When it comes to 4C textured hair, as you know, our routines differ a lot from other curl types. When it comes to hair growth, retaining moisture is our main ally, along with diet and nutrition, and using the right products and vitamins.
The key to growing your 4c hair long and strong is in finding a solid routine and sticking with it!
But don’t be afraid to pivot if things aren’t working out – just because you have 4c hair, doesn’t mean it’s the same 4c as mine or anybody else’s!
Moisturize and Seal Your Hair
Dryness in 4C hair can lead to breakage, which undoubtedly appears to slow your growth. I say “appears” because, of course, the hair is still growing, but if your older growth keeps breaking off, it will appear as though it isn’t growing at all!
Moisturize your hair frequently with water-based solutions and seal it with a natural carrier oil, to lock in moisture.
After shampooing and conditioning, you can do this by either spritzing the ends of your hair with filtered water from a spray bottle or using a leave-in conditioner that leaves behind a creamy residue.
Then, working in small portions from the roots to the ends, use an oil like jojoba or coconut to lock in the moisture. When styling curls, it’s best to use a light oil, like sweet almond oil, so that the hair doesn’t become weighed down.
Deep Conditioning Treatments
Carefully controlling the texture and maintaining the hair’s moisture level in 4C strands requires special attention every day of the week. At least once a month, you should use a deep conditioning treatment on your hair to help strengthen each strand and replace moisture that has been lost.
First, use a light, sulfate-free shampoo on your scalp. Then, apply a generous amount of conditioner all over your head, concentrating on the split ends. Finally, detangle your hair from the bottom up (root).
Leave it on for 10 minutes before rinsing it off with lukewarm water; for best results, leave it on for 30 minutes to an hour.
In addition, you might try a deep conditioning mask filled with nourishing substances such as avocado oil, shea butter, or aloe vera juice.
Trim Broken Ends
Damaged ends break off readily, generating splits down the length of the hair and making it tougher for those areas to ever reach their full-length potential, so regular trims are essential if you want longer hair.
Don’t start snipping for no reason, though! That’s a common misconception – chopping off healthy hair will not promote hair growth.
However, chopping off damaged hair will.
Eat Healthy Foods 🍏
Nutrient-dense diets, particularly those containing in vitamins B7 (biotin), C, and E, stimulate faster 4C hair development by strengthening follicles to reduce shedding and breakage and encouraging new cell synthesis.
Include foods like salmon, mackerel, tuna, and walnuts in your diet because they are high in omega-3 fatty acids. Iron-rich meals, such as dark leafy greens, can help prevent anemia caused by a deficiency, which can impair the body’s healing and regrowth processes.
In addition, it is important to have an adequate quantity of protein every day. Eggs, low-fat dairy products, lentils, and beans are all great options.
In addition, taking a multivitamin daily can greatly improve your health and well-being, as it contains a wide range of vitamins and minerals, including zinc, magnesium, and selenium.
Exercise Regularly 💪
When you work out, more blood flows through your body, including your brain, delivering more of the oxygen and nutrients your body needs to flourish.
The best way to get your heart rate up is to do cardio, but you should also incorporate weight training into your routine because it increases the production of collagen and elasticity in your scalp and hair, which in turn helps your hair hold onto moisture and prevents it from breaking off prematurely.
During exercise, it’s important to keep the roots of your hair covered so that sweat doesn’t dry out the cuticle layer and cause early damage to your locks.
Additionally, loose-fitting, breathable caps and scarves can help you stay cool and comfortable without irritating your skin.
Remember to drink lots of fluids and be hydrated at all times to prevent dehydration, which can severely affect the quality, look, and feel of your locks in the future.
After your workout, rehydrate your locks even more to replace the critical electrolytes you lost.
Avoid Heat Styling Tools 🥵
The use of hot equipment creates long-lasting structural changes, which weaken the stand and make it more prone to breaking.
Put a thermal protector on your hair before you use a blow dryer to straighten it, and use as little heat as possible.
Keep in mind, though, that if you’re already having problems with brittleness, you should probably refrain from using any heating equipment at all until you’ve fully recovered.
There are other ways to get the same effect without resorting to extreme measures, such as roller sets. Using Flexi rods, perm rods, twist outs, braid outs, etc. Use Foam Rollers to achieve your goals without resorting to the kinds of drastic methods that can do damage.
Limit The Use Of Chemicals 🧪
It is strongly discouraged to use harsh chemical treatments like relaxers, color dyes, perms, and bleach on 4C haircuts. These treatments rob the hair of its natural oils, making it more susceptible to environmental aggressors and leading to increased split ends, tangles, and maintenance needs.
You should inject restorative proteins into your mane to reinforce thinning areas instead. Keratin, when combined with amino acid complexes, is able to permeate deeper levels, maintaining cuticle integrity and helping weaker areas hold together better against the rigors of daily living.
Also, the bonding glues and tapes used to attach extensions and weaves are likely to block pores and clog follicles, starving the underlying cells of the oxygen they need to carry out their metabolic functions and grow properly.
They also trap excess dirt product build residue, preventing hydrating serum from penetrating the hair and leaving it looking dull and lifeless rather than the shiny, lustrous appearance that is expected.
But Wait, There’s More…
When it comes to 4C hair, you already know you cannot just take the same advice about other hair types. But it is generally hard to find relevant 4c hair information in one place!
You might want to read this article 👉 4c hair loss , or this one 👉 4c hair breakage … and heck, you may as well just open up a new tab with this one for later 😉 4c hair products
Hair Growth Vitamins For 4c Hair
Here are some quality hair growth vitamin options to consider: