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tips for caring for 4c hair

Tips on How to Care for 4C Hair

Easy-to-follow tips for having healthy 4c curls
27 Apr 2022
4c curls are often assumed to be challenging, but the truth is, if you have the right styling tools and 4c hair products, your 4c curls can be gorgeous, defined and manageable. 4c curls are the tightest curl pattern and are densely-packed. Some 4c curls are visibly defined and others aren’t. Some 4c curls are coarse and thick and some are fine and thin. But no matter what type of 4c hair you have, there are a few tricks and tips to managing healthy curls. Keep reading to learn more about taking care of 4c hair.

How do I know if I have 4C hair?

Let’s start by saying 4c curls are gorgeous. 4c hair is defined by coils that are tightly packed and dense. Even though 4c hair is naturally curly, the coils are so tight that it’s often hard to see curl definition. In fact, an actual 4c curl will have a zig-zag shape instead of a s-shape or ringlet like type 3 curls. Type 4c hair is also prone to shrinkage. We’re talking bra-length curls that dry to be shoulder-length. Yes, these are beautiful, tight coils.

The key to styling 4c hair is finding products and styling techniques that help to add definition, shine and moisture. Once you’ve mastered these three categories, your 4c hair will flourish.

Find Your Personalized Routine!
Know your curls better than ever before! Our quick and easy 5-step quiz, which uses powerful data to determine your hair type, will help you understand your strands. Set aside a couple of minutes to answer some simple questions, and we’ll take care of the rest. At the end, we’ll identify your curl type and main hair concerns, and provide expert tips, product recommendations, and a personalized routine. The journey to gorgeous hair starts now. Click Here to find your personalized routine.

What are some tips for keeping 4C hair healthy?

4c curls are truly unique, so any ol’ curly hair routine won’t do. Here are a few tips for keeping this coily hair type healthy and easier to manage.

Moisturize, moisturize, moisturize. To no surprise, 4c hair, like all curly hair types, is naturally dry. In fact, 4c curls tend to be even drier. And when 4c hair isn’t properly moisturized, it becomes brittle, weak and can easily break, snap and feel like straw. That’s why having a consistent moisturizing hair routine is key. Of course, you want a moisturizing cleanser and conditioner like the Coco Creme Extreme Moisture Routine, but don’t let the moisture stop there. Reach for products rich in oils and butters like the Black Vanilla 4-in-1 Combing Creme. It will not only deeply moisturize your 4c curls, it also help detangle hair, add shine and reduce frizz. For a gentle wash, try the new Black Vanilla Moisturizing Sulfate-Free Shampoo Bar.

Be gentle. 4c hair is the most fragile hair type. This means that even one rough combing session can result in major breakage to the hair. For the best care, stick to detangling your hair while wet and saturated in a product. Start with Wash Day Delight Aloe Vera Shampoo and Conditioner Care Kit and then use the Monoi Repairing Hair Mask from roots to ends will help your comb (or fingers) glide through the hair without ripping or tearing through knots and tangles. Not to mention, it’s clinically tested and proven to reduce breakage by 98% after just one use. It’s basically a total game-changer.

Take advantage of protective styling. While there’s nothing wrong with sporting a wash-and-go, protective styling can be a 4c girl’s best friend. Protective styles help to give your hair a break for outside exposure (including sun, wind, humidity, pollution) and daily manipulation. It’s also a great way to protect your ends, since most protective styles keep the ends tucked. If you have 4c hair, you may want to experiment with protective styles like bantu knots, spring twists or cornrows.

Don’t neglect scalp care. Scalp care is non-negotiable no matter what your curl type, but it’s especially important to product junkie’s with 4c curls. Healthy hair starts with a healthy scalp, so if you want your 4c curls to thrive, a balanced scalp is a must. Incorporate routine scalp cleanses like a pree-poo or scalp scrub. You can also add oil to your scalp to keep it hydrated and free of itching and irritation. Our go-to pick is the Goddess Strength Shampoo, Conditioner, Leave-in and Hair Oil. The oil is formulated with a slew of oils including castor, black seed and jojoba and keeps the hair and scalp moisturized.

Give your ends a little TLC. Our ends are the oldest part of our hair which means they can be brittle, dry and fragile. Protective styling is one way to keep the ends of your 4c curls healthy and strong. If you choose to do a protective styling, opt for a style like a bun or wig or weave to keep ends up and tucked, allowing them to grow longer and stronger without breakage. Another tip for giving your ends extra care is applying additional styling or moisturizing product to them every day. Try a moisturizing product routine like the Hair Milk Perfect Curls Collection. This will not only add extra moisture to dry ends, but it helps to keep them protected from friction and breakage, too.

Trim regularly. Like all hair types, 4c hair should be trimmed every six to eight weeks. Maintaining healthy ends and snipping off split ends, will not only keep curls bouncy and defined, it will help to retain length as well. And remember, even though you’re technically losing an inch or two, the end result will be longer, stronger hair over time.

For more information on taking care of natural hair, discover hair masks by Carol's Daughter

 

Products for 4C Hair Type

 

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