For a Black woman, the decision to go natural can be very liberating. However, for those of us with 4C hair, our experience may come with a side of frustration and pain from dealing with the most fragile of all hair types. Managing 4C hair is not for the faint of heart. It’s more prone to matting and tangles and it requires more moisture than other hair types. Because of the special needs of 4C hair, it can be difficult to find a hair care regimen that works for your hair type. I’ve been natural for nearly 3 years now, and over that time, I’ve learned some helpful tricks for managing 4C hair that I hope can make your own hair journey a bit easier.
Get a Good Moisturing Shampoo
Moisturizing shampoos are seriously a godsend for 4C hair. They give your hair a smooth coating that really helps with detangling while you shampoo. Unlike shampoos that aren’t as moisturizing, these won’t leave your hair feeling all “crunchy” afterward. The only downside I’ve found with moisturizing shampoos is they don’t always “clean” as well as other ones. So, if your hair hasn’t been washed in a while, or maybe you’ve recently been playing around in the mud, you might want to start with a normal, soapy shampoo first and then follow it with a moisturizing one. Some of my favorite moisturizing shampoos are the Creme of Nature Argan Oil Moisture & Shine Shampoo and the SheaMoisture Moisturizing Intensive Hydration Daily Shampoo Manuka Honey & Mafura Oil Curly. If I am looking for something a bit more cleansing, I will opt for the Mane ‘n Tail: Herbal Gro Shampoo. I find that the Mane n’Tail shampoo gives me more of a clean feeling after use.
Opt for a Paddle Brush for Detangling
It took me a long time to realize that the best way to detangle my hair is not to use a comb, but rather a paddle brush, like this one here. When using a moisturizing shampoo, I can run a paddle brush through my hair with very little effort. I’ve found that it’s much more effective than using a detangling comb, and it covers a lot more area too.
Style Immediately After Washing
Wash-and-Go’s are great styles for many naturals, and I loved them during my TWA (Teenie Weenie Afro) phase. However, the longer 4C hair gets, the less it enjoys air-drying. When left to its own devices, 4C hair wastes no time getting matted and tangled. For this reason, I’ve found that it’s best to style 4C hair immediately after washing. Whether I’m going for a blow-drying style or twists, it’s easier to accomplish these styles when your hair is still moist and manageable.
Blow Dry or Twist Before Braiding
Protective styles are a must-have for any natural. If braiding is your go-to style, you’ll find that it’s much easier on your hair if you braid freshly washed and blow-dried hair. This is because blow-drying helps to stretch out your curls just enough to reduce tangles and make the braiding process smoother and less stressful on your strands. Plus, starting with blowdryed hair gives your braids a more finished look at the roots.
If you prefer a heat-free way of drying your hair, I have found it effective to wash and then two strand twist my hair using a leave-in conditioner the day before I install my braids. This way, my hair is already parted and it is easy to manage when installing my braids.
Managing 4C hair definitely takes time and patience, but it can be done. I hope these tips help make your hair care journey a bit easier.
