Type 4 kinky hair is unique and beautiful, characterised by its tight coils and abundant texture. However, maintaining the health and vitality of type 4 hair requires a specialized hair care routine. It’s simple to cater for the needs of type 4 kinky hair when you building on these 7 cardinal principles. These principles serve to enhance its natural beauty, health, and manageability.
1. Gentle Cleansing:
Avoid harsh sulfates and harsh formulations that can strip the hair excessively, leading to further dryness and brittleness. Go for sulfate-free shampoos that cleanse the hair without causing excessive dryness. Add superfatting agents or a small amount of refatting oils to prevent the friction that comes with oil stripping. You can also add a co-wash to a routine for those who wash their hair frequently.
Surfactants that are gentle on the hair include SCI-85 and Sarcosinate, AOS
2. Detangling with Care:
Type 4 kinky hair is prone to tangling and knotting, so it’s crucial to approach detangling with patience and care. Educate your consumers to use a detangling brush specifically designed for curly and coily hair textures. Incorporate slip agents like polyquaternium-7 and cationic conditioners to facilitate easy detangling
Ingredients that aid in detangling include: Cationic Guar, Polyquaternium-7, Cetrimonium Chloride
3. Deep Conditioning Treatments:
There is no hair type that needs and greatly benefits from deep conditioning like Type 4 hair. Invest both time and effort in designing and building a formula that will wow your customers. Provide intense moisture and nourishment with a high concentration of cationic conditioners, rich emollients, and hydrolysed proteins of different molecular weights. A combination of different molecular sizes is usually best.
Ingredients for conditioning: Behentrimonium Chloride, BTMS-50, Vege-Pro, Silk Peptide, Baobab Protein Hydrolysed.
4. Hydration Is Key:
Type 4 kinky hair tends to be drier than other hair types, making hydration a top priority. When formulating a product line, it’s essential to incorporate rich moisture in your leave-in treatments. Opt for light conditioners that deliver adequate hydration in between washes without leaving a heavy residue.
Ingredients: Humectants, Panthenol, Cationic Panthenol, Trehalose, Silk peptide
5. Oils are Nourishing
While other hair types cannot fathom the though of adding more oil to their hair, kinky hair will thank you.
Ingredients: Type 4 hair types benefit immensely from heavier oils like Nilotica Shea Butter, Argan oil, Pracaxi Oil, etc, which can effectively lock in moisture and prevent dryness.
5. Protective Styling:
Protective hairstyles, such as braids, twists, and buns, can help minimize manipulation and protect the ends of your hair, which are particularly prone to dryness and damage. When wearing protective styles, be mindful of not pulling the hair too tightly, as this can result in tension and breakage.
6. Moisturizing and Sealing:
After washing and conditioning, apply a leave-in conditioner and a natural oil or butter to seal in moisture. This step is essential for keeping your hair hydrated and reducing the risk of breakage. Pay attention to the ends of your hair, as they are the oldest and most fragile part of each strand.
7. Nighttime Care:
Protect your hair at night by using a satin or silk scarf or bonnet to prevent friction and moisture loss while you sleep. Alternatively, consider using a satin pillowcase to minimize tangling and breakage.
8. Trimming:
Keeping your ends healthy is crucial for retaining length and preventing split ends. Contrary to popular advice to trim your hair on schedule, you don’t need to trim your edges unless they are badly frayed – Using protein treatments can lengthen the time your hair may need a trim.
Every individual’s hair is unique, so it may take some experimentation to find the perfect combination of products and techniques for your type 4 kinky hair. Embrace the natural beauty of your hair and enjoy the process of discovering what works best for you. With a consistent and personalized hair care routine, you can maintain healthy, vibrant type 4 kinky hair.