Type 4A-4C: Texture
Type 4 coily hair is fine and thin or wiry and corase, with densely packed coils. Coily hair may seem robust, but it's actually the most fragile hair texture because it has the fewest cuticle layers to protect it from dryness. It's top concerns are maintaining moisture, avoiding tangles and counteracting shrinkage.
TYPE 4A
Your dense, springy coils are either wiry or fine, and have the circumference of a crochet needle. They are tightly coiled with a visible "S" pattern.
Quick Tips:
Use thicker natural emollients like mango and shea butters to maximize your wash-and go, twist-out or bantu knot-out style after washing.
Your porosity level is very important in determining which ingredients from your products your dense coils will be able to absorb the best.
TYPE 4B
Instead of curling or coiling, your hair bends in sharp angles like the letter Z. The curl is tighter and less defined - about the circumference of a pen - with strands that range from fine and thin to wiry and coarse.
Quick Tips:
Pre-shampoo with coconut oil or castor oil to help retain the natural oils in your scalp during your shampooing
Utilize twist outs and braid outs after you apply your conditioning, sealing and styling products to help your hair absorb more of the moisture it has received from the products.
TYPE 4C
Your densely packed hair is similar to a 4b, but experiences less definition and more shrinkage. The tightly coiled strand texture ranges from super fine, thin and soft to wiry and coarse. It is very delicate.
Quick Tips:
Use a creamy humectant as a leave-in to maximize protection from the elements, allowing moisture to adhere to your hair for longer.
Don't sacrifice hair health to combat shrinkage. Shrinkage is a sign of healthy hair and you can utilize no-heat methods like twist-outs, bantu knots and braiding to achieve stretched hair.
Always apply your products in sections to allow for the product to coat as many strands as possible.
Okay... now that we know what Type #4 hair is...
How Does This Help Us Buy Our Products?
Best Product Types
For Type 4 hair, utilize products with a thicker consistency that will hydrate your hair to help with detangling, and that will seal in the moisture from your leave-in conditioning product.
In excess humidity, utilize sealant products with anti-humectant ingredients, and in dryer climates, use products with humectant ingredients.
Anti-Humectant Ingredients:
shea butter
castor oil
avocado oil
coconut oil
Humectant Ingredients:
aloe vera
glycerin
sodium PCA
honey
Utilize water-based leave-in conditioners in conjunction with detanglers when hydrating and detangilng your hair to ensure it receives he help that it needs.
Water-Based Leave-in Conditioners/Detanglers:
Taliah Waajid Apple and Aloe Leave-in Conditioner
TGIN Green Tea Leave-in Conditioner
Aunt Jackie's Knot On My Watch Detangler
Eden Bodyworks Shea Coco LEave-in Conditioner
Ensure to utilize oil or butter based sealants after applying your water-based leave-in conditioner to seal in that moisture for a longer period of time.
The Mane Choice Tropical Moringa Sealing Cream
Mielle Organics Mint Almond Oil
Island Med's Jamaican Black Castor Oil
Best Hair Care Practices
Implement these practices in your haircare regimen to get best curl and moisture results with your application of products.
Utilize the LOC Method:
After applying your rinse our shampoo and conditioner, rake your leave-in conditioner through your strands ensuring each one is covered.
Follow up with an oil or butter based sealant to lock the moisture inside.
Apply your styling/curl defining cream or gel to your curls, ensuring each strand is covered.
Wash and apply your product in sections to ensure maximum hydration and styling results.
Sectioning your hair to manipulate makes it easier for you to get in between all of those hard to reach places within your strands.
This also gives you better access to detangle your hair, and allows you to hydrate dryer areas such as the crown of your head much better.
Rake the product in between your strands section by section to ensure that all of the product is being applied to the hair, and focus on ensuring that the ends of the hair have also been coated with product.
Do not wash too often and deep condition once a week (every two weeks if not possible) to keep your hair hydrated.
Generally, ensure you are waiting 7 to 14 days before you wash your hair. If you actively workout, utilize a high level of product or incur a high level of natural oils, try utilizing co-washes every other wash to give your hair that cleansing without stripping the hair of too much moisture.
Deep conditioning gives your hair access to moisture that will help it to increase it's moisture retention over time. Deep condition every two weeks with any of our deep conditioning or mask products.
A New Guide to Buying
The right product, the first time.
Keeping which ingredients, regimens and products work best for your hair texture in mind while you are shopping is crucial in making the right buying decision, as you are able to determine the best possible option for yourself.
RECOMMENDED PRODUCTS FOR TYPE #4 HAIR
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