Natural 4a's with Tiny Spirals, Get In Here!

[ScandalousBeauty]

I have these bad boys all over, but they are lurkers!!! I can't get them to stand out or pop for anything!!! How do y'all do it??

I've been doing Aloe Vera Gel and Glycerin, but I feel like I could go a bit farther. Thanks!

 

[Poohbear]

Just plain water makes my tiny spirals pop. After wetting my hair with just water and letting it dry completely without manipulating it and no products, here's what my hair looks like:

BACK VIEW:

UP CLOSE:

 

[brownsugarflyygirl]

Yea...I think that some 4a's have more prominent spirals than others. Countrygal has some of the prettiest 4a spirals that I've seen. My hair would never do the spirals that Poohbear has. It just don't do that

I dont think its a certain product or technique for me...I just think that my 4a texture is just different. My spirals pop the most after a twist-out when I just do a conditioner wash....but thats about as good as it gets.

My whole hair journey has been about embracing what my hair can do...and being all spirally just isnt one of those things. I definitely hope you find some suggestions to help your spirals shine...shoot Ill be in here taking notes but honestly at the end of the day...you just may not have a super spirally texture.

 

[glamazon386]

Water does it for me too. My hair looks it's curliest when it's soaking wet or fully moisturized. My hair looks similar to PoohBear's but it doesn't shrink up as much. I think my curls might be a little bigger too.

 

[Triple-J]

I use water. I haven't used any specific product to make my coils pop.

 

[Ms Lala]

I'm having the same problem, my curls always look fuzzy!

 

[aloof one]

Im not natural yet... 'But Im 6 mos post & when I airdry or don't straighten, the section of my hair that is coiled usually only needs water, and if I only use water typically I can play with it all day and it wont frizz or anything like that

Have you tried not using anything on it after you wash? Maybe just airdry with minimal or no leave in to see if they 'pop' on their own? I know my curly hair has to have something in it to get rid of frizz, and my 4b hair outright refuses to agree with anything I put on it... but as far as coils.. I think your best bet is to just use water and see how that works out

 

[aloof one]

WOW!

its so... Pretty!

UP CLOSE:

 

[BroadstreetBully]

Try rinsing with cold water or an ACV rinse. For styling aloe vera gel works nicely.

 

[hothair]

My hair only coils properly when wet or loaded with conditioner the coils are looser than Pooh Bear's and I think a bit less shrinkage, but its definitely not as soft looking as Bmore's Going to try the method I used for my curly weave, soaking wet hair with Aussie Moist conditioner barely rinsed out, add some John Freida serum and leave to drip dry

 

[glam-]

Just plain water makes my tiny spirals pop. After wetting my hair with just water and letting it dry completely without manipulating it and no products, here's what my hair looks like:

UP CLOSE:

Good tip, and great photo. Those little spirals are gorgeous, Poohbear! My 4 yr old niece has them too and I looove them, just beautiful and so soft. I'm going to pass the water/no product tip on to her mom.

 

[PinkPeony]

My curls are most prominent after a glycerin-condi and silicon mix treatment.
It seems tough like only the first few inches are curly,sleek and defined but the longer my hair get's the less curl definition I haveerplexed

 

[cmw45]

Shea butter on wet hair. I just emulsify it in my hands and get it all up in there. My hair stays moist and the coils pop. *Is struggling with how to insert a picture to the post*

 

[ScandalousBeauty]

Hmmm...my relaxed hair hated silicon mix, but my natural hair might...i'll try it tomorrow!!

Thanks for all of the ideas ladies!

My curls are most prominent after a glycerin-condi and silicon mix treatment.
It seems tough like only the first few inches are curly,sleek and defined but the longer my hair get's the less curl definition I haveerplexed

 

[momi]

Curling Custard from Kinky Curly works nicely too...

 

[EMJazzy]

I mentioned in another thread that I believe my silica supplements loosened my curl pattern (it definitely made it softer) but how I get my curls to *pop* is by using products geared towards the reduction/elimination of frizziness.....those products actually work (well atleast it did for *my* hair ) Garnier Fructis Curl n' Shine is formulated to bring out the natural curl and help eliminate frizz. I use the entire line. I also use L'OREAL Paris VIVE Curl Vive Shampoo it touts to reduce frizz by 95%. Another reason why I'm able to get my curls to *pop* is because I avoid ALL products that has mineral oil in it...my hair DOES NOT like mineral oil AT ALL Even if that product has gotten rave reviews here I avoid it like the plague if I see that there's any mineral oil PERIOD!

Lately I've been testing different mixes of products I already have in the house to see if I can get my curls to pop and so far my experimenting is paying off.....I used the Fantasia IC styling gel (the blue one) and I worked that gel into my hair til I saw my curl formation (when you first put the gel in your hair it clumps together)...I just used my fingers to rake it through, shaking my head left to right and front to back til I liked what I saw, then I poured a handful of the Fantasia IC serum (the blue one) into the palm of my hand and raked it thru my hair (keeping my curls intact)...the result was *very* moisturized, soft to the touch curls that lasted all day long. Now I ain't gonna front before bed I washed it out because quite frankly I'm used to washing my hair daily and the gel on my scalp feels icky after 12 or more hours.

I tried my best to get a texture shot of my hair...

 

[EMJazzy]

Oh an another thing I forgot to add COLD WATER RINSING!!! That right there is the ish!!!

 

[MoeB424]

I usually put a glop of Lustrasilk right on dry curl gel on before my hair would dry after washing it. I stopped using it after a while to experiment with other stuff but I may have to go back. The only thing with this is that it's best to put it on a while before you go out since it looks better once it's dried a bit... My cousin told me my hair looked like a pack of roman noodles with this stuff so I think it'll do the trick...

 

[Poohbear]

Thanks al00fone and andrea-!

 

[velvet]

I love all of your spirals! I've always wanted them.

 

[tt8]

OMG. Im so happy I found this thread. My coils look just like this and I was wondering was I the only one that was a 4a/4b with these itty bitty coils. I LOVE THEM! When I have just finished co-washing my hair this is what it looks like. I use ORS Olive Oil and it retains this definition.
QUESTION>>>what do yall do about the tangles? they are much different to deal with than what others define as tangles

Just plain water makes my tiny spirals pop. After wetting my hair with just water and letting it dry completely without manipulating it and no products, here's what my hair looks like:

UP CLOSE:

 

[glamazon386]

OMG. Im so happy I found this thread. My coils look just like this and I was wondering was I the only one that was a 4a/4b with these itty bitty coils. I LOVE THEM! When I have just finished co-washing my hair this is what it looks like. I use ORS Olive Oil and it retains this definition.
QUESTION>>>what do yall do about the tangles? they are much different to deal with than what others define as tangles

I just don't comb them.

 

[lovelymissyoli]

Have you tried not using anything on it after you wash? Maybe just airdry with minimal or no leave in to see if they 'pop' on their own?

I would suggest this as well! Using too many products will weigh your hair down. Simply wash your hair and let it air dry. Your coils should pop....if that's your texture.

 

[ScandalousBeauty]

Interesting. I tried using Be Curly Conditioner yesterday, and I shook my head like crazy while it was dripping wet, just as I finished the wash. I DID notice my curls even more! It dripped like crazy, and that irked me, so I towel dried. I was really shocked at how that little tip worked!!

 

[Poohbear]

OMG. Im so happy I found this thread. My coils look just like this and I was wondering was I the only one that was a 4a/4b with these itty bitty coils. I LOVE THEM! When I have just finished co-washing my hair this is what it looks like. I use ORS Olive Oil and it retains this definition.
QUESTION>>>what do yall do about the tangles? they are much different to deal with than what others define as tangles

If I wear my hair in it's shrunken state (which I don't do anymore), I just avoid detangling because of the tangles.

Now, I've been blowdrying my hair after washing and conditioning. I take a section of hair, apply a leave-in, give it a good comb through, then blowdry it with a comb attachment. My hair has been stronger and softer from doing this rather than airdrying.

 

[Enchantmt]

Try honey. In fact, you can put honey water and vinegar in a bottle 12-16 oz and use it as a rinse. Shampoo, use part of the rinse, rinse it out, use the other part, let it stay five mins or so, then rinse and apply conditioner. Follow up with a leave in conditioner, curl activator (it will dry so that it is non greasy and you cant feel it if you put it on wet hair) or some type of styling product that will lightly coat your hair so it doesnt frizz overly much.

 

[tt8]

If I wear my hair in it's shrunken state (which I don't do anymore), I just avoid detangling because of the tangles.

Now, I've been blowdrying my hair after washing and conditioning. I take a section of hair, apply a leave-in, give it a good comb through, then blowdry it with a comb attachment. My hair has been stronger and softer from doing this rather than airdrying.

Are you using the heated setting with the blowdryer? How often are you doing this per week?

 

[tt8]

I THINK WE SHOULD START A SUPPORT THREAD WITH ALL OF US THAT HAVE THIS PARTICULAR HAIR TYPE & CURL PATTEN, CUZ ITS MUCH DIFF TO HANDLE THAN TYPICAL 4A/4B...
WHAT DO YALL THINK???????

 

[locoabouthair]

I wash then moisturize and then just let it air dry. If I'm not washing it I just sprtiz w/ water and moisturize..... no manipulation.

 

[ScandalousBeauty]

I used my Curly Pudding while dripping wet, and I realized that it basically is the same as Fantasia IC with Sparklites. So, maybe I will use them for twist outs and other styles.

Anything new with you all???