Washing Type 4 Hair

For many women, dealing with their natural hair texture can be a difficult task, and that is the main reason why chemical alterations, hair weaves and excessive heat styling are used. However, with patience, good research, trail and error of products and a positive attitude, you can have healthy hair that can be styled the way you want it .

One key practice in maintaining healthy tresses for 4a-textured hair is the regime of washing and conditioning the hair. Most people with 4a-hair texture do not need to wash their hair every day, instead they can rinse their hair with conditioner . Doing this will help retain the natural oils in the hair that shampooing daily will strip. This is important because 4a hair textures require lots of moisture and stripping the hair of moisture will cause it to be brittle, dry and less manageable. 4a hair textures can range in how it is structured from being kinky with no curl pattern , very thick and curly to tightly coiled. Below are steps to take when washing this hair texture to ensure that it will look its best daily.

First, it is recommended not to wash the hair every day and I suggest washing the hair no more than 4 days a week. This will depend on how your hair feels and is looking. For instance, I exercise daily so I wash my hair every other day because otherwise my hair would be dry and have no curl. This is due to my exercising and the heavy sweating. However, I do rinse my hair with conditioner in the shower on day that I do not shampoo. Get a good moisturizing shampoo, many brands like Aveda, Phyto, Motions, Slickline, Carol's Daughter and Ion have excellent shampoos that leave the hair feeling softer and not dry. This is key because a non moisturizing shampoo will result in hard hair as if you washed your hair ten times in a row. Also I would recommend purchasing a moisturizing conditioner from any of the brands mentioned before and one deep treatment conditioner. In-between shampoo days use the moisturizing conditioner instead and weekly deep condition the hair.

Shampoo, Condition, Deep-Treatment Day
Rinse the hair well, then apply the moisturizing shampoo. Massage the scalp while washing the hair. This helps add stimulation and gets the blood circulating in that area. It has been said that a good scalp massage helps keep the hair healthy. Then rinse the shampoo out and squeeze excessive water out of the hair. Do not towel dry the hair because this will cause the hair to frizz. Once excess water is out and apply the moisturizing conditioner. Massage the scalp again then rinse. Squeeze out excess water then apply the deep treatment conditioner and let set for recommended time. If you have a bonnet hair dry sit under it set on low heat for the time that the deep treatment is on the hair. Then rinse and style as desired.

Non-shampoo Day

Rinse the hair well with water, then squeeze out excess water and apply the moisturizing shampoo. Let set for duration of shower or recommended time stated by the brand. Rinse out the conditioner and style as desired.

Shampoo-and-Condition Day

Rinse the hair well then apply the shampoo and massage the scalp. The rinse out the shampoo and squeeze excess water out of the hair. Then apply the conditioner and let set for desired time. Rinse out and style.

By following this shampoo regimen you will see results such as less frizz, easier to style and better shine and bounce when styling straight. Also you will have less breakage which will enable you to obtain a longer length. I recommend squeezing the water out of your hair because this helps retain your curls or spirals and will prevent them from frizzing during and after the styling process. 4a hair textures look like tough hair that can take any styling technique but in reality the hair texture is fragile and needs extra care. With theses steps your 4a hair will be fabulous.

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