4C HAIR TYPE: EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW4C HAIR TYPE

Over the years, in the beauty and fashion sphere, there has been a very big hype around natural hair. Many people, especially Africans and  BIPOC, have embraced the natural state of their hair. However, a certain set of people seem not to share in this excitement. You guessed it right: people with 4C hair. 

Although there seems to be sufficient information and conversation going across the internet and social media platforms about this hair type, there is an equal amount of misinformation and misconceptions going around too. Many people believe 4C hair is “stubborn” and “difficult to maintain”. Some believe it is too nappy to be carried around in its natural state. Many people cannot go to work with their hair in its natural form because of these discriminatory views society holds about 4C hair. 

We know that no hair type is superior to the other. And that all hair types – with the right knowledge, tools, products, and hair care regimen – stand a chance of being healthy and looking beautiful. This is why we bring this ultimate guide to understanding your hair and its needs to all our peeps with 4C hair. In this blog post, you will learn everything you need to know about your 4C hair. And when we say everything, we mean everything. Without wasting time, let’s get into it!

History of 4C Hair

In pre-colonial African societies, harmful ideas about afro-textured hair were non-existent. According to Africa.com, before the 15th century, hair symbolized positive ideologies like royalty and fertility for many African tribes. It also served as a means of beautification, identification and craftsmanship, according to Pulse.ng. 

History tells us that hair was a social activity that encouraged communal living and unity, especially amongst pre-colonial African women. Also, knowledge was abundant on what tools and products are suitable for different hair textures. For example, Himba people used products like otjize, butter and goat hair to form their gorgeous and healthy locs. 

What then is the history of 4C hair being regarded as bad hair?, you may ask. This cruel idea sprung up from the colonization and slavery of Africans. According to The Gale Review, after the commencement of the slave trade, captured Africans were forced to shave their hair because their captors saw how much they cherished it. Also, there are claims that during the colonial era, colonists would touch Africans’ hair and comment that it felt like pubic hair. They regarded their hair as dirty and unprofessional and insisted on straightening or totally cutting them off. 

Although slavery and colonial rules have been abolished, their impacts and trauma on the descendants of former slaves and colonized peopled remain till today. One of such impacts is reflected in how black hair, especially 4C hair is perceived. The good news is that many black people have been emancipated from ideas that regarded their physical features like hair as inherently bad and nasty. Hopefully, such ideas will be totally abolished for the sake of coming generations. 

What is 4C Hair?

4C hair is a subcategory of type 4 hair as classified by Andre Walker in his hair typing system according to curl pattern. It is the kinkiest and most coily of all hair types which also makes it the most misunderstood. 4C hair is characterized by tight and small curls. It does not have a well-defined curl pattern on its own; it needs a little manipulation for the pattern to come out. 

Since people are different and so is their hair, different people with this hair type may realize that their hairs react differently to products and hair care routines. This is because many other factors determine the state of our hair aside from our hair type. For instance, hair density, hair porosity and the thinness/coarseness of the hair all play a hand in how our hair turns out. This will be discussed better in subsequent parts of this post.

What are the Characteristics of 4C Hair?

• It is prone to shrinkage. 4C hair shrinks up to 70 to 75%.
• It dries up easily. This is because of the tight nature of its curls which makes it hard for natural oils to get to the strands.
• It is prone to breakage. This is also because the oils are not evenly spread which leaves the ends dry. This ultimately leads to breakage. 
• 4C hair does not have a defined texture. It could be fine, thin, thick or coarse. The texture depends on the individual with the hair.
• It is also prone to knots and tangles because of its tight curls.

How Does Hair Porosity Affect 4C Hair?

Hair porosity basically refers to how well your hair can absorb and retain moisture. This is determined by how open or closely knit your hair cuticles are. If the cuticles are too open, your hair will find it difficult to retain moisture. On the other hand, if they are too close together, your hair will find it hard to absorb moisture. 

There are three main varieties of hair porosity levels: low porosity, medium porosity and high porosity. Low porosity hair finds it hard to absorb moisture but once it manages to absorb it, it retains moisture well enough. Medium porosity hair absorbs and retains moisture just fine. High porosity hair absorbs moisture well but finds it difficult to retain the moisture. 

In most cases, people with 4C hair have low porosity, although some other people with this hair type have medium and high porosity. According to Dominican Hair Alliance, 4C hair generally has extremely low porosity. This accounts for their lack of defined curl patterns since moisture is needed to formulate curl patterns. As we said earlier, not all 4C hair has low porosity. Fine 4C hair tends to be more porous than thick ones. Also, heat damage can cause originally low porosity hair to become high porosity.  

Tips for Managing Low porosity 4C hair

• Use clarifying products like apple cider vinegar and clay masks.
• Use steam to lock in moisture for maximum hydration.
• Always deep-condition your hair with heat.
• Apply light oils that get absorbed easily.
• Avoid applying too many products to your hair.

Tips for Managing High Porosity 4C Hair

• Do not use harsh treatments or tools on your hair.
• Use little to no heat. It is better to air dry your hair instead of blow dry. 
• Avoid light products. Use hair creams and butter instead of oils.
• Always prepoo your hair before washing and conditioning it.

How Does Hair Density Affect 4C Hair?

Hair density is the term used to refer to the total number of hair strands that grow on a person’s head. Each strand grows out of a part of the skin called the hair follicle, and the number of hair follicles you have is a matter of genetics. In other words, how full your hair is has to do with the genes you have inherited from your parents. 

Hair density is important to many people because it influences the volume and shape of your hair, and in many ways, it determines how you can style your hair. Your hair can have high, medium or low density. High density hairs have more strands per square inch of head, and, as Healthline.com reports, can be found mostly in Caucasian people. People of African origin were found, in the study cited in the Healthline article, to have the fewest number of hair strands per square inch of head – meaning they have low hair density.

But amongst people with Afro-textured hair, hair density varies greatly depending on hair type. 4C hair, for example, is denser than 3C, or 4B. It has the highest density of all Afro-textured hairs. This is why it always looks so full when it is grown out. Having high density hair affects the types of hair products best suited to your hair.

Tips for High Density  4C Hair

• Use heavy products, thicker moisturizers, leave-in conditioners, etc. They make the hair stick, which helps to control it better.
• Deep condition your hair regularly to give it enough moisture,  and soften the hair.
• High density hair can be heavy, so hairstyles that take the weight away, like braids and twist-outs, and knots, can be helpful.

How to Take Care of 4C Hair

Because of all its peculiar characteristics, 4C hair might seem like a burden to have. But with the right tools and products – and most especially adequate knowledge – you can take very good care of your 4C hair. Here are some tips on how.

• Moisturize Regularly – We Can’t Stress This Enough

Because 4C hair is probably the driest hair type amongst humans, it tends to break very easily when it is not moisturized. This is why it is important to have a faithful and regular moisturizing routine. Using products rich in oils and butter also helps to detangle the hair, and keep it shiny and vibrant. 

• Deep-Condition Regularly

In the same vein as above, your 4C hair greatly benefits from regular deep conditioning. In fact, Heycurls advises deep conditioning your 4C hair every week. Deep conditioning helps keep your hair looking and feeling healthy.

• Handle with Care

Though it might look and feel tough, 4C hair is in fact very fragile and delicate. You need to take extreme care while washing and combing it. It is advisable to detangle only when your hair is moist, because the moisture permits the detangling brush or comb to go through the curls smoothly, thus avoiding breakage.

How to Grow 4C Hair

Averagely, human hair grows up to six inches in a year, but certain factors, like genetics, can determine how long or how fast a person’s hair grows. Because 4C is naturally dry and prone to breakage, this affects how much it grows, because your hair’s ability to retain moisture affects its growth. But not to fret. Here are some tips on how to grow your 4C hair. 

• Trim your Hair Often

It might sound counterproductive to trim your hair as a way to make it grow longer, but trimming off split ends will do wonders for your hair length. It prevents breakage of strands, and provides more space for your hair to grow.

• Detangle Regularly (Finger Detangling)

Your 4C hair will, as a matter of nature, tangle a lot. This leads to breakage, and prevents hair growth. Detangling is a great way to do this, especially finger detangling, which is more effective because you can take time out to properly loosen the tangles. It’s slow, but it’s the best!

• Use the Right Products for your Hair

The right product for your 4C hair is like a magic touch. Because of its peculiarities, 4C hair is very selective about the kind of products that it yields to. Don’t expect to use the same products as your favorite naturalistas without 4C hair. Learn about your hair and try to find the products that suit it best.

FAQ 1:

How should I comb my 4C Hair? 

Answer:

Remember, your 4C hair is very fragile. When combing, use the most care. Also, only comb when it is wet, in order to avoid breakage.

FAQ 2:

Why is my hair tough after drying?

Answer:

By drying your hair, you are getting rid of its moisture. Moisture is what keeps your hair soft and manageable. To get your hair back to that state after drying, moisturize properly.