The journey to loving and embracing my natural 4c hair has been long but I can finally say I have gotten there. I love all aspects of my hair; the coarseness, dryness, and all. It is growing like a weed these days as I mentioned in my last hair related post and I am happy with the look. My 4c hair needs a lot of tender loving care and lots of oils. I mix my hair oils and I really like how they leave my hair so moisturised and healthy. Caring for your natural 4c hair is not easy. I almost gave up because I didn’t know what to do right and what I was doing wrong.

Tips for caring for your natural 4C hair

Here are ways to care for your natural 4c hair –

Wash your hair every 2 weeks

For 4c hair, it is best to wash it every 2 weeks. Washing the hair too frequently will make it even drier. The hair products massaged into the hair need time to work their magic. Washing the hair every 2 weeks will keep the hair clean without stripping off the moisture.

Moisturise the hair every day

I moisturise my hair at least twice a day with hair oils, morning, and last thing before I go to bed. My hair gets really dry and I find that it needs more moisture than normal. Moisturising your hair every day will keep the hair long and healthy. Skipping the moisturising bit is not an option for me and it shouldn’t be.

Keep your hair tools clean

I wash all my hair tools regularly to ensure they are clean for when I need them. The last thing your hair needs is s dirty comb. Dirty tools cause hair breakage, dandruff, and an itchy scalp.

No heat

I can’t remember the last time I have used a hairdryer or any form of heat on my hair. I air dry my hair when I wash and it dries quickly. Excessive heat can damage the hair, which is why I rather stay clear from any form of heat except there is no other way around it.

Careful with the protective styles

I have not had my hair in cornrows for over 3 months now. My hair stays in loose plaits and twists most of the time. I believe this has helped my hair grow even more. Some of the protective styles can damage our hairline. It is also not easy to moisture the hair properly when it is cornrows. You can only moisturise the scalp but not the actual hair. It is also very tricky to give the hair a proper wash when it is in a protective style. These are some of the reasons why I decided to not visit my hairdresser for some time and manage my hair on my own, so I can properly care for it. The rate at which my hair is now growing tells me I made the right decision.

What do you think of these tips for caring for your natural 4c hair? How do you care for your hair? Do you have any tried and tested tips to share?