Type 4 hair is seen as the “ugliest” hair type. Unfortunately, looser curls get more validation and praise versus someone with a kinkier curl pattern. And although society has it out against us, cough..cough.. Chris Brown, we still need to appreciate our own crowns and not look to anyone else for validation.
As black women, we always get the short end of the stick generally speaking. However, the more we love ourselves, the more we will reign as queens, with afros 👑. Here are some tips to do that.
1) Pay Attention To Your ACTUAL Hair
This may sound obvious, but there are many people who neglect their curls and therefore end up hating them. Whether you are into protective hairstyles such as weaves or braids, give your hair break and relinquish your curls once in a while.
You’ll get used to seeing AND appreciating your crown more. And yes you are still beautiful without the wig or weave 👏.
2) Style Your Hair
This kind is similar to the last point in which you really need to give your hair time. But, the more styles you find appealing for your type 4 hair, the more you will fall in love with your hair. And let’s face it, bomb hair is a confidence booster.
There are many YouTubers with type 4 hair who do a bunch of natural hair tutorials. Watching them has definitely helped me style my hair over the past few years, and it may help you too.
Don’t Be afraid To Define Your Hair
If you really feel like your curls look blah, then you should consider defining it with a gel. It’s something I should have done from the start of my journey. Defining your hair simply makes your curls pop and you will truly see yourself that your type 4 hair is just as beautiful as other curl patterns.
3) Listen To The Natural Hair/Black Women Anthems
Recently Beyonce came out with Dark Skin Girl empowering black girls to love their natural selves. Just before we had this song, we also had Formation, Spice’s Black Hypocrisy, Solange’s Don’t Touch my Hair, and Corrine Bailey’s Put Your Records On. “Got to love that afro hairdo” 🎶🎶🎵🎵.
Although these songs are rare to come by, listening to them gives me so much power. Whether my 4b hair is in shrunken or in its signature twist out, I will forever be listening to these songs.
4) Take BOMB 💣 Photoshoots 📷
I wish that I would have gotten a professional or a great quality camera for my natural hair journey, this is the only downside to being team Android. There were so many times I looked in the mirror playing with my curls for hours and realizing how much longer they were getting.
Particularly, I personally think this is key for my TWA girls. When I was in my kind of TWA phase, I say kind of because I had enough hair for mini puffs, I wish I had taken more photos. Furthermore, I wish I had really embraced my short 4b curls at that time. Short curls need appreciation too.
I feel like if I had a bomb camera, I would just be in more awe with myself. Looking at bomb pictures of yourself with your best hairstyles can give you that confidence builder you need.
Final Word On Type 4 Hair
Going through a natural hair journey is tough enough. It’s even tougher in my opinion when you have type 4 hair, especially 4c hair. Mainstream media doesn’t depict girls with type 4 hair at all. And at times, that depiction can be negative like with the controversy surrounding poor Blue Ivy, a damn child.
It’s very rare that we get positive recognition so we should recognize our own beauty, love our curls, and continue spreading that love to our sisters and daughters. “I love my baby hair with baby hair and afros” 🎶🎶.
