All my girls with natural hair, stand up!
I know that it can feel extremely stressful trying to figure out how to make your hair work. I’ve been there (heck, I’m still there with my locs). However, more and more stylists today are equipping themselves with the knowledge to understand and champion all hair types.
So we talked to Haircuttery Field leader and Educator Starr Mason on how she best likes to work with type 4 hair like ours and what her best tips are. Here’s what she had to say:
Working with the density of your hair
“Depending on the density (thicker hair uses smaller sections), work in small sections and apply leave-in conditioner after combing out each section with a large-tooth comb,” Mason said. “Do a 2-strand twist to each section to help keep the hair manageable and to control the curls until you are ready to create the finished style.”
Remember your hair is care!
“4C should be handled with care. It appears to be able to handle anything, but it can’t. Your styling options are limitless! It is about being creative and committing to keeping your hair moisturized, allowing you to create any style,” she said, while also pointing out the realness of shrinkage. “Please note that shrinkage is REAL. 4C hair is much longer than it appears. You can create a 2-strand twist, a flat twist, a rod set, a shampoo & go (wash & go), a stretch blowout, a blow-dry straight and curl, just to name a few.”
All of us with color need special hair
“Color-damaged 4C hair needs protein with a balance of moisture. A good trim is also needed. With 4C hair, the biggest mistake is not getting it trimmed regularly,” she said. She also explained that the damaged ends will continue to move up the hair strand which will cause more damage. Also, curls will appear frizzy and the product will not be able to mask the frizz. And of course, avoid using a lot of heat on the damaged curls because heat can cause more damage.
