How to Retain 4c Hair

Okay, real talk. Having natural 4c hair can be emotional. But we’re here for you through every phase of that journey!

Consider us your support system for all things related to how to have stronger, longer 4c hair in a way that feels encouraging and empowering and best suited to you. 

Before you know it, you’ll be an expert in 4c hair length retention and you’ll be spreading the knowledge to all your 4c curly hair girlfriends. Let’s get started!

#1 Moisturize, Moisturize, and Then Moisturize Some More

Finding the right hair moisturizer is key for Type 4c hair. Because 4c hair is characterized by dense and tight coils, this hair type is often the most difficult to keep moisturized. Your beautiful curl pattern presents a challenge for spreading natural oils from your scalp to your hair strands.

But if you moisturize diligently, you can fight back (and win) against frizziness, shrinkage, and sluggish hair.  So, if you're looking for ways on how to coil natural Black hair, it's all about the right hair products. Finding a hair moisturizer for curly hair is key. That’s why you should incorporate these quality, deep conditioning and moisturizing natural hair products on wash day and every day:

• Leave-in conditioner
• Co-washes
• Hair oils, creams, and gels

#2 Skip the Unnatural Stuff

Not all hair products are healthy for your Type 4 hair. There may be some bad stuff lurking in certain formulas that could actually inhibit healthy hair. The two biggest anti-hair health culprits are:

#3 Nourish Your Scalp with Vitamin-Rich Food

Your Type 4 hair, like your skin, is a part of your body impacted by your habits, including what you eat. If you love some or all of these hair-promoting foods, feel free to add more to your meals:

• Fatty fish like salmon or mackerel
• Spinach
• Berries
• Avocado
• Eggs
• Almonds

#4 Go Easy on Heat Styling

Whether you use high porosity hair products to protect your hair or other heat styling products, heat stresses out your hair like surprise voicemails from your boss stress you out. Using styling heat can cause breakage in all hair types. But since 4c curls are always just a little parched, a little heat can seriously delay your hair glow-up goals. 

Try embracing the beauty of rocking your hair au natural. Learn how to enhance curls rather than fight them. Give a wash-and-go hairstyle a chance so your curls can be stress-free. There are so many 4c natural hair styles to choose from similar to this to promote healthy hair. 

#5 Use Protective Products and Styles

Can’t beat the need for heat? If you’re unsure how to blow dry curly hair to prevent breakage, use a moisturizing hair protectant whenever you style your curls. Moisturizing and protective styling products can nourish your textured hair and encourage healthy hair. Protective styling products also seal in the moisture you so lovingly lathered into your hair, helping your strands stay strong all day.  

For wash-and-go and edge-sealing styles, our Pomegranate & Honey Coil Sculpting Custard and Honey & Ginger Edge Gel provide definition, smoothing, and protection against split ends and breakage. At MIELLE Organics, have the best products for curly frizzy hair.

#6 Get a Trim

You may think avoiding a haircut is the key to healthy natural hair. Plot twist! Forgoing the hair stylist can actually kill your hair dreams. Why? Split ends. When an end “splits,” the hair strand becomes weak, making it more prone than ever to breakage throughout your locks. 

So here’s how that breaks down:

• Split ends lead to hair breakage
• Hair breakage leads to stunted length
• Stunted length leads to you screaming in frustration in your bathroom. 

Save yourself from the suffering and instead, get regular trims. Although it seems counter-intuitive, regular trims snip away the dryer, dead ends of your hair which prevents split ends. Try to schedule your trims for every 6 weeks or so to help clear away the weaker ends. Then, stretch out the time between appointments to every three to four months as your hair gets healthier.  

It might seem like the exact thing you’d want to avoid when you’re trying to figure out how to get 4c hair fast, but regular trims equal less damage and more length.

#7 Care for Your Scalp

You can’t enjoy hair without a healthy scalp. When you care for your scalp diligently, your whole head will be happier and you’ll see the length you’ve been looking forward to.

Here are two easy scalp-care steps you can take.

• Massage – Gently massaging your scalp helps to release those precious oils that your locks need. You're also helping to get rid of that other stuff that’s lurking around—dead skin cells, product residue, sweat, etc. 

• Scalp-specific treatments –  Use products that are gently cleansing and promote healthy hair. Targeted products like our Rosemary Mint Scalp & Hair Strengthening Oil use ingredients that gently detoxify and increase blood circulation in the scalp. Heat up our hair strengthening oil for a hot oil treatment. The result? Gentle nourishment and stimulated hair follicle that can lead to faster, healthier hair.

Trust MIELLE on Your 4c Hair Journey

Having 4c hair is a journey that’s special to you. You’ll learn new things about yourself and ultimately experience the full appreciation and respect your amazing coils deserve.

And you can count on MIELLE Organics along the way. 

For the best products for 4c hair—including moisturizing, protecting, and styling your hair —look no further than MIELLE Organics. Our products are 100% natural with only the nourishing oils and nutrients your curls need. Even better? Our formulas were designed with your curls in mind.

Let us know if you have any questions about the right type 4c natural hair products that will help on your path to fabulous hair health! 

Sources: 

1. Vice. These Are the Chemicals That Should Not Be in Your Hair Products. https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/nekq4x/chemicals-hair-products-glossary