Table Of Content
From proper hair care routines to essential products and nourishing treatments, we will provide you with all the tools you need to give your 4C hair the boost it deserves. One great oil that stimulates new hair growth during the 4c hair stages is Coconut Oil. Due to its weight and structure, the oil directly sinks into the hair follicles rather than sitting on top of your hair. Therefore, it penetrates your natural hair better and helps natural hair growth at the root. That’s why in today’s article we are diving deep into the science of black hair. I’ll explain the different 4c hair growth stages to you so that you can avoid 4c hair breakage and instead cultivate new growth.
The Other Side Of Natural Hair That's Not Talked About Nearly Enough - xoNecole
The Other Side Of Natural Hair That's Not Talked About Nearly Enough.
Posted: Thu, 05 Jul 2018 07:00:00 GMT [source]
Braid Out
The length of 4C hair is influenced by various factors, including genetic characteristics. Genetic factors play a significant role in determining the maximum potential length of your hair. While you cannot control your genetic makeup, you can still maximize hair growth and achieve longer, healthier 4C hair.
Prevent Heat Damage
Like all other hair types, 4C hair is beautiful and easy to care for as long as you know how to properly cleanse, moisturize, and style it. To minimize breakage from tools like combs, little manipulation is encouraged. A sign that your hair is healthy is that it's able retain moisture, says Rashuna Durham, stylist and pro educator for hair brand Amika's Pro Team. In healthy strands, the cuticle (the outermost part of the hair shaft) is able to lay flat to lock in moisture, she says. Your hair's porosity is a reflection of how well products and moisture can pass through the cuticle layer, she says.
The Best Deep Conditioners for 4C Hair to moisturize and strengthen your coils
This can help give your long hairstyle movement without removing much length. Cross a small piece of hair from the outside of the left section over to the inside of the section to its right. Keep going until you reach the bottom of your hair, then tie the braid off with another clear elastic. Once upon a time, ultra-long hair was reserved for celebrities and hippies with not much room in between.
You might think that by not trimming it you are holding on to length but in fact, the reverse is true because the split ends will travel and cause more damage and breakage to your hair strands. I’m not saying you have to go as far as daily washing but if you can aim for washing your hair once every 2 weeks or at least every 3 weeks. Ok so there aren’t really any “secret” tips, these are just some tips that I have picked up along the way and that have helped me and many others to grow our natural hair long. As 4c hair tends to get dry and tangled very easily it’s better to wash your hair in sections. If you are going to wash your hair every 3 weeks instead then I would recommend deep conditioning.
The Glycolic Acid Serum Your Skin Care Routine Needs
Remember to be patient and consistent in your hair care routine, and you will see results over time. If you have 4C hair, you know how challenging it can be to care for it. But with the right hair care routine, you can maintain healthy, strong, and beautiful hair. Natural curly hair, especially with tightly packed coils, doesn’t need daily combing. Type 4c hair needs much less washing than other hair types because it’s prone to drying out and breakage. So if your main goal is to grow it longer, ensure you protect its current length by using hair-strengthening and moisturizing products.
Let Your Locks Flow In These Long Hairstyles for Different Face Shapes
This hairstyle can be worn for an array of occasions, from a night out on the town to an important work meeting. This cut involves trimming the top layers of your hair into layers that form a V-shape at the back of your head. The opposite of the two-tiered cut, this long haircut adds tons of volume and is best styled with a large-barrel curling iron. With the upper layer out of the way, split the bottom layer into two sections, one on the left and one on the right.
Then use your fingers to go between the hairs of the section to remove tangles. Let’s define 4C and see how to care for your hair if the majority is 4C. If you are going to trim your hair make sure you do it with professional scissors like these ones otherwise you will cause more damage than good. Trimming your hair might seem to be counterproductive at first but the benefits of trimming really are great.
Washing Your Hair
While protective styles can help you retain length by letting your hair rest, that won't matter much if extreme tension leads to traction alopecia. As tempting as it is to let a braider create braids that are tighter so that your style lasts longer—don't do it. And remember to remove protective styles within four to eight weeks after having them installed with a breather period before you opt for another one. Protective styles are a great way to give your hair a break from constant manipulation—especially when cold weather arrives. But you still need to take care of your hair whether you opt for braids, wigs, or weaves. Along with making sure you're keeping your hair clean while in a protective style, be mindful of how much tension is being placed on your hair to create your desired look.
As Starr Mason, a field education leader for Hair Cuttery Family of Brand's commented "Please note that shrinkage is REAL. 4C hair is much longer than it appears." If you're a member of the natural hair community, even if it's not your hair type, you're well aware of 4C hair. In addition to moisture, using proper hair care products specifically designed for 4C hair is important. Look for sulfate-free shampoos, leave-in conditioners, curl defining creams, and other products that cater to the unique needs of 4C hair. These styling tips are just a few options to explore with your 4C hair.
If you’re brushing your hair to detangle, it’s always best to do it when your tresses are wet or damp because they’re more flexible and easier to work on. They can protect your hair from dirt and environmental stressors and help minimize manipulation that could lead to breakage. Limit the use of heat and experiment with heat-free styling tools like flexi rods and hair rollers. This will also help minimize breakage as you work on undoing hair knots. The best way to know if you have 4c hair and not 4a or 4b is by closely examining the shape of your hair’s curls. Therefore, caring for 4c hair is very much like caring for low-porosity hair in general.
Similar in texture to 4B hair, 4C hair is more tightly coiled and tends to be more fragile. The 4C hair has a very tight zig-zag pattern in each strand that is often unnoticed by the eye. One simple but often overlooked hair care routine is protecting 4C hair when sleeping. To retain the moisture longer, you can use the Liquid-Oil-Cream (LOC) method. With this method, start by spritzing your hair with water, followed by applying an oil such as Coconut or Olive oil. 4C hair can grow long provided it’s well-maintained in order to minimize breakage and retain the acquired length.
Similar to two-strand twists, Bantu knots are a two-for-one style that can be rocked as they are or worn unraveled. Once you grow tired of the twists, you can unravel them into a twist out style. Like Dr. Williams mentions, it’s a two-in-one style that can last for up to two weeks. Sometimes it’s nice to stick with the basics and style your hair in a simple wash-and-go style, like this TWA one.
This protective style is at once polished and defined, while also being casual and cool thanks to its varying lengths and undone ends. To prevent split ends, nourish with Moroccanoil Pure Argan Oil ($52). Awkwafina's sleek tresses are pure perfection, which Francis attributes to internal sliced layers that create soft movement and the illusion of blunt ends. To replicate her 'do—which works best on thick wavy or straight strands—prep hair with Better Natured Hydrating Milk ($22).
The final stage of the 4c hair growth phases can last up to three months and is part of the natural hair cycle. Due to the vast amount of hair follicles, this process goes mostly unnoticed, because each one is independent and falls out at a different time. The final phase in the natural hair growth cycle is the Telogen phase which begins with a resting period.
To achieve this style, gather your hair into a high ponytail at the crown of your head. Use a gentle brush or edge control to smooth out any flyaways and secure your hair in place with a hair tie. You can also accessorize your high puff with headbands or scarves for added style. A go-to style for natural hair is the high puff, which is easy (if not a little headache-inducing) and always fun. The average monthly growth rate for 4C hair is about 0.5 inches per month.
