If you’ve ever watched a car salesman and a customer trying to come to a mutual agreement on a price then you will be well aware of the art of negotiation. It is an elegant dance with ridiculous prices thrown into the ring at the beginning, slowly and sometimes painfully the price of the vehicle becomes a reasonable number that both parties can agree on.
At the beginning of many natural hair journeys, there are many who are hopeful that after they transition they will discover that they possess the looser curl patterns that seem more manageable and more aesthetically appealing, according to them. But when they discover that their tresses are firmly in the type 4 category, the question is often asked: “How do I loosen my natural 4A texture to a 3C texture naturally?”
I get asked different versions of this question so often in my email and occasionally on our Facebook page that I thought it is worth answering properly here. So how do you loosen your natural 4a texture?
Often those who find themselves in the 4A category possess some degree of optimism that there is a way to achieve this. If you are one of those hopefuls you will want to pay close attention to this.
To be frank, dealing with a question such as this requires something resembling an intelligent dance with reasoned arguments until some type of reasonable agreement is reached. Now putting aside the uncomfortable thoughts that a question like that brings to mind, it would be wise to approach this question fairly by looking at the structure of natural hair.
The structure of 4A hair differs from 3C or in fact any other curl type primarily in the size of the curl. You might have heard 4a hair described as coffee stirrer curls or pen spring curls. Either way, the message is that the curls, although visible, are generally quite small. From observation or your basic research you will notice that 3C curls on the other hand are generally bigger coils or curls, that are clearly visible and clump together quite well.
Basic searches online will suggest various methods for loosening your curl pattern like a texturizer or a Brazilian keratin treatment. Putting aside that neither of these methods can be considered natural, lets think about this for a second. To try to loosen natural 4A hair you have to remember that the diameter of your natural curl will remain the same regardless of the methodology you chose to use to loosen the curl pattern.
What that means is that you will essentially be loosening your coils to waves of the same diameter that your hair already has rather than increasing their diameter to another curl type.
Loosening 4A hair further at this stage would result in very slightly wavy to kinky* straight texture which is essentially the texture of texlaxed hair. In the same vein, if you were to loosen natural 3C hair, it would simply result in 3C diameter waves. Loosening this further would eventually result in straight hair.
Refer to the graphic below to see my interpretation of loosened 4a and 3c hair. Both curls are loosened to waves but each remain true to the original diameter of their curl/coil.
In essence, the bigger bouncy juicy curls you desire have a bigger diameter and this cannot be replicated simply by loosening your 4a curls.
This is in contrast to chemical treatments like curly perms, wave noveau or Gina curl which are are all curl reformation treatments that do in fact change your curl pattern permanently and depending on the rod size chosen, they can look very similar to natural 3c hair, although not exactly the same. !!!You can find out more about curly perms from the video we did on this subject. Just click the tab above or link in the description.
You should also know that sometimes as hair gets longer, the weight of the hair causes a natural change of curl pattern that appears looser. This is nothing to worry about of course but if you have seen women with long 4a hair you will notice that while their curls may seem somewhat larger than shorter 4a hair, they are nevertheless quite different from 3c hair.
Instead of wasting your time going down the endless rabbit hole that is changing your hair’s texture, it may be a better idea to concentrate on the health of your hair. In this hair journey sometimes instead of accepting how our natural hair grows, we want to negotiate a middle ground with our hair to attain looser curls that we perceive to be quote unquote ‘good hair’.
This is understandable in the initial stages of your hair journey. In fact, many naturalistas have been caught up in this mindset in the beginning. But, at some point you must come to the realisation that in the pursuit of hair that you consider acceptable you may end up causing more harm than good and wind up setting your journey back.
You need to get into the mindset that all textures of natural hair are beautiful, from loose curls to tight kinky* coils. Really seeing the beauty in your own hair without wanting to change it will go a long way towards getting you to your goal of long healthy hair faster.
So what should be your takeaway from this? The structure of your hair determines the diameter of your curls, and loosening your 4A hair will only result in loose 4A waves which are not the same size as 3C coils, nor are they similar to loosened 3C hair.
Short answer: No, you cannot naturally loosen your 4A hair to get a 3C texture, you will get something entirely different that might compromise the strength of your strands. Question is, do you want to take that chance?
Happy hair growing!
I don’t want or need to. My curls are unique and beautiful.
I dnt really know all the texture types but mines is prob a 3c (Like Chilli)but i cut a little less than medium lenght and dnt no wht to do with it!!!??LoL when i try to wear it out my curls curlup sooo short seem like! Smh
How can u keep ur hair stretched PERIOD! LoL
Maama Adam here is the magic
Why cant we accept our 4a hair? and why not an article about making 3c hair like 4a?….how about enjoying it for what it is?!
The Real Person!
Nobody ever emails us asking to turn their 3c hair to 4a but we get plenty of emails about the opposite. A good ole post is the best way to respond. You are right of course, we should all just enjoy our hair exactly as it grows but until then some ladies still require a definitive answer 🙂
Yeah, get a texturizer….
Nothing wrong with wanting to change the texture of your hair to make it more manageable. Being natural isnt for everyone. Different strokes, for different folks….
I don’t really understand the purpose of classifying hair texture…just one more thing to divide us.
The reason for classifying hair types is so that we can properly care for our hair bases upon our hair type, because what some one with a 2a pattern which is a wavy texture may do for their hair might not work for my 4a hair type. It’s when people take the classifications and try to determine which is more desirable in their eyes is what causes division. No hair type is superior to any other, all hair is beautiful! (:
I hope that helped!
That is true. My hair is 4c but every since I’ve been using JBCO, mixing it w/ water, then twist my hair, then seal my ends just w/ the JBCO, my curls are looser….making my hair look thick & healthy.
Does anyone know all hair types 3c…4a
What is JBCO @ Shavon Robinson
JBCO – Jamaican Black Castor Oil
Thanks
What is BKT that is mentioned in the article?
Brazilian keratin treatment = BKT
Well ppl go natural for different reasons so can’t be mad….i just wanna accept the way God made me and well, thats not for everyone. I could accept that.
I accept hair types however we r all different and want to try new things… I use different natural products in my hair because I want to try something new…this will not divide us it just let everyone know there is variety…I use different types of oils..jbco, olive oil, jojoba oil, coconut oil Shea butter, etc…
I think it’s possible especially if your using different products in your hair it can make your curl pattern a little more loose.
Only if its damaged
I’m starting to learn to accept my hair and stop fretting about what it can’t do
Like for real these ladies obviously had professionals do there hair. Content with mine just as it is
What would happen if I put a texturizer on 4a hair with flexi rods or perm rods? Here’s how the process would go. I’d wash my hair three days to a week before (what ever texturizer recommends) then on stretched hair put flexi rods overnight and then while also leaving the flexi rods in while applying the texturizer and washing out with the flexi rods in until hair dries? This would be for a strand test could this work?
The Real Person!
A texturizer straightens hair so even if you did the whole process with perm rods, eventually when you wash your hair it would look like normal texturized hair. Traditional perms on the other hand use two chemicals. One which straightens your hair ie removes your natural curl pattern then followed up with a perm lotion/neutralizer which re-establishes the bonds in the new position thereby changing the curl pattern of the hair.
I have a mixture of bòth 3c and 4a I don’t care
But why would anyone with 4a hair think that any process taken will make their hair look like 3c (aka mixed raced hair) smh just deal with what you have. Tut.
And her dad is African American as well… #notmixedraced
Theres a throwback in your bloodline somewhere babes you probably just arent aware of it x
There’s a throwback in all bloodlines. I have family where one sibling is quite dark 4 type and other 3ab same parents. So that doesn’t explain our people with 4 type hair.
I get what you’re saying Rikki. Most Black women that’s not mixed have type 4 hair. But of course some can have 3c or 3b hair.
I want my 4 hair to grow long that’s it! No texture change.
I’m sorry but I had to comment on the 3c debate. This hair texture is not
Exclusive to mixed people there are pure black West Africans with 3c hair! When I have asked them if they had any mixture they said not that they know of from their previous 2 to 3 generations back!
Not really a debate…i just stated my opinion and others want to argue. Maybe because I am british caribbean and as most know, many black people from the islands have a mixup somewhere along the line (hence why many africans dont like Jamaicans for example – i have been called “diluted” by Nigerian women) so this is why u will get many black women from the Caribbean who look full black but will have looser hair because of their mixed heritage along the line.
Sorry Rikki I have to say that logic or theory is flawed! I am Trinidadian I have countless “races” in my genes. Including a half white (British) grandfather and half Indian/Spanish grandfather and my hair is as coarse as they come!! 4c hair!!! My features don’t “match” my hair as I’ve been told many times. And I try to explain this misunderstanding to people all the time!!! Your hair texture is just a random selection!!! You are not guaranteed “mixed soft” hair just because you’re mixed or from the Caribbean or because you’re “light skin”.
Lol ok I won’t argue but I’m saying you can’t jump to that conclusion because saying “many” or not, does not take away from the assumption that you’re making..which is that mixture in the blood line gives way to softer hair…by extension of that logic you are basically attributing softer hair exclusively to other races. Hence your throw back comment. You cannot say many because you don’t know everyone in the Caribbean nor do you know everyone in Nigeria/Ghana and other African nations that have typically been known to have coarse hair right? The logic is flawed.
My comments were based on my own experiences and people in my family, along with other friends and people i have met throughout my life.
Ok so “many” will be arguing semantics. That is in your experience, does not apply. Thus my comment hair is random selection and my conclusion that your claim is incorrect. Or shall I say not conclusive. I am adding another experience that disproves that blood line theory.
They can. It’s called heat damage but it defeats the purpose of having healthy natural hair
Why even go natural? Hell you should keep your relaxed hair if you are going to be trying to alter what you naturally have going on.
Ha ha. Is that natural then
That was a good read. I like the articles better than the pics and videos. I’m glad the writer nvr tries to shame other Black women for struggling to accept their hair. She always approaches the subject with empathy and encouragement. Koodos!
Here’s what I don’t like about this: If what you want is a certain look and you don’t hate yourself/your hair, why can’t you change it? My natural hair color is brown… brown like the crayola crayon. I have dyed it for years because I love what blackest black hair looks like. I don’t hate myself or my hair, I just like something else and I will make a change to have it. Why would you judge me or anyone else for that? I don’t like the judgment in the tone of this piece.
Is it possible for your hair to be different curl textures in different places in your hair? I don’t get my hair in some parts it’s loose and others it’s tight curls. What can I do about this? Is this normal. It doesn’t bother me though I just rock with it
Its very normal. The front of my hair is looser curls while the back is very tight coils.
Its normal the front of my hair is very loose the back is curly.
Mine is like that and it’s hell to comb! Or brush parts are so pretty with tight define curls some are like a fro. I’ve had some that was even straight. I went thru 4 chops bc the beautician thought she didn’t cut all the perm out. I’m no longer natural anymore now though. Good luck:)
Yes, you can have three or more different hair textures on one head. It is very common!
can someone tell me about the letters and numbers bc im unaware of what they
mean. like idk what mine is?
I had to YouTube it kind of gives you a good explanation
Why would anyone want to loosen their curls??? Oh i forgot, because 4 hair is ugly hair…my bad…smh. Be grateful with what you are given!
I wouldn’t want to. Changing your hair texture don’t change your hair. Now you can choose to keep it healthy or not. Plain and simple
Glad to see an article that shows the distinct difference between 4A and 3C hair. So many people think they’re one in the same and they’re not. I’m a true 4A (no other texture) all over my head. 4A’s look kinky and can be shaped into an Afro where 3C’s do not. 3C has a truly curly look to it.
Keratin treatments can and they are not like relaxers and such e way healthier for tyne Hastie too it can also repair damage
My question is how do I get all my hair 1 texture? I have curly, wavy, and straight sections it’s so annoying.
You can’t get your hair to be one texture…unless you’re gonna chemically process it. Your hair is normal. Most of us have different textures throughout our hair.
You won’t be able to get your hair all one pattern so forget about it. It is possible to loosen up your curl pattern by using Ayurvedic natural hair products from India. Henna and it’s other products can loosen the curl while others hold and keep your curl. Bentonite clay even gives you curls you didn’t think you had. The judgement that we sometimes feel from some naturals that believe ANYTHING not natural on your hair makes you unnatural is THEIR problem not yours. Ladies, please remember one thing: This is YOUR HAIR JOURNEY. You do your hair the way it likes it and screw what anyone else says. How long have you been doing your own hair before your journey without anyone’s help or permission?? Stop letting articles, that seem biased to one type of hair over another, sway you from doing what’s good for your hair. If your hair won’t stay, hold, blend, braid, twist or whatever like a bloggers does, maybe it’s because it’s not the style your hair likes. Try something else but be you.
I don’t think people should be judgmental about what other people do to their hair. It’s not your hair! Mind yours. All that “you don’t love yourself blah blah blah” is bulls**t because people alter their looks everyday. Different hair styles, different colors, straightening it. If you want to change something about yourself to be happier, then go for it! It’s their happiness no one else’s. Not gonna be unhappy because a stranger has an opinion ✋✋
I actually have looser curls and I wish I had tighter curls, and thicker hair. I am not mixed and my hair is natural.. it’s just looser curls. I hate it.. I would love a tighter curl
That’s crazy
Ok I hate to take this another route but is adding a texturizer to “loosen”‘your curl taking you out of a natural state? I’m curious and I’m not trying to start anything.
You will no longer be natural if you got a texturizer.
That’s what I thought Chevy Red. Thanks
Who would want to I love my 4 hair
Is that possible
Someone earlier in the comments mentioned that west Africans have 3c hair. I’m black, with black parents and I have hair like the picture on the right so hair like that is not a mixed thing.
But why do (some)natural girls act like their way is the only way? If I straighten my hair, i hate myself? Wtf? I do not use relaxers because my hair is stronger without them, however, i do like my hair straight so i get a blow out every 2 weeks. People go natural for different reasons -don’t assume your reason is also my reason. My way is not “wrong”;your way is not “wrong”. Quit being so judgey
What’s the point of going natural? The movement is about loving and excepting ourselves exactly the way we are.. And now they’re labeling curls? Smh
Yes. The more you apply comb, brush, flat iron, and or putting hair under stress.
It can happen. Finger coil the hair is nice.
This lady doesn’t know what she’s talking about. Hair type 3c and 4a is the same thing. 4a hair
is just a little smaller. Google it, it’s even on youtube. I’ve seen girls loosening their 3c hair to 3b.
If you loosen type 4a hair with a textuizerizer you’ll have a type 3c or 3b.
cool
Sure, its possible… With a texturizer