Hey, lovely. Welcome. If you’re new to caring for 4C hair, or you’ve been at it a while and feel stuck, this page is the best place to start on the blog. I’ve been natural for 15 years with 4C hair, and the basics I come back to are simple: moisture, gentle handling and protecting your ends. Everything below is grouped by topic, so you can read in order or dip into whatever’s bothering you today.
Start here
If you only read five posts, make it these:
- How to Moisturize 4C Hair That Stays Soft
- 7 Common 4C Wash Day Mistakes
- A Real Guide to Type 4 Detangling
- A Real Guide to Afro Hair Porosity
- Length Retention for Natural Hair That Works
The three basics I always come back to
Before you dive into the sections below, here’s the short version of what I’ve learned. First, moisture comes from water, and oils and butters help seal it in, so a water-based leave-in is usually the first step. Second, 4C hair is delicate, especially when wet, so detangle slowly, in sections, with plenty of slip. Third, length is about keeping what you grow, which means protecting your ends with gentle styles and a good night routine. Almost every post on this page builds on one of those three ideas.
Moisture
4C hair loses moisture easily because of its tight coils, so a moisture routine is the foundation of everything else.
- How to moisturise 4C hair that stays soft: my core method.
- A simple 4C hair moisture routine: a routine you can follow week to week.
- Why is my 4C hair dry all the time?: the common reasons and what to change.
- How to seal moisture after wash day and how to seal 4C ends without buildup.
- The best leave-in conditioner for my natural hair.
Wash day
- 7 common 4C wash day mistakes: the easy fixes.
- How I wash my natural hair: my own wash-day routine.
- Pre-poo for afro hair: protecting your strands before you cleanse.
- How I deep condition my natural hair, plus homemade deep conditioners and an olive oil deep conditioner.
- Best shampoo for natural 4C hair and a homemade shampoo.
- Does hard water affect natural hair?: very relevant here in London.
- pH levels in natural hair and the wash-and-go for natural hair.
Detangling
- A real guide to type 4 detangling: my gentle, section-by-section method.
- How to detangle natural 4C hair.
- 8 best detangling brushes for natural 4C hair.
- What causes fairy knots? and what causes single strand knots?
Porosity
Knowing your porosity helps you choose products and methods that actually suit your hair.
- A real guide to afro hair porosity.
- Natural hair porosity test: a quick way to find out where you sit.
- Low porosity natural hair regimen and the 8 best oils for low porosity hair.
Breakage and shedding
Breakage is often what stands between you and length. These posts look at common causes and gentle habits that help.
- How to stop breakage naturally on 4C hair and how to stop breakage in natural 4C hair.
- Caring for 4C hair breakage and tips for damaged 4C hair.
- 10 best ingredients for brittle hair.
- 9 natural ways to reduce shedding and how to reduce shedding on natural 4C hair.
If shedding is sudden or you notice thinning patches, please see your GP or a dermatologist, as that’s something to get checked rather than fix with products.
Length retention and routines
- Length retention for natural hair and a length retention routine for type 4 hair.
- How to build a hair regimen that works and 7 natural hair care routine examples.
- A 4C hair growth routine example.
- Guide to length retention butter, how to use a length retention butter on 4C hair and the 7 best butters for length retention.
- Why your natural hair won’t grow past shoulder length.
Night routine
- How to sleep with 4C natural hair: my night routine.
- 9 best nighttime products for 4C hair.
- Night-time regimen for natural hair.
Protective and low-manipulation styles
- 8 protective hairstyles and protective hairstyles to add to your routine.
- How to build a low manipulation hair routine.
Whatever style you choose, keep the tension light at your edges and hairline.
4C Hair Care: Frequently Asked Questions
How often should I wash 4C hair?
Many people with 4C hair wash once a week or every two weeks, but it depends on your scalp, your products and your lifestyle. The aim is a clean, comfortable scalp without stripping your strands, so a pre-poo and a moisturising conditioner help.
Why does my 4C hair feel dry even after moisturising?
Often it’s the order or type of products, porosity, or not sealing. Start with a water-based leave-in, then seal with an oil or butter that suits your porosity. My post on why 4C hair feels dry goes through the common causes.
What’s the most important thing for length retention?
Protecting your ends. Gentle detangling, moisture, low-manipulation styles and a good night routine all reduce breakage, which is what lets your hair keep the length it grows.
A note from me
Take your time with this. You don’t need dozens of products, just a routine your hair likes. If you’d like to see the natural botanicals I make and source, they’re at Jostylin Naturals. Otherwise, pick one post from the start-here list and begin there.