Can someone tell me if this would be 4b or 4c?
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https://www.andrewalkerhair.com/whats-my-hair-type/african-american-kinky-hair-types
According to the founder of these charts.
Your hair is 4a, you obviously have ringlets and a curl pattern. Ladies, let me say this 4b hair doesn't have curls at all.
Before 4c was created, I considered myself a mix of 4a/4b, my 4b hair has no pattern. I could do maximum hydration, and try every product under the sun and my 4b hair still would have no natural curls. Andre Walker was right 4a curls can be as small as the point of the tip of a pin. (Thus being 4c)
4c's are able to define their curls/coils. I get it the curls are so small that 4c was born. Plus 4c hair is tightly coiled and really dry and requires a lot of moisture. Women realized there were curls/coils there but wanted definition and moisture. That's when 4c was born. 4c's are truly 4a's if going by Andre's chart it's simple curl/coils or no curls. Coils can be more defined. And Z's can turn to a S with a texlaxer or heat training.
So it's a matter of identifying the products, hairstyles and techniques of someone with hair like yours. I like to look up 4c because my hair is extremely dry in the middle. I have a mix of small coils or according to Andre 4a or (4c as defined by the new natural subgroup).
Now I'm realizing I'm a mix of 4b/c, Z and S patterns, with mainly 4b in the middle and some but very few 4c tight ringlets in the middle and perimeter.
I know this is confusing but it's hard out here for a dry mainly 4b and a little 4c (no curls) so I seek out 4c videos for styles and products for moisture. But me having the definition some 4c's are able to attain with maximum hydration, is a no go.
So I call all 4c's, 4a's cause Andre is the founder of this chart, and he told no lies you can't define curls/coils that don't exist.
4c is mainly about the size of a 4a curl and wether its coiled tightly. I know a very silky 4a, with some curls/coils the size of a pen tip, who according to these charts would be 4c. She has no problems with definition and her coils/curls are tight and some are looser. She doesn't use a boatload of product yet she has very small beautiful curls/coils/corkscrews.
You can be a dry and undefined 4a or a silky defined size of a pin spring 4c. (Which according to Andre 4c and 4a are one in the same) But the tighter curl requires more work and moisture.
I'm on board with this 4c subtype. It was well needed to help identify some of the issues we ladies have with the drynes of 4b/4c hair. Also the lack of definition.
The updated chart