The Difference Between 4A, 4B & 4C hair

The difference between 4A, 4B, and 4C hair type

The trick to a good curly crown is understanding your curl pattern. Different types of curly hair need different types of routines due to its delicate nature. Within the type 4 hair group, there are currently three distinct curly hairstyles. These groups are 4A, 4B, and 4C hair, and these are the differences between them.

Type 4A Hair

Glorious 4A curls

Coily or tightly curled hair, also known as type 4A hair, appears coarse but is very soft and delicate. When extended, type 4A hair has a lot of tight coils and forms an “S” pattern. Type 4A hair has well-defined curls and has a high density with either fine or wiry texture.

Hair Care Tips For 4A Hair Type

Taking care of 4A is important, so here are a few hair care tips for Type 4A hair.

• Keep your hair moisturized as it is prone to dryness, breakage, and damage. Coconut, jojoba, castor oil, almond oils are all great for 4A hair. Massage your scalp and work your way to the ends.
• Use sulfate-free shampoo and conditioners. Only wash your 4A hair 2–3 times a week and use cold water to rinse out the products.

The deep condition frequently nourishes your hair and applies leave-in conditioners.

• Lay off heat styling tools. Instead, use weave hair extensions to achieve different hairstyles.
• Remove lye with a mixture of apple cider vinegar and water to prevent an itchy scalp. It also gets rid of product buildup.

Type 4B Hair

Beautiful and voluminous 4B hair

Type 4B hair is soft and fluffy and lacks a clearly defined curl pattern. Its tight coils form a “Z” shape that looks like a zigzag with sharp angles, making this hair type extremely vulnerable to dryness. Because of the curly zigzag patterns, it becomes difficult for natural oils to travel down the hair shaft. It is very diverse in density and texture and ranges from fine to coarse with dense hair.

Hair Care Tips For 4B Hair Type

Type 4B hair is delicate, so here are a few hair care tips to maintain this hair type.

• Wash your 4B hair in sections to prevent it from tangling and breaking. Washing your 4B hair in sections helps in length retention.
• Detangle with fingers or a wide-tooth comb because this hair type is extremely delicate.
• Moisturize your hair to prevent it from becoming dry. Moisturizing helps restore and retain moisture in your hair.
• Do frequent hot oil massage with castor or almond oil.

Type 4C Hair

Stunning 4C hair with subtle highlights

4C hair type has the tightest, coolest curl pattern, and it’s frequently mistaken for Type 4B due to its cotton-like appearance. It’s tightly packed and comes in a variety of textures, from soft to coarse, but has less definition. When this hair type is not stretched, it looks shorter than it actually is.

Hair Care Tips For 4C Hair Type

Try the following hair care tips for 4C hair types and try different 4c hairstyles with strong and manageable hair.

• Pre-poo your hair to detangle your 4c hair.
• Use sulfate-free shampoo and conditioner or hair care essential products with natural oil content to hydrate it.
• Deep condition regularly to keep your hair healthy and shiny.
• Wear protective hairstyles with hair extensions and hair bundles.

Now that you know the difference between 4A, 4B, and 4C hair, follow the hair care tips mentioned above for all three hair types under type 4 hair. Have protective 4A, 4B, and 4C hairstyles installed to keep your natural hair healthy.