Hair breakage and shedding are issues that everyone has to deal with, especially those with 4c-type hair. For those with this beautiful 4C type of hair, we’ve got you! Helping to understand 4c hair and why it is prone to breakage is the first step to strengthening and fortifying your strands. We’ll break it down for you and answer the following questions.
- How to Know if your 4C Hair is Healthy
- How to Stop Breakage on 4c Natural Hair
- How Often Should 4c Hair be Washed
- Why is Double Washing Important for 4c Hair
- How to Detangle 4c Hair and Limit Shedding
How to Know if your 4C Hair is Healthy
Do you seem to struggle with breakage, frizz, tangles, or brittle hair? Your scalp and hair may need some TLC! Those who have 4C hair have naturally dry strands. This is because the natural oils from your scalp struggle to reach the entire strand due to your changing curl pattern. If your curls are not properly hydrated, then it is more likely to break or split off.
How to Stop Breakage on 4C Natural Hair:
There can be several reasons as to why you are dealing with breakage. Hair breakage when your hair strand gets so dry, that the hair strand weakens to the point it breaks off or splits apart.
4C hair breakage could be from excessive styling, your hair is too dry and brittle, improper nutrition, or poor hair care. There can also be an underlying medical condition that includes a side effect or symptom of hair loss or breakage. Whatever the cause may be, it is still important to know how to care for 4C hair. Here are a few curly hair care tips and tricks to reduce premature breakage:
- Avoid excessively tight hairstyles
- Do not keep a hairstyle in for too long
- Do not brush dry hair
- Shampoo twice when you wash your hair
- Plop your hair after washing it
- Deep condition your hair weekly /biweekly or oil your scalp 3 or 4 times a week
- Use a hydrating mist to add moisture then seal it in with a hair oil
- For those experiencing hair loss, try the hair stimulator in the trouble areas and massage it in for 3-5 minutes
- Sleep on a silk pillow to avoid unnecessary frizz and pulling from cotton
How often should 4c hair be washed?
On average, 4C hair should be washed every 2-3 weeks. This time frame varies by hair volume and density, length, and lifestyle. It will also depend on your hair needs. For example, if you have a dry scalp and add in several products for hydration, you may need to wash your hair more often to avoid product buildup on the scalp and hair. This could mean you wash your hair as often as once a week. The important thing is to avoid over-washing your hair but make sure to still listen to what your hair and scalp needs. There is no strict rule that requires you to wait or wash your hair for a specific number of days. Everyone is different and your curly hair care needs are unique.
Why is double washing important for 4c hair?
Shampooing twice is an absolute must for everyone, especially those with 4C hair. A one-time wash-through will not clean your hair, it only loosens the dirt from your scalp. 4C hair is thick and coarse, commonly treated with several different hair products. Shampooing twice will remove the natural oils and layers of product buildup from your scalp.
Those with 4C hair should not be washing their hair every day if they want strong and hydrated hair. Due to a longer time between washes and the various products needed to fully nourish your curly hair, it requires a hefty scrub to remove all of the oils. Double washing your hair on your wash days will fully cleanse your scalp, making it easier for the products to reach your roots, rather than being blocked by product buildup.
Detangling 4C Hair
When you detangle your curly hair, do you see clumps of hair falling out? This may be a sign that you are being too rough with your hair. It is normal to see shedding when you wash and brush your hair, but how much is too much hair loss? If it looks like you are losing more than 100 strands, then it is too much hair loss.
To reduce hair loss and shedding when detangling your curly hair, here are some effective ways tips:
- Make sure your hair is damp
- When detangling start combing through from your ends and work your way up to the root of the hair
- Apply a conditioner or detangler from mid-length to the tips of your hair
- Use a wide-tooth comb or a smooth pure boar brush instead of a nylon brush
- Start combing at the ends of your hair and work your way up
- Do not over-brush, pull, or yank on your hair, instead hold your hair above the section you are brushing. This reduces the tension on your hair strands and scalp.
Improve your Curly Hair Routine with Bask + Lather
Use these general curly hair tips and adapt them to your hair care. 4C hair is absolutely beautiful and we are here to help you maintain those luscious kinky curls. A few steps to add to your curly hair routine can make a world of a difference. Try out our Moisturize and Seal Bundle to get started today. It has the essentials that will stimulate your hair growth, add hydration, and seal all the nourishing and natural ingredients into your hair.
