4B Hair Type: Tips for Styling & Taking Care of Your Hair
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Not all four hair types are the same. In fact, 4B hair is quite different from the rest due to its highly unique structure. This means that caring for 4B hair requires a special set of rules and tips for bringing out the best of your beautiful curly hair.
What is 4B hair?
4B indicates kinky, Afro-textured hair. Each strand has a sharp-angled curl with a Z, zig-zag shape. This means that the curl shape is less defined than others, giving hair a sponge-like texture that typically runs very dry.
4B hair is also defined by curls that shrink up drastically when dry, making curls that feel longer look rather short. This hair type can also tangle more often than 4A and 4C hair due to its unique Z shape, so detangling hair carefully and seeking moisturizing products is key. Celebrities like Solange, Willow Smith, and Issa Rae possess this texture.
How to Care for 4B Hair
Caring for 4B hair type isn’t necessarily a challenge, but rather an effort that requires you pay attention to the health and condition of your curls on a daily basis.
Moisturize
Babes with 4B curls know that this hair type tends to run super dry. The nature of these tight curls make it tougher for the oils on the scalp to move down the hair shaft and deliver proper moisture needed for healthy hair. While the matte look is certainly in, overly dry hair isn’t good for anybody.
If you are dealing with particularly dry 4B hair, invest in a cleansing conditioner or cowash. Over-washing can dry hair out even further, but a cleansing conditioner removes dirt and oils while infusing hair with essential moisture. You’ll also need to use a deep cleaning shampoo every once in a while, but it definitely doesn’t have to be for regular use.
If you have low porosity 4B hair, heat will be your best bet when applying conditioners and oil treatments. Focus on lightweight products and avoid ones that boast of added protein.
Use Coconut Oil
While certain hair types cannot handle coconut oil, this oil seems to be made for 4B hair types. Coconut oil is versatile can be used to treat your scalp, condition your hair, and help with styling.
To avoid dryness at the scalp that can affect the rest of your hair, oil your scalp twice a week. This involves parting your hair into 6 or 7 separate sections and gently massaging coconut oil there for maximum hydration and health.
For the ultimate hair conditioning, the LOC method can be very helpful. First, wet hair so that the coconut oil can absorb properly. Then apply coconut oil for the perfect hit of moisture, and then follow it up with curl-defining creme for styling.
Finally, you can use coconut oil as a refresher on your 4B hair. Mix it into a spray bottle with water and spray it onto your hair as needed. It can wake up locks in the morning or provide the perfect start to switching up your hairstyle.
Deep Condition Hair
Most hair types can use a deep conditioner once a week, but 4B is prone to excessive dryness and babes with this hair type should use a deep conditioner each time they wash.
Once you have applied your favorite deep conditioner (we will share our favorite below) detangle your hair with a wide-tooth comb. Hair is more fragile when wet, but there is no better time to straighten out your curls than when coated with a healthy, nourishing conditioner.
Be sure to rinse with cold water to help seal the cuticle and prevent any damage from heat. Follow it up with your favorite leave-in conditioner or creme, so long as the product is hydrating.
Best Products for 4B hair
Contrary to what you might think, less is usually better when it comes to beauty routines. The most important thing is finding a solid product in each category of shampoo, deep conditioner, leave-in conditioner, and styling creme, serum, or gel.
