4C Hair Shrinkage: Top 6 Tricks to Stop Your 4C Hair From Shrinking


Shrinkage is a common issue with natural 4c hair. This occurs as a result of the how tight the natural curls are. Shrinkage can be a nuisance, as your 4c texture can shrink up to 90 percent. With shrinkage like this, it’s difficult to manage and style your hair as you wish. Follow these top 6 tips to instantly put a stop to your 4c shrinkage woes.

USING COCONUT MILK TO COMBAT 4C HAIR SHRINKAGE

Keep your 4c natural hair moisturized to prevent shrinkage. There are specific hair products that will work wonders for your hair. Hair products that contains coconut milk or even coconut milk itself is known to prevent shrinkage on natural hair. The Coconut Anti-breakage Serum is highly recommended and rated on Amazon because of its natural ingredients that keeps your 4c hair soft, hydrated, and well-moisturized.

DETANGLING YOUR 4C HAIR TO STOP SHRINKAGE

Use a detangling shampoo and a detangling brush to remove knots from  your hair while washing it. This will make your 4c hair manageable after washing is complete.  The SheaMoisture Raw Shea Butter Deep Moisturizing Detangler is also recommended to reverse natural hair shrinkage.

PROTECTIVE STYLING TO KEEP 4C HAIR SHRINK-FREE

One of the most common reasons for 4c shrinkage is leaving the hair loose, especially after washing it. If you’re trying to stop your natural hair from shrinking, this is definitely not the way to go about it.

Top stylists recommend people with natural hair, especially 4c texture, to keep their hair twisted after washing. It is best to twist it while it’s wet and after detangled, then pull it out only after it is dried.

If your hair dries while it’s like this, it will help your hair stretch, which helps to retain your true hair length. Just simple big two-strand twists or bantu knots will do the trick.

FLEX RODS ON NATRUAL 4C HAIR

Another way to stop shrinkage on  4c hair is to use Flexi Rods. These flexible curlers are soft and comfortable to sleep in. The good thing about these flexible curlers is that you don’t need heat to keep your hair stretched. The rods and the natural heat from your scalp is enough to eliminate natural hair shrinkage.

BlOW DRY TO RETAIN LENGTH ON 4C HAIR

Using heat to stop 4c hair from shrinking is also another option. You can use a hair dryer to distribute the heat to your hair evenly. We recommend using an Ionic Hair Dryer as well as heat protectant. Combining these two will ensure that your hair will remain free from heat damage.

SILK PRESS 4C HAIR TO TEMPORARY STOP SHRINKAGE

Silk pressing your natural hair is yet another solution for eliminating 4c hair shrinkage. Straightening your natural hair with heat is temporary, but at least you’ll get to see your true hair length and be able to trim the ends if needed. Prevent heat damage by applying a good heat protectant before straightening your hair with heat.

If you decide to silk press your natural hair don’t overdo it. Wait at least 4 months in between presses to maintain your healthy hair.

 

 

Top Ways to Retain Length With 4C Hair

sheabutter for moistureEach of us have a different hair type. Some people even have a mixture. Your hair type determines the specific types of hair products you need and methods that works best for your hair. For example, 4C hair tends to shrink a lot. Use these simple tips to keep your 4C hair healthy and strong, while retaining length.

Keeping Natural 4C Hair Healthy

Having length is not the only goal you should pursue. It is important that the overall health of your hair is achieved. When your natural hair is long, strong, and healthy, the beauty shows in every angle.

Also, keep in mind that our diet and lifestyle can affect how our hair grows. You might see someone with the same hair type like yours, with a head full of healthy hair, and wonder why yours is not progressing at the same rate. That person may have a different hair care regimen and lifestyle than what you have.

Moisture for 4C Hair

Moisturizing your 4C hair is a very important hair care routine that should be incorporated into your regular hair care regimen. Without moisture, your hair will not thrive and may result in hair damage over a period of time.

Oils and Water for 4C Hair Type

Keeping your hair soft and manageable is a key component to retaining length. Use natural oils such as a mixture of castor oil and coconut oil, mixed with water, to spritz your hair. After spritzing your hair, you will need a good product for 4C natural hair retention to lock in moisture.

Protective Styles For 4C Hair Retention

To retain length on your natural hair, do protective styles that are not stressful on your roots and edges. At nights, do two or four big plaits before going to bed, so that your hair can stretch out, preventing less shrinkage.

Trimming Your Natural Hair

Don’t be scared to snip off your dead ends from time to time. Try to trim your ends at least every 3 months. Keep a close eye on your hair ends to make sure that your ends are in good condition. This will encourage hair growth and prevent split ends from getting worse.