Type 4 hair is synonymous with being coily. From loose S-shaped spirals to Z-shapes and zigzags, there’s a wide range of coils within this hair type—and figuring out whether you fall into Type 4A, 4B, or 4C is really only the tip of the Type 4 coily hair iceberg. From there, you can learn how to manage your hair’s unique characteristics and style those coils to perfection. Keep reading to find out where your hair falls on the Type 4 curly hair scale, get styling tips for each subtype, and discover the best Type 4 hair products for your 4A, 4B, or 4C coils.
What Is Type 4 Hair?
For starters, it’s best to understand the different types of hair textures. Hair types fall into four different categories, from 1 to 4, with 4 being the most textured. Type 4 hair is very tightly coiled, and can be fragile and prone to dryness.
There are three different curl types within Type 4 hair: 4A, 4B, and 4C. We’ll get into each one more below, but it’s worth noting that the three different coil types all have specific looks, feels, and product needs.
Hair Typing: 4A vs. 4B vs. 4C
- 4A: Type 4A is the finest and loosest, with springy S-shaped spirals about the circumference of a crochet needle. These coils are typically easier to detangle than other Type 4 curly hair types, too. They have more moisture retention than 4B or 4C coils.
- 4B: The 4B hair type is characterized by a tight Z-shaped curl pattern that’s less defined than 4A or 4C. These coils are often coarser and more prone to breakage and shrinkage than other Type 4 patterns.
- 4C: A 4C hair type has a combination of curls, coils, and zigzags that are tightly packed throughout the head. 4C hair has the highest shrinkage of Type 4 hair textures and is the most fragile. Since 4C feels dry to the touch, it requires plenty of moisture and hydration to look and feel its best.
Type 4 Haircare Routine
1. Cleanse and condition
Because Type 4 hair is on the drier side and can be prone to breakage and frizziness, it’s important to use Type 4 hair products that aid in moisture retention. Start your routine with a gentle, sulfate-free shampoo, such as the L’Oréal Paris Professionnel Curl Expression Intense Moisturizing Cleansing Cream Shampoo. You can use this mild formula once a week (or whenever you lather up) to hydrate and cleanse your coils without weighing them down. Another hot tip for Type 4 coily hair? Try co-washing—in other words, washing your hair with a cleansing conditioner instead of a standard shampoo.
In case we haven’t said it enough yet, type 4 hair is definitely on the drier side, which can lead to breakage and shrinkage. To help replenish moisture, we recommend applying a deep conditioner after lathering up. Try the L’Oréal Paris Professionnel Curl Expression Intensive Moisturizer Mask, which hydrates, detangles, and helps tame frizz for bouncy, defined curls and coils.
2. Detangle
Detangling your Type 4 hair doesn’t have to feel like a chore. But it's a bit trickier than other hair types, since using a brush can cause your coils to break (or, worse, the brush can even get stuck in your hair). Instead, use a wide-tooth comb or a detangling brush specifically crafted for your tighter curl pattern. Additionally, make sure to detangle your hair while it's wet and conditioned, ideally while you’re still in the shower.
3. Moisturize
The LOC method is an acronym for liquid, oil, and cream—and they should be applied in that order. Layering Type 4 hair products in this way helps maximize hydration and enhance curl definition in highly porous, coily hair types. After stepping out of the shower on wash day, follow this approach:
- Liquid or leave-in: Start with a water-based product or leave-in conditioner like Mizani Miracle Milk Leave-In Conditioner to help hydrate your hair. This step ensures you have enough moisture in your locks so you can “lock” it all in during the rest of the LOC method.
- Oil: Next, apply an oil, such as the Matrix Food For Soft Multi-Use Hair Oil Serum. Look for formulas with coconut oil, argan oil, or jojoba oil to add extra nourishment and create a moisture-locking barrier over your strands.
- Cream: Lastly, apply a curl cream or butter to help define and hold your coils. Try the Kérastase Curl Manifesto Gelée Curl Contour Gel-Cream.
To help keep your Type 4 hair looking and feeling super bouncy, soft, and shiny in between washes, give your coils a little spritz of moisture. Leave-in conditioners, hydrating mists, and sealants lend them an extra boost of hydration. Try refreshing your curls with a mist like the L’Oréal Paris Professionnel Curl Expression Curls Reviver, which instantly revives curls and coils after pillow friction.
4. Give your scalp some TLC
Those with Type 4 hair often have to rely heavily on styling products, which can build up on the scalp and strands over time. If your hair starts to feel limp or greasy, remove buildup with a targeted scalp serum, such as the Biolage Professional Scalp Sync Purifying Concentrate, which provides gentle exfoliation and leaves the scalp feeling hydrated for up to 72 hours. You can also exfoliate your scalp every few weeks to remove excess oil and dead skin to help keep your scalp feeling comfortable and balanced.
5. Protect your hair at night
Protecting your Type 4 hair while you sleep is just as important as it is while you’re awake. Some types of pillowcases and sheets can cause extra friction, leading to frizz and breakage. Instead or sleeping on a standard cotton pillowcase, rest your head on a satin or silk pillowcase—these slippery materials are less likely to snag on your strands. Additionally, look for Type 4 hair products like the Kérastase Nutritive 8H Magic Night Hair Serum to help treat and protect your hair as you get your zzz’s.
6. Use low-manipulation and protective styles
We know experimenting with new hairstyles is fun, and we’re not saying you should never try a new look. But unfortunately, too much styling of Type 4 hair can lead to breakage, shrinkage, and frizz. Instead, limit daily styling and wear protective styles when you can to help, well, protect your mane from damage. Between styles, be sure to moisturize your hair and scalp to keep breakage at a minimum.
13 of the Best Hair Products for Type 4 Hair
Shampoos for Type 4 hair
Kérastase Curl Manifesto Bain Hydratation Douceur Shampoo
This gentle, creamy shampoo is formulated specifically for coily, curly, and very curly hair types. It contains nutrient- and mineral-rich manuka honey and ceramides and gently removes impurities and buildup without stripping or drying out the hair.
Mizani True Textures Cream Cleansing Conditioner
This cleansing, sulfate-free conditioner works best with wavy to tightly coiled hair. It’s formulated with antioxidants and essential fatty acids and helps to repair damage and restore shine to dry, dull strands.
Conditioners and deep treatments for Type 4 hair
Kérastase Curl Manifesto Masque Beurre Haute Nutrition Hair Mask
Quench thirsty curls with this nourishing (and luxurious) leave-in treatment. The rich formula, which is made specifically for curls and coils, helps strengthen the hair, reduces frizz, and boosts shine for bouncy, healthy-looking hair.
Shu Uemura Art of Hair Ultimate Reset Extreme Repair Hair Mask
As we mentioned earlier, Type 4 coils can be brittle and prone to breakage. If your hair feels weaker than you’d like, try adding this mask to your regular routine. It’s enriched with Japanese-sourced rice extract and helps fortify the hair fiber from root to tip. With regular use, you’ll enjoy stronger, softer, more manageable strands—and a noticeable reduction in breakage.
Mizani True Textures Moroccan Clay Steam Mask
Massage a generous amount of this hair mask into wet hair and leave on for up to 10 minutes for deep conditioning. The 96% biodegradable formula helps restore moisture to dry, wavy, curly, and coily hair, leaving your coils and ringlets bouncy and manageable.
Leave-in conditioners and creams for Type 4 hair
Matrix A Curl Can Dream Moisturizing Cream
This leave-in cream provides moisture and definition without flaking or a crunchy feel. It’s also formulated without sulfates and parabens, so it won’t strip moisture from the hair.
Mizani Rose H2O Hairdress Leave-In Conditioner
It’s important to use Type 4 hair products that add extra moisture and hydration to the hair. This leave-in conditioner fits the bill. The rich formula helps condition the strands while taming frizz for bouncy, healthy-looking hair.
Redken All Soft Moisture Restore Leave-In Treatment
Leave dry coils in the dust with this moisturizing leave-in treatment. The formula contains hyaluronic acid and helps trap moisture in the hair, leaving your strands feeling hydrated for up to 72 hours. It also doubles as a heat protectant, offering a shield against temperatures up to 450 degrees Fahrenheit.
Oils and sealants for Type 4 hair
Kérastase Curl Manifesto Huile Sublime Repair Hair Oil
This nourishing, multi-use hair and scalp oil is best for coily and very curly hair. Apply it to damp hair to help seal in moisture and strengthen the hair, or work it through dry hair to help ward off frizz for up to 24 hours.
Biolage Professional All-In-One Multi-Benefit Oil
Lock in moisture post-wash with this weightless hair oil. The multipurpose formula helps hydrate the hair, boosts shine, controls frizz and flyaways, and seals the hair cuticle for smoother-looking hair. Plus, it offers protection against damage from hot tools and rough styling.
Mizani 25 Miracle Nourishing Hair Oil
This is another nourishing hair oil that helps lock in moisture on the daily. It helps fight frizz, add shine, and soften Type 4 coily hair with a mix of moisturizing coconut, olive, sunflower, and jojoba oils.
Stylers for Type 4 hair
Mizani True Textures Twist and Coil Jelly
When you’re doing a braid-out or twist-out, try prepping your coils with this curling jelly. It works best with very curly to tightly coiled hair, and helps soften, smooth, and activate curls and coils with a mix of coconut, olive, and marula oils.
Mizani Styling Foam Wrap
If you prefer to wash and go, this styling foam will be your best friend. It preps for wet sets, keeps styles in place, and gives them a flawless finish, thanks to a nourishing mix of monoi oil, shea butter, and anti-breakage ceramides.
Tips for Choosing Type 4 Hair Products
Identify your hair needs
When you’re trying to figure out how to manage your Type 4 curly hair, you have to start by identifying your main concerns and needs. Since Type 4 hair is prone to dryness, breakage, shrinkage, buildup, and a lack of definition, it’s essential to choose products that help combat these issues and bring out your best coils. Hydrating leave-ins, curl-defining creams, and nourishing hair masks can all make for great additions to your coily hair routine.
Match products to your hair goals
The best Type 4 hair is soft, hydrated, and full of bouncy volume. To keep your natural hair looking its best, we recommend seeking out coily hair products that help retain moisture without weighing down your hair. If you’re experiencing buildup and dryness, you can also try Type 4 hair products like clarifying shampoos or exfoliating scalp serums. And if you feel like your coils could be more defined, try a coil-enhancing foam or curl-defining cream.
Experiment and adjust
The coily hair journey is certainly not a long and straight path. (Pun intended.) Along the way, you may experience some literal twists and turns—but don’t worry, because that’s totally okay. Trial and error is part of the journey, and you’ll only learn what works for your specific Type 4 hair texture by experimenting with different hair products for Type 4 hair. We suggest starting with a basic haircare routine and building from there. For example, you can try the LOC method with a liquid, oil, and cream to help maximize hydration and define your coils. Or you can try curl cocktailing, where you emulsify multiple curl products simultaneously to reap all their benefits. But whatever you do, just remember: Your Type 4 coily hair journey is supposed to be fun!
Next Up: 2A vs. 2B vs. 2C: How to Identify and Manage Type 2 Wavy Hair
Header photo credit: @mizani
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