4a, 4b vs. C-Napp Hair: What's the Difference?

[Southernbella.]

Alright, I'm still confused, but based on yall's definitions, I'm starting to think think I'm mostly 4A with a little 4B around the edges. I always thought I had a lot more 4b hair. I don't know.

Pic heavy: These are on various wash days, all unmanipulated

Front, wet with no product

More of the front

Side, dry with no product

Wet, with conditioner

Damp, no product

Dry...I can't tell if there's product or not. That could either be the flash or dried conditioner

ETA:

Puff, dry with no product. See how my edges look more on the 4b side?

 

[ladylibra]

^^^ Gorgeous hair...

I would say you've got a lot of 4a coils in there.

 

[Southernbella.]

^^^ Gorgeous hair...

I would say you've got a lot of 4a coils in there.

Thank you ll.

I'm still confused. Sometimes my hair can look 4A and sometimes it can look 4b, but most times it looks like a mixture of both. My hair in the back has smaller coils and shrinks more, so I've always assumed it was 4B, but someone said Nadia is all 4A which threw me off because my hair looks like her with manipulation (picking out with my fingers). The coarse/thickness of my hair also throws me off.

Andre sucks.

 

[Luscious Locks]

Thank you ll.

I'm still confused. Sometimes my hair can look 4A and sometimes it can look 4b, but most times it looks like a mixture of both. My hair in the back has smaller coils and shrinks more, so I've always assumed it was 4B, but someone said Nadia is all 4A which threw me off because my hair looks like her with manipulation (picking out with my fingers). The coarse/thickness of my hair also throws me off.

Andre sucks.

COSIGNING ON ALL OF THIS

 

[FindingMe]

OK, once again, I do not disagree that 4B hair is made of kinks. It bends and twists and curls and coils. But guess what, so does 4A.

Nadia Turner's hair is the epitome of 4A hair:

And just as you say of your hair, Nadia's has defined coils in some parts and not in others. But there's a circular structure to the strands whether they bend or not. Like a phone coil, the strands can have a bend that isn't spirally but just coz a phone coil might bend awkwardly in one spot that doesn't take away the fact that the general shape of the phone coil is spirally/curly. Likewise no one questions whether Nadia's hair is curly even though in some parts it seems to have no pattern because the hairs are all separated and mixed together. It clearly is as Andre described it:"tightly coiled hair that, when stretched, has an "S" pattern, much like curly hair."

I am SO confused. I thought I was 4a-ish, but my hair doesn't behave quite like Nadia's hair, but I don't think I am in the 3's either....

 

[Junebug D]

I don't know anything about Nadia, but something about her hair does not look natural to me. Maybe she has pieces added in that picture?

The coils are what I thought of as 3C. if her whole head looked like those coils in front, would people really say she is a type 4?

 

[Nonie]

I don't know anything about Nadia, but something about her hair does not look natural to me. Maybe she has pieces added in that picture?

The coils are what I thought of as 3C. if her whole head looked like those coils in front, would people really say she is a type 4?

*I* would still say she was type 4. Her hair looks to me exactly like SouthernBella's hair. And to me SB is definitely 4A.

The coils you're looking at are just what curly hair looks like when it clumps. Heck even I, with my 4B hair, had some of that when I magnified my hair. See?

 

[Nonie]

I am SO confused. I thought I was 4a-ish, but my hair doesn't behave quite like Nadia's hair, but I don't think I am in the 3's either....

You could be 3C/4A. I think a few people on the board are in that group. (Your hair in the siggy looks to me like it could have some 3 in it.)

What's with all that fluff on the right side of Nadia's picture? Is that supposed to be 4a or 4b? And someone tell me, how come Nadia's looser coils are being depicted as 4a, but mine are always called 3c?

About the bolded. I thought 4a was pen-size to penspring-size, no?

I soooooooo can't stand hair typing... the more peoople talk about it, the more it confuses me...

LadyLibra, your hair doesn't tightly coil like a phone coil the way Nadia's is doing. Your hair has coils that look looser. I think that's the difference.

Rachel True is supposed to be 3C. Notice how similar her hair is to yours:

 

[Junebug D]

Ok, so phone coils are 4A and stretched-out "S" coils are 3C? Tiny, tight coils (that can resemble O's when cut/broken) are 4B? And c-napp is manipulated 4B. (I have seen 4B being used interchangeably with c-napp on their blog). I think that's it, Nonie?

 

[Junebug D]

Alright, I'm still confused, but based on yall's definitions, I'm starting to think think I'm mostly 4A with a little 4B around the edges. I always thought I had a lot more 4b hair. I don't know.

Pic heavy: These are on various wash days, all unmanipulated

Front, wet with no product

More of the front

Side, dry with no product

Wet, with conditioner

Damp, no product

Dry...I can't tell if there's product or not. That could either be the flash or dried conditioner

ETA:

Puff, dry with no product. See how my edges look more on the 4b side?

Southernbella does appear to be mostly 4a; I believe it's the thickness & density of her hair that makes her individual coils difficult to discern.

 

[ladylibra]

LadyLibra, your hair doesn't tightly coil like a phone coil the way Nadia's is doing. Your hair has coils that look looser. I think that's the difference.

Rachel True is supposed to be 3C. Notice how similar her hair is to yours:

Okay. Your explanation makes sense. But the picture of Rachel doesn't. Even she has a variety of curl/coil patterns going on. I guess it's just hard because people with textured hair often have more than one texture going on.

 

[Nonie]

Okay. Your explanation makes sense. But the picture of Rachel doesn't. Even she has a variety of curl/coil patterns going on. I guess it's just hard because people with textured hair often have more than one texture going on.

I don't get your point. Indeed she does have curl/coil patterns--a characteristic that is common to all curly hair. But notice how loose her curls and yours are compared to Nadia's. It's like the difference between a phone coil at rest and one slightly stretched, and then a difference in coil size.

Both 3's and 4's are curly but 4's are kinky. In other word 4's are not just curly but their curls are also tight, like compressed springs. 3's are like a slightly stretched out spring. The also behave differently when dry I think but I can't think how to explain that so just ignore that last point.

ETA: What do you mean by the bold?

 

[anon123]

Wet, with conditioner

Dry...I can't tell if there's product or not. That could either be the flash or dried conditioner

Lovely hair! Your coils are huge compared to mine!

 

[Nonie]

Lovely hair! Your coils are huge compared to mine!

I want my hair to grow up already and be like yours! Your shrinkage is fantastic! I hope when my hair grows to the length yours is (positive mental attitude here!), it'll have the same characteristics. Seriously, Mwedzi, whose hair can do what yours can? Do you realize just what an awesome mane with endless potential/abilities you have there? That you can go from having a TWA one day, to having a BAA the next, to having BSL "textured" hair, to having straight BSL hair, to having wavy braidout or twist out hair, to having tubes of WNG hair, to having a chunky afro... Need I go on? And the fullness!!! :notworthy

OK, I just realized I hate you too!

 

[Southernbella.]

Lovely hair! Your coils are huge compared to mine!

Gorgeous! I could get lost in there.

My coils in back are about the same size as yours in this pic, so if you're 4b, I can consider mine 4b. I have more shrinkage in the back too.

I need to get some pics of that area. I just realized I don't have very many.

 

[Nonie]

Gorgeous! I could get lost in there.

My coils in back are about the same size as yours in this pic, so if you're 4b, I can consider mine 4b. I have more shrinkage in the back too.

I need to get some pics of that area. I just realized I don't have very many.

Will you stop being stubborn! Your hair is without question 4A. Size of coil varies from pen-size coils to pen-spring size coils. Plus even if you happened to have 4B at the back, who gave those few hairs power over all the others? Majority wins so there!

 

[Southernbella.]

Will you stop being stubborn! Your hair is without question 4A. Size of coil varies from pen-size coils to pen-spring size coils. Plus even if you happened to have 4B at the back, who gave those few hairs power over all the others? Majority wins so there!

I meant I consider my coils in the back 4b. I still claim 4AB simply because my texture isn't uniform.

 

[Nonie]

I meant I consider my coils in the back 4b. I still claim 4AB simply because my texture isn't uniform.

Oh OK.

For what its worth, your hair looks uniform to me all through. And I don't think I've said it yet, but it's beautiful. If you ever consider BCing, please make sure you donate to Locks of Love.

Go on oke:, BC now (suggests the green-eyed monster ).

 

[Nonie]

Ok, so phone coils are 4A and stretched-out "S" coils are 3C? Tiny, tight coils (that can resemble O's when cut/broken) are 4B? And c-napp is manipulated 4B. (I have seen 4B being used interchangeably with c-napp on their blog). I think that's it, Nonie?

Basically! (But also notice there's a slight difference in size too between 4A coils and 3C coils)

 

[Junebug D]

I see it! The circumference is bigger on the 3C coils. Neat-o. Thanks Nonie, your photo-posts are always very informative.

Now we need one of these posts breaking down strand sizes.

 

[ladylibra]

I don't get your point. Indeed she does have curl/coil patterns--a characteristic that is common to all curly hair. But notice how loose her curls and yours are compared to Nadia's. It's like the difference between a phone coil at rest and one slightly stretched, and then a difference in coil size.

Both 3's and 4's are curly but 4's are kinky. In other word 4's are not just curly but their curls are also tight, like compressed springs. 3's are like a slightly stretched out spring. The also behave differently when dry I think but I can't think how to explain that so just ignore that last point.

ETA: What do you mean by the bold?

The front of her hair is much looser than the back. Which part is 3c?

The front of my hair is incredibly frizzy/less defined without product, whereas the back will coil with or without product. I may be way off base, but I don't think the back of my hair is as loose of a coil as hers. (Stupid Fotki still not working, or I'd do a side-by-side so I could know for sure. erplexed )

What is that loose wavy piece up top in the first pic? See, this is why I wanna smack the taste out of Andre's mouth. The second pic I find very interesting, that she has so little volume when all her hair is "defined." I could never get my hair that flat. Is that a texture-based thing? Or maybe she just doesn't have the same density I do?

 

[Nonie]

I see it! The circumference is bigger on the 3C coils. Neat-o. Thanks Nonie, your photo-posts are always very informative.

Now we need one of these posts breaking down strand sizes.

 

[Nonie]

I agree that she has a curl/coil pattern - I'm just noting that she has a variety of them on her head. The front of her hair is much looser than the back. Which part is 3c?

The front of my hair is incredibly frizzy/less defined without product, whereas the back will coil with or without product. I may be way off base, but I don't think the back of my hair is as loose of a coil as hers. (Stupid Fotki still not working, or I'd do a side-by-side so I could know for sure. erplexed )



What is that loose wavy piece up top in the first pic?

Will you stop nitpicking? Do you want me to go bring you phone cord that looks just like that? Manipulation, my dear. She might have HIH disease and was playing with that one twirling it the opposite way from the normal curl direction or she might've brushed it while wet so it didn't get to take it's "resting state". I 'ono. Maybe it's her one crazy hair. She may also have a variety of textures the way some people do. (There was a member here with a son who was the perfect example of that. Kid was so adorable even with is afro wanna-be straight wanna-be curly hair. I wish I could remember the visual to describe it. It was just uber-darling. ) And I doubt anyone's hairs perfect so there are bound to be oddities. OK?

Feel better now?

See, this is why I wanna smack the taste out of Andre's mouth. The second pic I find very interesting, that she has so little volume when all her hair is "defined." I could never get my hair that flat (outside of using heat to actually straighten it). Is that a texture-based thing? Or maybe she just doesn't have the same density I do?

It could be a density thing, or a strand thickness thing.

ETA I think Shan will be breaking that^ down for us before too long. (Hi Shan! )

 

[Junebug D]

Wrong number!

It would be interesting though, and sure would be invaluable to have pics of different hair types, along with strand sizes and density. Like someone posts their pics with 4a, medium density, fine strands and see how that hair looks & behaves vs. a 4a with high density and coarse strands...

 

[ladylibra]

Will you stop nitpicking? Do you want me to go bring you phone cord that looks just like that? Manipulation, my dear. She might have HIH disease and was playing with that one twirling it the opposite way from the normal curl direction or she might've brushed it while wet so it didn't get to take it's "resting state". I 'ono. Maybe it's her one crazy hair. She may also have a variety of textures the way some people do. (There was a member here with a son who was the perfect example of that. Kid was so adorable even with is afro wanna-be straight wanna-be curly hair. I wish I could remember the visual to describe it. It was just uber-darling. ) And I doubt anyone's hairs perfect so there are bound to be oddities. OK?

Feel better now?

No. Cuz you still didn't tell me which part was 3c!

I hate 3c. I'm throwing it out the window! Going back to 3b, and 4a. I understand those.

Back to the actual discussion, which is about 4b/Cnapp. I've been wondering this one for a minute, but never took the time to ask since it didn't apply to me. Is Cnapp only undefined poofy afro-textured hair that has major shrinkage? What if you have undefined poofy afro-textured hair that doesn't have much shrinkage? (By not much, I mean less than 50%) Like, it appears to be a blowout sort of... but no chemicals or heat have been used. The hair just looks like a giant cloud of poofy hair naturally.

(Please don't stone me Nonie )

 

[Junebug D]

The second pic I find very interesting, that she has so little volume when all her hair is "defined." I could never get my hair that flat. Is that a texture-based thing? Or maybe she just doesn't have the same density I do?

I think that's a density and/or styling thing i.e. the way the hair was set. I wonder which, if either of those pics best represent her hair air-dried without further styling?

 

[ladylibra]

Wrong number!

 

[Nonie]

No. Cuz you still didn't tell me which part was 3c!

I hate 3c. I'm throwing it out the window! Going back to 3b, and 4a. I understand those.

Back to the actual discussion, which is about 4b/Cnapp. I've been wondering this one for a minute, but never took the time to ask since it didn't apply to me. Is Cnapp only undefined poofy afro-textured hair that has major shrinkage? What if you have undefined poofy afro-textured hair that doesn't have much shrinkage? (By not much, I mean less than 50%) Like, it appears to be a blowout sort of... but no chemicals or heat have been used. The hair just looks like a giant cloud of poofy hair naturally.

(Please don't stone me Nonie )

I think her whole head is 3C. The back has the same size of coils as the front but the coils could be tighter in the back because the hair is short so it isn't exerting weight or it could just be that it her hair falls on her shoulder and so dries all compressed. But really I think you're overthinking the whole thing.

Maybe Shan who got the difference can help you see it, but I think you should probably take "all characteristics" into account and the one that is mostly evident is the one you go with. Those compressed springs in the back are I think how short 3C hair would look. But they fit all other descriptions of 3C. Naturally Curly's addendum says "Type 3C is hair with tight curls in corkscrews. The curls can be either kinky, or very tightly curled, with lots and lots of strands densely packed together. Some people refer to this as "big hair." I think another thing you will see with type 3C is it dangles and reflects light more than 4s so appears to be shinier.

Perhaps the elimination process might work best for you. Your hair does not fit the type 4A or 4B descriptions or photos so you know you're not that. You are a definite 3. Now if you want to say you're not a 3C, you're on your own there. Can't help you with 3's coz I know jack about that hair.

 

[Nonie]

(Please don't stone me Nonie )

Not yet.

What if you have undefined poofy afro-textured hair that doesn't have much shrinkage? (By not much, I mean less than 50%) Like, it appears to be a blowout sort of... but no chemicals or heat have been used. The hair just looks like a giant cloud of poofy hair naturally.

I'd say you have quite a lot of work cut out for you trying to figure that out.

I've seen what you mean. I think you will have to refer to the definition of CNapp and see how many of the traits fit the hair you describe. If it fits perfectly then it just reinforces my statement that CNapp is a state of manipulated hair, although I've only applied it to 4B hair coz only that looks like the hair I keep seeing being called CNapp.

And on that note.... "I HAVE BUSINESS CALL..."

 

[Cherokee-n-Black]

Originally Posted by ladylibra
What if you have undefined poofy afro-textured hair that doesn't have much shrinkage? (By not much, I mean less than 50%) Like, it appears to be a blowout sort of... but no chemicals or heat have been used. The hair just looks like a giant cloud of poofy hair naturally.

That would be me. A little curl at the roots and then...nothin'. It's kind of like, straight frizz?