How to Make 4C Hair Soft: Complete Guide

Caring for and looking after 4C hair is quite a challenging and frightening task. The beauty of this type of hair lies in its puffs and coils, its sheen and afros. 4C is one such hair type that requires unique care and treatment. You can achieve beautiful lengths and styles by following the correct regimen. Read this article to know how to make 4C hair soft. Implementing these 4C hair care tips will ensure softness in your 4C hair.

4C hair is formed up of fluffy strands which lack a defined curl pattern. 4C hair’s texture varies widely from person to person that is from fine to coarse texture. The coils are very tight that creates difficulty in coating the scalp’s natural oils to the hair length, which makes the hair dry and fragile. The tightness causes the hair to shrink up to 70% of its actual length when wet. 4C hair can transform from short afro hair to long stretched hair.

How to Identify 4c Hair Type?

If you want to know how to make 4C hair soft, the first thing you need is to identify this hair type. 4C hair type has the tightest curly hair pattern with the curls forming the shape of z’s, s’s, or coils. This type of hair has almost similar characteristics to that of type 4 hair, but have different hair porosities and densities depending on how your hair behaves in different conditions. If your hair experiences extreme shrinkage that is up to 70-75%, this means you have a 4C hair type.

Read: Deep Conditioning 4C Hair

4C hairs are found struggling to retain the moisture as compared to other curl patterns and get dried out quickly. This hair type is highly prone to breakage, matting and tangles if proper care is not taken into consideration. You can easily determine your hair type when it is wet. After washing, do not apply any hair care products and let your hair air dry. If you do not see any definite pattern of your curls and they appear tightly packed like that of an Afro-textured hairstyle, it means you have 4C hair.

Now you know that you have 4c hair, let’s talk about some tips on how to make my 4C hair softer.

4c Hair Care Tips to Get Softer Hair

1. Keep Your Hair Moisturised

Moisture is one of the most important things that you need to keep in mind when caring for 4C hair. 4C hair is most in need of hydration because it is the driest hair type more than Afro-textured hair. Make sure that the products you choose are filled with enough moisture, which will keep your hair strands hydrated throughout the day.  Avoid using those products that contain sulphates or other drying ingredients because moisture is very much essential for 4c hair to keep it moist and soft.

Try Below Hair Moisturisers to Make Your Hair Moisturise.

2. Be Gentle

Always remember that your 4C hair is extremely fragile even though the hair or curls looks tough and tight. You must choose the right styling tools and appliances for proper care. Make sure you never detangle your 4C hair when dry and always comb your hair strands from bottom to top. Also, try sleeping on a satin pillowcase or by covering your hair with a silk or satin scarf while sleeping. Doing this will help protect your hair against breakage and will keep it soft as your hair strands will be protected from getting rubbed against the bed’s cotton fabric.

Read: Heat Damage on 4c Hair: Causes & Remedies

3. Know About Your Hair

You need to learn and know a lot of things to look after your 4C hair. This hair type requires extra care. You need to choose the right methods and products to keep your hair soft and healthy. You’ll get to learn a lot of things if you try experimenting with your hair with different products and methods by watching or reading on how to make 4C hair soft. Soon you’ll get in love with your hair and come to know what is best for your hair.

4. Go for Regular Trims

Regular trims for 4C hair are important to maintain and grow soft and healthy hair. It is best to get your hair trimmed while stretched because 4C hair is prone to extreme shrinkage. Trimming your hair will reduce hair breakage and will improve the overall structure and appearance of 4C hair.

Apart from the above-mentioned tips, you need to find out the best products if you want to keep your 4C hair soft and moisturized. You need to choose those products that will help your curls retain moisture and add sheen to them.

Best products for your 4C hair to keep it soft

1. Shampoo

The cleansing process is one of the most vital and potential areas that will help you moisturize your 4C hair. Shampoos that contain sulphates are not good for 4C hair because this content strips the scalp’s natural oils, leaving it dull and dry. To avoid this, you can go for sulphate-free clarifying shampoos which will clean your hair and scalp by removing the product build-up and debris from it. To maintain the moisture and clean 4C hair, it’s a great choice that you use a clarifying shampoo that is free of drying and harmful ingredients.

You can also go for a co-washing method that does not involve the use of moisturising shampoo. In the co-washing method, conditioner is only used to cleanse the hair. This method is common among 4C hair types or for those who have extremely dry and dull hair. In this method, you wash your hair and scalp thoroughly with water or apple cider vinegar to remove the build-up or debris and then apply conditioner on the hair length before washing it off.

Buy Below Hair Shampoo to Make 4C Hair Soft:

2. Conditioners

Conditioning your 4C hair is another important step to put or retain the moisture in your hair. You can use different conditioners at each phase of your hair care regimen. During the detangling process, your hair is the most fragile of all the hair types though your natural 4C hair might look and feel strong. To nurture healthy hair and avoid breakage, it’s best to moisten your hair before you detangle it. Applying detangling conditioner with lots of moisture will help your comb and finger glide through your tight curls easily.

Deep conditioning is very important for 4C hair because it offers extra moisture to your dry strands. You should get your hair deeply conditioned at least once a week. Apply a hydrating conditioner to your hair strands after washing them with shampoo and cover your head with a plastic bag or a shower cap. Let it rest for 30 minutes and then rinse off your hair. You can also add heat to your conditioned hair with the help of a hooded dryer or a steamer cap. This will allow the moisture and product to penetrate deep into the hair shaft.

You can also apply a leave-in conditioner to your hair strands once you have detangled and cleansed your hair. Apply it on the damp hair length evenly. The application of this conditioner will help you add additional moisture content to your dry 4C hair. Conditioner is very beneficial for your hair because it moisturizes your hair and makes it soft and shiny.

3. Styling products

Styling gels, creams, and butter are a critical step for locking in moisture for 4C hair. These products act as a heavy barrier between the air and the hair strands which are essential for the hair. Styling products protect your hair from harsh sun rays and drying winter precipitation. These products also protect your hair from heat when using heat styling appliances.

4. Oils

Oiling also helps in conditioning your 4C hair. Apply oil to both hair scalp and strands but do not apply too much because this will lead to product build-up and will block the hair follicles. Oil is used to moisturize or seal the existing moisture in the hair. You can use hydrating oils such as olive oil, coconut oil, tea tree oil, or avocado oils which is good for 4C hair type. These oils add the required moistures and penetrate the hair shaft.

You can also apply sealing oils such as jojoba oil, grapeseed oil, or Jamaican black castor oil that will seal the existing moisture into the strands. These oils make sure that your hair stays hydrated and soft for too long by locking the moisture. The application of oils is very important for 4C hair because the moisture tends to evaporate if not taken care of.

Hopefully, the tips and products mentioned above will help you make your 4C hair soft and shiny. Always remember you won’t get soft and smooth 4C hair with just a single application. You need to keep implementing them in your daily hair care routine to get healthy and beautiful 4C hair.