck at one length (roughly shoulder length, I believe) for years. Isn't that a familiar scenario for most black women? Since growing out my relaxer I have discovered that a good portion of my hair is type 3 and wouldn't you know that it's more tangled/matted/difficult than my type 4 hair? It completely changed my previous beliefs.

 

[DivaD04]

I only watched the first two minutes of the video so I'll answer based on the lady's initial question. I will admit that before I found this board, I did not think natural, type 4 hair could grow long. Maybe occasionally it could while relaxed, but not natural. I don't really care much about specific hair types. I usually use the broad categories (type 1, 2, 3, 4) rather than the specifics (3C, 4A, etc.). A lot claim hair typing is hard to understand and I guess for the ultra picky, specific hair types it is, but I always felt like the broad, typical differences between "general" type 3 hair and "general" type 4 hair were plain as day. I used to notice that a lot of type 3 ladies on here would either claim to be a 4 or claim to not know their hair type or wish to use hair typing, and that's understandable. I don't know about anyone else, but I know growing up it was the typical scenario of all the type 4 little girls being relaxed at an early age, with short(er) hair that constantly seemed to be breaking. Meanwhile, little girls with type 3 hair did not "need" a relaxer and always had long, curly hair. This gives the impression that type 3 hair is easier to deal with and grow. We all know this mentality still exists to some extent. And that's why I think some type 3 ladies either don't state their hair type or bump it up to a 4, because sometimes people discredit all their hard work based on presumptions made about their hair type. But anyone who's spent time on this board knows that any hair type can have difficulties. Someone else brought up the nasty comment made on Amazon about Chicoro's book. Someone said Chicoro does not have "normal black people's hair" so achieving length is a breeze, even though Chicoro has said for the longest time that she was stuck at one length (roughly shoulder length, I believe) for years. Isn't that a familiar scenario for most black women? Since growing out my relaxer I have discovered that a good portion of my hair is type 3 and wouldn't you know that it's more tangled/matted/difficult than my type 4 hair? It completely changed my previous beliefs.

Thanks SweetTea
I agree 100%!