Best Leave In Conditioner for 4C Hair

Type 4C hair can be the most fragile hair type leading to breakage. But if you keep it properly maintain and moisturized, type 4 hair can be incredibly strong and versatile. Because of the structure of coily hair natural oils from the scalp can’t travel down the hair shaft leaving the rest of the hair dry. This means it’s important to find the right products to restore, maintain and seal in moisture. Here are some product suggestions that will help protect and moisturize your coils.

MOISTURIZING SHAMPOOS

Sometimes a co-wash isn’t cutting it and your hair requires a good shampooing, but regular shampoos can dry out your hair. Many shampoos strip all the oils, good or bad, from your hair, pulling the moisture from your strands and leaving it prone to damage. A good way to combat this is by using moisturizing shampoos. They are gentle cleansers with moisturizing ingredients that nourish the hair while removing build-up and also some of the best leave-in conditioner for 4c hair..

Creating slip and effectively moisturizing

As mentioned above, zigzag shaped hair is more susceptible to tangling since it lacks the slippery coating of sebum to enable each strand to slip and slide against adjacent strands rather than latching onto them. The naturally dry state of high porosity 4C hair also makes it fragile and vulnerable to breakage and brittleness so it's important to handle this texture with care. We use the plant based ingredients found in traditional Afro-Ayurvedic hair care treatments to develop high performance products for afro/coily hair in general and 4C hair in particular. The products and techniques suggested below will help you give your beautiful, 4C tresses the care, moisture and nutrients it needs to flourish and grow!

Step 1: Scalp Care

The scalp, just like the skin, is susceptible to damage caused by poor treatment and the use of low quality products. Keeping the scalp and hair follicles healthy is the first step to achieving healthy hair growth. The two treatments below are formulated to address the needs of both a compromised scalp in need of healing and a healthy scalp in need of extra nourishment to help thicken and grow in hair.

Our 100% vegan and mineral oil-free Tea Tree & Lavender Therapeutic Pomade contains medicinal essential oils that have been used for centuries to soothe and heal scalp conditions. Apply this directly to your scalp to help heal damaged follicles, reduce flaking and alleviate the tenderness and itchiness that can accompany tight hair styles and protective styles.

Best Leave-In Conditioner for 4C Natural Hair

Use our 100% vegan and mineral oil-free Castor & Amla Nourishing Pomade on a healthy scalp to help thicken hair and boost growth. This pomade can also be used to add softness, pliability and sheen to dry, coarse and dull hair.

Applying herb infused ointments to the scalp to treat scalp conditions and enhance growth is a centuries old tradition practiced by our ancestors who understood that a healthy scalp is integral to growing a magnificently healthy mane.

Step 2: Proper Detangling

Detangling matted hair can be a painful, frustrating process when you're not equipped with the right tools, techniques and products. To reduce the time and effort it takes to restore your crown to a manageable coif that you can glide your fingers through without resistance, you'll need our Cocoa Tree Detangling Ghee, a multi-functional conditioner capable of both moisturizing and detangling hair. Our Cocoa Tree Detangling Ghee is a rich cream formulated specifically for 4C hair that contains detangling and conditioning agents that simultaneously wet the hair, flatten the culticles and elongate it by weighing it down. Using a detangler with these 3 features is essential to detangling 4C hair. To use, start by dividing your damp or dry hair into multiple, manageable sections and applying a quarter sized amount of the Cocoa Tree to just one section at a time. Repeatedly smooth it through that section until you feel your hair softening and elongating. Using your fingers and starting from the bottom up, begin separating the strands. Once they're separated, follow up with a wide tooth comb to gently comb through as the tangles slip away.

Our Cocoa Tree Detangling Ghee can also be used to reduce tangling and shedding while removing twists, plaits and braids. Just apply a moderate coat to each plait, allow it to sink in for 30 seconds, and then start unraveling from the bottom up. This technique acts to wet the hair, softening it up enough to help each section slip away from the other without excessive pulling or breakage.

Using a thin tooth comb or combing 4C hair while dry, without a creamy detangler, will lead to frayed ends, excessive pulling and traction alopecia which is hair loss caused by tissue trauma and scarring of the hair follicles.

RINSE OUT CONDITIONERS - Best Leave-In Conditioner for 4C Hair

The best way to infuse your hair with some much needed moisture after shampooing is a good conditioner. The conditioner should be hydrating with good slip for detangling. Make sure that the conditioner is silicone and paraben free as these can cause build-up on the hair. Also avoid certain alcohols as these can be drying.

HYDRATING LEAVE-IN

Since the biggest struggle with 4C hair is dryness a hydrating leave-in is essential for packing more moisture into your hair. Leave-ins moisturize and soften the hair keeping it supple and healthy. Make sure that your leave-in is water based as water is the most important moisturizing ingredient. For thinner hair look for spray leave-ins to add some lightweight moisture. If you have thicker hair a heavier cream based moisturizer would work better.

NOURISHING DEEP CONDITIONERS

A deep conditioner can add moisture or protein to your hair depending on what your hair needs. They repair damage and keep the hair moisturized and strong, preventing breakage and split ends resulting in healthier, happier hair.