4A Hair Type Guide: How To Care and Style Your Curly Hair

Table Of Content

• Tips for Maximizing Your 4a Hair Care Routine
• Goddess Curls Botanical Gel
• What Is 4A Hair? What It Looks Like, How To Care For It + Product Recs
• Cantu Sulfate-Free Cleansing Shampoo
• Deep Conditioners for Curly Hair: 3 Effective and Budget-Friendly Picks
• Hair Maintenance Tips
• SheaMoisture Aloe Butter Scalp Moisture Cream

Type 4A hair typically involves tight coils that, when stretched, demonstrate an “s” pattern. The curls tend to be cylindrical and springy in nature, forming yet another level of curly hair in the overall curl classification. 4a coily hair has a more defined curl pattern and is looser than other type 4s. This coily hair subtype has dense, springy coils that can comfortably surround a crochet or knitting needle. Type 4B has a “Z” shaped coil that bends sharply into various angles with up to 70% shrinkage from wet to dry hair. When it comes to definition, type 4B hair has less definition than type 4A hair without specialized products and has the circumference of a pen or pencil.

Tips for Maximizing Your 4a Hair Care Routine

4A hair has tight, medium-sized coils that can shrink by up to half their length when wet. 4A hair has the most definitive curl pattern out of all the 4 hair types. Each curl is clearly defined, unlike the other type 4 hair textures, which have more of an afro-like texture (i.e., more tightly coiled). Letting your natural hair texture shine can mean dealing with dryness and frizz on a daily basis. It can also be frustrating if you compare yourself to straight and wavy hair types whose daily hair care routines might seem much easier to manage than yours. 4A is the first kinky (or coily) hair type in the Andre Walker Hair Typing System.

Goddess Curls Botanical Gel

In addition to wash-and-gos and twistouts, try protective styles such as braids or bantu knots. Perfectly suited for twist outs or wash n’ go styles, this smoothie helps lock in moisture without leaving behind any residue or making hair itchy afterwards. Perfect for those with 3A to 4C natural hair textures who want flexibility in their look while still maintaining a strong hold. The unique blend of nourishing ingredients helps reduce frizz as well as add thickness and curl to flat strands – giving you that gorgeous definition you crave! If you have 4a hair type, it is important to find the right products that will nourish and moisturize your curls.

What Is 4A Hair? What It Looks Like, How To Care For It + Product Recs

Type 4C has a tight, undefined coil with a sharp zigzag pattern and the highest shrinkage from wet to dry. Type 2A hair has a “barely there,” tousled “S” wave with fine strands that are easy to straighten. As with type 1 hair, type 2A hair disperses oil more efficiently from root to tip, which requires more frequent washing to avoid a greasy look. Type 2B hair is slightly more tousled with a more defined “S” wave and medium thick hair structure. This subtype has more frizz by nature and more body for a beach wave aesthetic.

Cantu Sulfate-Free Cleansing Shampoo

Before we focus exclusively on Type 4a hair, let's take a step back and talk about hair typing. As we mentioned in the introduction, there are multiple hair textures. And according to celebrity hairstylist Andre Walker, there are four primary hair types numbered 1 through 4.

This will leave you with a lot of damage and uneven patches of hair. This article will dive into everything you could possibly need to know about 4A hair and how to take care of it. As the daughter of a long-time hair stylist and salon owner, she’s spent most of her life as a guinea pig for new color and cut techniques. Writing for respected publications like Forbes and HuffPost, she’s committed to bringing her passion for great hair to the masses. Ingredients include hyaluronic acid, peptides, and growth-restoring black cumin seed oil. For best results, follow up with the brand's Moisture Hold ($25).

Moisturizing Styling Products and Leave-In Conditioners

Because it’s already so dry, you should make every effort to keep it as hydrated as possible. Water tends to roll right off 4C hair, so it’s challenging to keep it moisturized when shampooing and conditioning. To maintain those bouncy springs, simply spritz your hair with a curl refresher, like the Carol's Daughter Hair Milk Nourishing & Conditioning Refresher Spray. Dickey also recommends layering a leave-in conditioner under a mousse to lock in your natural wave pattern while adding hydration.

Hair Maintenance Tips

4A hair types tend to be drier at the ends, so this is especially important to keep your lubricated. With proper care techniques, you’ll be able to tackle frizziness while keeping your hair soft, defined, and hydrated all day long. Protective hairstyles such as braids and bantu knots are great ways to reduce breakage while also giving you the freedom to switch up your look without any heat damage. This sulfate-free product defines waves and sets curls without the need for harsh chemicals or heat styling tools. These subclassifications, which are based on the diameter of the hair’s wave, curl, or coil, are borrowed directly from the original Andre Walker hair typing system.

The porosity of your hair also influences how your hair will respond to certain products. “The porosity of hair is determined by how your hair absorbs and retains moisture,” explains celebrity hair stylist, Ursula Stephen. While the types and amounts of products you can use depend on your personal hair needs, this method can help you make sure your hair stays fully hydrated. It works well with wash-and-go or wet set styles, helping your hair set as it dries.

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Hair porosity is less discussed when it comes to crafting hair care routines. But it’s incredibly important because it affects how well your hair will react to certain products and ingredients. Like other hair types, 4A hair comes in a variety of different textures. “A strand of 4A hair can be as thin as a spider web, or as thick as dental floss. You can easily decipher how fine or coarse hair is by how big individual strands are,” explains O’Connor.

Wavy hair is most easily identified as “mermaid hair” or “influencer hair,” with loose “S” waves that cascade from just under the roots to the tip of the hair shaft. Type 4A hair has tight coils, which tends to cause dryness because moisture can’t pass down to the strands. 4A hair is beautiful, healthy, and luscious if cared for properly.

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Strands with the 4B pattern are densely packed and can bend in sharp angles like the letter Z. "I love that it can be shaped in many different ways," says François. The sub-classifications of A to C are based on the width or diameter of your wave, curl, or coil. Type As have a wider pattern size, Type Bs medium, and Type Cs the smallest of the three. With its tight coils and texture variations, 4a hair is versatile enough for many styling options.

It helps to not only control frizz but reduce split ends, shedding, fallout, and breakage. If you're concerned about finding a product specifically designed for not just your hair type but porosity level, you can't go wrong with a truly customized shampoo. But just remember that excessive exposure to heat can have drawbacks.

This might sound contradictory to what you’re trying to achieve, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. Dry, damaged ends will stunt your hair’s growth, so getting them trimmed every six weeks will ensure this doesn’t happen and keep the growth moving. Getting the right cleanser is the first step in your healthy 4A hair regimen. Be sure that you choose something free of harsh chemicals like sulfates and alcohols that strip away your hair’s moisture.

And low porosity hair struggles just like high porosity hair, but for different reasons. This type of hair has cuticles that are tightly aligned—meaning that moisture doesn't easily penetrate the hair shaft. Thankfully, you can easily check your porosity with this one-minute test. Oil or cream application helps in moisturizing your hair and sealing the moisture in your hair roots.

Think of it as a cleansing conditioner that will remove buildup from your scalp without completely removing the natural oils. Good hair is healthy hair—no matter your curl pattern or texture. But you can't just worry about your hair after it's hanging off your head. Focus on building a healthy diet that's full of nutrient-dense items known to bolster hair growth and health.