I have 4b hair, how can I mimic 3b, 3c, or 4a hair? (2025)

Nappturality Newbie

Please don't jump down my throat, I don't hate my hair but I've been struggling with a few things. I'm 22 and have been obsessed with hair length since I was a little girl. I've always dreamed of having long hair but I've never been able to achieve it without using fake hair. Most of my childhood I wore crochet braids and senegalese twists and when I turned 16 I started wearing weaves after getting a bad relaxer. I started wearing weaves to grow out my hair and then got caught up in the weave game and lost sight of why I started wearing weaves to begin with. I started getting weaves back to back and stopped relaxing my hair altogether.

I decided to go natural for the first time ever last month (I've had perms since I was very young) and I had no idea what my curl pattern would look like or what my hair would look like. I watched a ton of natural hair videos, mostly people with 3c and 4a hair because I knew I didn't have 4c hair because I could see the curls during my take down. What I've been having a hard time dealing with is the shrinkage. I can't help but feel a bit envious of girls who have 3b-4a hair because even though they have shrinkage it doesn't seem as much as my hair does. I'm in a bit of hair shock and I've been trying to do whatever I can to grow my hair and I can't help but feel frustrated. Whenever I try and do a wash n go I feel like I have no hair even though blown out it's just above my shoulders. I've tried all different types of twist outs and braid outs but nothing really seems to look like or mimic that hair texture. Do you have any suggestions? Besides Naptural85 are there any 4b natural hair girls on YouTube that have long hair that I can learn from?

OG PANK Panther

I understand your frustration, but you do need to love and accept your hair as it is, and not in comparison with others.
Juts like with everything else in life, if we compare ourselves with others, we will never be happy as long as we live.
You need to know how to work with your hair, and find the right products. There are many people with 4b hair that have grown it long. I will post a pic or two later. I myself have 4b hair, (I have locs now) and it had grown to bra strap when stretched with my fingers, without straightening. My pics are in another computer, so I cannot post them. I prayed and asked the Good Lord to give me a love for my hair, however it would turn out in its natural state. He listened to that prayer.

OG PANK Panther

And BTW, I do not advocate the using of heat on natural hair.

Check out this link below..

Nappturality Newbie

thanks for posting these beautiful photos. The hair looks absolutely amazing. I know I need to be more patient. Sometimes I feel good about my hair and other times I feel insecure about it. I think I've been too focused how short my hair is. I feel like i've tried a wide variety of different products from Shea Moisture, Camille rose, carol's daughter, garden of eden, etc and I feel like my hair is always dry. It feels like my hair won't absorb anything. After I deep condition I put a small amount olive oil, coconut oil and shea butter and then a styler and I feel like it just bleeds out instead of my hair actually taking it in. What am I doing wrong?

Nappturality Newbie

Hello! I've had natural hair all my life and have been able to keep it so despite being asked to perm by friends, family and stylists. I have a mixture of 4B/C hair. In fact my hair texture at the back has become a little looser and smoother over the years. I don't know whether it's because it's more protected or whether it enjoys more moisture because it's usually protected. Anyway, my hair is naturally very dry and if I don't treat it right, I feel it. It also tangles a lot....a whoooole lot! Don't know if you deal with tangles as much. To keep your hair moist, you'd need to follow this process - it works for me and I think it will for you too. After cleansing your hair (use co-wash or very mild non-foaming shampoo), use a towel or t-shirt to remove most of the water. Don't rub your hair, just let the water soak into the towel. Then when the hair is damp (not too damp), apply a conditioner/leave in mist that contains a glycerin. The latter is a humectant which means it binds to water molecules and helps hold moisture in your hair. It also attracts water fro the atmosphere to your hair. After the latter step, find a good oil based moisturizer. Avoid any with petrolatum or mineral oil. Those will temporarily seal moisture but don't add any benefit. In addition, they don't penetrate your hair strand. Use products with shea (some people say that shea butter dries their hair), coconut oil, jojoba. After working this into your hair, style it as needed. A great product line will help seal and retain moisture for a couple of days. If you need more info check out this blog: http://www.naturaz.com/blog/my-natural-hair-journey/

http://http://www.naturaz.com/blog/t...-is-easy-hair/

Hope this is helpful. These steps keep my hair really soft and moisturized. I refresh my hair every couple of days with a Rehydrating Mist and Detangler that works really well. Oh! Also, make sure you wear a satin or silk sleeping cap or head scarf or if you can't stand anything on your hair, have a satin or silk pillow case. That's going to reduce moisture loss as you sleep.

Reach out if you have any other questions.

Nappturality Newbie

Hello! I've had natural hair all my life and have been able to keep it so despite being asked to perm by friends, family and stylists. I have a mixture of 4B/C hair. In fact my hair texture at the back has become a little looser and smoother over the years. I don't know whether it's because it's more protected or whether it enjoys more moisture because it's usually protected. Anyway, my hair is naturally very dry and if I don't treat it right, I feel it. It also tangles a lot....a whoooole lot! Don't know if you deal with tangles as much. To keep your hair moist, you'd need to follow this process - it works for me and I think it will for you too. After cleansing your hair (use co-wash or very mild non-foaming shampoo), use a towel or t-shirt to remove most of the water. Don't rub your hair, just let the water soak into the towel. Then when the hair is damp (not too damp), apply a conditioner/leave in mist that contains a glycerin. The latter is a humectant which means it binds to water molecules and helps hold moisture in your hair. It also attracts water fro the atmosphere to your hair. After the latter step, find a good oil based moisturizer. Avoid any with petrolatum or mineral oil. Those will temporarily seal moisture but don't add any benefit. In addition, they don't penetrate your hair strand. Use products with shea (some people say that shea butter dries their hair), coconut oil, jojoba. After working this into your hair, style it as needed. A great product line will help seal and retain moisture for a couple of days. If you need more info check out this blog:
http://www.naturaz.com/blog/my-natural-hair-journey/
http://www.naturaz.com/blog/truth-bl...-is-easy-hair/

Hope this is helpful. These steps keep my hair really soft and moisturized. I refresh my hair every couple of days with a Rehydrating Mist and Detangler that works really well. Oh! Also, make sure you wear a satin or silk sleeping cap or head scarf or if you can't stand anything on your hair, have a satin or silk pillow case. That's going to reduce moisture loss as you sleep.

Reach out if you have any other questions.

Nappturality Newbie

thanks for all the info! I have low porosity hair so I've been using vegetable glycerin mixed with water to spray my hair before I add my leave in. Maybe I'll give those products a try after I finish the ones I already have.

Freshman Napp

This are their different:
3a:Curly Twirly
Type 3a curls show a definite loopy "S" pattern. Curls are well-defined and springy. Curls are naturally big, loose and often very shiny. 3a curls' circumference are sidewalk-chalk size. Generally, this hair type can be easily straightened. Type 3a hair is very much affected by the climate. Type 3 curlies can use a variety of styling products to achieve curl formation and definition.

3b:Curly Spirally
People with Type 3b hair have well-defined, springy, copious curls that range from bouncy ringlets to tight corkscrews. 3b curls' circumference are Sharpie size. Type 3b hair can be straightened, but it’s definitely a chore. Type 3b hair generally isn’t particularly shiny and its texture can be quite coarse. Gels and creams work best to reduce frizz and add definition.

3c: Curly Kinky
Type 3c hair has voluminous, tight curls in corkscrews, approximately the circumference of a pencil or straw. The curls can be either kinky, or very tightly curled, with lots and lots of strands densely packed together. Getting this type of hair to blow dry straight is more challenging than for 3a or 3b, but it usually can be done. The very tight curls are usually fine in texture.

4a: Coily Springy
Type 4a is tightly coiled hair that has an "S" pattern. It has more moisture than 4b; it has a definite curl pattern. The circumference of the spirals is close to that of a crochet needle. The hair can be wiry or fine-textured. It is very fragile with lots of strands densely packed together. Type 4 hair has fewer cuticle layers than other hair types, which means it has less natural protection from damage.

4b:Coily Crimpy
Type 4b has a "Z" pattern, less of a defined curl pattern. Instead of curling or coiling, the hair bends in sharp angles like the letter "Z". Type 4 hair has a cotton-like feel. The hair is very wiry, very tightly coiled or bent and very, very fragile; you must take great care when working with it. Type 4 hair can range from fine/thin to wiry/coarse with lots and lots of strands densely packed together. Type 4b hair often shrinks up to 75% of the actual hair length.

4c:Coily Ziggly
Type 4c hair is composed of curl patterns that will almost never clump without doing a specific hair style. It can range from fine/thin/super soft to wiry/coarse with lots of densely packed strands. 4c hair has been described as a more "challenging" version of 4b hair. Some say 4c looks identical to 4b except that the curls are so tightly kinked, there is seemingly no definition. 4c hair can shrink more than 75%.

Freshman Napp

Hey girl, I'm 22 too. I understand your frustration. I think I have 3c hair, but I love how 4b hair looks when it's long. I've been jealous of it. I guess the grass is always greener. Just set a long term goal, for example: have waist length hair by 24 or something. That's two years, but think..no point in rushing and you will have a goal to work towards. In the meantime watch youtube videos and stuff like that. Good luck.

OG PANK Panther

http://www.theknottytruth.com/the-authors-corner.html Knotty Author (member here) has hair care books that may interest you.

DeBe