How to Retain 4c Hair (2024)

Okay, real talk.Having natural 4c hair can be emotional. But we’re here for you through every phase of that journey!

Consider us your support system for all things related to how to have stronger, longer4c hair in a way that feels encouraging and empowering and best suited to you.

Before you know it, you’ll be an expert in 4c hair length retention and you’ll be spreading the knowledge to all your 4c curly hair girlfriends. Let’s get started!

#1 Moisturize, Moisturize, and Then Moisturize Some More

Finding the right hair moisturizer is key for Type 4c hair. Because 4c hair is characterized by dense and tight coils, this hair type is often the most difficult to keep moisturized. Your beautiful curl pattern presents a challenge for spreading natural oils from your scalp to your hair strands.

But if you moisturize diligently, you can fight back (and win) against frizziness, shrinkage, and sluggish hair. So, if you're looking for ways on how to coil natural Black hair, it's all about the right hair products. Finding a hair moisturizer for curly hair is key. That’s why you should incorporate these quality, deep conditioning and moisturizingnatural hair products on wash day and every day:

  • Leave-in conditioner
  • Co-washes
  • Hair oils, creams, and gels

#2 Skip the Unnatural Stuff

Not all hair products are healthy for yourType 4 hair. There may be some bad stuff lurking in certain formulas that could actually inhibit healthy hair. The two biggest anti-hairhealth culprits are:

  • Silicones – Buildup is the enemy of healthy hair. Silicones have a smoothing effect that adds shine and feels great initially, but they can have a sort of smothering effect that weighs down curls and causes excess buildup. Buildup on the scalp isn’t good news for encouraging healthy hair growth.

  • Sulfates – If you want to master stronger, longer 4c hair fast, then stay away from sulfates. While a cleansed and healthy scalp is important for creating the right conditions for natural hair, lather-inducing sulfates can be harsh and over strip your scalp. A scalp deprived of its natural oils means more brittle, dry hair that is prone to breakage and struggles with shrinkage.
  • #3 Nourish Your Scalp with Vitamin-Rich Food

    Your Type 4 hair, like your skin, is a part of your body impacted by your habits, including what you eat. If you love some or all of these hair-promoting foods, feel free to add more to your meals:

    • Fatty fish like salmon or mackerel
    • Spinach
    • Berries
    • Avocado
    • Eggs
    • Almonds

    #4 Go Easy on Heat Styling

    Whether you use high porosity hair products to protect your hair or other heat styling products, heat stresses out your hair like surprise voicemails from your boss stressyouout. Using styling heat can cause breakage in all hair types. But since 4c curls are always just a little parched, a little heat can seriously delay your hair glow-up goals.

    Try embracing the beauty of rocking your hair au natural. Learn how to enhance curls rather than fight them. Give a wash-and-go hairstyle a chance so your curls canbe stress-free. There are so many4c natural hair stylesto choose from similar to this to promote healthy hair.

    #5 Use Protective Products and Styles

    Can’t beat the need for heat? If you’re unsurehow to blow dry curly hairto prevent breakage, use a moisturizinghair protectantwhenever you style your curls. Moisturizing and protective styling products can nourish your textured hair and encourage healthy hair. Protective styling products also seal in the moisture you so lovingly lathered into your hair, helping your strands stay strong all day.

    For wash-and-go and edge-sealing styles, ourand provide definition, smoothing, and protection against split ends and breakage. At MIELLE Organics, have the best products for curly frizzy hair.

    #6 Get a Trim

    You may think avoiding a haircut is the key to healthy natural hair. Plot twist! Forgoing the hair stylist can actually kill your hair dreams. Why? Split ends. When an end “splits,” the hair strand becomes weak, making it more prone than ever to breakage throughout your locks.

    So here’s how that breaks down:

    • Split ends lead to hair breakage
    • Hair breakage leads to stuntedlength
    • Stuntedlengthleads to you screaming in frustration in your bathroom.

    Save yourself from the suffering and instead, get regular trims. Although it seems counter-intuitive, regular trims snip away the dryer, dead ends of your hair which prevents split ends. Try to schedule your trims for every 6 weeks or so to help clear away the weaker ends. Then, stretch out the time between appointments to every three to four months as your hair gets healthier.

    It might seem like the exact thing you’d want to avoid when you’re trying to figure out how to get4c hair fast, but regular trims equal less damage and more length.

    #7 Care for Your Scalp

    You can’t enjoy hair without a healthy scalp. When you care for your scalp diligently, your whole head will be happier and you’ll see thelength you’ve been looking forward to.

    Here are two easy scalp-care steps you can take.

    • Massage – Gently massaging your scalp helps to release those precious oils that your locks need. You're also helping to get rid of that other stuff that’s lurking around—dead skin cells, product residue, sweat, etc.
    • Scalp-specific treatments – Use products that are gently cleansing and promote healthy hair. Targeted products like our use ingredients that gently detoxify and increase blood circulation in the scalp. Heat up our hair strengthening oil for a hot oil treatment. The result? Gentle nourishment and stimulated hair follicle that can lead to faster, healthier hair.

    Trust MIELLE on Your 4c Hair Journey

    Having4c hair is a journey that’s special to you. You’ll learn new things about yourself and ultimately experience the full appreciation and respect your amazing coils deserve.

    And you can count on MIELLE Organics along the way.

    For the best products for 4c hair—including moisturizing, protecting, and styling your hair —look no further than MIELLE Organics. Our products are 100% natural with only the nourishing oils and nutrients your curls need. Even better? Our formulas were designed with your curls in mind.

    Let us know if you have any questions about the right type 4c natural hair products that will help on your path to fabulous hair health!

    Sources:

    1. Vice.These Are the Chemicals That Should Not Be in Your Hair Products.https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/nekq4x/chemicals-hair-products-glossary
    How to Retain 4c Hair (2024)

    FAQs

    How to Retain 4c Hair? ›

    #1 Moisturize, Moisturize, and Then Moisturize Some More

    How to retain length for 4C hair? ›

    Moisturizing your hair is key. Look for products like leave-in conditioners, co-washes, hair oils, creams, and gels. These products are specially designed to infuse and lock in moisture, combating frizz and shrinkage.

    What does 4C hair need the most? ›

    Compared to other natural hair types, such as 4A and 4B, 4C hair is typically more prone to breakage and requires more moisture to maintain its elasticity. Because 4C hair can be coarse and very dry, products that provide moisture and protection for 4C hair are essential to healthy hair.

    How to retain moisture in 4C hair? ›

    Updated 4C Hair Moisturize Routine
    1. Begin on damp hair that has been cleansed and detangled. ...
    2. In small to medium-sized sections apply a lightweight leave-in conditioner to the hair. ...
    3. Layer a small amount of a lightweight moisturizer on top until absorbed into the section of hair.
    Oct 21, 2021

    Why isn t my 4C hair retaining length? ›

    4C hair is made of tight coils which makes it more prone to dryness and shrinkage. This is a huge factor because how well you retain moisture into your 4C coils will determine how much length you can achieve. How long your hair can grow is also tied to your genetic makeup.

    Is 4C hair hardest to grow? ›

    4C hair is said to be the most difficult hair type to grow and maintain. It can be feisty, happy, or moody – like it has a mind of its own.

    What is the weakest hair type? ›

    We know that 4C hair is among the weakest and driest hair types, so maintaining healthy curls is paramount. Luckily, Tolliver says a healthy hair care routine for 4C hair is relatively simple.

    What are the do's and don'ts of 4C hair? ›

    What are some tips for keeping 4C hair healthy?
    • Moisturize, moisturize, moisturize. To no surprise, 4c hair, like all curly hair types, is naturally dry. ...
    • Be gentle. 4c hair is the most fragile hair type. ...
    • Take advantage of protective styling. ...
    • Don't neglect scalp care. ...
    • Give your ends a little TLC. ...
    • Trim regularly.
    Apr 27, 2022

    Is 4C the rarest hair type? ›

    Type 1A hair is the rarest of them all. Straight as a pin and can be prone to greasiness.

    What is the 4C LOC method? ›

    The LOC method is one of the best ways you can keep 4C hair moisturized. This method relies on hydrating the hair with water or water-based product. The moisture is then sealed in with an oil, and then the hair cuticles are closed using a cream, which prevents loss of moisture.

    Should I oil my 4C hair every day? ›

    For optimal nourishment, it is generally recommended to oil your 4C hair once every 2-3 days. This helps to replenish moisture and keep your hair healthy.

    What to put in 4C hair daily? ›

    A good leave-in conditioner with slip is essential for detangling 4C hair. The task of detangling is always so daunting, especially with a head full of thick, coarse hair, but this leave-in provides enough slip to help the detangling process go by quicker and with a lot less pain.

    Does 4C hair stop growing at a certain length? ›

    It's a common misconception that 4C hair doesn't grow, or can't get long. This is a myth! Because 4C hair experiences so much shrinkage, it can feel like your hair is growing very slowly or not at all. However, if you take care of your hair, you will notice growth when you stretch out your hair.

    Why does my 4C hair look so short? ›

    While hair shrinkage can affect all kinds of curly strands, certain hair types are more susceptible to shrinkage. Those with 4A, 4B, and 4C hair experience shrinkage the most because the curls are coiled tighter than the other curl patterns.

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