4a/b stereotypes

[soslychic]

Wow am I ever sick of people saying that 4a/b hair can't grow long (noone on this board, my mom actually). While II can't wait to prove her wrong, in the meantime does anyone have any info. from a site or something explaining why this theory is totally ridiculous. Many black hair textures, this one in particular, is harder to take care of, but with TLC there is no gene or anything that is gonna prevent hair growth (at least at a length considered long-bra strap...etc...) This is really annoying me because having her saying that my hair can't grow isn't helping me with inspiration in this little journey of mine...

 

[Crystal]

Show her Adrienne's picture trail. I've shut down a few naysayers with that one. LOL.

 

[soslychic]

I did a search but couldn't find it. Do you have a link?

 

[londongirl3]

I think we all need Adrienne on speed dial

http://www.picturetrail.com/adrienne0914

And if you want a natural try den1

 

[Daughter]

I honestly wouldn't even say that "type 4" hair is harder to take care of! I've had relaxed hair (with few problems) and am now natural with type 4 hair. It jst took more understanding of how to take care of the hair. Washing, drying and twisting takes 4 hours in total and it can last a week! Only daily maintenance is in the morning and before I go to bed. Nice and simple.

And you're right, our type 4 hair grows!!!

 

[soslychic]

That's true.

Queston: Since natural hair is healthier than relaxed and therefore it seems to me (just from what i've read) that you get longer hair faster, I was wanting to see some pics of 4a/b hair groups that are relaxed (since that is my personal preference) I'm looking for inspiration. I'm searching and I find some all the time, but I know that I'm missing people, so (not to exclude other hair groups) but maybe it would be nice if a lot of pics were all in the same place.

 

[JenJen2721]

[ QUOTE ]
I honestly wouldn't even say that "type 4" hair is harder to take care of! I've had relaxed hair (with few problems) and am now natural with type 4 hair. It jst took more understanding of how to take care of the hair. Washing, drying and twisting takes 4 hours in total and it can last a week! Only daily maintenance is in the morning and before I go to bed. Nice and simple.

And you're right, our type 4 hair grows!!!

[/ QUOTE ]

Daughter, do you twist your own hair???

 

[Daughter]

Yes, I twist em once or twice a week. They only take ages if I decide to do em particularly small or if I'm tired. Sometimes I get silly and decide to do em small when I'm tired

 

[Sky]

One of my worst 4a/b sterotypes was when this white co worker was asking about my hair ( it was in braids) . I told her I braid it because its easier ( meaning I dont have to style it etc...) She said " Oh yeah I know my hair was kinky like yours. I know you remember when your mom tried to get the comb through it when you were younger, I was the same way! I hated my mom to comb my hair.Thats why I blow dry mine out straight" Now all I said to her was that I braid my hair because its easier.

I just looked at her . I mean how does she know my hair was "kinky" or "hard to get the comb through" ? ( sigh)

 

[lala]

Soslychic, I'm sorry you're feeling discouraged b/c of the lack of motivation from your Mom and others. I have 4a textured hair and it is below bra strap. So, there are 4a's who have long hair. I've had people try to say that my hair is long b/c its genetic. My Mom's hair type is probably 3a and she and her sisters have/had waist/knee length hair. I think you have to develop a regime that will make your hair thrive. Keep your head up.

 

[ineedmoney]

girl if you are trying to prove somebody about what u can do then God bless and good luck. and when you do get it long be sure to do a pantene move and flip it a little. just to make folks mad!

 

[SVT]

Poster: soslychic
[ QUOTE ]
While II can't wait to prove her wrong...

[/ QUOTE ]

Don't let negative vibes be the inspiration for your growth journey.

Do this growth thing for yourself. Changing people's attitudes is complex and can be frustrating at times. For now, you might need to let her uninformed comments go in one ear and out the other. When her annoying chatter gets to be a little too much, come on back to the Forum to recharge and to communicate with others who have the same goals as you.

Maybe one day, you two will the opportunity to discuss intelligently all the information you've learned about hair growth.

 

[adrienne0914]

it really doesn't surprise me that you get this response from people, soslychic. even with all the progress that i've made, i still have folks that were there from the beginning arguing with me about it. it's not that they don't want to believe it. it's just that it's not seen that often. so they're very skeptical. when i joined my first hair board, i was skeptical too, but i decided to try anyway.

now i have to have the "but you have good hair" argument. it's funny... i didn't have good hair when it was the same length for almost 20 years, only after it grew...

let your success make your argument for you. SVT is right... "in one ear and out the other" girl!!

p.s. thanks so much, crystal! that is the ultimate compliment!

 

[Valerie]

People are very funny and they do not understand type 4a/b and on other boards, they like to use the word 'nappy', because it does not have uniform curls, which in fact it has ringlets, curls, kinks and twists all in the same strand. Type 4a/b can grow extremely long, but because of the coily structure, it is very difficult to see the length, however using natural oils such as castor oil, avocado oil, aloe vera gel, glycine and water mixture and using good quality shampoos such as Nexus range and JF Lazartique range, help the hair from being brittle. Our hair is very unique and has to have special treatment, once it has the right treatment, then you can see the growth, I wish that Adrienne and Denise could be in hair books for type 4a/b and a lot of mouths be closed.

 

[soslychic]

Thanks for the encouragement you all!

 

[organicevolution]

Rudy Huxtable from the Cosby Show. I remember near the end of the show her hair was past bra strap length, and it was blow dried with a comb attachement. It was probably even longer when pressed.

 

[ms_kenesha]

I get the same thing from people including my mother. Now that my hair is growing so well, she's been asking me can you make my hair grow like yours. The truth is she won't be nearly as committed as I am and have been. Like everyone makes fun of the frequency that I wash my hair and since it's been cold and rainy here I've only been doing it once a week, once it get's hot it'll be twice a week

Now my hair is back to shoulder length which is always a big landmark and it just seems to me that once it gets to this point gaining length is easy it's just keeping the thickness that I have to be diligent about. I can't wait to post more pics and I can't wait to get to bra strap because unlike some members even when I was younger my hair was never "long" so I'll really be breaking some stereotypes soon!