Re: Are you getting your natural type 4 hair to "hang" when using Kinky Curling Custa
So in my mind natural afro textured hair falls into these categories:
curly, wavy, curly-wavy (combo), spongy, spongy-curly or spongy-wavy (combo meaning a few sparse curly and wavy pieces within the hair pattern but not significant enough to make a drastic difference but hair is either predominately either more spongy than curly or more curly than spongy), cotton, tightly coiled (wool). Curly, wavy and spongy hair types tend to have greater variations and combinations.
Spongy shrinks quickly very delicate (springy, wiry curls). Cotton texture can almost look like pressed hair when air dried in big plaits or twists can usually make huge puffy afros (air like). Tightly coiled (thick wool), also shrinks very quickly but has no springy or airy effect. If you have hair that is spongy, cotton or tightly coiled no products can make your hair look curly or wavy naturally hair must be manipulated by braiding or twisting to give it somewhat of an effect but it will never have the smooth waves or curliness especially in the front of the hair which is what some women crave (no matter how much brushing with AV Gel or Eco Styler).
Spongy-curly combo's (especially those with more predominately spongy than curly) can get a curly effect but they have to keep loading up the products for a number of days so that the products almost start to hang off the hair and give some elongation.
Easiest hair to grow: curly, wavy, and cotton.
Difficult hair to grow: Spongy is difficult because it tends to be fine and dense and needs to be combed and handled gently (because the wiry curls can rip off and get tangled quickly) and the tightly coiled due to not being able to hold moisture products well and tolerate lots of hair combing, can grow long though if locked and should be kept in protective styles or kept very short.
My theories only and not wanting to create another hair typing system. All of this is from my observations of black women's hair throughout the diaspora.
Best,
Almond Eyes