15 Major Short Haircut Ideas for Type 4 Hair (2024)

We love to see all the beauty of natural hair in its glory. With the summer sun still in effect, we are completely on board the #shorthairdontcare train. As curlies we have full, voluminous, thick, and even dense hair at times that can just sponge up heat during this time of year and cutting it is a must! For our Type 4 curlies with a tighter coil, kink, and curl, identifying the right short hairstyle for you is all about being bold and embracing the density that can make beautiful angles and show off your texture. Kinky and coily textured hair is very fine and fragile so you have the flexibility to sport any look whether you go for super short layers, or do the big chop. We’ve got all the curlspiration for you with these 15 looks that you will love!

1. Halo Fro

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Image: @naturally_charlette

A round halo cut is flattering on most face shapes and shows off the beauty of the full textured cut. A great way to style this is with a product like coconut oil that will provide plenty of moisture and shine.

2. TWA

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Image: @jaynellenicole

TWA is a classic short natural hair style that is typically worn after a big chop! This is perfect for giving your hair a refresh after heat damage or a transition from relaxed hair.

3. Angular Bob

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Image: @vonie_boo

The angled bob is a haircut that is typically shorter in the back and transitions to a longer length in the front. This is definitely a new twist on a classic curly cut that is flattering, edgy, and easy to style.

4. Pixie Cut

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Image: @twinsunisexsalontheglambar

The curly pixie cut is a short natural haircut that is cropped into layers and has a tousled effect on the coils. They are a fun, low maintenance style that allows you to embrace your texture in its full glory while serving volume and definition.

5. Shape Up

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Image: @theloftmedford

If you already have a signature style that you enjoy, don’t be afraid to ask your stylist for a shape up! This is a great way to revive your current style or for your stylist to get creative and reshape your hair based on new trends or hair goals.

6. Tapered Cut With Fade

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Image: @beautywithbj

Tapered haircuts are short and trendy and showcase your texture by bringing attention to the hair being longer at the top and shorter on the sides. Incorporating the fade along the side gives an added style to the cut, but keep in mind it does have to be upkept every few weeks as the hair grows out.

7. Afro

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Image

Short afro hairdos are an eye-catching cut that complement thick and coiled curls. The afro is a classic hairstyle that can be worn as full or short as possible and compliments many face shapes.

8. Tapered Cut W/Design Accents

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Image: @juliedavette

When rocking a tapered cut you should always be open to versatility and creativity that comes with this dynamic cut. Many barbers love to include accent designs and signature lines to the sides of the cut to give it additional edge.

9. Layered Afro

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Image: @mckenzie_renae

Layering your coils and kinks is an excellent way to create the illusion of fullness or thickness. This is a popular way of creating versatile shapes that frame the face and allow for the cut to still be visible as they grow out.

10. Pompadour

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Cut and color by@kennycolesalonon@mariahmartin67

If you are looking for a bold and fresh way to rock short hair, look no further than the chic pompadour. This look is very versatile for curlies who may already have short hair and need a refresh. In addition it can be worn with a dry or wet curly look for more definition.

11. Fresh Fade

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Image: @mahogany.xploher

A fresh fade is viewed as another “big chop” which is a great way to start your hair growth anew and give your scalp some much needed TLC. Fades can be styled with color, accent designs, or edge ups in order to give them a better shape and definition.

12. Blunt Bangs

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Image: @korluhairartist

Bangs are a commitment regardless of the type of texture you have, but blunt bangs are a great way to add some style to your everyday hairstyle. They can be worn curly or straight and and worn with a variety of styles.

13. Curly Top Fade

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Image: @sabrinakvictor

This stunning style is a great way to wear your curls uptop and shaped with a short to medium fade along the sides. You can wear your hair with as much definition and volume as you’d like depending how high your cut is.

14. Fro Hawk

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Image: @iam.tiffany.renee

Frohawks are a popular hairstyle in the natural hair community because they can be cut or styled with any hair texture. They can be cut as long or short as the customer would like and are meant to maximize the definition of the hair.

15. Bowl Cut

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Image: @jess_salonlola

This signature cut is making a triumphant return with a little added curly twist. The bowl cut is a great low maintenance style that allows for the versatility of length and growth.

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15 Major Short Haircut Ideas for Type 4 Hair (2024)

FAQs

What are the 7 basic haircuts? ›

The 7 ESSENTIAL HAIRCUTS for WOMEN illustrates The Oval Haircut, The One Length Haircut, The A-Line Haircut, The Bob Haircut, The Inverted Bob Haircut, The Bi-Level Haircut and The Pixie Haircut.

What is the best hairstyle for 4A hair? ›

Whether it's a high pony or bun, type 4A hair seems to be made for dramatic, lifting updos. Gather your curls at your crown & twist them into a bun with a hair tie or let them loose with a ponytail. If you want a slicked-back look, use gel & a brush to pull back your hair, showing off your showstopping baby hairs.

How do you style natural type 4 hair? ›

Type 4 hair follows a Z-shaped curl pattern, but type 4C is more tightly coiled than type 4B. Many hairstyles are perfect for type 4 hair. As long as they are not too tight, protective styles like cornrows, weaves, box braids, crochet braids, and Bantu knots lend your hair excellent protection and look highly stylish.

What is the number 1 hairstyle? ›

What Are the Numbers in Haircuts? If you ask your barber for a number one cut, you are asking them to cut your hair so it is an eighth of an inch long. If you ask for a number eight cut, the hair left on your head will be one inch.

What are Karen haircuts? ›

The Karen haircut is an inverted bob or lob and is also known as an A-line cut. It also features short, blonde hairs with thick lowlights and long side-swept bangs. This hairstyle is always longer in the left front and short in the back. Due to this, it creates a sharp angle when seen from the side.

Is Type 4 hair 4c? ›

Type 4 hair is grouped into three categories based on the kind of curl pattern it forms. These categories are 4A, 4B, and 4C, and we're going to take a look at the uniqueness of each one.

Is my hair 4A or 4c? ›

4A - Your curls are packed in tight with a spiral pattern. 4B - Your hair is prone to dryness and breaks and has a zig-zag shape and experiences shrinkage. 4C - Your coils are dense and can range from fine and soft to coarse and wiry, your hair strand will have a "Z" shape and will experience significant shrinkage.

What does type 4A hair look like? ›

Type 4a hair has a dense, kinky curly texture with lots of volume to spare. The size of each curl is about as wide as a crochet needle. The coily texture has more of an S pattern than other type 4s, which is why it experiences much less shrinkage when going from wet to dry.

Is 4C hair curly or straight? ›

4c hair type has the tightest curl pattern of all the curly hair types. Strands are formed in tight, springy, ringlets. 4c hair tends to clump more at the ends and is even more prone to shrinkage than 4b hair. According to CURLS, 4c hair can shrink up to 75% of its length!

How do you flatten short 4C hair? ›

Use your rat-tail comb at the base of the root and holding it taut, clamp the flatiron over the section in front of the rat-tail comb and slide both through. The comb helps keep the hair even straighter. Repeat all over the head, and you're done the work.

What is 4b hair? ›

Type 4b. Type 4b hair has densely packed curls that are tighter than 4a. 4b curls resemble tight curls that aren't as tight as the 4c curls. 4b curls bend in a way that makes them have a zig-zag pattern. If you grab a strand of 4b hair and gently pull it down, you'll find that it forms tight “Z” curls vertically.

How often should Type 4 hair be washed? ›

It's usually recommended to wash straighter hair types like Type 1 and 2 every other day at the most; however, curly and natural hair types like Type 3 and 4 get away with washing once every 7-10 days. And the kinkiest of them all, Type 4C hair, can be washed once every 2-3 weeks.

What does Type 4 hair need? ›

Don't forget to moisturize.

All textures and porosity levels need moisture, but Type 4 hair needs to retain moisture the most. Since Type 4 hair is coily, it has a tendency to dry out quicker than the others, so it is necessary to take the proper precautions to keep it moisturized and a way to seal in the moisture.

How often should you moisturize Type 4 hair? ›

Moisturize, moisturize, MOISTURIZE. Deep condition weekly before you wash, leave-in condition after you wash, seal with oils. Pair this with wearing your hair up in protective styles and sleeping with a silk or satin scarf or bonnet.

What are the do's and don'ts of 4C hair? ›

  • Moisturize it as often as you need to. You'll know when your hair is dry and needs attention coz it will feel brittle and might become itchy.
  • Do not overwash it. ...
  • Moisture retention. ...
  • Avoid using Combs. ...
  • Protective styling. ...
  • Trimming. ...
  • Use hydrating hair oils. ...
  • Test your hair porosity.
Jul 19, 2018

How long does short 4C hair take to grow? ›

How long can 4C hair grow? Your hair grows at roughly ½ inch per month which means that the typical head of hair will grow six inches per year. 4C hair is made of tight coils which makes it more prone to dryness and shrinkage.

How often should you wash short 4C hair? ›

And the kinkiest of them all, Type 4C hair, can be washed once every 2-3 weeks. This is because these hair types are naturally drier due to their wavy and coily nature. With these hair types, oils from the scalp can't easily travel down the hair shaft, leading to dry hair strands.

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