If you have 4C curls, growing long hair can often feel like an impossible task; especially with all the myths about how hard it is to grow coily natural hair. However, all you need to achieve your desired length is a consistent hair care regimen that keeps your hair healthy.
In this article, we'll discuss all you need to know about growing long 4C hair. Read ahead to discover our expert tips and tricks.
What Is 4C Hair?
4C hair is the most coily hair on the curly hair spectrum and likely what comes to mind when people think of an afro. However, upon closer inspection, you'll notice this hair type actually has tightly packed corkscrew-shaped curls/coils that are often not so easy to see until you pull the hair. 4C hair tends to fold into itself and does not get enough of the natural oils in the scalp; this makes it extremely prone to dryness and fragile. Without the proper care, 4C hair can continuously break off making it impossible for you to retain length.
Do You Know Your Hair’s Porosity
It is very common to assume all 4C hair is the same since they often look similar. However, there can be a significant difference in their porosity. So, to better know how to properly nourish your hair and encourage growth, it is very important to know your porosity. Hair porosity is your hair's ability to absorb moisture and it is determined by the shape/ pattern of your cuticles.
Those with tightly packed cuticles have low porosity hair while those with widely spaced or open cuticles have high porosity hair. Low porosity hair struggles to absorb moisture since it is hard for anything to penetrate those tightly packed cuticles, if you have this hair type, this means you'll have to use lightweight products that can be easily absorbed into the hair and incorporate heat into your routine to help open up the cuticles and allow proper absorption of moisture.
On the other hand, high porosity hair absorbs moisture really quickly but also loses it really fast because of the open cuticles, leaving the hair dry and frizzy. So, if you have high porosity hair, you’ll need to focus on locking in moisture with our Hair & Scalp Oil thick and using thick products. The best way to determine your hair porosity is to look at the sign your hair gives. Does it get wet and soak up water and hair products very quickly? How quickly after moisturising your hair does it get dry and frizzy? Once you have figured out an answer to these questions, you'll easily determine your hair porosity and know how to approach your moisture routine.
Cleanse With Gentle Shampoos
Hair growth starts with clean hair and scalp. If your hair is weighed down by build-up of dirt and oil, it will be very hard for it to properly absorb any of the hair products you apply and that will leave it dry and prone to breakage. To avoid this, cleanse your hair with a gentle shampoo like our Manuka Honey Shampoo at least 1-2 times a month.
Never Skip Conditioning
Replenishing your hair with moisture and smoothing your cuticles after shampooing is extremely important so you should never ever skip conditioner on your wash days. A nourishing conditioner like our Moisture Rich Conditioner will further hydrate your hair and make it more manageable after shampooing. Additionally, you can give your hair an extra boost of nourishment by using a deep conditioner as often as possible. Deep conditioners like Sofnfree's Manuka Honey Deep Conditioning Treatment go a step further than regular conditioners, penetrating deeper into your hair and working to repair and strengthen your hair.
Moisturise Frequently
If you want to keep your 4C hair happy and growing, just keep it moisturised. Dryness is one of the main causes of breakage on 4C and it is often the main reason most people with this hair type find it difficult to retain length. If your hair is dry, it will slowly start to break off even if it's growing and as time goes on, you will notice your hair remains stuck at the same length. Why? Because it is unable to retain the length that it is growing. So, keeping your hair moisturised with our Manuka Honey Leave-in Conditioner and sealing that moisture in with the Hair & Scalp Oil is very important for retaining length.
Detangle Your Hair With Care
Improper detangling techniques are another major cause of breakage in people with 4C curls. Because of your tight coils, you can’t just run a comb down your entire head of hair a few times and expect it to be properly detangled. That will not only cause you a lot of discomfort, it will also cause excessive breakage.
When detangling your hair, make sure it is wet or coated with a moisturiser like our Everyday Curl Refresh–detangling plain dry 4c hair is a recipe for disaster. Once the hair is wet or at least damp, divide it into 4-6 sections of irons depending on how thick your hair is and then comb each section one at a time, starting from the ends and gently working your way up to the roots. This will make the entire process as easy and comfortable as possible.
Don't Over Manipulate Your Hair
The key to growing 4c hair is length retention. Your hair grows naturally even without you putting in any extra effort, however retaining that growing hair is what will help you achieve your desired length. The best way to retain length is to simply leave your hair alone. Don't do much with it or try to style it every day. The more you manipulate Your 4C, the more likely your chances of causing breakage, dryness, split ends and all the other issues that get in the way of length retention. So, if you want to grow your hair, stick with hairstyles that last at least up to a week and avoid touching your hair all the time.
Try Protective Styles
Protective styles are a great way to reduce manipulation and help you retain length. They keep your hair protected from environmental stressors like weather or harsh surfaces that could cause dryness, knots, and breakage.
There are a slew of different protective styles ranging from braids and twists to cornrows and flat twists so feel free to try whichever one you prefer. However, make sure your protective styles are not installed too tightly because if a hairstyle is pulling on tightly on your delicate hair strands and causing pain to your scalp, it is no longer protective and can result in even more damage. Additionally, if you want your protective styles to last long and have a beautiful shiny finish, apply our Twist & Braid Gel on each section.
Protect Your Hair At Night
Leaving your hair fully exposed while you sleep at night can leave it feeling dry and rough. This is because of the cotton and linen fabric most beddings are made of; they cause friction when your hair rubs against them and can make your hair tangled and frizzy. Over time, this can result in a lot of breakage so before going to bed, cover your hair with a satin or silk bonnet to protect it while you sleep. You can also use a scarf in place of a bonnet as long as it is made of silk or satin as those are the best types of fabric for preventing friction on your hair while you sleep.
Keep Your Scalp Healthy
Since your hair literally grows out of your scalp, maintaining a healthy scalp environment is very important for encouraging growth on your 4C hair. You need to prevent it from being dry or itchy by keeping it nourished with healthy hair oils like our Strengthening Oil which is designed to promote hair growth and boost hair strength. Now, you don't need to douse your scalp in heaps of oil every day to keep it healthy, all you need is a little bit massaged into your scalp 1-2 times a week.
Handle Your Hair In Sections
4C hair can quite literally be a handful because of how thick and coily it is so whether you're styling, detangling, or washing your hair, it is very important to work in sections. This allows you to properly separate all the coils and prevent the formation of tangles and knots that can cause split ends and derail your hair growth.
Use Nourishing Styling Products
Whether you're rocking braids, twist outs, or wash n’ gos, styling your hair with quality styling products that contain nourishing ingredients that won't strip your hair of moisture is very important for keeping your 4C hair healthy and also achieving the best results. This is why all our styling products are loaded with natural oils and humectants. Everything From our Curl Activating Smoothie and Curl Elongating Gel to our Curling Mousse and Twist & Braid Gel is made to help you achieve your desired look while keeping your hair moisturised and healthy.
Whether you're aiming for waist-length hair or just trying to get past a growth plateau, if you stick to the tips we've outlined in this article, you will notice a significant change in the length of your hair. However, it is important to know that hair growth is a gradual process and it may take several months of consistency before you notice a significant improvement, so do not expect a miracle overnight. Patience and dedication are the key to achieving your hair goals.