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What Is My Hair Type

4B hair

By 1000 Ventures Last reviewed

A Z-shaped zigzag pattern with sharp bends instead of round coils. Dense, fluffy and very fragile.

Close-up of 4B hair
Family
Type 4, coily
Curl size
Sharp zigzag bends, less defined coils
Key traits
Z-shaped zigzags, Less defined pattern, Very dense, High shrinkage

What does 4B hair look like?

4B hair bends in sharp, Z-shaped angles rather than round coils. The pattern is less defined than 4A, and the hair looks fluffy and full. It is dense and shrinks a lot. Like all type 4 hair it is fragile, especially when dry.

Every sharp bend in a 4B strand is a weak spot. Rough combing or pulling snaps the hair at these points, which is why gentle detangling matters so much for this type.

How do I know if I have 4B 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 4A, 4B has angled zigzags instead of round S-shaped coils. Compared with 4C, there is still some visible pattern. If you can hardly see a pattern at all and the hair shrinks to a fraction of its length, look at 4C.

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 4B hair

  1. Wash every one to two weeks and co-wash in between if your hair feels dry.
  2. Detangle gently in small sections while the hair is wet and slippery with conditioner.
  3. Moisturize with the LOC or LCO method, and seal the ends with a butter.
  4. Deep condition every week.
  5. Keep manipulation low: protective styles and a satin bonnet at night.

Best products for 4B hair

Rich creams, butters and oils keep 4B hair soft. Defining creams and gels help the pattern clump together. Shingling, smoothing product through small sections with your fingers, brings out definition.

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 4B hair

Twist-outs, braid-outs, puffs and protective styles suit 4B hair. Stretched styles like banded ponytails show off length. A wash-and-go works if you shingle the product in carefully.

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.

Check my hair type

Frequently asked questions

What is 4B hair?
4B hair bends in sharp Z-shaped zigzags instead of round coils. It is dense, fluffy and shrinks a lot.
How do I tell 4A from 4B hair?
Look at a single strand. If it forms round S-shaped coils, it is 4A. If it bends at sharp angles like a Z, it is 4B.
How do I define 4B hair?
Apply a defining cream or gel to wet hair in small sections and smooth it through each one with your fingers. This is called shingling.

Neighboring hair types

Close-up of 4A hair 4A hair Tight S-shaped coils about the width of a crochet needle. A visible pattern, soft but fragile, with real shrinkage. Close-up of 4C hair 4C hair The tightest coils, with little visible pattern. The densest type, with the most shrinkage, and it needs the most moisture.

Or see all 12 on the hair type chart.

Find your hair type

Hair type photo test One close-up of your hair, your type from 1A to 4C in seconds. Take the photo test Hair type quiz No photo? Five questions about how your hair dries. Take the quiz Hair type chart All 12 types side by side, with the curl size to compare. See the chart