Friday 28 November 2014

Are 4C Hair Bloggers Boring?

I'll just say off the bat that I don't generally hair type. There are far more relevant factors to take into account than curl pattern. But for argument's sake, I'm going to say I'm 4C. 



When I first went natural, I really didn't understand hair typing so I just followed the popular bloggers, specifically, Naptural85 and Kimmaytube (Newbies be like 'who?'). And I believed that my hair could do the same things theirs could. Well. I was wrong. Not only couldn't it, it didn't even want to try. (I still cringe at my attempts at shingling). It finally twigged that my hair was totally different and that I had to find someone with the same texture as mine before I committed haircide and went back to the crack. 

Cue massive stumbling block. I couldn't find anyone. These days, there are a few kicking about but back then, it was tumbleweed as far as 4C bloggers went. I did find those who sorta-kinda-looked-like-mine but they still had curls. Or rather coils.

And my hair doesn't. It doesn't curl or coil or clump.It's edges won't be laid and it can't wash and go. In fact, it's pretty much like having a stroppy teenager growing out of your head. It just wants to be left alone. *slams door* If I do try to force it, it punishes me by matting and tangling and knotting and drying up. My 4C hair may look tough as nails but is very fragile. To make it even more challenging, my strands are fine, therefore lots of handling = lots of breakage. So I learned that, in order to keep it happy and make my life easier, I needed to severely minimise how much I handled it.

Gone were the week-long twist-outs (with nightly retwisting) and the experimenting. Out went the gels and the Denmans and the Curling Creams/Puddings/Whatevers. Instead, I started wearing two-strand twists all the time, even to wash and condition, and only occasionally wearing it out in a high puff. That's it.



BOOOOOORRING!!!

What people want to see is the juicy stuff, AKA, free hair and styling. But the reality of 4C hair is that while you can experiment with styles and products and techniques and colour and heat as much as the next girl, if you want healthy hair that retains length, you mostly just need to put it away and leave it be. Which means 4Cs like me can only offer so much hair porn. Let's face it, how many posts can you really read on 'How To Wash 4C Hair', 'How To Moisturise 4C Hair', 'How To Watch Paint Dry Two-Strand Twist 4C Hair'.  The Mayor of Yawnville called; he wants back the key to the city.

When you do see 4C hair out in all it's glory it is MAGNIFICENT. But braver bloggers than me who have gone down the low protective styling/high manipulation route have suffered the consequences, from poor length retention to breakage or excessive shedding. Yes, there are those rare creatures that can subject their hair to all manner of torture wear their hair out all day everyday and it still grows like a weed but they are few and far between. The rest of us, especially the ones who care about length retention, hunker down, protective style and twiddle our thumbs waiting for our hair to grow. And just so you don't abandon us, we put out the occasional selfie or controversially titled post (like this one) or just start writing about non-related ish like diet and children, you know, stuff you came to a hair blog to read about. Not.

But here's why you have to put up with our boring asses. Because it is important that 4C hair is proportionally represented online. Especially for struggling newbies. I'm not saying 4Cers should join some exclusive club, because lots of hair practices work across the board. But it's definitely comforting to see someone with hair that looks and acts like yours. And know that whatever you're going through, you are not alone.

gerrit?

15 comments:

  1. Someone who gets me finally. Nothing to really do with this 4C hair but love it and 2 strand twist it. Hundreds of hours i will never get back from youtubing and practicing how to flat twist. Like you i only have 2 styles.. twisting or protective styling... i haven't attained enough length to pack it in a bun... that is only reserved for when it is being conditioned and under the shower. Certainly no wash and go for me... Drat , it is like there are class demarcations in even natural hair.. This princess is not getting many breaks.. i can rest in the knowledge that i am smarter than a more people than the strands of hair on my head!.. that is my big comfort.

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    1. I'm actually quite happy now that I stay in my lane. It was always so stressful trying to do things that my hair culdnt do. People ask me if i get bored of twists and i'm always like 'does not compute' :)

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  2. Loved it as always. You're hilarious! And yeah, 4Cs need more representation and less pressure to conform online.

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  3. Boring? Not never! Not the way you write it! You should have a column in a magazine cause by lord you make my days and weeks!

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  4. Hahahaha, Nina, I will STILL watch those how to vids, regardless of how many times I have watched others, I can't help myself :-)!!!And I will always and forever follow 4C hair blogs/vlogs, #diehard4chairchick! I love the pic with the red lippie, awesome possum!

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    1. Bwahahahah!! I still watch them too!!! It's like an obsession. Tiajonay is my new youtube crush. #amused

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  5. Lol, @ committing haircide. I love thick hair. I've also never been a believer of hair typing since I believe hair is like fingerprints- we all have unique strands. Funny article, your'e not alone! lol :)

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  6. I enjoyed this piece. Saw your link to it over on BGLH and feel you told the absolute truth. I wrote something similar after your article inspired me. Please feel free to check out my post http://thisnaturalhairthing.blogspot.com/2014/12/is-natural-hair-more-time-consuming-i.html !! Your writing style is amazing and refreshing. Thank you for sharing your Hair Care Journey :D

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  7. Love it it! You inspire me so much. I have been sitting on a similar post because I thought maybe people aren't ready for the truth!. I am going to post it on my blog tonight.

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  8. I just discovered your blog through a Natural Hair Forum on Facebook. The curl defining puddings I have tried do nothing for my hair but Ecostyler (the Argan Oil one) gives my curls some nice definition. Nice Blog btw, would love to visit Kenya some day, I'm based in Nigeria and the Humidity here always poofs up my hair.

    http://tukesquest.blogspot.com/

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  9. I love Naptural85 :) and her lovely baby Olivia! I'm also 4C iguess, but it don't matter! love this post

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  10. I love Naptural85 :) and her weetool baby Olivia! I'm 4C also I guess but it don't matter. Love this post

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  11. Thank you for this post! Over the last few months, As I do every now and then (I've been natural 20+ years), over the last few weeks I've tried different products thinking that maybe now--in this day and age, when they can send vessels to the moon, surely they can come up with something to make it easier to style fine, 4c hair. But, again, nothing works on my hair. I've read a couple other blogs (can't remember the names) that state a similar message to yours. And, I guess as I do each year, I have to throw in the towel and accept that no styling products work on 4c fine natural hair.

    So I'll just let my hair shrink itself to oblivion, and stop wasting money products that don't work. Except Eco Styler does work, as Tuke Morgan mentioned. However, one day of using Eco Styler makes my hair dry and brittle like burned hay, even if I apply a oil or moisturizer along with it. Therefore, Eco Styler isn't a frequent-use option for me.

    Other naturals keep telling me "try this gel/cream/potion. It works." And I keep telling them, it works on their hair but not mine. I'm thinking about making a business card with your blog address, so the next time one of them tells me about a product (apparently because they're bored with my fro), I'll hand them the card and tell them to read this article so they can better understand. Thanks again! It's helpful to know there are at least a few other naturals out there with hair like mine.

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  12. It's true! Thanks for this article.wigs are my best friend and I no longer spend useless money on products. Thank God I didn't spend a fortune.

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