What makes hair silky?

[Bene]

The slicked back hair doesn't look smooth to you? Lemme see if I can find another type 4 to contrast that pic with . . .

Neither one reminds me of a silk dress or scarf

The first one looks like there has been stuff done to it, but if I were to pull my fingers through it in the opposite direction, the hair would stay up. I've always defined "silky" as having some fluidity to it.

 

[Heavenly]

^^^^ She looks like she has used no styling product. Diameter of the thread makes a difference too. Finer hair usually looks silkier.

Agreed.

 

[Irresistible]

Neither one reminds me of a silk dress or scarf

She's talking about the slicked back hair (edges) in this pic vs the other one

one has high shine, gloss and waves, one does not

 

[BlackMasterPiece]

See, things like that confuse me. I don't see how that is silky at all. When I think of silk, I think of it's properties. Smooth, soft texture, I picture silk scarves or dresses. Maybe I have a different definition of "silky"?

In terms of hair in the type 4 category, that is the silkiest hair.....within that curl diameter. She has coils but her hair probably would never feel rough or dry like a non-silky like me would without product. When people use the term "silky" in reference to type 4s dont think of it in terms of a silk dress or scarf, they're referring to the smoothness of the strands, the ease to which it can slick down with product and its ability to reflect light. When you think of 4a silky's look at it that way.

So here is a link to the picture Roboxcore posted of her teacher's hair. Someone in that thread said it was silky 4a:

http://www.longhaircareforum.com/showpost.php?p=8684028&postcount=325

You beat me to it mwedzi. I think she's a classic example of a 4a silky.

her slicked back hair w/product looks silky but not the rest of her hair

When you look at the front and back shots of Robotxcore's professor her texture looked very consistent. I believe her slicked back portion gives us a window to the likely texture of the rest of her hair. Leaving the rest of the hair out seems like it was just a style choice, but I'm pretty sure she could slick the rest of her hair in much the same way.

the definition on that thread is that 4a silky can do what she has done and slick her hair back with gel, non-silky 4a-4b cant

Irresistable, you got it right here in a nutshell you understand it perfectly, also the way her hair has that high shine is a giveaway that she's a silky type 4.

yet some spoke up and said they surely could


so yeah I'm confused to

If people are saying that their hair looks and behaves just like hers, then they're most likely a silky 4a, but for some reason I think there are a few ladies that may take offense to that as if you're saying that they have "good hair" in some way, and they don't want that label, so that adds to the confusion when people just flat out refuse to accept their hair type. Its pretty awkwarderplexed but it is what it is. I once had a poster ask me what her hair type was then tell me she refused to believe it and was gonna continue to call herself the type she thought she was I was like.........mkay why'd you ask me then? It can get a bit wierd.

There are of course nuances and those that are combo's of the two, like 4a silky's that dont reflect light very much but overall, you have the jist of it love

 

[Irresistible]

I believe her slicked back portion gives us a window to the likely texture of the rest of her hair. Her texture seems very consistent, leaving the rest of the hair out seems like it was just a style choice, but I'm pretty sure she could slick the rest of her hair in much the same way.

Irresistable, you got it right here in a nutshell you understand it perfectly, also the way her hair has that high shine is a giveaway that she's a silky type 4.

If people are saying that their hair looks and behaves just like hers, then they're most likely a silky 4a, but for some reason I think there are a few ladies that may take offense to that as if you're saying that they have "good hair" in some way, its pretty awkwarderplexed but it is what it is!

There are of course nuances and those that are combo's of the two, like 4a silky's that dont reflect light very much but overall, you have the jist of it love

@ The bolded, there is no way for us to know this. I have one hair type in the front, and all around , the crown is another type

so if my crown were in the front it wouldnt slick back like it does

she might not have the same hair type throughout, we cant assume she does

she might even be a 3c in the front, and not a silky 4a

my daughter has 4 type hair all around the front, while the whole rest of of her hair falls into the 'supposed' 3c category like mine

too many variables possible to call it

 

[anon123]

^^^^ She looks like she has used no styling product. Diameter of the thread makes a difference too. Finer hair usually looks silkier.

That's no styling product?! Well dang! Y'all should see my hair dry with no product. Actually, you should see it with product. It looks the same.

 

[vkb247]

Not no product. No styling product. But if I remember correctly the teacher didn't use gel or anything so your right either way. Mwedzi have you ever used gel in your hair? I would love to see pics.

Anywho here is the member I was thinking of
http://public.fotki.com/nik-star/the-1st-year-of-nat/100-natural--year-1/img1432.html

 

[Stiletto_Diva]

So here is a link to the picture Roboxcore posted of her teacher's hair. Someone in that thread said it was silky 4a:

http://www.longhaircareforum.com/showpost.php?p=8684028&postcount=325

Originally I agreed that her hair was silky, but now that vkb247 mentions it, it could be the product. My hair can also look like that when pulled back with gel, and I don't have silky hair.

I tend to believe that finer hair has the tendency to look silkier than coarser hair. I've always drooled over the high shine that is produced with silky, yet highly textured hair.

 

[Bene]

In terms of hair in the type 4 category, that is the silkiest hair.....within that curl diameter. She has coils but her hair probably would never feel rough or dry like a non-silky like me would without product. When people use the term "silky" in reference to type 4s dont think of it in terms of a silk dress or scarf, they're referring to the smoothness of the strands, the ease to which it can slick down with product and its ability to reflect light. When you think of 4a silky's look at it that way.

Ok, I think I'm beginning to understand a little. I suppose I'm looking at it from a different direction.



For example, I would never refer to my hair as "silky" because it doesn't have the fluidity and movement that I notice in silk fabrics. I've always considered "silky" hair to be something quite rare. Even though my hair moves and falls, it doesn't do so in the way that I've considered silky.


I learn something new every day


I hope it doesn't bother anyone that I still wouldn't agree to calling something silky if I don't see it that way.

 

[vkb247]

Honeycomb considers herself to be 4a and her hair looks quite silky as well.

Bene, what would you call what we are talking about? BTW: your hair looks silky to me.

 

[anon123]

Not no product. No styling product. But if I remember correctly the teacher didn't use gel or anything so your right either way. Mwedzi have you ever used gel in your hair? I would love to see pics.

Anywho here is the member I was thinking of
http://public.fotki.com/nik-star/the-1st-year-of-nat/100-natural--year-1/img1432.html

Yep. I have some IC gel at home I bought recently to try out. I used to have pure aloe gel. It's not something I normally use, though, because it makes no visible difference and it feels drying on my hair. I wanted to show you a picture cuz I know I tried it recently, raking it through my hair. But it made so little difference that, looking at my fotki, I'm not even sure which picture I tried it in. I think it was this one:
http://public.fotki.com/mwedzi/2009-july-december/bun.html

Compare to non-gel use:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v194/mwedzi/hair - part 2/beadstickbun1.jpg

 

[Irresistible]

Ok, I think I'm beginning to understand a little. I suppose I'm looking at it from a different direction.



For example, I would never refer to my hair as "silky" because it doesn't have the fluidity and movement that I notice in silk fabrics. I've always considered "silky" hair to be something quite rare. Even though my hair moves and falls, it doesn't do so in the way that I've considered silky.


I learn something new every day


I hope it doesn't bother anyone that I still wouldn't agree to calling something silky if I don't see it that way.

well according to your siggy I would say your hair is silky

I understand you likening it to 'fluidity' which is movement right? , I do too, but I also see any high shine, smooth ,high gloss hair as silky too, such as in that picture it just lacked the 'movement' component because its laid down. Btw BMP's curly pic in her siggy is silky to me also

eta: you can call it like you see it girl!

 

[Irresistible]

Yep. I have some IC gel at home I bought recently to try out. I used to have pure aloe gel. It's not something I normally use, though, because it makes no visible difference and it feels drying on my hair. I wanted to show you a picture cuz I know I tried it recently, raking it through my hair. But it made so little difference that, looking at my fotki, I'm not even sure which picture I tried it in. I think it was this one:
http://public.fotki.com/mwedzi/2009-july-december/bun.html

Compare to non-gel use:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v194/mwedzi/hair - part 2/beadstickbun1.jpg

your hair is shinier in the pics w/out the gel

I hate gel and would never use it because of the dryness it causes

not worth it

Elasta QP Mango butter is a HIGH SHINE, holding/slicking product , almost like a gel replacement , even though its technically a heat protectant (say's so on the jar)

 

[BlackMasterPiece]

I would definitely call your hair silky as well Bene considering the high gloss is it as smooth to the touch as it appears?

For future reference, when I'm referencing 4a silky, I'm referencing hair like Robotxcore professor. Coils the size of a penspring but easily slicked or smoothed down, I betcha she could get a smooth neat rollerset too

The opposite of how my non-silky hair behaves

 

[Bene]

Honeycomb considers herself to be 4a and her hair looks quite silky as well.

Bene, what would you call what we are talking about? BTW: your hair looks silky to me.

I don't know. Not silky, maybe? I've never thought of a word for hair that isn't silky.


I very rarely see silky hair and even more rare is naturally (no product/manipulation/chemicals) silky hair. It's one of those things that not many people possess. It's a combination fluidity, movement, light refraction, and thickness, very much like silk fabric. I often feel the word is thrown around too easily that it takes away from what it really is, you know?

Again, it's a matter of definition. I'm more curious about how other people define it, I find it fascinating. Are there any more examples that people could show me? I kinda feel like I have to see more so I get a good idea of what everyone else is talking about.

 

[vkb247]

Yep. I have some IC gel at home I bought recently to try out. I used to have pure aloe gel. It's not something I normally use, though, because it makes no visible difference and it feels drying on my hair. I wanted to show you a picture cuz I know I tried it recently, raking it through my hair. But it made so little difference that, looking at my fotki, I'm not even sure which picture I tried it in. I think it was this one:
http://public.fotki.com/mwedzi/2009-july-december/bun.html

Compare to non-gel use:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v194/mwedzi/hair - part 2/beadstickbun1.jpg

Thanks! I love looking at pics of your hair. You know I would love to do a thread where people showed pictures of their hair as they applied product like here is how much product I am using and this is my hair after I have put that amount of product in it.

Last time I washed I applied coconut oil, Elasta QP Feels Like Silk, and castor oil. I was not light on any of them and my hair looked like nothing was in it. I added about 3-4 ounces of gel and you could tell something was in it but it still wouldn't lay down. It takes a ton of product or water and brushing to "see" that the product is actually styling.

Sometimes I think that it is so much easier for people with less hair to get big or faster results from products and techniques. We don't talk about that much but I think it makes a big big BIG difference.

 

[Irresistible]

Not no product. No styling product. But if I remember correctly the teacher didn't use gel or anything so your right either way. Mwedzi have you ever used gel in your hair? I would love to see pics.

Anywho here is the member I was thinking of
http://public.fotki.com/nik-star/the-1st-year-of-nat/100-natural--year-1/img1432.html

That is somewhat silky to me too

 

[anon123]

For example, I would never refer to my hair as "silky" because it doesn't have the fluidity and movement that I notice in silk fabrics. I've always considered "silky" hair to be something quite rare. Even though my hair moves and falls, it doesn't do so in the way that I've considered silky.

Girl, your hair is silkier than silk. I mean it, too. I knit, so I work with silk quite a bit and your hair is shinier, and from the looks, smoother and has more movement, than silk. I wrap my hair in a chiffon scarf every night that probably has a rougher texture than your hair.

 

[vkb247]

My hair laughs at Elasta QP Mango Butter. Nothing except gel - and lots of it - lays my hair down at least for any amount of time.

Bene I understand that you don't think it is silky but there is a difference in types of hair so I am wondering what you consider it to be if not silky vs. non-silky.

ETA: Please don't crucify me for saying this but I think that many non-black or mixed race 4a's can have a silkier texture as well.

 

[anon123]

Thanks! I love looking at pics of your hair. You know I would love to do a thread where people showed pictures of their hair as they applied product like here is how much product I am using and this is my hair after I have put that amount of product in it.

Last time I washed I applied coconut oil, Elasta QP Feels Like Silk, and castor oil. I was not light on any of them and my hair looked like nothing was in it. I added about 3-4 ounces of gel and you could tell something was in it but it still wouldn't lay down. It takes a ton of product or water and brushing to "see" that the product is actually styling.

Sometimes I think that it is so much easier for people with less hair to get big or faster results from products and techniques. We don't talk about that much but I think it makes a big big BIG difference.

I think the amount of hair makes a huge difference, too. I think people might be on to something, saying she has either finer hair or less of it, and that's why it slicks down so well.

3-4oz of gel?! I bought this bottle:
http://www.texasbeautysupplies.com/ic1989.html
Are you saying you use 1/2 this bottle in one application?

 

[Bene]

Girl, your hair is silkier than silk. I mean it, too. I knit, so I work with silk quite a bit and your hair is shinier, and from the looks, smoother and has more movement, than silk. I wrap my hair in a chiffon scarf every night that probably has a rougher texture than your hair.

I suppose we all have different definitions


Don't let the pictures fool you, my hair isn't smooth at all. I gotta oil it down so that it'll behave. That's why I'm hoping to grow it long, so that I'll be able to tie it all down so it's not sticking up all over the place

 

[Irresistible]

This looks like a whole bunch if fine silky twists all interwoven, very nice shine and sheen, I mean you can see texture, but it's still silky to me

I dunno 'to me' ....'silky' I guess has to do with high shine/sheen/gloss when not loose, and shine/sheen gloss and movement 'fluidity' when loose

 

[Irresistible]

My hair laughs at Elasta QP Mango Butter. Nothing except gel - and lots of it - lays my hair down at least for any amount of time.

Bene I understand that you don't think it is silky but there is a difference in types of hair so I am wondering what you consider it to be if not silky vs. non-silky.

ETA: Please don't crucify me for saying this but I think that many non-black or mixed race 4a's can have a silkier texture as well.

Oh ok , just throwing that out there for anyone that hasn't tried it to replace gel

but then I did throw that out here huh? Like who hasn't heard of it here

 

[vkb247]

I think the amount of hair makes a huge difference, too. I think people might be on to something, saying she has either finer hair or less of it, and that's why it slicks down so well.

3-4oz of gel?! I bought this bottle:
http://www.texasbeautysupplies.com/ic1989.html
Are you saying you use 1/2 this bottle in one application?

I bought a bottle like that once and I used pretty much the whole thing at once and then the next morning I had to use the rest to slick it back down. My hair is a beast. That's why I don't use shampoo because when I did even hair dressers would put half a bottle of moisturizer in my hair, when I had a Wave Nouveau , and would be amazed at how it would just disappear like it never happened. When I used to use shampoo I would moisturize on wet hair than I still had to moisturize all over again after my hair dried for my hair to actually not be dry.

Thank God for LHCF, dcing, henna, and coconut oil.

This looks like a whole bunch if fine silky twists all interwoven, very nice shine and sheen, I mean you can see texture, but it's still silky to me

I dunno 'to me' ....'silky' I guess has to do with high shine/sheen/gloss when not loose, and shine/sheen gloss and movement 'fluidity' when loose

My hair can look like this the day of a twist out. But after I sleep on it it's a wrap. I am not natural though.

 

[sharifeh]

Funny you should mention that

I just came across this great article about how relaxers work. Relaxers, Perms, water, and heat rearrange bonds. Only the first breaks permanently by breaking the bonds and "capping" them so they can't reform. Perms create more disulfide bonds by "uncapping" the naturally caped sulfides in straight hair.

How cool is that!

Very cool!
Great thread mwedzi!!

Bene your hair looks very silky!!!!!!!

 

[Irresistible]

I bought a bottle like that once and I used pretty much the whole thing at once and then the next morning I had to use the rest to slick it back down. My hair is a beast. That's why I don't use shampoo because when I did even hair dressers would put half a bottle of moisturizer in my hair, when I had a Wave Nouveau , and would be amazed at how it would just disappear like it never happened. When I used to use shampoo I would moisturize on wet hair than I still had to moisturize all over again after my hair dried for my hair to actually not be dry.

Thank God for LHCF, dcing, henna, and coconut oil.



My hair can look like this the day of a twist out. But after I sleep on it it's a wrap.

Same for me, and once it dries, all or most of any sleekness, shine etc is gone

our hair is thirsty, my hair is the same way, I go through tons of products, bottles at a time, it's crazy , but it's like it drinks it up

if it takes ALOT for something to work then so be it, I will just do it and of course be frustrated as heck at the cost, but only a lil bit of anything don't do nothing in my hair

ETA , I did do a vid where I GLOPPED on Coconut oil, it showed I USE tons of it. AND it does absorb , my hair eventually just takes it all in

 

[BlackMasterPiece]

My hair is SUPER thirsty as well. the conditioner my hair drinks up as downright scandalous lol. I had to use a third of the IC Fantasia Gel to do my straw set.

 

[vkb247]

Irresistible I remember all your posts about using conditioner to "seal" your oil in and I am just coming to realize that you are so right. Oil really makes a difference because it restricts my hair's ability to drink up - but it a good way. Henna too. The soak into my hair an leave less empty space that needs to be filled up or something like that.

The more I read about hair I see that oils are a huge part of the reggies of ladies in countries where long lustrous hair is highly prized. I mean how much conditioner is in the ayurveda aisle?

I fell like my hair journey would be so much easier if I could manage without conditioner. Can I dream?

 

[vkb247]

Roller sets can temporarily give that silky look too.

Really seems like we might be having a conversation about porosity talking about thirsty hair. But can't some hair be missing its medulla? Maybe that's why our hair is thirsty?

 

[Irresistible]

Irresistible I remember all your posts about using conditioner to "seal" your oil in and I am just coming to realize that you are so right. Oil really makes a difference because it restricts my hair's ability to drink up - but it a good way. Henna too. The soak into my hair an leave less empty space that needs to be filled up or something like that.

The more I read about hair I see that oils are a huge part of the reggies of ladies in countries where long lustrous hair is highly prized. I mean how much conditioner is in the ayurveda aisle?

I fell like my hair journey would be so much easier if I could manage without conditioner. Can I dream?

you can dream girl, that's an endless one though hehe

yay someone caught on to all my rambling's I had going on

I really feel also the oil is a buffer to and between any other product I put on after, it saves my hair alot