Curly Hair Blog

Nutrition for hair growth

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 04:07:00 +0000

Good nutrition is not only important for your overall health but also for your healthy hair.The important vitamins and minrals which promote the growth of healthy and shiny hair are listed below:

Vitamin A- An antioxidant that helps maintain natural oils in the scalp. Can be found in milk, eggs, cheese, meats, spinach, broccoli, and cabbage.

Calcium – Helps hair growth. Can be found in dairy, nuts, and beans.

Vitamin C – One of nature’s most powerful antioxidants. Maintains healthy hair and skin. Can be found in fruits, potatoes, and green vegetables.

Chromium – Helps regulate blood sugar levels, which affects hair loss. Can be found in beef and whole wheat bread.

Vitamin E- An antioxidant that benefits scalp circulation. Can be found in vegetable oils, nuts, beans, and green vegetables.

Copper – Strengthens the hair and prevents hair loss. Can be found in shellfish, green vegetables, eggs, beans, and chicken.

Biotin – Produces keratin, which makes up the hair, skin, and nails. Can be found in eggs, whole grains, rice, and milk.

Iodine – Prevents dry hair and hair loss. Can be found in fish, seaweed, garlic, and iodized salt.

Inositol – Promotes follicle health. Can be found in whole grains and citrus fruits.

Iron – Prevents hair loss and anemia. Can be found in eggs, fish, chicken, whole grains, green vegetables, and dried fruits.

Vitamin B3 (Niacin) – Improves scalp circulation. Can be found in fish, chicken, turkey, and other meats.

Magnesium – Helps hair growth by working with calcium. Can be found in whole grains, green vegetables, nuts, and fish.

Vitamin B5 (Pantothenic Acid) – Prevents hair loss. Can be found in whole grains, eggs, and certain meats.

Manganese – Improves hair growth. Can be found in whole grains, eggs, nuts, beans, fish, and chicken.

Vitamin B6 – Prevents hair loss. Can be found in whole grains, vegetables, eggs, and certain meats.

Potassium – Promotes circulation and helps hair growth. Can be found in bananas, brown rise, garlic, nuts, dried fruits, raisins, and yogurt.

Vitamin B12 – Prevents hair loss. Can be found in eggs, fish, chicken, and milk.

Selenium – Promotes scalp health. Can be found in fish, whole grains, certain meats, and broccoli.

Silica – Creates stronger hair. Can be found in seafood, rice, and green vegetables.

Sulfur – Creates stronger hair. Can be found in garlic, eggs, onions, milk, cheese, and fish.

Zinc – Prevents dry hair and oily skin by working with Vitamin A. Can be found in mushrooms, spinach, whole grains, and red meat.

By taking vitamin and mineral suuplements daily you can surely get good results from your hair!!

Indian herbs and their uses

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 14:17:00 +0000

Indian herbs have been used for thousands of years and are still being used and will probably stay around for another thousands of years. Here are some of the things that Indian herbs are good for:

Methi - It makes the pastes very mushy, soft, and easy to apply, and rinse out and it is a great herbal conditioner I have tried so far.
Neem - (powder or leaves) can help get rid of pimples and dandruff,lice. Good hair conditioner too if you dont mind the smell.
Amla (gooseberry) - Thickens, darkens, and nourishes hair.
Shikakai - Hair cleanser,great alone or mixed
Aritha (whole or powder) - Helps rid hair of dandruff. Hair cleanser
Mehandi (henna) - Strengthens,adds shine and conditions hair. Also used as a herbal hair dye.
Chandan - Smells heavenly! Conditions and helps darken hair.
Til (sesame) - Promotes hair growth, darkens hair,sunscreen.
Bhringraj - Darkens, strengthens, and conditions hair. (I have found that it is best used in conjunction with other herbs for more beneficial conditioning).
Coconut - (used as oil or milk) conditioning,strengthens,helps keep hairs dark,cooling to the body and head.
Castor oil - maintains thickness and darkness of hair(used for light treatments with other oils).

How to make and apply a herbal pastes:
You will need the powdered form of the herb for the paste. You can use almost any herbs with each other for the benefits of all of them, but you should first consider what you are trying to achieve. For example, if you want your hair to be darker, you would want to choose herbs that will help darken it. Before you apply it is highly recommended to oil your hair and scalp,not just for conditioning but also for minimising the chance for the herbs to get absorbed into the body. For hair that is thick and around thighs length like mine, you will probably need about 8 tablespoons of herbal powder. If you want this paste to act only as a cleanser and conditioner, you could use 4 tablespoons of shikakai (cleanser) and 4 tablespoons of chandan (conditioner). It doesn't matter how much you use of each, all of the mixing and matching I have done have produced good results.

Once you have decided which powders to use and have put the amounts in a bowl, you will want to add hot/boiling water. You can also use cooked rice water. This helps take out some of the oil. If it is for a paste, you will want it to be fairly thick, but not so thick that it is difficult to apply (if you have ever used henna, it should be very similar to that).

Applying pastes:
Now you have finished making your paste how do you use it?
I will usually get upside down over a bathtub. This really helps the cleaning up when you are done. If you have made a paste that is to be used for conditioning purposes only, you can just apply it to the length of your hair and leave it in for however long you want before rinsing. If it is for cleansing as well, you will want to rub it into your scalp. I like to flip my head over and first rub the paste into my scalp, all over, then I work from the roots down, applying the paste on dry hairs. I dont apply herbal pastes to wet hairs. I twist the hair as I apply the paste, making sure I get it to all of the areas. Then I secure it in a bun on top of my head, with a towel wrapped around or a plastic bag if I'm going to sleep with it in.

If you have alot oil on your hairs then leave the paste overnight then rinse them off in the morning,this is really good when you have alot of oil in your hairs.

Now rinsing out the paste:
I get upside down, undo the bun, and spray the length and scalp with warmish/cold water from hand-held shower head. As I spray it, the twisted length unravels. I sometimes find it is very easy to rinse out herbal pastes. If it is not easy, you might want to try the bucket method - fill a bucket with water and dunk your length in. This is very effective in getting the paste out of your hair and it lets the mud get soft and easier to rinse out.

Whole herbs such as aritha can be boiled or left overnight in some warm water. In the morning massage these and the soapy liquid will come out and can be used for the washing. If you have alot of oil leave this on for sometime, (remember it is natural and will not hurt your hair) also making sure it does not get into your eyes cause it will burn very much.

Oils/ Now oils are good from oil baths to light oilings on non-wash days.
I like to do oil baths in summer time,as this is very cooling to the body and head. In India it is commonly used with sesame or coconut oils,and is used on days before head bath. Now I know this, how do I use them?
Take the desired oil and start applying to your scalp,youll want to use alot of oil so it looks like wet hair. Massage your scalp and braid. I use it on my body as well cause I get very hot in summer. I apply to backs of knees,under arms,neck and thighs. You can do this to babies as well so they are not getting too hot.
Light oilings are easy and should be done with massage 3 times a week. (Everyday without oil before bedtime). Take half a teaspoon into palm and cup it so it doesnt spill over. Take your middlefinger and index fingertips and dip in the oil,then apply to your scalp in a circular motion, (making sure you are only moving the scalp not hairs around). Do this all over your scalp (if you need more oil then add alittle more into your palm like first time. Then when all done massage it all in a circular motion and moving scalp around not hairs,for 5mins. After your done rub your hands together and put the rest on your hairs and all done. When doing massage without oils do same but leaving out the oil.

Some other ideas for herbal pastes:
Adding yogurt.Sometimes this treatments can leave your hair oily so it can be used as conditioning treatments. After mixing the herbs with boiling water (just enough to create a thick paste), add some yogurt. How much you add depends on the length of your hair and how much is in your herbal mixture.
Honey- When you are done mixing the herbs with boiling water, you can add a few tablespoons of honey. This will, like yogurt, help boost conditioning qualities of the herbs.

Applying to wet/dry hair:
Should you apply the herbs to wet hair or dry hair? That is a matter of personal preference. I usually apply it to dry hair, because it is the quickest for me, and I don't need to get into the shower first to do it.
After rinsing herbs out of hair squeeze water out of hair and wrap hair with whatever you normally use. I do a loose bun on top of my head and then use a t-shirt for a few minutes,then I let my hair open and air dry them. I always have sticks left in my hair, so I do hair slapping when my hair is damp, to loosen these and dry my hair.

Source:http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/showthread.php?t=21003

Hair styles for curly hair

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 12:05:00 +0000

This long curly hair style is called Victorian. It's great on second day hair and my favourite one :D

Step 1: Beginning on the right side of your head, section a two inch by one-inch portion of hair along the hairline. Pull hair back and twist the section, pulling twisted hair to the back center of the head. The twist should remain on the surface of the unused hair.

Step 2: Follow the direction in step one for the left side of the head. The twists should meet in the back at the center of the head.

Step 3: Secure the twists together with covered elastic.

Step 4: Section a one-inch deep by two-inch long portion of hair from the right side of your head just behind the ear and twist to the back as noted in step 1. Do the same on the left side of the head.

Step 5: Gather the two twisted sides together at the back of your head just below the first twist. Secure the second set of twists together with an elastic.

Step 6: Continue the same process in steps 1-3 down the length of your hair.

Step 7: After all twists are secure, it’s time to accessorise: flowers, ribbon, gems are all nice additions to this look.

Source: www.curly-hair-styles-magazine.com

This video will help you in minimizing frizz. Pomade or gel should be used after conditioning as it helps to keep the moisture and styling can be done easily.

This is a formal technique you can use this style to keep your hair from coming onto your face.

Creating big curls is a tough task. This video will help you in this process.

Simple ponytail can be gorgeous on curly hair but you need to take care of few things. Watch this video for help.

Step by step curly hair care

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 03:31:00 +0000

As curly hair is very rough frizzy and dry you need to keep it moisturized always .you should always apply styling products and conditioners to make it managable.Here are videos which will help you understand ways to manage hair by shampooing, conditioning, and using various styling products. I will post some more videos in my next post.

Homemade recepies

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 06:08:00 +0000

Baking soda clarifying treatment:

1tsp baking soda

1 cup warm water

This mixture will leave your hair soft shiny.Leave the mixture for 1-5 minutes and rinse off .Follow with a conditioner.

Apple cider vinegar(ACV) rinse:

1-2 tsp ACV

2 cup room temp distilled water

1-2 drops of sage oil (optional)

Mix ingredients and use after shampoo and conditioner as final rinse.

Scalp scrub:

1tsp Brown sugar

2tsp conditioner

combine ingredients and apply to damp scalp.in soft circular motion move around the scalp to exfoliate.Rinse well.

Lemon clarifying treatment:

2tsp lemon juice

usual amount of conditoner

Mix it and apply on hair.Rinse out and style.

Curl defyining spray:

1/2 cup warm water

2tsp Epsom salt

1.5tsp jojoba oil

Mix it in a bowl untill all the epsom salt is dissolved.Then pour into a little spray bottle and use.

As epsom salt dries the hair, if you get frizz/dried out then lower the amount of epsom salt.

Curl Defining spray gel:

2/3 Flax seed gel(linseed gel)

1/4 tsp epsom salt

2 drops agave nectar

2 drops infusium conditioner

1 drop rose fragrance oil

combine the ingredients and put in a spray bottle and shake vigorously.spray on damp hair and style.

Leave-in Spray to De-frizz

2 TBSP Aloe Gel
1 TSP Jojoba Oil
1 TSP Vegetable Glycerin
10 drops Essential Oil
Spring Water

Put aloe and jojoba in a measuring cup.Fill the rest of the cup upto 4oz mark(1/2cup).Add oils of your choice.

Hair growth mixture

1/4 C Pure Vitamin E Oil

1/4 C Castor or Jojoba Oil

15 drops of Rosemary Oil

15 drops of Peppermint Oil

How To Make It: Place ingredients into a container and mix well. Massage into the area with the oil.

**The ingredients are known to help hair growth. It will help regrow a hairline. Alright to use a little every night if you cleanse your scalp often.

The above recepies are from http://www.freewebs.com/triplecurl/index.htm

My take on No-poo method!

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 04:43:00 +0000

Hello everyone! As the no-poo method goes we should stop using shampoo and use only a conditioner to wash hair.well i tried to follow but as i live in vizag which is a highly hot and humid place i can't do without a shampoo.And even in other cases the cost of condtioners is high and you need more amount of conditioner for hair wash. So i modified the method a bit.I use a organic shampoo (one with natural ingredients and without chemicals like SODIUM LAURETH SULFATE, ALCOHOL,SILICONES) once a week along with Garnier sleek and shine conditioner.And on the alternative days i put some more conditioner as our main aim is to keep hair moisturized. you can also use the conditioner as a leave-in conditioner by not rinsing after applying it.It works wonders for me when i use Garnier sleek n shine as a leave-in conditioner.when you feel that your hair is unmanagable you just have to damp your hair a bit and ta-da you can style your hair as you like. You can use oil in your hair but apply only an hour before shampoo.

No-poo method

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 16:20:00 +0000

"CG" is a CurlTalk abbreviation for "Curly Girl," a book written by Lorraine Massey and Deborah Chiel, which advocates embracing our natural hair.This is a unique method proposed by naturallycurly.com which has been followed by it's followers from as long as 10 years with successful results. so here goes the trick........

Ia. The first step is to either totally eliminate or seriously limit the use of shampoo to cleanse our hair and scalp, the second is to use a clear gel to help keep frizz out, and the third to handle the hair in a very gentle manner.

The premise for this is tri-fold:

1) the fact that most commercial shampoos contain surfactants that are too harsh for our hair and tend to rob our hair of moisture,

2) that our hair tends to be more porous than straight hair, which makes totally rinsing out all traces of shampoo virtually impossible and that residue causes frizz,

3) the fact that most conditioners (COs) contain mild surfactants that paired up with a little manual friction are more than able to lift off dirt, debris and excess oil from our scalp and hair.

It is necessary to eliminate the use of most silicones (‘cones for short) from our hair care routine because most can only be removed from the hair with rather harsh shampoos. Washing with a CO while using them would cause them to quickly build up on the hair and this results in dull, matted hair and poor curl definition.

Ib. Choosing a good CO for CG(curly girl) - here is what we should look for in the label:

Emollients - soften, smooth the hair and give it shine. There are hundreds of them, natural ones include all vegetable oils and nut butters, others more widely u sed are glycerides and liposomes.

Proteins - temporarily “repair” the hair and/or protect it. Occasionally proteins will build up on some people’s hair, this is really more likely to happen on healthy or relatively healthy hair. In case of any concern, just alternate with a protein-free CO. Examples of them are silk, soy, wheat, keratin or individual amino acids (components of proteins).

Humectancts - absorb water and hold in moisture. They are absolutely crucial in a CO for curly hair. Panthenol, vegetable glycerin, sorbitol and honey are just a few humectants to look for on the label.

Moisturizers - add softens and control to curly hair. Amino acids and aloe vera are two great moisturizers.

Ic. HOW TO DO A CO-WASH:

After wetting your hair thoroughly, pour a dime sized amount in your hand and using the pads of your fingertips apply to one spot of your scalp and massage well, just as you would with shampoo. Repeat until you've scrubbed all over, then rinse ALL the CO off with plenty of warm water, still gently massaging with your fingertips so the friction will dissolve any residue. Next, pour more CO in your hand (sometimes another richer CO is necessary for this step), rub your palms together and apply over the length as you normally did in the past. Try to detangle with your fingers or with a very wide-tooth comb. For extra moisturizing clip your hair up and continue with your shower, then when you're done set the water as cool as is comfortable to you and rinse your head for just a second or two, gently squeeze the excess water off.

II. Choosing a gel - must be 'cone-free and preferably clear so it will allow the natural shine through.

III. Styling our curls - The main points are: 1) to NOT ever brush our hair; 2) to detangle it only when wet and soaked in conditioner, using a wide-tooth comb or whenever possible just our fingers; 3) to NEVER rub our hair with the towel* but to gently blot the water off using scrunching motions with it; 4) to apply product gently preferably by scrunching; 5) to air dry our hair whenever possible or diffuse only partially to avoid frizz and 6) not touch it while it's drying.

*microfiber towel works best.

IV. Clarifying - Sometimes it can happen that all residue from our gel, oils, etc. may not rinse off with with water and CO and we get a little "buildup". Very often it's easy to notice right away that our hair feels "gunky" but other times our hair just seems to stop responding to the routine, it may begin to tangle easily or our curls loose definition and shine; clarifying will refresh them and usually bring the bounce back. The recipes for natural clarifiers can be found in the forum section titled “Recipes – for hair and body”.

MODIFIED FOR WAVIES:

some people may have to continue using shampoo (hopefully a lot less often than before) because of an oily scalp, this is usually more common in those with wavy hair. To avoid drying the hair, here's the CG way to use shampoo:

1) Wet hair under a gentle shower. 2) Take a tablespoon of CO and using your fingers, lightly coat your hair from the ends to the midshaft. This hair has been around longer than the hair at the roots and needs more lubrication. The CO protects the hair by not allowing shampoo to penetrate and dehydrate the shaft. 3) If you're using shampoo, squeeze a half teaspoon* (no more) onto your fingertips and apply it gently to the scalp and roots only. don't use your nails. Start at the forehead and work around the scalp, then rinse thoroughly. 4) Add a half teaspoon of CO to your hair and work it through with your fingers. Then rinse quickly, for just a few seconds. No you're ready to blot-dry your hair.

*Diluting this amount in an ounce of water or so makes it much easier to distribute and gentler to the scalp.

Once you start following this method you will slowly and gradually find results like i did. so all the best :)

For further info click on the title.

Hair Types

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 05:17:00 +0000

There are many subtypes in curly hair.Andre Walker, who has won numerous Emmys for his work on the Oprah Winfrey Show, has worked out this hair classification system.

Type 1: Straight Hair

Joss Stone is 2A

Sandra Oh is 2B

Type 2: Wavy hair

Type 2 hair falls into the great divide between Type 1, straight hair, and Type 3, curly hair. A relatively unusual type, wavy hair tends to be coarse, with a definite "S" pattern to it. By that I mean the wave forms throughout the hair in the shape of the letter "S". Your hair is wavy, or Type 2, if it curves in the "S" shape while laying flat against the scalp, instead of standing away from the head the way curly hair does. Supermodel Yasmeen Ghauri, actress/model Isabella Rosellini and actress Jennifer Aniston of Friends (the one who sparked a craze for the ubiquitous "Friends haircut" of the mid-1990s) are all Type 2s. Type 2s are often confused with Type 3s because it is easy to get curly hair to lay flat and look wavy. But don't be fooled: you can't get Type 2 hair to look like Type 3 without a lot of work. Why? The hallmark of wavy hair is that it sticks close to the head: even if you cut it in layers, it won't bounce up. There are three Type 2 subtypes: A, fine and thin; B, medium-textured; and C, thick and coarse. Type 2A is very easy to handle, pliantly blowing out into a straighter style or taking on curlier looks with relative ease. Types 2B and 2C are a little more resistant to styling and have a tendency to frizz

What to try: For Type 2abc hair, mousses and gels work best. Try a combination of these:

Jessicurl Rockin' Ringlets, CurlFriends Control Gel, Curly Hair Solutions Curl Keeper,
Curlisto Bio-Gel Mousse, AG Hair Cosmetics Mousse Gel
John Masters Organics Sweet Orange & Silk Protein Styling Gel
Batia & Aleeza Bio-Herbal Mineral Styling Gel
Curlisto Structura Lotion, Curlisto Control I Gel
DevaCurl Angell
Curl Junkie Curl Fuel
Wen Almond Mint Styling Creme
Mop Top Anti-Frizz Gel
Innersense Quiet Calm Curl Control

Tips: This hair type needs lighter products that enhance curls. Let hair air dry or use a diffuser. Use duckbill clips on the crown of your head to lift top curls as needed. Once your curls are dry, rub a little pomade into the palm of your hands and smooth over your hair. Please do not use a brush or comb on your dry curls. Sleeping on a satin pillowcase is recommended to reduce tangles.

Nicole Kidman is 3A

Juliana Margulies is 3B

Rachel True is 3C

Type 3: Curly hair

With curly hair, there is a definite loopy "S" pattern. Pluck out a hair, stretch it out. Notice the curvy lines. Looks like s stretched-out Slinky, doesn't it? Most people think curly hair is coarse, but actually it is usually baby soft and very fine in texture – there's just a lot of it. Because the cuticle layers don't like as flat, curly hair isn't as shiny as straight or wavy hair. The hair doesn't have a very smooth surface, so light doesn't reflect off of it as much. When curly hair is wet, is usually straightens out. As it dries, it absorbs the water and contracts to its curliest state. Those of you with Type 3 hair know all too well that humidity makes curly hair even curlier, or even frizzier.

If you're a Type 3, your hair has a lot of body and is easily styled in its natural state, or it can be easily straightened with a blow-dryer into a smoother style. Healthy Type 3 hair is shiny, with soft, smooth curls and strong elasticity. The curls are well-defined and springy: pull out a strand of hair and stretch it; it won't snap in two. Damaged Type 3 hair is usually frizzy, dull, hard and dry to the touch, with fuzzy, ill-defined curls.

There are two subtypes of curly hair. Type 3A, hair that is very loosely curled like Julia Robert's or Susan Sarandon's is usually very shiny with big curls. The shorter the hair, the straighter it gets. The longer the hair the more defined the curl. Type 3B, on the other hand, is hair with a medium amount of curl, ranging from bouncy ringlets – think of Shirley Temple – to tight corkscrews – think of actress Cree Summer of television's Sweet Justice of jazz singer Cleo Laine. It's not unusual to find both subtypes coexisting on the same head. In fact, curly hair usually consists of a combination of textures, with the crown being the curliest part.

What to try for 3a hair: Gels and styling creams work best. Try some of other picks for this hair type which include:

Curlisto Structura Lotion
Curlisto Control II,
CurlFriends Control Gel,
Innersense Inner Peace Whipped Creme Texturizer
Innersense Quiet Calm Curl Control
Curly Hair Solutions Curl Keeper
AG Hair Cosmetics Re:coil
Jessicurl Confident Coils Styling Solution
DevaCare Arc Angell
Alagio Crazy Curl Curl Enhancer Balm
Cutler Curling Cream
Long Lovely Locks Coco Light
Batia & Aleeza Bio-Herbal Mineral Styling Gel.

Tips for 3a hair: This hair type needs light moisture and products that define the curls. Let hair air dry or use a diffuser. Use duckbill clips at the crown of your head to lift top curls as needed. Once curls are dry, rub a little pomade into the palm of your hands and smooth over your hair. Please do not use a brush or comb on your dry curls. Sleeping on a satin pillowcase is recommended to reduce tangles.

What to try for 3b hair: For Type 3b hair, gels, styling creams and puddings work best. try some of these:

Curlisto Structura Lotion
Curlisto Control Gel II
Innersense Quiet Calm Curl Control
AG Hair Cosmetics Re:coil
Curly Hair Solutions Curl Keeper
Cutler Curling Cream
Long Lovely Locks Coco Light
Alagio Crazy Curl Curl Enhancer Balm
Miss Jessie's Curly Pudding
Devacurl Arc Angell
Curl Junkie CoffeeCoco Curl Creme
Cutler Specialist Definition Cream
Curl Junkie Curl Fuel
Mixed-Chicks Leave-in Conditioner.

Tips for 3b hair : This hair type needs extra moisture and products that define curls and fight frizz. Let hair air dry or use a diffuser. Use duckbill clips at the crown of your head to lift top curls as needed. Once curls are dry, rub a little pomade into the palm of your hands and smooth over your hair. Please do not brush or comb your dry curls. Sleeping on a satin pillowcase is recommended to reduce tangles.

Addendum:

Naturallycurly.com readers have suggested a third Type 3 subtype: 3c.
Type 3C, is hair with tight curls in corkscrews. The curls can be either kinky, or very tightly curled, with lots and lots of strands densely packed together. Some people refer to this as "big hair." Getting this type of hair to blowdry straight is more challenging than for 3A or 3B, but it usually can be done. This includes those with very tight curls but finer hair, as well as coarser hair. 3C has really really tight curls, like pencil or straw circumference. 3B is like sidewalk chalk or salt shaker circumference, and 4A is like coffee stirrer circumference.

What to try: For Type 3c hair, we recommend styling creams and butters. Some of our picks for this hair type include:

AG Hair Cosmetics Re:coil
Curl Junkie CoffeeCoco Curl Creme
Miss Jessie's Curly Meringue
Miss Jessie's Curly Pudding
Long Lovely Locks Curly Custard
Kinky-Curly Curling Custard
Ojon Leave-in Glossing Cream
Blended Beauty Curl Styling Butter
Blended Beauty Curly Frizz Pudding
Jane Carter Solution Hair Nourishing Cream
MyHoneyChild Honey Love Pomade
Ojon Hydrating Styling Cream
Oyin Handmade Shine and Define Styling Serum.

Tips: This hair type needs extra moisture and tender-loving care because it can be fragile. Let the hair air dry and do not use a brush or comb. To refresh bed head or fight fuzzy hair line, use a moisturizing hairdress like Miss Jessie's Curly Buttercreme or Jane Carter Solution Nourish & Shine.

Nadia Turner is 4A

Erykah Badu is 4B.

Type 4: Kinky hair

If your hair falls into the Type 4 category, then it is kinky, or very tightly curled. Generally, Type 4 hair is very wiry, very tightly coiled and very, very fragile. Like Type 3 hair, Type 4 hair appears to be coarse, but it is actually quite fine, with lots and lots of this strands densely packed together. Healthy Type 4 hair won't shine, but it will have sheen. It will be soft to the touch and will pass the strand test with ease. It will feel more silky than it will look shiny. Oprah, Whoopi Goldberg and the actress Angela Bassett are all Type 4s.

Type 4 hairs looks tough and durable, but looks can be deceiving. If you have Type 4 hair, you already know that it is the most fragile hair around. Why? Type 4 hair has fewer cuticle layers than any other hair type, which means that it has less natural protection from the damage you inflict by combing, brushing, curling, blow-drying and straightening it. The more cuticle layers in a single strand of hair, the more protection it has from damage. Each time you damage your hair – fire up the curling iron, fry it with chemicals – you break down a cuticle layer, robbing your hair of much-needed moisture. I cannot emphasize this enough. It's like taking a wire and bending it again and again. Eventually, it's going to snap and break.

Many women with Type 4 hair rely on chemical relaxers to make hair easier to control. In its natural states, sometimes Type 4 hair doesn't grow very long because every time you comb it, it breaks. (Of course, if you have dreadlocks and never comb them or keep them braided, your hair can and does grow quite long.)

There are two subtypes of Type 4 hair: Type 4A, tightly coiled hair that, when stretched, has an "S" pattern, much like curly hair; and Type 4B, which has a "Z" pattern, less of a defined curl pattern (instead of curling or coiling, the hair bends in sharp angles like the letter "Z"). Type 4A tends to have more moisture than Type 4B, which will have a wiry texture. But what if your hair has been chemically straightened? How can you tell which subtype you belong to if your hair is relaxed? You'll need at least one inch of new growth to tell. Pull at the roots. If you can see a definite curl pattern, then it's an A, if not, then it's a B.

Addendum:

NaturallyCurly.com type 4 readers have found the above description limiting, and somewhat misleading. We offer the following addendum:

Type 4 hair can range from fine/thin to wiry/coarse strand texture. Generally, this hair is densely packed to give the appearance of very thick but fragile hair. 4a hair has a clearly visible curl and wave pattern that ranges from pen size curls to pen spring size coils. 4b hair has a tighter wave pattern and kinks of various size. This texture does not exhibit the shine or silkiness of looser type curls, but instead has sheen, and a soft, almost cotton-like feel. As with other types of curly hair, showing the true length can be an extra challenge, as the hair may grow "up" or "out" before starting to hang down. In its unlocked/unbraided state, type 4 hair is known to shrink up to 75% of the actual hair length. With the proper care and technique, type 4 hair is indeed resilient, manageable, durable, growable and easy to control.

What to try: For Type 4ab, creams and butters work best. Try Hot Buttered Curls for 4a hair orCurlaccino for 4b hair. Other choices:

Blended Beauty Happy Nappy Styles
Curl Junkie Guava Curl Creme
Mixed Chicks Leave-in Conditioner
Long Lovely Locks Coco Light
Miss Jessie's Buttercreme
MyHoneyChild Type 4 Hair Cream
My HoneyChild Natural Hair Creme
Kinky-Curly Curling Custard
Greenridge Herbals Jojoba Shea Hair Butter
Jane Carter Solution Twist & Lock
Kynk Hair Honey
Naani's Naturals Curly Custard
Oyin Handmade Whipped Pudding

Tips: This hair type needs extra moisture and tender care to prevent breakage. Let the hair air dry and do not brush or comb. To refresh bed head or fight fuzzy hair line, use a moisturizing hairdress like Miss Jessie's Curly Buttercreme or Oyin Handmade Burnt Sugar Pomade.

The above hair types are given by naturallycurly.com.