Shrinkage often happens either when your hair gets dry from wet, as wet hair appears with more length and when you blow-dry the hair it gets thicker and, dry 4c hair shrinkage appears. Also, when you straighten your curly hair it may look a lot lengthier but when it comes to its actual condition, it shrinks.
This type of hair is known to be highly prone to breakage, dryness and brittleness than other hair types. This is the sole reason why 4c hair should be washed as little as possible on a weekly basis and put in protective styles for both women & men to avoid any further damage.
Yes, you can wet natural hair everyday, and it is actually advised to do so to maintain moisture. Let's be clear though: by wetting your hair, we don't meanwashing it. We simply mean rinsing natural hair either in the shower or spritzing water over your hair.
4c hair is the queen of thick, bold afros. From afar, 4c hair looks like a thick fro, but if you look closely, you'll notice very tight, small springs or coils on each strand. Coils are pretty different from curls.
Because 4C hair experiences so much shrinkage, it can feel like your hair is growing very slowly or not at all. However, if you take care of your hair, you will notice growth when you stretch out your hair. Another reason 4C hair can appear to grow slowly is because it is so fragile.
Healthy afro hair is soft to the touch. When your hair is adequately hydrated and moisturised, you will feel it when you touch it. Your hair should feel nice and soft. To check this, you will want to feel your hair in it's natural state so after you have washed it and before you put any products in it.
Hair care for the 4C hair type is all about moisture retention and protection. This means avoid frequent shampooing and heat, deep condition, try the LOC/LCO method, gently detangle, protect your hair while you sleep, and always keep your water bottle nearby. 4C hair is incredibly versatile!
as much as you'd like to enjoy an enhancing deep conditioning treatment as often as you can, we gotta set some boundaries. as long as you're not doing it daily, it's safe to bless your strands weekly or biweekly! (depending on your 4C hair health, you'll know when it needs a dose of this extra moisture.)
How Often To Trim Natural 4c Hair? The tricky question is how often should you trim your natural hair. Most stylists recommend that you trim your hair every 3-4 months if your hair is healthy. Sometimes, healthy hair won't need a trim for up to 8 months.
Depending on the hair type and hair porosity, curly hair can shrink up to 90% when it dries. Not only is it completely normal, it is actually a sign of healthy hair; it shows that your hair is properly moisturized and has good elasticity.
According to research hair grows an average of 1.3cm per monthand although it's true tha black people's hair grows slower than this, the difference is not extreme. The only reason black hair appears to grow slower is because it is extremely curly whereas other types of hair grows straight or in bigger curls.
Natural shrinkage happens when your curls decrease in length while your hair is drying. This means after wash day, depending on your hair type and porosity, your hair can shrink past it's wet length and curl up into a shorter length. While this may seem a bit alarming, shrinkage is completely normal!
Type 4C hair can range from fine to thin to soft to coarse. In addition, this hair type shrinks more than 75 percent. So, if you have 3 inches of hair it may look like you have only 1 inch or less if the hair is not stretched. And, it is the most fragile out of all the 4 hair types.
As you probably already know, 4C hair types experience shrinkage the most because the curls are tighter than the other curl patterns. And this can make it difficult to detangle, manage, and style. In fact, shrinkage can be downright discouraging when you want to do hairstyles like a low bun or twist-out.
Asian hair shows the fastest growth rate in comparison to the other two hair types. African hair has the lowest growth rate.
How long can 4C hair grow? Your hair grows at roughly ½ inch per month which means that the typical head of hair will grow six inches per year. 4C hair is made of tight coils which makes it more prone to dryness and shrinkage.
The quick answer to “does trimming hair make it grow faster” is no, it doesn't. Hair growth starts at the scalp, so trimming off the dead ends doesn't actually make it grow faster. However, it makes it grow healthier, which is crucial if you want long luscious hair.
Stretched 4c hair is less likely to curl in on itself and makes it easier for those natural oils (and added moisturizing products) to travel down the hair strands and retain the moisture, warding off some excessive breakage and dryness.
Apply a repairing conditioner.
Thicker hair in the 4A to 4C range typically can go with a heavier, oil-based conditioner like Goddess Strength Fortifying Conditioner with Castor Oil. You want a moisturizer that's going to deposit moisture within the hair shaft and not just sit on top.
Product build-up occurs when the scalp comes in continuous contact with products that aren't meant for it. You may be co-washing with a regular conditioner or even a "co-wash" conditioner targeted towards afro and curly hair.