best take care of your hair
Kinky, coily and curly hair and it’s unique texture is beautifully bouncy and full of life. Those with this hair type can struggle with a few challenges, like frizz, shrinkage, dryness, and breakage.
Useful tips
Type 4 hair appears as a mass of tight coils brimming with vitality. This hair type comes with a spongy hair texture that can feel soft and fine or rough and coarse, depending on individual hair thickness. According to the universal hair typing system, type 4 hair is further divided into three subcategories: type 4a, type 4b, and type 4c hair. We will review each subtype below:
Type 4a Hair
For type 4a hair, imagine densely packed, S-pattern coils that are as large as crochet needles. When these spirals are loosened, they can pass for type 3c hair. Due to the distinctive ringlets of type 4a hair, it’s difficult for the scalp’s natural oils to travel down the length of the hair shaft toward the ends. As with other coily hair types, type 4a mainly struggles with dryness.
One solution? Avoid hair products with sulfates and parabens, which can strip away your hair’s natural oils. Instead, step up your hydration game with gentle, moisturizing products.
Keep in mind that type 4a hair isn’t one for straightening unless you want to risk extreme heat damage, and consequently, more frizz and breakage. The same goes for chemical treatments like hair dyes and bleach. Embrace your natural curl type as much as possible to protect its delicate strands.
Type 4b Hair
Unlike the S-pattern of type 4a hair, there’s more of a zig-zag pattern to type 4b hair. It’s often easier to distinguish type 4b hair from curly hair types (type 3a, type 3b, and type 3c), which typically appear as ringlets. Given the sharp angles of type 4b hair strands, which makes it hard for sebum to coat the entire fiber, it’s no surprise this kinky hair type also encounters a lack of moisture. As you may have experienced firsthand, this leads to parched coils that can easily become frizzy.
Type 4b hair benefits from hydrating hair serums that can help keep moisture in. Not only will your hair look glossy and well-cared-for, but these products help to downplay tangles for less breakage and more defined curls.
Type 4c Hair
Type 4c hair features unapologetically bold coils that are sublimely springy. The tightest curl pattern of all hair types. Due to the ultra-tight curl pattern, type 4c coils interweave easily to form knots and snarls. As it’s the most fragile among natural hair types, it’s also the most vulnerable to breakage. On top of that, people with type 4c hair also have to grapple with extreme dryness and shrinkage.
That is why type 4c hair should stay far away from heat-styling and chemical treatments as much as possible. Lavish your ultra-tight coils with rich hair moisturizers, to fill in the “pores” on your cuticle layers. Doing so leads to less frizz and more shine. Heavier moisturizing products can also weigh down the strands to subtly — and temporarily — lengthen type 4c hair.
2. Determine your porosity
If you’ve ever wondered if your hair is high, medium or low. Well, here you go.
If you’ve ever wondered if your hair is high, medium or low. Well, here you go.
If you have low porosity hair, it means that your hair does not allow water in very easily as its cuticles are tightly packed. So even when spritzing with water, it still feels dry & breaks easily.
High porosity means the opposite. Your hair sucks up moisture and you’re able to retain length easier
Low porosity
The recommended moisture method to use is LC (Liquid Cream) or LO (Liquid Oil)
High porosity
The recommended moisture method to use is LCO (Liquid Cream Oil) or LOC (Liquid Oil Cream)
3. Moisturize Generously
Whether it’s once-a-week deep conditioning or daily leave-in conditioning, moisturizing products are the cornerstones of every type 4 hair care routine. But the order in which you apply hair moisturizers makes all the difference between long-lasting hydration and limp coils before the day ends. This is where the LOC method — leave-in, oil, cream — comes in handy, whether it’s wash day or not:
Follow the right moisture method for your hair. The right one is one that leaves your hair soft and manageable. LOC / LCO / LO / LC are methods of retaining moisture which will help keep hair moisturised for longer helping to retain length. Make sure the hair is fully hydrated before applying the oils.
4. Do’s
- Scalp care – You must ensure it is clean, hydrated and nourished. Do regular massages to circulate blood.
- Avoid heat – Heat not only damages your hair, but your hair may lose its natural curls overtime.
- Let your hair loose – Try to avoid over-manipulating your hair. The lower the tension and manipulation, the better for the overall health of your hair.
- Night care – Sleep with either a satin bonnet or doek. You can also sleep with a satin pillow case. This is important because it helps retain moisture and prevents knots, dryness and breakage associated with cotton material.
- Protective styling – Opt for low tension hairstyles that require little manipulation. Medium to high tension hairstyles should be done with caution.
- Stay away from sulphates and parabens – These oil-stripping ingredients will desiccate already moisture-starved strands. On wash days, choose a clarifying, sulfate-free shampoo to clear away natural and product buildup. It’s a great way to address itchy scalps and greasy roots without drying out your locks.
- Detangle with precision – When it comes to detangling, some of us advocate for fingers over combs, while others swear by their beloved wide-tooth comb. Whichever the case, the trick is to go slow and steady to avoid painful snags and more breakage.
- Dry It the Right Way – When drying type 4 hair, heat- and friction-less drying is the way to go. To speed up the process, use a microfibre towel to gently squeeze out the excess water. Sandwich your towel and hair in between your palms in a praying motion. Take care not to rub your locks for fear of frizz, knots, and breakage.