Okay 3c and 4c hair types

[Ms_Twana]

Okay darnit, as soon as I think I've got it, someone gives another perspective!!!!

Wow, now I see why some ladies don't "type" their hair!!!

 

[divya]

Okay, break this down for me ladies. What EXACTLY is the difference between 3c and 4a??? Both talk about tight curls. And I've seen ladies talk about 4c a couple of times. What is that???

I am learning myself. From your pics, you look like you may be 4a but then I thought I saw some 3c in there. So maybe a mix of both.

 

[divya]

OK, now I'm confused. I would say the woman in the red top has 4a hair because it's big on top and grows out, not down.
I thought 3b and c hair grows downwards.
I would type the other woman as a 3b.
Confusion erplexed

What if your hair grows down and out? LOL.

See it's not clear to me if the womans hair actually grows like that or if that is how they styled it for the picture...because her strands look 3c. The other girls looks like a 3a/b mix.

 

[Ms_Twana]

What if your hair grows down and out? LOL.

See it's not clear to me if the womans hair actually grows like that or if that is how they styled it for the picture...because her strands look 3c. The other girls looks like a 3a/b mix.

This is true. I didn't think about that.

 

[divya]

This is true. I didn't think about that.

It kinda looks like they styled it that way. Somehow I feel if they wet it and put some product, it would fall differently.

On the same website, on their hair type classification page, it seems Farya (woman in red) would actually be more of a 3c instead. It lists Whoopi Goldberg as a 4a and I dont think Farya and Whoopi have the same hair type at all...

http://www.naturallycurly.com/curl411/types.php

 

[Ms_Twana]

It did say that the stylist wanted to "play her hair up."

 

[divya]

It did say that the stylist wanted to "play her hair up."

Yea, they styled it that way...looking at her other pics, she's definitely a 3c to me.

When Fadya AlBakry came to the shoot, her 4a hair was pulled back into a tight ponytail. Fitzpatrick wanted to play up her incredible texture. He sprayed it with Devacurl Set it Free "which does exactly what it says it does." Then he diffused it to create maximum volume and to highlight individual pieces.

They pulled 2s and 3s and I guess they needed someone to throw in the 4 category. They could have gotten a more appropriate example of a the 4s...

 

[dynamic1]

NC did contradict their own definition of 3c by putting Fadya's hair in the 4a category. But her hair is beautiful whatever the type!


Here is their definition
"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." Getting this type of hair to blowdry straight is more challenging than for 3A or 3B, but it usually can be done. This includes those with very tight curls but finer hair, as well as coarser hair. 3C has really really tight curls, like pencil or straw circumference. 3B is like sidewalk chalk or salt shaker circumference, and 4A is like coffee stirrer circumference."

 

[Ms_Twana]

NC did contradict their own definition of 3c by putting Fadya's hair in the 4a category. But her hair is beautiful whatever the type!


Here is their definition
"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." Getting this type of hair to blowdry straight is more challenging than for 3A or 3B, but it usually can be done. This includes those with very tight curls but finer hair, as well as coarser hair. 3C has really really tight curls, like pencil or straw circumference. 3B is like sidewalk chalk or salt shaker circumference, and 4A is like coffee stirrer circumference."

That does it then. 4a I am for sure.......I think!!!

 

[divya]

NC did contradict their own definition of 3c by putting Fadya's hair in the 4a category. But her hair is beautiful whatever the type!

Excuse me Dynamic! Where is your hair album? Your hair is beautiful!

 

[dynamic1]

Excuse me Dynamic! Where is your hair album? Your hair is beautiful!

Thank you! I just snap photos with my wireless phone. I need Santa to bring me a digital camera for Christmas. I will start an album but it might not live up to Fotki critic standards.

 

[glamazon386]

Okay darnit, as soon as I think I've got it, someone gives another perspective!!!!

Wow, now I see why some ladies don't "type" their hair!!!

Exactly. MsTwana you're probably a 4a with some 3c parts. Oh and another thing, the weight of your relaxed ends could be stretching the curl pattern out some. When you cut them off, your hair is going to curl up more.

 

[Vshanell]

On NC this lady is typed as being a 3c but she definitely looks 3a/b to me. I'm not seeing where they are getting the 3c from at all *confused*.

 

[LocksOfLuV]

I am a 4b with coils EVERYWHERE. My hair grows in little coils but it isn't soft it is VERY coarse. Even though people say only type 3s have coils i refuse to believe this hair on this hear head is any type 3 .

 

[LocksOfLuV]

Type 4 hair is coarse whereas type 3 hair has a more silky feel. For example, 3c hair might have really tiny coils, but still be very silky and easy to slick down into a puff. But 4a hair might require the scarf trick to get it to lay down because its more coarse.

Yeah this is the way I think of it. I think ALL hair types can have coils it mainly the silkiness and the size of them.

 

[LocksOfLuV]

On NP this lady is typed as being a 3c but she definitely looks 3a/b to me. I'm not seeing where they are getting the 3c from at all *confused*.

Right i would have classified this woman as a 3a/3b too.

 

[Qetesh]

I think its all very subjective.

some people might consider themselves a 3c when others would say 3b or 4a ext.

i personally feel that a 3c has more of a defined curl pin size or larger where as 4a has more of a non sheen texture to it 3c also IMO absorbs water differently.



really i have no clue tho

 

[Cheleigh]

Andre's system was always a bit contradictory, IMO, because his system doesn't really factor in texture per se, only curl diameter. But then type 4 is largely a texture based designation. 3c didn't exist, and I would assume that most people who consider themselves (or are considered 3c) would either be 3b/4a or straight up 4a without the 3c classification. Based on the naturallycurly system, I would probably be a 4a/3c/4b, but I split the difference and call myself a 4a, which is certainly predominate.

Also, I've never heard that only 3c has coils. Coils are actually the domain of type 4 (and 3c I guess, since many 3cs are 3c/4a hybrids). And according to Ouidad, most curlies and coily heads actually don't have coarse hair, but have fine strands but lots of them, which provide the thickness. Most of us would just be either a curly or kinky curl pattern and fine texture under Ouidad. I would be kinky/fine.

From Ouidad.com
Fine
The biggest surprise our clients find out about their hair is that almost 99% of them have baby fine locks. Curly hair is often fine and quite delicate— no matter how voluminous or tightly spiraled. People frequently mistake density for coarseness, which leads to improper and harsh treatment.

Kinky
These tiny ringlets of an inch or less in diameter are probably the most fragile of all three categories. Like medium curls, the tightly coiled shape leaves the cuticle susceptible to dryness and damage from heat styling, chemical processes, the sun, pollution and artificial air. Tight curls fall into several patterns. When stretched out, you may see an "S" shape, a loose, reverse "S" like a "Z" or both. The looser the curl pattern the more moisture the hair has retained— although it's never enough. Hair in this category is often chemically straightened or softened which demands extra care and maintenance.

 

[Ms Red]

That article further confuses me on hair typing. Looking at the pics, my curls are a little bigger than Fadiya (the One they call 4a) and they're shiny. But, they're not as large or loose as the 3c lady. Also, from what Caligirl stated... I can put my hair back and slick it down with no problem. Still confused. I guess I'll just say I have a mixture of 3c and 4a?

PS. Some beautiful hair ladies!

 

[FlowerHair]

This site: http://www.afrokinks.com/chart.html
mostly has different types of 3b listed, but IMO those pics called 3b7, 8, 9 and 3c all look like 3c to me.

Haha, this is very subjective and btw hair looks so differently every day, it's hard to say even with your own hair and close friends what type they are.

I agree that 1-4 can all be silky or coarse, some people have 1a hair that is super coarse. The numbers 1-4 are more about curl size.

 

[Ms_Twana]

Exactly. MsTwana you're probably a 4a with some 3c parts. Oh and another thing, the weight of your relaxed ends could be stretching the curl pattern out some. When you cut them off, your hair is going to curl up more.

Oh my goodness. You mean more than it already does????

No, I ended up cutting a section of my hair because I was attempting to BC. And that section coils up just like the rest of my coils. But my hair just started to coil. My new growth was more like waves before. Now I can definitely see the curls/coils!!!

 

[Ms_Twana]

I am a 4b with coils EVERYWHERE. My hair grows in little coils but it isn't soft it is VERY coarse. Even though people say only type 3s have coils i refuse to believe this hair on this hear head is any type 3 .

Okay, now I'm REALLY confused. The ONE thing that I was SURE about was the fact that 4b didn't curl, it has waves. I thought that was the sure distinction between 4a and 4b. So you're saying you consider yourself a 4b with coils???

 

[glamazon386]

I am a 4b with coils EVERYWHERE. My hair grows in little coils but it isn't soft it is VERY coarse. Even though people say only type 3s have coils i refuse to believe this hair on this hear head is any type 3 .

I thought 4b hair didn't have a curl pattern?

 

[Proudpiscean]

I thought 4b has a zig zag pattern. I give up on this typing thing!

 

[Ms_Twana]

From Ouidad.com
Fine
The biggest surprise our clients find out about their hair is that almost 99% of them have baby fine locks. Curly hair is often fine and quite delicate— no matter how voluminous or tightly spiraled. People frequently mistake density for coarseness, which leads to improper and harsh treatment.

Kinky
These tiny ringlets of an inch or less in diameter are probably the most fragile of all three categories. Like medium curls, the tightly coiled shape leaves the cuticle susceptible to dryness and damage from heat styling, chemical processes, the sun, pollution and artificial air. Tight curls fall into several patterns. When stretched out, you may see an "S" shape, a loose, reverse "S" like a "Z" or both. The looser the curl pattern the more moisture the hair has retained— although it's never enough. Hair in this category is often chemically straightened or softened which demands extra care and maintenance.

Okay, I'm about to open another can of worms. What exactly is the definition of kinky and coarse?? And how do you know if your strands are densely packed together??

I have coffee stirrer sized coils (I think I've said that a million times now, SORRY), yet my newgrowth is soft and shines a lot more than my relaxed hair. (And that could be because of the chemicals). And I have sections that are "baby hair" fine. I haven't had any issues with managing my newgrowth as of yet. It's soft to comb through. So what texture does that make it?? And what is the difference between shine and sheen?? Cuz I don't get that either.

Basically, I think I have the typing thing down when it comes to the way it curls. Now I trying to figure out my texture. And for those that DO use Andre's system, are you determining you hair type off curls alone??

 

[EMJazzy]

When I first joined LHCF I labled my self 4a/4b til I found out that 4b typically has the zig zag pattern. There isn't a zig zag to be found anywhere on my head. Then I started reading the different typing system on all of the websites that were posted here and upon closer inspection of my hair I have the "coffee stirrer" curls in the back (my 4/a) and the "pencil curls" easier to lay down type of hair in the front (my 3/c)...the front of my hair as a bit of 'shine' to it but the back of my hair only has 'sheen'...KWIM? The hair on the top/front of my head flops as it grows out whereas the hair in the top/rear has shrinkage galore and can be picked out into a very nice fro.

 

[LocksOfLuV]

Okay, now I'm REALLY confused. The ONE thing that I was SURE about was the fact that 4b didn't curl, it has waves. I thought that was the sure distinction between 4a and 4b. So you're saying you consider yourself a 4b with coils???

Yep,absolutely. I consider myself a 4b with coils. If yall seen this coarse stuff, yall would too. It isn't soft or silky like type 3s and it is extremely dry.

 

[EMJazzy]

Okay, I'm about to open another can of worms. What exactly is the definition of kinky and coarse?? And how do you know if your strands are densely packed together??

I have coffee stirrer sized coils (I think I've said that a million times now, SORRY), yet my newgrowth is soft and shines a lot more than my relaxed hair. (And that could be because of the chemicals). And I have sections that are "baby hair" fine. I haven't had any issues with managing my newgrowth as of yet. It's soft to comb through. So what texture does that make it?? And what is the difference between shine and sheen?? Cuz I don't get that either.

Basically, I think I have the typing thing down when it comes to the way it curls. Now I trying to figure out my texture. And for those that DO use Andre's system, are you determining you hair type off curls alone??

I think that has something to do with how porous your hair is and how much the cuticle naturally lays down. "Shiny" hair tends to stay wet longer (less porous) and "hair with Sheen" tends to dry faster (more porous).

Somebody please correct me if I explained this wrong.

 

[Ms_Twana]

I think that has something to do with how porous your hair is and how much the cuticle naturally lays down. "Shiny" hair tends to stay wet longer (less porous) and "hair with Sheen" tends to dry faster (more porous).

Somebody please correct me if I explained this wrong.

Okay you went all technical on me!! I mean, what's the difference visually. How would I tell by just looking?? Sorry!!! erplexed

 

[Ms_Twana]

Yep,absolutely. I consider myself a 4b with coils. If yall seen this coarse stuff, yall would too. It isn't soft or silky like type 3s and it is extremely dry.

LOL!!! Okay, so back to my question on the definition of coarse. So, is coarse hair not soft or silky???