We have been hearing a lot of noise about type 4 hair, things like type 4’s do not retain length, nobody likes ‘this type of hair’ and other, other such ridiculous notions. If even one person can retain length and have healthy hair then it is safe to say that it can be done.
We understand the frustration with setbacks and when your hair does not seem to be growing you feel like just giving up, everybody has those days. But we are here to tell you that with just a little advice and a splash of patience you can meet your health and length goals.
The thing about type 4 hair, whichever letter category you fall into, is that it is super coily, and the strands have a natural tendency to wrap around each other causing massive tangles if not managed.
You can have very thick coarse 4 textured strands or you can have very fine 4 textured strands and they will pretty much behave in the same manner. Tangles are one of the main things that can lead to breakage, so when you think your hair is not growing it actually is, but its breaking off leaving you at the same length year after year.
On the opposite end of the scale there are many women out there with this texture of hair that have managed to experience a ton of length retention using a variety of techniques and sticking to the one that works for them.
One such technique is wearing loose twists 90-99% of the time. Before we get into this technique we want to make sure that you understand that every regimen should have 5 main goals:
►Goal 1 – Cleanse either weekly or monthly, clarify if necessary.
►Goal 2 – Moisturize and strengthen, with water based products and protein rich products.
►Goal 3- Seal with emollients, oils* and butters*.
►Goal 4- Keep your hair detangled and organised all the time.
►Goal 5 – Protect your fragile ends from the environment and your clothing.
Everything you do should surround those five things so that you can achieve maximum length retention and keep your hair healthy. Every natural woman has a decision to make for herself when they discover how there hair behaves.
In the type 4 category as much as we think puffs and ‘out’ styles look great, in order for us to keep our hair healthy and retaining length we have to keep the hair organised and protected 99% of the time.
DA White says
WoW!! Gorg!!
Carmella McCoy says
Im wearing mini twists right now. 🙂
Shakira Iswi Gantt says
A question… would I need to do this on stretched, dry hair? I am thinking it would work best if I maybe tension blow dry first. What do some of you do to prep for this style? Today is my wash day and I am thinking of trying this.
Jazz Marie Anderson says
Bomani Chi
Zelekah McClam says
When it’s time to take this out, there is going to be so much breakage because she has so much hair. It’s going to be a hot mess and in need of an ends trim and a treatment. Never put this many twists in this much hair. The same thing happens when people get very small kinky twists or micros. I would not recommend this to anybody. Smh
Quez says
Zelekah, she has waist length hair, gained using this method… I’m guessing she knows what she’s doing… smh.
Tabatha says
Well she has waist long hair, so clearly she has her own formula of doing things. I had micro braids in High school and never had an issue. It wasn’t until I had to chop my hair and went into the Navy. Sheesh the hard water was horrible. Thank the lord they allowed me to get cornrows as long as I kept them front to back and my natural color and I could bun it up when I was in uniform. That saved my hair. I think it comes down to people knowing what their hair can and cannot do. if you know that your hair is prone to tangling then no maybe you shouldn’t do it, but if not I say go for it. Just take it a step at a time.
Sandra Brooks says
Wow
Dee Davis says
Zelekah, Those are very loose twist she does not damage her hair. Check her tutorial on you tube
Lisa says
I’ve had mine in mini twist for 14 months retwisting on wash days. I plan to keep my hair in twists for 2 years. It’s really working for me.
Kindra Casanova says
Omg her hair!!! LOVE!
Tabatha says
The only thing that doesn’t really work for me is the always detangling. I have had issues with always detangling, sometimes it make sit worse. I actually like my 4 type hair, but it was just rough getting used to. I’m still getting use to it. I just got my hair to cooperate with twist outs. Now if only I can get the curlformers to work with me. Yes I do need to protect my ends more, but I have a hard time finding styles that I can do and not have done for me. I’ve always been partial to corn rows. It helped me out in the military. I never thought about loose twists. I should give it a try. I could wear them for my sisters graduation coming up this June. I look at the DIY video.
Lynn Lydia Ferguson says
Nice photo
Hannah Omor Lora Eli says
Nice one i like your hair
Vivian Jackson says
I wear loose twists 3 months out of the year.
Deanna Lewis says
Totally gives me life!! Chantelle Lewis Crashay Lewis
DutchGirl4C says
So,… my issue with this style is, that after a few DAYS, the twist roots start to tangle. The hairs start to wrap around one another and the roots start to somewhat ‘dread’. What to do about that?
Do you guys blow out yr hair before twisting? Do you lube it up with an oil, or with shea butter when starting to twist? What to do about that. I don’t want to start with a braided root, because it’s a ragged mess after a week or so. My hair is 4B-4C but it just die not stay this neat as with Cipriana or Ms. Alicia James, or MsTanish.
Any tips on preventing the dreading or tangling in this style?