What Is 4C Hair?

The natural movement has grown so much throughout the years, allowing black women to transform their views on their natural hair and how they take care of it. With the advancing knowledge, acceptance, and products, came a better understanding of textures, and along came “hair types”. Knowing your hair type helps you to understand what products you will need to use, what products won’t work, different styles you should try, amongst other things. Hair types range from 1 to 4. With 1 hair type being straight and 4c being the kinkiest of textures.

4c hair is often getting describes as difficult to manage, extremely coarse, and not versatile at all. However, 4c hair is fragile, which means constant manipulation of the hair like any other hair texture is not ideal. The elasticity of 4c hair strands combined with the pattern of the hair allows the hair to mold, bend, and form into a twist, curls, and braids with no issues. If you think you have 4c hair and have questions, no worries keep reading what is 4c hair!

What Exactly Is 4C Hair?

People who have 4c hair, has tightly coiled, kinky texture hair. Although many people say 4c hair does not have a curl pattern this it does. The curls are so tight you are unable to see the curl pattern without products being used. 4c textured hair is extremely versatile and allows for many hairstyles.

4C VS 4B Hair

4b and 4c hair are often misrepresented and classified incorrectly. Looking at both textures from eye view you would not be able to tell the difference. However, 4b hair is more of a zig-zag pattern that has a “Z” shaped strand with no curl pattern while 4c hair is an extremely tight corkscrew curl, springy, and bunches at the end. Both patterns are prone to moisture loss and ending in dry hair.

4C VS 4A Hair

4a hair is curled tightly forming a “S” shape. 4a hair also has a high density and tends to be dark in color due to the density of the hair strands. 4c hair is an extremely tight corkscrew curl, springy, and bunches at the end. Unlike 4c hair 4a hair retains moisture so dryness is not an issue. 4a hair also does not shrink as much as 4c hair does.

Hair Care Tips for Your 4C Hair

One common question when dealing with 4c hair is about a proper hair care regimen. Developing a regimen is the best decision you can do for your 4c hair. 4c hair is prone to dryness and breakage, meaning you will need moisturizing products amongst other things to ensure happy healthy hair.

1.Pree-poo

When pre-pooing your hair, you are adding moisture before shampooing your hair and helping with the detangling process. Pre-pooing also adds a protective layer to your hair, due to shampoo stripping moisture from the hair.


To make your pre-pooing session easier you should section your hair off. Divide your hair into four quadrants, if thicker or longer move into splitting those four sections into eight to ensure all of the hair has the product.


Next, midst your hair graciously with water, and apply a good amount of product on your hair moving from root to tips.
Now, leave your pre-poo on for up to thirty minutes, remember the longer you pre-poo the softer and shinier your hair will be. Your pre-poo time limit is based on your hair texture, the thickness of your hair, and the length of your hair. It is best if you wrap your hair up to keep heat in from your scalp.


Lastly, wash and condition your hair as you normally would. Make sure to rinse your hair thoroughly, too many products will create product residue that weighs the hair down.

2.Choose a Sulfate-Free Shampoo

Sulfate-free shampoo maintains the natural oils in your hair versus stripping them away, meaning you will have more moisture in your hair.

3. Deep Condition Your Hair Regularly

Deep conditioning your hair should be a part of your wash-day routine. 4c hair thrives when consistently moisturized, leading to healthy, soft, shiny hair. Deep conditioning also improves detangling your hair.

4. Moisture Your 4c Hair Often

Tight curl patterns dry more quickly than other hair patterns. Due to how tight the curl pattern is of 4c hair distribution of the natural oils from the scalp are not distributed to the entire hair strand, leading to dry, brittle hair. The LOC method is the best method to retain the moisture in your hair. The LOC method allows you to seal hair moisture from the products used.

5.LOC Method

The LOC method is a technique used to moisturize your hair using a technique when layering products. First, you apply the liquid to hydrate the hair. Next, using an oil-based product to lock in the moisture from the liquids and apply it thoroughly throughout the hair. Lastly, use a cream-based product to avoid moisture loss. The protocol you chose is based on how dry your hair is and its porosity. Low manipulation and moisture are the best things for 4c hair. When choosing hairstyles for your 4c hair, try out styles that do not require manipulation of the hair.

6.Two Strand Hair Twist

Two strand twists are the perfect protective style and add in the bonus of locking moisture! Two-strand twists are lightweight, adds zero tension, and require zero rubber bands or anything. Your two-strand twist can also be styled into other hairstyles and when taken down your hair can be done in curls or waves.

7.Braid Out

Braid outs are almost the same as twist out. However, instead of curls, your hair will come out looking like a zig-zag pattern instead of a curl. Moisturize your hair as you usually would, detangle, section off, and braid hair. Allow to fully dry and take the hair down.

8.Box Braids

A go-to protective style that lasts for a long time. Pick any color, length, or style and go. Be sure to moisture your scalp when you have this protective style in.

9.Bantu Knots

Bantu knots are a fun a versatile hairstyle that allows protection and moisture retention. Try parting your hair into triangles or square parts and roll your sections around wrapping it using a circular motion. This is another style offering minimal tension and allows for another style when taken down.

10.Your Fro

Rocking your afro is such a freeing experience. Wearing your hair in its natural state is freeing and has to be one of the most beautiful hairstyles any naturalist can wear.

11.Try a Puff

Once one of your hairstyles has gotten old or twist out didn’t quite work out a puff is a must. A puff is the easiest style to accomplish and looks effortless.



Taking care of and maintaining your 4c hair can seem daunting and an undesirable experience. Without the correct products, incorrect hair regiment, and less than ideal environmental factors this can be true. Try our suggestions listed above and you will be sure to see a huge difference in your hair. Our last and most important tip for your 4c hair is, wrapping your hair up at night. By doing so you ensure your hair remains hydrated and your style is maintained.

Have any other suggestions regarding 4c hair, we would love to hear them, comment below.

Originally published at https://bit.ly/3CWksIZ on Aug 10, 2020.