wow... i normally read an entire thread before posting but this one is 22pages. i got to page 6 and then read from the top of this one... but i'm compelled to post, pls don't stone me if i mention something already noted upthread.
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i don't know that we'll ever crack the 4b code since hair typing is not a science and not carried out by scientists (so the fact that many people self-type as 4b in this poll means nothing really).
i do disagree tho with many who have said hair doesn't grow in a zig-zag or none curl pattern tho. i wouldn't say that 4b is necessarily rare, but i don't see many people w/ my variation of 4b hair or my mum's hair which takes that non-curl thing to the extreme.
most of my hair is not curly or coilly. much of it is just like my mum's, meaning it grows in crinkly, definitely not curly/coilly and w/ no discernable curl pattern. my mum's now... i have yet to see her hair on anyone else. maybe i need to look more closely or just know more people, but her hair looks lightly relaxed when it's not. i don't have a pic of her hair but when i can snag one w/out her freaking out i will.
i wish i could see more variation of 4b hair frankly. i'm desperate for a hair twin. i'd like to see another person who is told to cut her relaxed ends (i have none, just lots of random hair that grows in straight-ish throughout my head) and others who couldn't fake an afro if they tried due to once again, the random straighter bits that just do not mix well.
witness all those who doubt the existence of the non-curl pattern (doesn't apply to my whole head, just about 50-60% of it. sides are what most associate w/ 4b hair, super tight curls. but you can see the texture difference between front and sides in this pic):
<img pulled for google reasons>
and then of course i have 4a at nape and crown:
<img pulled for google reasons>
my pubes don't even grown in curly never mind!