Taking good care of your 4C hair doesn’t resume just to using the high dollar products or eating healthy. Drinking enough water throughout the day is going to count for the moisturizing of your drying 4C hair, but it’s not going to be enough.
Developing a good 4C hair regimen is going to be essential for the health of your hair, no matter the current state of your hair. Maybe your hair is straightened now and you want to go back to its natural state, or you’ve just had it texturized. Either way, knowing about your 4C hair and properly taking care of it is the only way to have better and healthier looking hair.
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The first thing to begin with: cleansing
This step is the first one to take when you take care of your 4C hair and everyone finds out eventually what works for them the best. Some like to wash their hair every week, whereas others only do it once a month. Truth be told, there’s no best way and every one has to figure out (the easy or the hard way) what works for them.
Cleansing depends a lot on the length of your hair, your hair’s type and your lifestyle (going to the gym daily is going to do a lot for your hair). The fundamental rule is to wash once a week, but it’s your hair to have the final word. How your hair feels like when you’re touching it or simply looking at it is going to tell you if you need to wash it or not.
However, if you’re not washing your hair very often, it’s better to go easy on the hair products in order to minimize risk for coating your hair, which causes the drying of your curls. Always go with a sulfate free shampoo that isn’t going to dry your hair. Shea Moisture Strengthen, Grow & Restore Shampoo and Conditioner Set is going to work great for the dry and brittle 4c hair, boosting the hair growth and efficiently removing the build-up. The apple cider vinegar within the formula is going to balance pH levels, giving your tresses a healthy shine.
- The co-wash side note
Co-washing is when you’re using the conditioner for cleansing your hair and you’re not using the shampoo. This is a milder way to take care of your 4C hair and most conditioners out there are gentler than most sulfate-free shampoos out there. Basically, co-wash is eliminating the second step wash routine.
When you’re going with co-wash, you simply cleanse your hair with the conditioner, detangle and finish by rinsing. You can go directly to styling your hair, but some professionals recommend deep conditioning too.
The main reason for co-wash is that most shampoos out there are a bit over drying for the 4C hair and we all know that 4C hair is prone to drying by nature. Co-wash is great for cleansing your hair in the middle of the week, between the washes. You’re going to be able to eliminate the build-up through a co-wash so don’t hesitate to try it.
Conditioning, conditioning
This is one of the most important steps to make for your hair care regimen. conditioning is essential for restoring the hair’s strength, but it plays a big part in the moisturizing of the hair too. Even if you’re a big fan of co-wash, you shouldn’t forget about conditioning.
If you’re using heat styling or regular basis or your hair is color treated, conditioning is always a must. Simple manipulation of your hair throughout the day makes your hair loose its proteins.
Conditioning is also going to reduce the risk for breakage and eliminate dryness from your hair. as for deep-conditioning, you don’t need to do it every wash. Once a month is typically enough for a healthy hair.
The Silk18 Natural Hair Conditioner Argan Oil Sulfate Free Treatment for Dry and Damaged Hair is a one reliable option that helps with dry, frizziness and static, softening your hair and making it easier to manage. It’s formulated on conditioning agents and natural ingredients that protect and strengthen your hair, leaving it healthier and better looking.
As for deep conditioning, splurge your hair with Hydrating Argan Oil Hair Mask and Deep Conditioner. The deep conditioner is going to turn the texture of your hair for the better, making it softer and easier to handle. The deep conditioner restores and repairs the damaged hair, helping the over processed hair get back to its healthy appearance. it detangles and hydrates the hair, eliminating dullness and dryness from the hair.
Don’t forget about moisturizing
Moisturizing is another great thing to do for your hair, especially if it’s dry. Sure, drinking enough water throughout the day is going to help, but it’s not going to be enough.
Some recommend moisturizing daily, but you should pay attention to your hair and adjust it to its needs.
When you’re moisturizing, it’s essential that you cover all areas of the hair, taking a little more time on the ends, which typically need more moisture. The ends of the strands are the weakest parts of the hair and they can never have too much moisture.
One risk to consider about moisturizing is the weight that it can add to your hair. You may avoid that risk by simply moisturizing before you go to sleep. This way, your hair is going to be moisturized and hydrated early in the morning when you’re waking up.
The warm shower in the morning is going to improve the results of the moisturizer. Some like to go with the LOC method (liquid, oil and a cream to seal).
Hydrating, protecting your hair against damage and reducing the risk for breakage, the Shea Moisture Coconut & Hibiscus Curl & Style Milk isn’t to be missed out on when shopping. The moisturizer is going to smooth out your curls, giving you the chance to tame and handle them a lot better. It defines your curls and makes them shine in a healthy way.
Made from purest preserves nutrients, the Viva Naturals Organic Extra Virgin Coconut Oil is a good option to include in your hair care regimen. It improves your hair’s texture and gives it nice radiance.
The most challenging step…detangling
Far from being everyone’s no.1 favorite (by contrary, it may be the most challenging one, to say the least…), detangling is mainly about one thing: patience. You need patience and time so you don’t end up with lots of frustration and tears. Your hair has to be well moisturized so that detangling goes easier and faster. You need to use products that ease up the process and give your enough slip for detangling.
Some like to go with finger combing their hair and not so much a comb, as the risk for breakage is lower. Either way, applying a detangler is going to make everything a bit more comfortable and less nerve consuming. Play ahead and give yourself some time for detangling, working your way from the ends of the hair, working all the way up to the roots. If your hair tangles a lot, maybe you should do it once a week.
There are many tips to use for easily detangling your hair so it wouldn’t hurt to take a look at them:
- Part your hair into 4 sections and put three of them into buns, using hair ties
- Drench your hair in your favorite hair oil/conditioner so that you detangle easier
- You may spray your hair with some Aloe Vera juice after you cleansed, conditioned and rinsed your hair.
If you think you’re going to do better with a detangling brush, give the Detangling Brush – Glide Thru Detangler Hair Comb or Brush a try. The brush comes with firm bristles that detangle your hair, without pulling. The brush has a good grip and an ergonomic design, making detangling a lot easier.
… and the drying part
It’s important not to rub the towel against your hair, as you’re going to tangle it a lot. Instead, it’s better to wrap your towel around your hair, as you want to towel to absorb the excess water. You need your hair to be damp for moisturizing, anyways. Let’s not forget that most hair styles require your hair to be damp during the process.
Let’s go over some useful tips about drying the 4C hair:
- Use a microfiber towel for drying your hair
- Detangle your hair before you start drying it
- Apply a heat protector if you’re going to use a heat styling tool for drying. Don’t forget about a moisture seal as well.
- It’s easier to work when you section your hair.
- Always use medium heat level or even low heat on your heat styling tool.
- Make sure that the air flow is always in the same direction of the cuticle layers.
- Your hair needs some moisture during drying so you need to leave some moisture in it.
- Give the hair the final touch with a cold blast of air. The cold air is going to close and seal the hair, improving the shine of your hair and keeping the frizz at bay.
If you’re thinking about using a blow-dryer, the Andis 1875-Watt Tourmaline Ceramic Ionic Styling Hair Dryer is one option to keep in mind, especially if you’re budget is tight. The blow dryer creates silky and frizz-free hair and comes with ceramic technology that seals in moisture and natural oils in hair. it features a cool shot button for that final touch and it’s very easy to handle.
One last thought
Going through all of these steps helps you get a healthier and better looking hair. Using the right products for your hair improves everything you’re trying to do for your hair. As long as you’re dedicated and put some time and effort into it, taking care of your stubborn 4C hair should come easy.
Recent reviews on Sugar & Fluff Beauty: the Grow Gorgeous Hair Density Serum, the Neocutis Bio Restorative Serum Intensive Treatment, the Rodial Bee Venom Moisturizer, the StriVectin TL Advanced Tightening Neck Cream, the E.l.f Foundation Serum.
