4A hair
Tight S-shaped coils about the width of a crochet needle. A visible pattern, soft but fragile, with real shrinkage.
- Family
- Type 4, coily
- Curl size
- About the width of a crochet needle
- Key traits
- Tight, springy coils, Visible S-pattern, Shrinks a lot, Fragile when dry
What does 4A hair look like?
4A hair forms tight, springy coils about the width of a crochet needle. The coils still have a clear S-shaped pattern you can see. The hair is soft to the touch, but it is fragile and loses moisture fast. It shrinks a lot when dry, so it looks much shorter than it is.
Coily strands bend many times in a small space. Each bend is a weak point where moisture escapes and where the hair can snap if it is handled roughly.
How do I know if I have 4A hair?
Check it on wash day, after your hair has dried on its own with no styling products. Look at a section from the middle of your head, not the hairline, which is often looser.
Compared with 3C, 4A coils are narrower and shrink more. Compared with 4B, the pattern is still a round S-shaped coil. If your strands bend in sharp Z-shaped angles instead, look at 4B.
For a second opinion, take a close-up and run the free hair type test, or compare the photos on the hair type chart.
How to care for 4A hair
- Wash every one to two weeks with a moisturizing shampoo, and co-wash in between if needed.
- Detangle in sections, wet and full of conditioner, with fingers first and a wide-tooth comb after.
- Moisturize with the LOC or LCO method every few days.
- Deep condition every week.
- Wear a satin bonnet at night, and give the hair breaks with protective styles.
Best products for 4A hair
Water-based leave-ins, creams, butters and oils keep 4A coils soft. Gels and custards define the pattern for wash-and-gos. Look for glycerin, aloe, shea butter and plant oils.
Your hair's porosity matters as much as its type when you pick products. Low porosity hair needs lighter products and a little warmth to let them in, while high porosity hair needs richer ones to seal moisture. Our hair porosity test shows how to check yours.
Styles and cuts for 4A hair
Wash-and-gos show off the 4A pattern. Twist-outs, braid-outs, puffs and protective styles like box braids or twists all work well. Stretching with bantu knots or banding shows off length.
For a full wash day, step by step, see our curly hair routine.
Not sure which type you are? Take one close-up of your hair and the free hair type test tells you in seconds.
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