How often should you wash natural 4c hair? 4c natural hair should be washed once or twice a month and it’s important to co-wash in between. For type 4C hair, there needs to be a balance between washing the hair too often and less washing.
Hair type is one thing a lot of us do not know about, we know African hair is different from American or Indian hair, but we do not know these hair types have been grouped and their labels can easily identify them.
The type of 4C hair is tightly coiled, it has no known curl pattern. It is the most fragile amongst the type 4 family and this leads to experiencing more breakage from people. It is prone to dryness and it shrinks a lot, hence it requires more care. However, there are people with the 4C hair type who have curls, this is normal and can be determined by a lot of things, like their genetics.
(Note: some people have two hair types too)
The type 4C hair can range from soft, to fine, coarse, or thin. There are misconceptions that this type of hair doesn’t grow, however, this isn’t true. Because it is different from every other hair and like every other hair, you only need to understand this type of hair to know how to care for it. Also, due to its shrinkage, you may think it is not growing because it has gone lesser than its actual length.
It is said to be the kinkiest of the type 4 hair family.
Protecting the type 4C hair from breakage can be done by making protective hairstyles like braids, twists, buns.
Knowing how to care for your hair type will help you see the significant change you desire.
How often should you wash the type 4C hair?
Washing the hair too often will strip the hair of its natural nutrients and oil that it needs to grow, and this will lead to breakage and split ends. For type 4C hair, if you have oily or grease hair then you should wash once a week ut for healthy hair, wash once or twice a week. There needs to be a balance between washing the hair too often and less washing.
Type 4 hair is the hair type of the black woman (African). It ranges from 4A to 4C. The type 4 hair is coarse and fine with thick strands. Our focus for today isn’t all of the type 4 hair but the type 4C.
Less washing of the hair will make it dirty, less attractive, and smelly and this is not the result we want for our hair.
So how do we get the balance that the hair needs? We’ll be putting it into stages;
- Shampooing
- Co-washing
- Deep conditioning.
1. Shampooing
Shampooing is washing the hair with shampoo to cleanse the hair and take away the dirt in it. However, for type 4C hair, although shampoo cleanses the hair, it also rid it of its natural nutrients and oil. Because of the nature of the hair and its quickness to dry out, washing the hair often with shampoo will damage it and cause breakage. Hence it is advisable to wash the hair with shampoo once or twice in 4 weeks.
If you feel your hair is dirty and you need to wash it, there is an alternative to shampooing which is co-washing.
2. Co-washing
Co-washing is the washing of the hair without the use of shampoo. Co-washing doesn’t dry out the hair, it keeps the moisture in and allows the natural oil to cleanse, nourish and hydrate the hair and scalp. co-washing leaves the hair smoother, softer, and shiny. Because of the natural dryness that kinky hair has, co-washing is the perfect alternative to shampooing the hair.
Note: there is still the need to shampoo the hair once or twice a month, co-washing is just an alternative to keep your hair clean a bit without completely drying it out.
3. Deep Conditioning
Deep conditioning should be done once in two weeks. The 4C hair doesn’t retain moisture and dries out fast, this means that the hair needs to be moisturized as often as possible. Deep conditioning keeps the moisture locked in.
The 4C type of hair is very unique in the looks and the care, there may be a lot of misconception going around about it, but first, knowing your hair type and taking proper care of it will give you the desired outcome and make you fall in love with it over and over again.
Read more on natural natural hair:
- Will Bleaching Natural Hair Damage It?
- How to Use Argan Oil For Natural Hair
- How Often Should You Deep Condition Natural Hair?
- The Best Grease Products For Natural Hair In 2021
- 5 Things To Know When Transitioning To Natural Hair
- How to Make Natural Hair Soft
- 10 Reasons Why Natural Hair Sheds
- How to Do Natural Hair Bun At Home (21 Bun Style Ideas)
- How to Flat Iron Natural Hair Without Damaging It
- How to Grow Natural Hair Fast: The Complete Guide
Is it bad to wet 4c hair every day?
Yes! Wetting 4c hair every day is a bad idea as you will be stripping it of its natural oils which the hair needs to stay moisturized. 4c hair type should be washed once every week and detangle with conditioner.
How often should you comb 4C hair?
Regular combing of 4c natural hair will result in mechanical damage and in turn cause hair breakage. So, you should avoid combing 4c hair too often and if you are wearing a protective style, you may comb it once a week using a wide-toothed comb.
Is shrinkage a sign of healthy hair?
Yes, shrinkage is a sign of healthy hair. If you have tons of shrinkage in your hair and your hair hasn’t been damaged by chemicals or heat then your hair is definitely healthy. Your curl’s ability to bounce back after washing means that it’s in a healthy state.
Is coconut oil good for 4C hair?
Due to coconut oil’s nutritional composition, it can be used to moisturize and soften 4c natural hair. When applied to hair, coconut oil has a high affinity for hair proteins and it penetrates fast and deep compared to other oils.
Is leave-in conditioner good for 4C hair?
A good leave-in conditioner will do wonders for your 4c hair. Leave-in conditioner helps maintain smoother and healthier curls.
