At a glance, type 4 hair appears as a mass of tight coils brimming with vitality. This hair type comes with a spongy hair texture that can feel soft and fine or rough and coarse, depending on individual hair thickness.
Type 4 (Coily)
Coily hair, commonly referred to as Afro-textured or kinky hair, is naturally very dry and spongy in texture and can be soft and fine or coarse and wiry. Strands form very tight, small curls of zig-zags right from the scalp and are prone to major shrinkage.
Type 3: Curly Hair
This category encompasses hair that curls into springs and corkscrew shapes. When hair is wet, curls usually look like waves but take on a three-dimensional swirl shape as they dry. Each strand of this hair type can be unique.
4c hair looks similar to 4b hair type only it is more tightly coiled. In its raw state (no products added and freshly washed) it does not have a defined curl pattern. Coils have to be defined by either twisting, braiding, or shingling through the strands. Many 4c naturals have shrinkage up to 70% or more.
4c hair type has the tightest curl pattern of all the curly hair types. Strands are formed in tight, springy, ringlets. 4c hair tends to clump more at the ends and is even more prone to shrinkage than 4b hair. According to CURLS, 4c hair can shrink up to 75% of its length!
4c hair is the queen of thick, bold afros. From afar, 4c hair looks like a thick fro, but if you look closely, you'll notice very tight, small springs or coils on each strand. Coils are pretty different from curls.
As it's the most fragile among natural hair types, it's also the most vulnerable to breakage. On top of that, people with type 4c hair also have to grapple with extreme dryness and shrinkage.
Type 4C hair can range from fine to thin to soft to coarse. In addition, this hair type shrinks more than 75 percent. So, if you have 3 inches of hair it may look like you have only 1 inch or less if the hair is not stretched. And, it is the most fragile out of all the 4 hair types.
It's a common misconception that 4C hair doesn't grow, or can't get long. This is a myth! Because 4C hair experiences so much shrinkage, it can feel like your hair is growing very slowly or not at all. However, if you take care of your hair, you will notice growth when you stretch out your hair.
4c hair is naturally fragile due to its tight, coily shape, which causes it to easily break and shed. Too much tension. If you love combing, physically manipulating, and twisting your hair, you may be contributing to the breakage.
Thick (Coarse)
Thick or coarse hair texture is the strongest hair texture and typically feels coarse or thick to the touch. Coarse hair contains all three hair layers – the cortex, cuticle and medulla.
Type 2A hair is the loosest of all wavy hair. Type 2A waves are loose and lax S-shaped waves and can sometimes be hard to determine if not styled properly. At the root, this curly type may be straight, but the shaft and/or ends of the hair have a slight bend that creates the wave.
2C type hair is extremely wavy but not coily. The S-shape bends in the hair start off at the roots. These waves are defined and thick. The bends are looser and wider than the tighter structure of curly hair.
Sleeping in a satin or silk bonnet can help your curls retain moisture and keep frizz at bay. Materials like satin and silk cause less friction with your delicate hair type so your pillowcase won't scratch your strands. This can mean far less breakage and tangles, a welcomed feat when you have tighter curls.
Hair structure
Take a piece of hair in between your fingers and rub it back and forth. If you don't feel anything, your hair type is considered fine. If you can feel the hair in between your fingers your hair type is medium. If your hair feels thick in between your fingers , then your hair type is coarse.
As you probably already know, 4C hair types experience shrinkage the most because the curls are tighter than the other curl patterns. And this can make it difficult to detangle, manage, and style. In fact, shrinkage can be downright discouraging when you want to do hairstyles like a low bun or twist-out.
This type of hair is known to be highly prone to breakage, dryness and brittleness than other hair types. This is the sole reason why 4c hair should be washed as little as possible on a weekly basis and put in protective styles for both women & men to avoid any further damage.
You shouldnt be CONSTANTLY doing it simply because beside breakage you could cause your curl pattern to loosen if it becomes so used to it. Your hair is naturally curly, it naturally has curly curves and bends that it wants to follow on its own. When you tamper with its natural form too much it will change and break.
When 4c hair is in its natural state, freshly washed, mostly dry and without product, a defined curl is usually not evident. Tight 4c coils also make for an extremely dense head of hair that easily becomes tangled, and typically lacks natural luster.
WASH 4C HAIR WITH CARE
It's important to keep your scalp clean and healthy, but don't wash your hair with shampoo too often. It is perfectly fine to leave 2 to 4 weeks between every cleanse. Don't use a shampoo that contains sulfates and alternate between washing your hair with a conditioner and a sulfate-free shampoo.
4C hair craves moisture, but don't expect to achieve maximum moisture retention overnight. Moisture is a journey. You have to be consistent to achieve moisturized hair so I deep condition every week. Avoid drying products such as hard gels and daily styling.
If you're looking for least damaging hair extensions, tape-in hair extensions, clip-in hair extensions, and invisible wire extensions are your best bet.
Since straight hair is the easiest to manage, Bhatia suggests focusing on the haircare aspect of it. “Use a good shampoo and conditioner according to your hair and scalp type followed by a good leave-in conditioner—this is more than enough.
Type 4A hair requires frequent moisturizing after washing and as a part of your daily hair care routine. Apply a lightweight leave-in conditioner to ensure that your curls remain soft, hydrated, and voluminous from day to day.