Having 4C hair usually means spending a lot of time doing your hair. Testing out new protective styles and trying the latest care methods are key. 4C hair is often neglected in the beauty industry, but it is a beautiful coil type. It needs more moisturized strands and special attention because it is very different from other curly types.
4C hair is naturally tightly coiled and has a high density. It is the most fragile and needs a dedicated routine. Products that provide moisture are essential. Experts have identified 4C hair as being thicker, dryer, and frizzier. It can be challenging, but with the right styling tools, 4C curls can be gorgeous and manageable.
4C curls are the tightest pattern and can be fine, thick, or coarse. Some are visibly defined, while others aren’t. No matter your hair type, there are tips and tricks for managing healthy curls. Keep reading to learn more about taking care of 4C hair.
What Is 4C Hair?
4C hair has a coily shape that is more fragile than other types. It takes longer to dry and can look like a thick Afro from afar. This look is really made up of small, springy, zig-zag patterned strands. If you’re trying to figure out if you have 4A, 4B, or even 3C type, wash your hair and let the air determine the most natural curl or coil pattern.
Characteristics of 4C hair typically include a texture with extremely tight coils. These coils shrink in size as the hair dries. It’s different for everyone, while there can be a lot of shared traits, 4C hair ultimately varies from person to person.
According to a study in the International Journal of Women’s Dermatology, 4C hair is described as kinky and tends to be overly dry, making it highly susceptible to damage and breakage.
How to Care for 4C Hair?
Caring for 4C hair can feel daunting at first if you don’t know where to start. Once you’ve got the right routine and products, the upkeep of your coils is simple. Follow the tips and techniques below to create a personalized hair care routine for your 4C hair.
Moisturize Hair Often
In my hair care routine, I focus on keeping my 4C hair well-moisturized. I avoid dehydrating practices and make sure to wash my roots once a week with a conditioning shampoo. I follow this with a revitalizing conditioner to lock in moisture.
I don’t wash daily but ensure my hair gets constant moisture. After wash day, I use the LOC method or LCO method depending on my hair’s porosity. For low porosity hair, I use the LCO method, starting with a lightweight leave-in conditioner, then a cream, and finally a hair oil to form a sealing barrier.
For high porosity hair, I use the LOC method to ensure it stays easily moisturized. This keeps my curly and coily hair in top condition, allowing my mane to maintain its hydration and nourishment.
Keep Hair Detangle
For my 4C hair, detangling is crucial. The tight coils easily become knotty, making detangling a necessary weekly task. On wash day or when trying a new hairstyle, I use conditioning hair products in my regimen to detangle strands quickly without excessive hair loss from brushing tangled coils.
Use the Right Tools
For detangling hair, avoid the plastic paddle brush. Use a wide-tooth comb to loosen knots without pulling out clumps or causing excessive frizz. A key frizz-fighting technique is to eliminate cotton hair-wrapping tools. Cotton can damage hair due to its abrasive use and rough material. Instead, use a microfiber towel to softly dry hair without excessive rubbing. At night, tie your hair with a satin bonnet or silk bonnet to protect your mane and edges from friction. Avoid a regular pillowcase and use a hair wrap to safeguard your natural hair while in bed.
Be Wary of Dehydrating Practices known to cause damage
Avoid salon treatment that uses chemical processes to straighten or relax your hair. These can dye strands and change texture, which is damaging and dehydrating. According to NCBI, ask your stylist for a protein treatment to keep hair moisturized before and after any chemical process. Avoid hot tools, but if necessary, use a low heat setting and always coat hair with a heat protectant product, while taming frizz and sealing in shine.
Stick to a Routine
The best 4C hair care routine is the one you use. Doing nothing will lead to a matted mane. Try different products, styles, and growing out bangs hairstyles to find what works best for your natural hair journey.
What are some tips for keeping 4C hair healthy?
4c curls are unique, so a regular curly hair routine won’t work. Here are some tips to keep your coily hair type healthy and easier to manage.
Moisturize, moisturize, moisturize
4c hair is naturally dry and needs to be properly moisturized to avoid becoming brittle, weak, or feeling like straw. Use a moisturizing cleanser and conditioner like Coco Creme Extreme Moisture Routine. Choose products rich in oils and butters to deeply moisturize, detangle hair, add shine, and reduce frizz. For a gentle wash, try Black Vanilla Moisturizing Sulfate-Free Shampoo Bar. If you’re wondering how to maintain permed hair, similar moisturizing routines apply, ensuring the hair stays healthy and hydrated.
Be gentle
4c hair is the most fragile hair type. To avoid major breakage, detangling hair while wet and saturated in product is the best care. Use Wash Day Delight Aloe Vera Shampoo and Conditioner Care Kit, followed by Monoi Repairing Hair Mask from roots to ends. This helps your comb or fingers glide through hair without ripping or tearing. It’s clinically tested and proven to reduce breakage by 98% after just one use—a true game-changer. For drying, learn how to diffuse hair gently to avoid further damage.
Take advantage of protective styling
While a wash-and-go is fine, protective styling is a 4c girl’s best friend. Protective styles give your 4c hair a break from outside exposure like sun, wind, and pollution. Try bantu knots, spring twists, or cornrows to protect your ends.
Don’t neglect scalp care
Scalp care is non-negotiable for 4c curls. For healthy hair, a healthy scalp is key. Use routine scalp cleanses like pre-poo or a scalp scrub. Keep it hydrated with oil like Goddess Strength Shampoo and Hair Oil containing castor, black seed, and jojoba.
Give your ends a little TLC
The ends are the oldest part of hair and can be brittle, dry, and fragile. Use protective styling to keep the ends of 4c curls healthy and strong. Styles like buns, wigs, or weaves keep ends up and tucked, helping them grow longer and stronger without breakage. Apply extra care with moisturizing products like Hair Milk Perfect Curls Collection every day to keep them protected from friction and breakage.
Trim regularly
4c hair should be trimmed every six to eight weeks. This helps in maintaining healthy ends by snipping off split ends. It keeps curls bouncy and defined, and helps retain length, resulting in longer, stronger hair over time. If you’re wondering how to keep my hair straight overnight, regular trims also contribute to overall hair health, which aids in maintaining any style.
Conclusion
Caring for 4C hair involves consistent moisture, gentle handling, and protective styling. 4C hair requires unique routines due to its fragile and dry nature. Regular trims and avoiding harsh chemicals help maintain healthy curls. Prioritizing scalp care and using suitable products like deep conditioners and sulfate-free shampoos are essential. Protective styles and avoiding heat can prevent damage and promote growth. With the right techniques and products, managing 4C hair can be a rewarding journey, resulting in beautiful, healthy curls. Always remember to adapt your routine to your hair’s specific needs for the best results.
FAQ’s
How to properly maintain 4C hair?
- Moisturize, moisturize, moisturize
- 4c hair is naturally dry
- Be gentle
- Take advantage of protective styling
- Don’t neglect scalp care
- Give your ends TLC
- Trim regularly
What helps 4C hair grow?
Use afro hair growth products and a sulfate free shampoo. Apply a deep conditioner and try pre-shampoo treatments. Regularly cut off split ends and avoid heat styling to keep hair healthy.
What not to do with 4C hair?
4C hair craves moisture but don’t expect maximum moisture retention overnight. Be consistent and in deep condition every week. Avoid drying products like hard gels and daily styling to keep hair moisturized.
How often should 4C hair be washed?
Type 4C hair should be washed once every 2-3 weeks. These hair types are naturally drier due to their wavy and coily nature. Oils from the scalp can’t easily travel down the hair shaft, leading to dry hair strands.
