15 BEST PRODUCTS FOR TYPE 4C HAIR: SHAMPOOS, CONDITIONERS AND LEAVE-IN CONDITIONERS
4C hair is beautiful; there’s no doubt about that. There is an abundance of styles to try out with it. Nevertheless, for your coils to stay not only luscious but also healthy, certain efforts need to be put in place. Certainly, all hair types require a specialized hair care regimen; but with 4C hair, you need to be extra. This is because 4C hair, characterized by tight coils, is arguably the most fragile of hair types.
That being said, you must know the right products and tools to use on your 4C hair so that all the money and effort spent on your hair will not be a waste. Many 4C hair naturalistas do not get the results they want on their hair not because it is “stubborn” or too hard to maintain. Kinky hair needs soft care and attention, and you can’t get that from just any product you find on the shelf.
You may have gone through stages of trial and error and still not found the most suitable products for your hair. We understand how frustrating this is. We want you to know that with the right knowledge of your hair’s needs, finding the right products will be no big deal.
So, to help you save time and energy looking for what products suit your hair best, we decided to collate this list. By the end of this blog post, you’d know some of the best shampoos, conditioners and leave-in conditioners for your 4C hair.
- You Need a Shampoo
Aside from basic hygiene, shampooing your hair helps your curls look fresh and alive. It nourishes the scalp by getting rid of debris and dirt that may clog the pores or cause dandruff. It helps prevent hair loss as dandruff is known to cause thin hair. However, shampooing 4C hair should be kept at a minimum because of its dry nature. Shampoos strip the hair of its natural oil and this may cause further dryness.
There are different types of shampoo available for different hair types. For 4C hair, the best is a sulfate and paraben-free moisturizing shampoo. Many shampoos contain harmful ingredients like sulfate and paraben that leave the hair dry and frizzy.
FAQ:
How often should I wash my 4C hair?
Answer:
4C hair should be washed with shampoo once or twice monthly. You can co-wash (washing with a conditioner) in between to keep your curls fresh.
Best Shampoos for 4C Hair
One of the sworn enemies of 4C hair is hard water minerals like calcium and magnesium. They make it hard for moisture to penetrate the hair strand, leaving the hair limp and brittle. This shampoo will help you combat them with phytic acid. It also contains a blend of Mandarin orange extract and sea kelp. These ingredients help clean the hair strands and scalp gently and maintain moisture balance respectively. Did we say it is cruelty-free?
This maximum moisture protection shampoo is made with almond and avocado oils, which are natural hydrating ingredients. It is sulfate-free, so it removes dirt and build-up from the hair without stripping it of all its natural oils. It softens the hair and makes detangling significantly easier which makes it great for 4C hair.
If your hair is dry, damaged, brittle or stressed, this shampoo will work wonders on it. It nourishes your scalp with black Jamaican castor oil which is rich in vitamin E and omega 6 and 9 fatty acids. It aids blood flow and circulation to the scalp, which in turn aids growth. It makes your strands fuller, stronger and more manageable by replenishing its natural oil. It makes detangling easier because of the moisture it adds to the hair. It is free of sulfate, paraben and silicone.
This shampoo contains a blend of natural ingredients that clean the hair thoroughly and leaves you with a tingling feeling. It rejuvenates dry hair with moisture from tea tree and peppermint. It is sulfate and cruelty-free – perfect for 4C hair.
This shampoo is perfect for 4C hair. It is infused with ginger and lemon extracts which keep the hair hydrated. It contains aniseed oil; this helps relieve dry scalp by providing moisture from hair roots to the tip. It is sulfate and paraben-free. One of the reviewers’ reports, “This is the best shampoo I’ve ever used. It leaves hair feeling clean without feeling stripped of its oils.”
- You Need a Conditioner
Conditioning 4C hair is important because it helps restore the moisture lost from the shampooing process. Conditioners help improve texture and manageability by keeping the hair hydrated. It works on the hair strands by softening the hair and minimizing dryness and frizz. It also makes detangling easier and ultimately reduces hair loss. Simply put, hair conditioners make your hair easier to work with.
FAQ:
What is the difference between regular conditioners and deep conditioners?
Answer:
Regular conditioners are applied to the hair and not left for more than five minutes. They work only on the external surface of the hair to soften the hair strands. Deep conditioners, on the other hand, are masks that are left in for at least 30 minutes. They penetrate the hair shaft to nourish the hair on a deeper level.
Best Conditioners For 4C Hair
If you love organic products, then you’d like this hair conditioner. It is formulated with 98% natural ingredients like coconut oil, mango seed butter, rapeseed oil, rosehip oil, olive leaf extract, shea butter and hydrolyzed quinoa. And with apple cider vinegar, it nourishes, moisturizers, detangles and strengthens your hair strands. It also contains ingredients like rosemary, lemongrass, clary sage and vanilla essential oils which leave your hair with a great smell.
This hair conditioner nourishes dry hair, fights frizz, and softens hair strands. It is moisture-rich which makes it good for detangling 4C hair. It contains hydrating ingredients necessary for hair nourishment like keratin, marshmallow root, shea butter and avocado butter. It’s easy to apply the hair and this cuts styling time.
With a 4.5 star rating on Amazon, this is definitely one of the best conditioners for 4C hair. It offers maximum hydration for dry hair and also helps lock in moisture. It is formulated with vitamin E, an essential nutrient that softens 4C hair. This product is lightweight – it does not weigh the hair down. It also replenishes damaged hair into healthy and manageable strands. One more thing, this conditioner is good for color-treated hair.
This argan oil-infused conditioner is perfect for dehydrated 4C hair. It restores moisture balance in the hair and also detangles it. It contains antioxidants and moisturizing red algae. It leaves the hair more manageable, smoother and easier to style by helping the hair strands lock in moisture. It is free of harmful ingredients like sulfate, silicone and paraben.
This cruelty-free conditioner is made from vegan ingredients that help nourish the health of your hair and scalp. It contains apple extract, ceramide, citrus protein, Vitamins B3 and B6, and fruit and plant-derived extracts. It is designed to strengthen, soften and smoothen your hair shaft and scalp with its natural ingredients. It also helps prevent hair breakage and loss.
- You Need a Leave-in Conditioner
For it to stay healthy and alive, kinky hair needs all the moisture it can get. Dryness makes 4C hair prone to hair breakage, tangling, damage and frizz. But with the right leave-in conditioner, all these can be avoided. Leave-in conditioners also replenish your hair’s natural oils, helping your scalp avoid dryness and irritation. They can be applied after your wash routine or before styling your hair.
When getting a leave-in conditioner for your 4C hair, you must avoid certain ingredients. Silicones (which can act as fillers instead of moisturizers), alcohol (which dries out the moisture in your hair) and paraben (which causes frizz) are harmful ingredients found in some leave-in conditioners.
FAQ:
Are leave-in conditioners like regular conditioners?
Answer:
In some ways, yes, they are similar. Both leave-in conditioners and regular conditioners help hydrate and moisturize kinky hair. They also help detangle the hair and prevent breakage. But unlike regular conditioners, leave-in conditioners are left in the hair after application. They are not rinsed off.
Best Leave-in Conditioners for 4C Hair
This product is infused with caffeine, biotin and ginseng which help strengthen the hair and scalp. It moisturizes dry and brittle hair leaving it soft and silky. It also contains vitamin E which promotes rapid hair growth and strength. It de-frizzes the hair and also gives it volume and hold. It reduces hair breakage and damage. With moisture protection, it offers your hair a detangling solution.
Carol’s Daughter Almond Milk Leave-in Conditioner is a lightweight product designed to help reverse damage in 4C hair. To take it a step further, it protects your strands from future damage. It contains natural moisturizing ingredients like almond oil, aloe butter, shea oil, cocoa seed butter, grape seed oil, jojoba seed oil, soybean oil, and aloe leaf juice. And of course, it is cruelty-free.
4C hair tends to have a hard texture because of its dry nature; this leave-in conditioner offers a lasting solution to that. It softens the hair strands with argan oil and this also facilitates hair growth. It makes detangling easier by deeply moisturizing the hair and scalp, and also replenishes the hair’s natural oil. Honestly, this conditioner does it all for kinky hair.
For healthy and manageable curls, this conditioner has you covered. It contains coconut oil, coconut milk and acacia Senegal which are all great moisturizing products for 4C hair. It makes your detangling process a lot easier and also protects your hair from damage and frizz. It is also cruelty-free and safe for daily use. Many naturals that have tried this product attest that it is great for 4C hair.
If your hair is battling with breakage, split ends and damage, you may want to try out this product. The blend of cocoa butter and biotin ensure hair growth by protecting the hair from potential breakage and damage. It also provides your scalp with the necessary nutrients for healthy and strong hair. It is safe for color-treated hair and also cruelty-free.
Wrapping up, one of the basics of getting healthy 4C hair is adopting a suitable wash-day routine. For this, you need the right shampoo and conditioner as well as after-wash care products like leave-in conditioners. The above-mentioned products will give your hair a good foundation for healthy hair. Which of them will you try out? Let’s know in the comments!
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