Natural Hair Typing (1a - 4a, 4b, 4c) - Helpful or Not? - Natural Nigerian (2024)

With the advent of the natural hair community came the realization that rather than just the categories “natural hair” and “relaxed hair”, there was much more to be discovered under the natural hair category. While relaxed hair tends to have almost a uniform texture, natural hair could be very curly, very kinky, wavy, slightly straight and much more.

Little wonder that hair typing systems were developed to try and cover these differences in hair textures. The hair typing systemthat is most popular is Andre Walker’s (Oprah Winfrey’s long-time hair stylist) method which depends on factors such as:

  • curl pattern (how tight or loose the curls are)
  • texture (coarse, medium, fine)
  • the shininess of the hair strand

Andre Walker’s hair typing method is available in his book,Andre Talks Hair. His hair typing systemhas provided us the oft-spoken about 1a – 4c hair types. It is important to note that, he does not provide any guideline on 3c and 4c hair. It was unofficially added later by others who identified the gap in his hair typing system. Andre Walker’s Hair typing systemchart below shows graphical representationsof hair types. This helps so that onemay determine where onelies within the categories. On the right-hand side of the chart, you will see that certain brands(not all available in Nigeria) are recommended for the each hair type.

Source

It needs to be pointed out that this hair typing method is not the only one available. If you do not find your hair type represented within Mr. Walker’s chart, you can tryFia’s Hair Typing System as it is viewed as an unofficial extension of the Andre Walker’s chart.The last method of note is theLOIS hair typing method. Reading up on these three hair typing systems may give more information on your hair type.

What is the importance of hair typing?

Pros

  • Hair regimens have been developed for various hair types. While this may not work the same way for everyone with the same hair type, it is a more specific guide than most. For instance, it is a well-known fact thatNigerians typically have types 4a, 4b, and 4c hair. That means that most of our regimens are based on something that works for most of us.
  • Some hair product manufacturers make products specifically for a certain hair type.
  • For a newbie to the Natural Hair community, this can be a crash coursein learning how best to treat your hair.
  • For the discerning user, it becomes obvious that one’s hair type may change over a course of time. Or that one does not have the same hair type consistently all over one’s head. 4c, 3a and 4b hair, for instance, may make up a whole head of hair.

Cons

  • It does not cover all one needs to understand about one’s hair type. For instance, porosity is not discussed.
  • It can not be used as a definite guide for individualized hair care. For example, it does not take into consideration the weather condition where one lives. For instance, a person living in Lagos, Nigeria where it is usually quite humid may need different advice from one that lives in Abuja, Nigeria where it is not as humid. As a matter of fact, Abuja can be considered to be much hotter and dryer.
  • Some people view hair typing as a political statement. There has been talk about Andre Walker’s hair typing being racially prejudiced because it places kinky hair at the bottom of the scale, making it (in some people’s view) appear to be the worst hair. He has denied this claim.

The last Con here is one of the reasons why a lot of people declare that they are unable to get onboard the hair typing boat.

To end, I would like to point out that Hair Typing is not an isolated thing. Apart from the hair types, skin typesalso have a scale called the Fitzpatrick scale which is a recognized researchtool used by dermatologists looking into human skin pigmentation. Although you may not recognize this skin typing method, it is even the basis of something that a lot of us every day – emojis. Remember that there are now different shades so that racial diversity can be represented? Those shades are based on the Fitzpatrick scale.

Hopefully, after reading this post, you can determine for yourself if Natural Hair Typing is helpful or not.

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Natural Hair Typing (1a - 4a, 4b, 4c) - Helpful or Not? - Natural Nigerian (2024)

FAQs

What type of natural hair do Nigerians have? ›

While this may not work the same way for everyone with the same hair type, it is a more specific guide than most. For instance, it is a well-known fact that Nigerians typically have types 4a, 4b, and 4c hair.

Is 4B a good hair type? ›

Because the Z pattern creates very sharp angles in the hair, 4B hair can take on a wiry appearance and be prone to breakage. Another telltale sign of 4B hair is how much it shrinks as it dries. According to Jenkins, tightly coiled 4B hair can experience up to 70 percent shrinkage!

Is 4C hair good or bad? ›

It is often considered the most fragile and delicate of the natural hair types and requires special care and attention to maintain its health and integrity. Compared to other natural hair types, such as 4A and 4B, 4C hair is typically more prone to breakage and requires more moisture to maintain its elasticity.

What hair type is African hair? ›

94.9% of those with Afro hair types have curly hair, with the remaining 5.1% having wavy hair [3]. 4A, 4B, and 4C Afro hair types.

Which country has best natural hair? ›

Which country has the most authentic hair in the world? Japan, Spain and Sweden are widely known for having people with healthy hair, but there are also other countries like India, France and Russia that are also known for helping people keep their hair natural and not messing with any artificial coloring.

Why is Nigerian hair rough? ›

In fact, African hair actually produces more oils than Caucasian and Asian hair. However, due to the tight curls, the oil doesn't spread evenly along the hair fiber. Without lubrication, the fibers can become dry. This causes the strands to become more brittle, which contributes to the hair's texture.

What does 4a 4b and 4C hair look like? ›

In a Nutshell. 4a hair has sweet S-shaped curls, 4b hair has juicy zig-zagged curl strands and looks like cotton candy, and 4c hair has thick coils that form massive afros.

What does healthy 4b hair look like? ›

What is 4b Hair? 4b hair is easily distinguished by its zigzag pattern. Unlike 4a or 4c, 4b has tight “Z” shaped strands with little definition in curl shape. Often, 4b hair is fluffy and can be soft or coarse depending on hair texture.

What is 1A hair type? ›

Type 1A hair is defined by its straight and fine appearance. It tends to be sleek from root to tip, without any perceptible bends or waves, each strand delicate and lightweight. 1A hair can often lack volume due to its fine texture, but what it lacks in body, it makes up for in shine.

What is the weakest hair type? ›

We know that 4C hair is among the weakest and driest hair types, so maintaining healthy curls is paramount. Luckily, Tolliver says a healthy hair care routine for 4C hair is relatively simple.

Can Type 4C hair grow long? ›

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.

Why is 4C hair so special? ›

With its tight coils and sharp angles, 4C hair is the tightest and coarsest of all the curl types. The 4C hair type curl pattern is made up of super-tight zigzags that are densely packed. 4C curls are less defined than the other curl types, with strands ranging from very fine to super coarse.

Why is African hair so different? ›

Afro-textured hair characterizes all African populations and is the likely ancestral condition for humans. It may have evolved as thermoregulatory adaptation to help keep the scalp and brain cool under condi- tions of high environmental heat and strenuous exercise.

What is natural African hair called? ›

Kinky hair, also known as afro-textured hair, is a human hair texture prevalent in the indigenous populations of many regions with hot climates, mainly sub-Saharan Africa, some areas of Melanesia, and Australia.

What race has type 4 hair? ›

Most African-Americans have what's known as 'type 4' hair. This type is tightly curled or coiled, often called 'kinky' or 'afro-textured' hair. It's unique and very different from other hair types.

Do Nigerians have brown hair? ›

Three hair colors-black, brown and blond were identified amongst the study population. Results: The present data indicated that dark brown iris color (69%), brown skin color (50.3%) and black hair color (56.7%) were the most prevalent color traits in the study population.

What is the most common hair in Africa? ›

Black hair is the most common in Asia and Africa. Though this characteristic can also be seen throughout Europe as well, it is considerably less common.

Is African hair different than African American hair? ›

In fact, differences in texture are the most visible distinctions between African vs African American hair. African hair typically grows in a tight, Z-shaped curl pattern and has a wiry texture. The strands may be fine, but the overall density can create a full, voluminous look.

What is the most common hair color in Nigeria? ›

Download Table Data
CountryMost Common ColorMost Common Hair Color
NigeriaDark BrownDark Brown Black
RussiaDark BrownDark Brown Black
EthiopiaDark BrownDark Brown Black
EgyptDark BrownDark Brown Black
84 more rows

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