When choosing the best products to use on 4C natural hair, it is wise to pick those that moisturise and help you manage your hair by taming frizz effectively. A thing to note is that even though 4C hair might appear strong due to its unruly nature, it is the weakest and more prone to breakage. With this in mind, you want to invest in moisturising products and tools that do not snag your hair promoting breakage.
- Tools
This includes a wide-toothed comb, metal-less bands, a Denman brush and a hair massager that will help you massage your scalp facilitating blood circulation. Massaging your scalp stimulates blood flow expediting hair growth.
Hair styling tools and other materials that you use during your wash day should not contribute to hair breakage.
Always remember to finger-detangle first before following up with combs or brushes. Other tools you may need include heat caps to use when you deep condition and a silk headscarf to protect your hair at night.
- Shampoo
When it comes to shampoo, you want a product that lathers well, doesn’t strip your hair of its moisture or sebum and most importantly cleans your scalp and hair strands effectively. 4C hair requires a lot of moisture, which is why a Sulfate-free shampoo is advisable than a clarifying shampoo.
- A clarifying shampoo – it is used for deep cleaning, which involves getting rid of intense product build up. This can happen from using many styling products. A clarifying shampoo due to the sulfates cleanses more than a moisturizing shampoo which conditions. You should not deep clean your hair too often, as clarifying shampoos will strip your scalp of its sebum and leave your hair dry and brittle.
- A moisturizing shampoo – it is the ideal shampoo for regular wash days, as it moisturizes your hair, gives it slip, helps in detangling and gets rid of oiliness without drying your hair.
- Deep Conditioner and Leave-in conditioner
A deep conditioner will treat your hair as well as give it bounce. A leave-in conditioner is a product you don’t rinse out and it helps in keeping your hair moisturized, soft and nourished. What these two conditioners share is the fact that they restore moisture to your hair. Since you’re also detangling your hair and trying to tame frizz avoid products that will dry your hair. This is by making sure that the conditioners you use do not have the following ingredients.
Propylene Glycol, Mineral oil, paraffin, parabens, sulfates, synthetic fragrance, synthetic colour, phthalates, petroleum, alcohol, and acrylics.
Invest in products that are made with 100% natural ingredients and your 4C will thank you.
- Carrier Oils
Oils are a good way to keep your hair looking healthy, lustrous and moisturised. Since there are a variety of oils in the market it doesn’t hurt to match the benefits they provide with what your hair needs. For example;
Coconut oil is a carrier oil that is considered a staple for 4Cs. It hydrates, protects the hair and controls oil secretion from the scalp. One of the leading causes of dandruff. Extra Virgin Coconut and Olive Oil are great for pre-pooing, (hot treatment) which is a technique that prevents protein loss when wet combing. Castor oil prevents hair loss and thinning, it strengthens hair and reduces frizz. Therefore, someone having hair loss problems will benefit more from applying castor oil than applying Jasmine oil which is meant to add shine.
- Hair repair products
These are repair products, serums and hair loss treatments that help you attain a healthier and bouncy looking 4C. They address hair and scalp issues. This includes thinning, brittle hair, damaged hair, breakage, a dry and itchy scalp and any other problem you might face while transitioning. Hair repair products range from shampoos, sleeping mask, conditioners to the tools you use on your hair from time to time.
Therefore, when it comes to finding the best and right products for 4C hair, knowledge of hair behaviour and its patterns is useful. Learn to listen to your hair by taking an introspective, intuitive action and becoming more reactive than proactive. Instead of splurging on hair products because they worked on your natural hair model, learn the characteristics of your hair and give it the products it needs. This approach will guarantee a healthier, bouncier and more manageable fro that will leave you looking like nature at its peak.
Speaking of nature at its peak here are some accessories to complement your natural hair.
