The Best Products for 4C Hair That'll Have Your Curls Looking Flawless (2024)

Table of Contents
SheaMoisture Manuka Honey & Mafura Oil Clay Shampoo Bar SheaMoisture Manuka Honey & Mafura Oil Clay Shampoo Bar Kinky Curly Knot Today Leave In Conditioner/Detangler Kinky Curly Knot Today Leave In Conditioner/Detangler Miss Jessie's Gloss So Good Miss Jessie's Gloss So Good EDEN BodyWorks Coconut Shea Control Edge Glaze EDEN BodyWorks Coconut Shea Control Edge Glaze Kreyol Essence Black Castor Scalp Care Shampoo Kreyol Essence Black Castor Scalp Care Shampoo Camille Rose Naturals Honey Hydrate Leave In Camille Rose Naturals Honey Hydrate Leave In Charlotte Mensah Manketti Oil Shampoo Charlotte Mensah Manketti Oil Shampoo LivSo Moisturizing Shampoo LivSo Moisturizing Shampoo Curly Coily Tresses Nourish Treatment Curly Coily Tresses Nourish Treatment Uncle Funky's Daughter Shining Star Skin, Hair & Scalp Elixir Uncle Funky's Daughter Shining Star Skin, Hair & Scalp Elixir Taliah Waajid Shea-Coco Natural Hair Style Cream Jar Taliah Waajid Shea-Coco Natural Hair Style Cream Jar Design Essentials Coconut Water Curl Refresher Design Essentials Coconut Water Curl Refresher Carol's Daughter Healthy Hair Butter Carol's Daughter Healthy Hair Butter Mielle White Peony Leave In Conditioner Mielle White Peony Leave In Conditioner Leonor Greyl l'Huile de Pre-Shampoo Treatment for Dry Hair Leonor Greyl l'Huile de Pre-Shampoo Treatment for Dry Hair Prose Custom Hair Oil Prose Custom Hair Oil ORIBE Styling Butter Curl Enhancing Crème ORIBE Styling Butter Curl Enhancing Crème Ouidad Curl Immersion Triple Treat Deep Conditioner Ouidad Curl Immersion Triple Treat Deep Conditioner ORIBE Moisture & Control Deep Treatment Masque ORIBE Moisture & Control Deep Treatment Masque FAQs References
The Best Products for 4C Hair That'll Have Your Curls Looking Flawless (1)

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You may be a curl pattern aficionado who knows her own unique blend of 4C and 4B hair to a tee. But for some of us the basics aren’t quite tha...basic. We have major questions: What is 4C hair, exactly? How do I know if I have it? And what products do I use to take care of it?

Hair that is 4C patterned is the tightest curl. “To tell if you have 4C hair, wet it to get it to its natural state (which is the the only way you can see your true curl pattern) and compare it to a curl chart,” says Stacey Ciceron, hair stylist and Oribe Brand Ambassador.

Because of the coiled shape of the strand, oil from the scalp can’t travel down its the length of the hair. So 4C hair tends to be the driest. Ciceron recommends looking for shampoos and products that provide a lot of moisture, protection and deep conditioning. “It’s important to look for ingredients that are hydrating and will seal the hair, like humectants, glycerin, honey, and butters. Avoid heavy waxes, parabens, sodium chloride, alcohols and anything that dries or coats the hair,” says Ciceron.

Also, remember your curl pattern does not determine other characteristics of your hair, like hair thickness, which describes its fineness (thin strands) or coarseness (thick strands). 4C hair can be anywhere on that spectrum. “My number one tip would be to know and understand your hair,” she says, suggesting you determine your hair density and porosity, which refers to its ability to absorb moisture. To get to know your hair, you can start by experimenting with some of these expert-approved (and tested) 4C curly hair products.

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1

SheaMoisture Manuka Honey & Mafura Oil Clay Shampoo Bar

The Best Products for 4C Hair That'll Have Your Curls Looking Flawless (2)

1

SheaMoisture Manuka Honey & Mafura Oil Clay Shampoo Bar

Perfect for travel, this shampoo bar cleanses and clarifies without stripping the hair. Apply directly to the scalp so the clays can work their scalp purifying magic.

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2

Kinky Curly Knot Today Leave In Conditioner/Detangler

The Best Products for 4C Hair That'll Have Your Curls Looking Flawless (3)

2

Kinky Curly Knot Today Leave In Conditioner/Detangler

This lightweight cream is a stellar detangler. It has the right slip and mango fruit extract and glycerin moisturize your hair while you care for your curls.

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3

Miss Jessie's Gloss So Good

The Best Products for 4C Hair That'll Have Your Curls Looking Flawless (4)

3

Miss Jessie's Gloss So Good

An ultra lightweight coconut, olive fruit, and sweet almond oil spritz that instantly adds shine—without greasiness.

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4

EDEN BodyWorks Coconut Shea Control Edge Glaze

The Best Products for 4C Hair That'll Have Your Curls Looking Flawless (5)

4

EDEN BodyWorks Coconut Shea Control Edge Glaze

Lay those edges with this firm hold formula. It contains aloe and won’t make hair dry or brittle.

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The Kreyól Essence collection brings natural ingredients grown in Haiti to all of its products. In this scalp stimulating shampoo there’s ylang-ylang, sweet orange and Haitian castor oil.

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6

Great for Dry Hair

Camille Rose Naturals Honey Hydrate Leave In

The Best Products for 4C Hair That'll Have Your Curls Looking Flawless (7)

6

Great for Dry Hair

Camille Rose Naturals Honey Hydrate Leave In

The very first ingredient in this leave-in is honey—a powerful humectant that draws moisture into your hair. Other ingredients include olive fruit oil, castor oil, and aloe leaf juice. Perfect for dry, brittle hair.

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7

Charlotte Mensah Manketti Oil Shampoo

The Best Products for 4C Hair That'll Have Your Curls Looking Flawless (8)

7

Charlotte Mensah Manketti Oil Shampoo

Created by Black hairstylist Charlotte Mensah, this productwas made from all the expertise she’s gained over her 26 year career of working with textured hair. The star ingredients manketti nut and ximenia oils create a creamy shampoo that won’t strip your hair, but rather, leaves it intensely hydrated.

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8

LivSo Moisturizing Shampoo

The Best Products for 4C Hair That'll Have Your Curls Looking Flawless (9)

8

LivSo Moisturizing Shampoo

Most anti-dandruff shampoos are extremely drying to the hair. So what do you do when you have a dry scalp-dry hair combination? Shampoo with this sulfate-free, hydrating scalp-treatment shampoo, created specifically for textured hair by a dermatologist.

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9

Curly Coily Tresses Nourish Treatment

The Best Products for 4C Hair That'll Have Your Curls Looking Flawless (10)

9

Curly Coily Tresses Nourish Treatment

Coconut oil and oat protein power this hydrating treatment. Over time it should help prevent breakage.

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10

Uncle Funky's Daughter Shining Star Skin, Hair & Scalp Elixir

The Best Products for 4C Hair That'll Have Your Curls Looking Flawless (11)

10

Uncle Funky's Daughter Shining Star Skin, Hair & Scalp Elixir

This blend of oils goes directly on your scalp to prevent dryness and flakiness. Your scalp will feel hydrated but not suffocated.

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11

Taliah Waajid Shea-Coco Natural Hair Style Cream Jar

The Best Products for 4C Hair That'll Have Your Curls Looking Flawless (12)

11

Taliah Waajid Shea-Coco Natural Hair Style Cream Jar

A thick styling cream that works magic for twist outs and other protective styles. It boosts moisture with coconut oil and glycerin but isn't oily.

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12

Amazon's Choice

Design Essentials Coconut Water Curl Refresher

The Best Products for 4C Hair That'll Have Your Curls Looking Flawless (13)

12

Amazon's Choice

Design Essentials Coconut Water Curl Refresher

This imparts a shine on day-old (or two or three) wash and go styles. Use as a refresher to bring life back to your coils.

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13

Carol's Daughter Healthy Hair Butter

The Best Products for 4C Hair That'll Have Your Curls Looking Flawless (14)

13

Carol's Daughter Healthy Hair Butter

This classic styler is a go-to for fragile, tight curls. It moisturizes and strengthens with jojoba oil, sweet almond oil, and cocoa butter.

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14

Mielle White Peony Leave In Conditioner

The Best Products for 4C Hair That'll Have Your Curls Looking Flawless (15)

14

Mielle White Peony Leave In Conditioner

Applied generously in sections, this leave in is great for the smoothing and detangling steps of the styling process. Glycerin will keep your strands hydrated.

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15

Leonor Greyl l'Huile de Pre-Shampoo Treatment for Dry Hair

The Best Products for 4C Hair That'll Have Your Curls Looking Flawless (16)

15

Leonor Greyl l'Huile de Pre-Shampoo Treatment for Dry Hair

This oil blend has natural sun protection that helps prevent your strands from getting scorched and dried out.Use it as a hydrating pre-shampoo treatment to bring moisture back to your strands.

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16

Prose Custom Hair Oil

The Best Products for 4C Hair That'll Have Your Curls Looking Flawless (17)

16

Prose Custom Hair Oil

Now 15% Off

Answer an easy survey about your hair characteristics and hair goals, and this company generates an oil customized to your coils. Prose only uses natural oils, like plum, beech and rose hip, that keep your hair hydrated and shiny.

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17

ORIBE Styling Butter Curl Enhancing Crème

The Best Products for 4C Hair That'll Have Your Curls Looking Flawless (18)

17

ORIBE Styling Butter Curl Enhancing Crème

This styling butter is great for defining the curl and locking in moisture with a very soft hold.

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18

Ouidad Curl Immersion Triple Treat Deep Conditioner

The Best Products for 4C Hair That'll Have Your Curls Looking Flawless (19)

18

Ouidad Curl Immersion Triple Treat Deep Conditioner

Works great for kinks and coils that are depleted from heat styling. This moisturizing deep conditioner helps bring them back to life with olive fruit oil, shea butter, and grapeseed oil.

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19

Amazon's Choice

ORIBE Moisture & Control Deep Treatment Masque

The Best Products for 4C Hair That'll Have Your Curls Looking Flawless (20)

19

Amazon's Choice

ORIBE Moisture & Control Deep Treatment Masque

Use this (splurge) on wash day to add hydration that lasts all week. It has slip (without silicones) so it’s great for shower detangling. And coconut oil and mango seed butters infuse the hair with moisture.

The Best Products for 4C Hair That'll Have Your Curls Looking Flawless (2024)

FAQs

The Best Products for 4C Hair That'll Have Your Curls Looking Flawless? ›

A good leave-in conditioner with slip is essential for detangling 4C hair. The task of detangling is always so daunting, especially with a head full of thick, coarse hair, but this leave-in provides enough slip to help the detangling process go by quicker and with a lot less pain.

How do I make my curls flawless? ›

Avoid harsh cleansing hair care formulas and concentrate on the ends and lengths of your hair, since these are areas that need extra nourishment.
  1. 2) Pat dry, don't attack it. ...
  2. 3) Start styling hair wet. ...
  3. 4) Mousse up. ...
  4. 5) Add heat protection for hair. ...
  5. 6) Dig out your hair diffuser… ...
  6. 7) …or sleep on it. ...
  7. 8) Curl cool, dry hair.

What really works on 4C hair? ›

A good leave-in conditioner with slip is essential for detangling 4C hair. The task of detangling is always so daunting, especially with a head full of thick, coarse hair, but this leave-in provides enough slip to help the detangling process go by quicker and with a lot less pain.

How do you get flawless curls overnight? ›

Grab a clean sock and clip it in the center of your bottom section toe-side up. Wrap hair around the sock before wrapping the sock around itself to create a bun-like shape. Flip open the remaining open part of the sock and cover the bun to secure it overnight. Repeat with the top portion.

How do I make my curls more defined and less frizzy? ›

Tips for Defining Your Curls
  1. Shampoo your curls sparingly and always with a moisturizing shampoo and conditioner. ...
  2. Dry curls gently to avoid breakage and frizz. ...
  3. Never brush your curls! ...
  4. Use curl-defining styling products while your hair is still wet. ...
  5. Don't mess with dry curls. ...
  6. Protect your curls while you sleep.

What makes 4C curls pop? ›

Moisture is the key to curl definition: it's the magic ingredient that urges curly strands to clump together in unity, forming larger super-curls – also known as definition. Moisture from a leave-in is not enough; dry, naturally resistant 4C hair needs deep down hydration in order to define.

Why won t my 4C hair hold a curl? ›

The Wrong Temperature. "You don't want to be using heat over 350 F," says Aleasha Rivers, a Davines educator. "This could cause the hair to shut its cuticle and therefore flatten itself, unable to hold a bend.

What can I use to activate curls? ›

To invigorate your curls, water is your BFF. 'Use a water spray and spritz the hair. Then, reapply your leave-in conditioner, gels or serums to reactivate the curls,' says Sultan. That said, if you're someone with looser curls, a good salt spray can do a great job of creating texture and revitalising the wave or curl.

What can I use instead of curl cream? ›

DIY cream recipe- 1/2 cup Shea Butter 1/2 cup Virgin Cold Pressed Coconut Oil 1/2 cup Fresh Aloe Melt on a double boiler and freeze 50%. Whisk until it's nice and fluffy and store it in an air tight container. Stores at room temp for 4-6 weeks. You can use this cream on hair or skin.

What is the curly girl method? ›

The Curly Girl Method advocates for minimal contact with the curls and it is best to use the hands in a gentle fashion to encourage the curl. When the hands are used, special techniques are recommended to apply products such as shampoo, conditioner and styling gel.

What not to use on 4C hair? ›

4 Ingredients To Avoid When Choosing Afro Haircare Products
  • Sulphates. These cleansing compounds are typically added to hair care products, like shampoos, to remove build-up and oils from the scalp and strands deposited after washing and styling. ...
  • Parabens. ...
  • Mineral Oils. ...
  • Phthalates.
Sep 8, 2021

What should you put in 4C hair everyday? ›

Updated 4C Hair Moisturize Routine
  1. Begin on damp hair that has been cleansed and detangled. ...
  2. In small to medium-sized sections apply a lightweight leave-in conditioner to the hair. ...
  3. Layer a small amount of a lightweight moisturizer on top until absorbed into the section of hair.
Oct 21, 2021

How can I make my curly hair look neater? ›

My curly hair regime:
  1. Shampoo twice a week. ...
  2. Before shampoo, deep moisture hair and detangle using a wide toothed comb. ...
  3. Next day after shampoo, condition and co wash hair.
  4. I always air dry my hair, my hair is too soft for towel. ...
  5. Don't disturb your hair while drying else curl locks won't be well defined.
Apr 25, 2023

Why do my curls have so much frizz? ›

One of the main causes of unwanted frizz is a lack of moisture or hydration. Finding the right hair stylers for curly hair is the first step and when moisturized and healthy, frizz can be created from fluffing, shaking, and picking your curls to increase volume, achieve style, and to embrace the dance of your strands.

Why is my curly hair so dry and frizzy? ›

Because it's harder for the scalp's natural oils to coat strands from root to ends, curly hair is more prone to dryness and frizz than any other hair type. Excess heat-styling is also a common culprit. Using high heat can dry out your strands and damage the hair's cuticle, causing frizz to emerge.

References

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