As gorgeous as 4C hair is, there’s no denying that caring for it can be a literal nightmare. If you have 4C coils or kinks, you know this all too well. The key to caring for your 4C hair is to formulate a routine that prioritizes protection. In this article, we’ll share with you an easy 4C hair routine for natural hair newbies. By the end, you’ll have a better handle on how to take care of 4C hair.  

Step 1: Cleanse Without Stripping Away All Moisture

The first step of your healthy 4C hair routine is to cleanse your naturally fragile strands without stripping them of all moisture. Here’s how: 

1. Drench your hair with lukewarm or cool water. 
2. Squeeze out any excess water from your hair with your hands. 
3. Apply a sulfate-free, gentle shampoo, like Design Essentials Moisturizing and Detangling Sulfate-Free Shampoo, to your tresses in sections. The shampoo will give your tresses a mega-dose of moisture as it lifts away oil, dirt, debris, and any other impurities. 

Massage the shampoo into your roots with your fingertips - not your nails. Avoid piling your hair on top of your head. Smooth the shampoo downward after a minute or two.  

4. Rinse the shampoo away.

5. Repeat the process only if necessary. Most times, one thorough shampoo session is enough. 

Step 2: Replenish the Moisture with a Hydrating Conditioner or Deep Conditioner

Once you’re done shampooing your 4C tresses, move on to the conditioning step. This is the step where you’ll add some moisture back into your hair. Follow the below steps to condition your hair after every wash: 

1. Separate your hair into at least 4 sections. 
2. Get yourself a creamy, slippery conditioner; Shea Moisture Daily Hydrating Conditioner is a great one. 

If your hair needs a little more TLC, switch out your regular rinse-out conditioner for a rich, restorative deep conditioner - TGIN’s Honey Miracle Hair Mask is a hair-saver.

3. Apply the conditioner or deep conditioner to your hair in sections, braiding up each section after applying the product. Apply extra conditioner to your ends, as they are the oldest, most fragile part of your hair. Use a wide-tooth comb to detangle your hair in small sections. Comb from the ends to the roots. 

4. Use a wide-tooth comb to detangle your hair in small sections. Comb from the ends to the roots.

5. Put on a plastic cap and wait for several minutes to allow the conditioner to do its magic. Deep conditioners can be left on for 30 minutes to an hour. 6. Use lukewarm water to rinse the conditioner or deep conditioner out of your hair.

Step 3: Moisturize and Protect Your 4C Curls Like It’s Your Job

Meaningful 4C hair care hinges on moisture. The best way to moisturize and protect your strands is with the LOC method, which stands for Liquid, Oil, Cream. Applying products in this order will give your 4C strands intense hydration that lasts for days. Here’s how to do it:  

1. Liquid. Start by applying your favorite leave-in moisturizing spray or moistening your hair with plain water. 
2. Oil. Separate your hair into several sections and apply a layer of oil. 

A few oils that work well for 4C folks include: 

1. Castor oil 
2. Coconut oil 
3. Olive oil
4. Avocado oil

 3. Cream. Finish things off with a rich moisturizing cream. 

Distribute the cream through your hair with either your fingers or a wide-tooth comb. 

Note: Consider doing an Aphoghee protein treatment: 

• After chemical treatments (hair dye, bleach, texturizers, etc.).
• Whenever your hair begins to feel brittle and weak.
• If your hair is breaking off. 

Step 4: Gently Style Your 4C Hair

Styling 4C hair can be a struggle and a half - that is, if you fight against your texture with super sleek hairdos or heat tools. If you want to put your hair’s health first, go for styles like these: 

• Wash n’ go
• Braid out
• Twist out
• Braids (not too tight!) 
• Bantu Knots
• High Puff

As you can see, your styling options are nowhere near limited! 

Pro Styling Tip: Whenever you need to speed up the hair drying process, plop your hair with a Tee-owel t-shirt towel and then air-dry the rest of the way. 

Step 5: Protect Your 4C Hair At Night

Your hair care routine doesn’t stop when the sun sets. Protect your hair from dryness and friction by either covering it in a bonnet or scarf or sleeping on a satin pillowcase. 

So, there you have it! Keep this 4C hair care routine in your back pocket and tweak it as needed to make it your own. With the tools and information in this article, you no longer have to wonder how to take care of 4C hair. We wish you the best as you give your 4C hair the best possible care!