#shorts The difference between 3c & 4a hair 💆🏾‍♀️

#shorts #3chair #4ahair #coilyhair
These hair types can be easily mixed up, so we thought we'd explain the defining characteristics of 3c vs 4a hair!

[thealisterr]

To be honest most people have multiple (at least 2) different hair textures/curl patterns on their head. So generally speaking most 3c or 4a people probably just have 3c/4a type hair, just like myself 😂

[Rue]

LOVEEEE TYPE 4 HAIR...MY FAVORITE HAIR TYPE

[xXJade_AssassinXx]

First girl was def 3A-3B. How you tell is by size, girth and rotation count.

Size = Width (toothpick, pen, sharpie size etc)

Girth = how thick the actual hair bunched together to form the circular pattern is. Think how curling irons come in different sizes for bigger or smaller curls - their girth.

Rotation Count = How many times the strand completes a full circle before starting a new curl.

Think a slinky, how you can count its connected rings.

I have 3 textures in my hair, 3C (bottom), 4A (middle), 4B (top)

This is the "heart" afro shape, iconic of natural multi-textures that have 3+ types. How to tell 3C vs 4A

Get a BIC Round Stic M pen - the basic pen you see everywhere and is great for chewing 😂

1.) 3C curls are the EXACT circumference of a BIC Round Stic Pen, with a corkscrew twist like a wine opener. The curl is so accurate to this pen's size, that your 3C hair will hold the pen when you let go if you stick it in high enough. Perfect fit.

The 1st girl in video is 3B at the thickest; do you think the BIC pen would stay or slip out in her hair?

Its too small.

2.) Girth - 3C curls have a girth of like 20-25 strands. The 3B curls have 35-45 giving the signature bigger "ringlet" look. I would have to combine 2 of my 3C curls to get it as girthy as hers.

3.) Rotation Count

The looser your curls, the less rotations your strands can make.

3B if you count is about 3-4 rotations per inch. (Big 1" long slinky)

3C hair is about 5-6 (Med 1" long slinky)
4A hair is about 8-9 (Med-Sm 1" long slinky)
4B hair is about 10-12 (Sm 1" long slinky)
4C is 12+ so many dense rotations its hard to count but you can clearly see a LOT, 😅 (XS 1" long slinky)

Rotation count is the easiest way to tell what your texture is, because its based off the actual follicle.

Looser patterns = more circular follicles and less rotations.

Kinkier patterns = oval (AF) follicles and more rotations in the hair strands. 😊

[cecejackson]

I have both 3b/3c in the crown. 4a at the middle to the nape. Idk why. I used to think it was from heat damage until I did a big chop and it grew back the same 😂😂😂 big chopped for nothing. But hair does feel and look healthier so I guess it's okay.

[lalom]

4a hair can also be spiral shaped, not necessarily s shaped

[sagittariusbeauty]

That first person in the pic have 3b/3c hair. The second girl has the same as mine 3c/4a hair.

[jnx]

Those examples aren’t accurate the first girls curls were way looser and bigger than 3c curls hers are either 3c/3b or just 3b and the Megan’s curls in that photo definitely look 3c or 3c/4a but definitely not a full 4a.

[connyaaaa]

Because my curls are damaged from years of mistreatment (I’m curl training to fix that issue), my hair used to be usually full head of 3b. Now, the front of my hair is 3b, the middle of my hair is 3a and the back/underside of my hair is 3c. They are so curly in the back that they are just solid. I can pull on them, do anything and they stay there

[Mo_Daze]

When growing healthy strong hair, the texture really doesn’t matter but the porosity should! 👍

[roselove]

I litterally have 3c 4a 4b 4c in random parts of my head….

[Tagging_Swag]

The pictures I feel like don't match rlly well but the way you described was really helped me figure out: I have both. 😂

[minoltaaraya]

Mines definitely both. 4c at the top, 3c in the back; makes for an excellent mullet look when it dries. 😅🤷🏾‍♀️❤

[thatssohardcore]

Bro I'm still confused and Megan's hair looks more 3c/4a to me

[vmlksm]

I’ve noticed that it’s rare to find someone with pure 4a curls like Naptural85. Most ppl with 4a hair like myself are either 4a leaning 4b (kaice alea) or 4a leaning 3c (Hazel Goddess). Megan’s hair to me looks to be 3c leaning 4a I’ve seen a lot of videos of Megan’s hair. While 3c & 4a can look pretty similar at times they are very different. Especially when wet. 4a hair still has its spongy texture while drip & wet. 3c hair kindof loses its spongy-ness while drip & wet. Just my opinion.

[roxybabefication]

She’s wrong with the curl pattern and many times we have more then 1 texture also if you bleach your hair it does change your curl pattern

[star_adam]

I was confused between me having 4a b or c I’m not full African, I’m mixed with black and white so I doubted it and my hair was not as thick as others, I realized it gets thick when it’s dry and my hair is very moisturized one of the signs you have 4c hair is if your hair is not one shape but has different shapes on all, I ran into this problem and my hair looked different on one side and another, now I moisturize my 4c hair it’s beautiful, many chases you don’t see 4c or 1a hair, it’s very hard to take care of it but my favorite product has to be Cantù. As a kid I’ve been told my hair was a blessing all the time I never understood what they meant but my hair did feel like a pillow, so anyone with 4c or 1a may not even know they have it and that’s why you have dry bulky hair if you have 4c I recommend staying away from artificial gel use more natural gels or some that support your hair, I know this comment is all over the place but that’s tips for 4cs if you have 1a I recommend not trying to get curly hair it will deform in no time and for 4cs try to moisturize your hair as much as you can I know it’s hair because 4c hair is hard to brush and moisturize but keep going and you’ll have perfect hair




Signs of 4c

1. Hair pattern is S or a Z.
2 Hair doesn’t stay the same shape.
3. The hair is difference patterns on different places.
4. It’s very fragile.
5. It shrinks dramatically when you use water.
6. Brushing it is hard.
7. Often or gets dry to fast.
8. Bulky when you don’t moisturize it.
9. Certain hairstyles don’t work or just devolve.
10. Soft hair when you moisturize it.
11. Hair feels amazing to touch (Silky, Coily, Fluffy, Amazing)

There is many more to this but those are some I know and experienced.

[satellitestylinson]

i have 3b/3c hair. i used to think my hair was reallu thick and dense like 4a, but when properly cared for at its natural curl pattern i realized its 3b/3c. it all really depends on the products your using, the method of combing, and how you take care of your hair

[ccinspirations]

I have 4a sized curls with a soft shiny fine textured. ❤

[angelheart]

my hair type is so weird. I have 3b hair in the front and 4b hair in the back I'm so confused 💀

[laytonpro]

This helps a lot, I am a 3C but I do see the occasional 4A