How to Deep Condition 4c Hair, Steps, Pros & Cons

Among all coily and curly hair types, 4c hair has the tightest curl pattern of them all. it’s the most fragile since every curve and twist creates an area of weakness and possibility for breaking.

Understanding how to deep condition 4c hair can help you keep breakage at bay.

What is hair deep conditioning?

Deep conditioning is the act of treating your hair with a rich hair treatment. When choosing a deep conditioner for your hair, be sure that it has nourishing components as well as moisturizing compounds that nourish your hair. This type of conditioner is used once or twice a week, and you let it sit in your hair for 20 minutes. Unlike a leave-in conditioner, a deep condition is washed out.

Conditioners with a long-lasting impact are known as “deep conditioners.” As a result, they have a far stronger effect than regular conditioners do on the hair. Typically, deep conditioners come in a considerably thicker liquid or paste form than other types of hair care products. They are rubbed into the hair and kept on for 10-30 minutes. On top of that, heat is administered to speed up the benefits of the conditioner. Thermal energy and time are used in a deep conditioner’s formulation to permeate each hair strand and produce more apparent effects.

Deep conditioning can reverse the effects of sun exposure, chemicals, heated tools, daily styling, and other factors that cause damage to everyone’s hair.

How to Deep Condition 4c Hair

If you have dry, curly, coily, and frizzy 4c hair, you’ll benefit from a moisturizing hair routine.

With this deep conditioning method, your coily 4c hair would be coated and nourished with nutritious ingredients. Because of its moisturizing properties as well as its resiliency, it helps protect your hair from chemicals and styling agents that cause harm to it.

Step 1: Identify the correct deep conditioner for 4c hair

Look for a conditioner that is moisture-rich and friction-reducing. Avoid products that contain drying alcohol, petroleum, or mineral oil.

Some of the best protein enriched deep conditioners contain tiny proteins that can enter your hair. Moisture is retained by large protein molecules as well, although absorption might be hindered, so a conditioner with tiny protein molecules is preferred.

Step 2: Wash your scalp and hair thoroughly

Before deep-conditioning your hair, make sure that your scalp and hair are clean and free of excess oil and debris. If you want to keep your hair’s natural oils, use a shampoo that won’t strip it of them.

It’s best to use a mild shampoo that won’t strip your hair of the natural oils. To prevent dryness and hair breakage, avoid shampoos that include Sulfates, which are abrasive cleansing chemicals that strip hair of its natural oils.

Step 3: Apply the deep conditioner on your hair

Put approximately a quarter-sized dab in your palms and massage them together. Apply the product to your hair, starting at the midpoint of your hair shaft and working your way to the ends. Apply the remaining product from the roots to the tips. Don’t forget about those dry tips of your hair. Using a wide-toothed comb can help in the process.

Check if your hair ends are getting enough conditioner. Most people’s hair is mostly dry in this area.

Step 4: Let the conditioner set in

It takes at least ten minutes for a deep conditioning treatment to reach the center of each strand of hair. Some products may require you to leave them on for a longer period of time, but most should work within 30 minutes or less. Covering your head with a plastic shower cap is an option if you want to keep the conditioner in place, but it isn’t required.

Step 5: Apply heat (Optional)

You may use a hairdryer to warm your hair so that it can be absorbed more easily. For best results, aim hot air to your head with a low setting blow dryer.

The hair dryer shouldn’t become too hot, so be careful.

Step 6: Rinse with cold water

Once the shower cap is removed, rinse your hair with cool water to tighten the hair shaft and give it a lustrous appearance. After rinsing, gently towel-dry your hair, then let it air-dry and style as you normally would. Make sure your hair is healthy-looking, full of bounce, and lustrous.

Avoid applying shampoo to your hair for few days. This will prevent you from washing out the conditioning treatment and undoing its benefits.

5 DIY Homemade Deep Conditioners for 4c hairs

When you use a natural conditioner on curly hair, you need to give moisture to the strands and make them seem healthy and joyful!

Store-bought conditioners are good but the majority are filled with chemicals that could be more harmful than good.

Give the below DIY homemade conditioners for 4c hair a try.

DIY Conditioner #1: Honey and Coconut milk

When it comes to smooth, curly tresses, this homemade natural hair conditioner will be just perfect for 4c hair type. Coconut milk repairs hair, while honey softens and hydrates it. If you want to get curls that are glossy and silky, try this natural conditioner.

What you need:

1. Honey – 4 tablespoons
2. Coconut milk – 1 cup

Preparation Method:

• Combine the honey and coconut milk in a mixing bowl and stir until well combined.
• Apply this mixture to your hair after shampooing.
• Allow 10 to 30 minutes for the conditioner to work.
• Rinse with cold water.

DIY Conditioner #2: Olive oil and Eggs

If your hair is porous and needs extra protein, this treatment is perfect for you. Olive oil is nature’s conditioner, and the fatty elements in it provide dry and damaged hair much-needed nourishment.

The proportions mentioned below are for hair that is shoulder-length or shorter but depending on the length and thickness of your hair, you can add more yolks and olive oil (for each egg yolk add 1 tablespoon of olive oil).

What you need:

1. Egg yolk – 1
2. Olive oil – 1 tablespoon

Preparation Method:

• Apply this mixture to your hair after shampooing.
• Allow 10 to 30 minutes for the conditioner to work.
• Rinse thoroughly with cool or lukewarm water.

DIY Conditioner #3: Banana and Honey

Biotin, a B-vitamin found in bananas, is considered to promote vibrant hair and a healthy scalp. This super-moisturizing hair mask with honey, a natural humectant, will help encourage hair growth and volume from the follicle to the tip.

What you need:

1. Banana – 1 ripe
2. Honey – 1 tablespoon

Preparation Method:

• Apply this mixture to your hair after shampooing.
• Allow 10 to 30 minutes for the conditioner to work.
• Rinse thoroughly with cool water.

DIY Conditioner #4: Mayo and Avocado

Because of the fatty acids and vitamins in mayonnaise, it can improve the appearance of your hair and lock in moisture. While high levels of B &E in avocados hydrate hair cells and strengthen their roots and fibers.

What you need:

1. Avocado – half ripe avocado
2. Mayonnaise – ¼ cup
3. Avocado oil – 2 tablespoon

Preparation Method:

• Mix the ingredients properly.
• Apply this mixture to your damp hair after shampooing.
• Allow 10 to 30 minutes for the conditioner to work.
• Rinse thoroughly with cool water.

DIY Conditioner #5: Greek yogurt, Honey and Apple cider vinegar

Apple cider vinegar detangles and cleans your hair, while Greek yogurt adds protein to your hair. Honey helps to lock in moisture, and a few drops of a pleasant essential oil like lavender can assist to disguise the vinegar fragrance while your hair soaks up the therapy.

What you need:

1. Greek yogurt – half cup
2. Apple cider vinegar – 1 tablespoon
3. Honey – 1 tablespoon

Preparation Method:

• Apply this mixture to your hair after shampooing.
• Allow 10 to 30 minutes for the conditioner to work.
• Rinse thoroughly with cool water.

How is 4c hair different from other hair types?

Coils of 4c hair are known for their tightness, which gives them a distinct advantage over other hair types. It also makes 4c hair highly fragile and prone to damage and breakage because of its thin strands. 4c hair takes a great deal of time and sensitive, loving care to take care of. Care for your hair is no more difficult than caring for any other kind once you figure out what works.

Compared to other hair types, 4c hair has much denser coils, which leads to greater shrinkage and twisting. Twists and turns increase the likelihood of knotting and tangling.

Most naturals with 4c hair have severe hair shrinkage loss of up to 70% or more, which is fairly typical. During the hair aging process, the hair shrinks and seems shorter than it is in reality. There typically isn’t much of a curl in 4c hair when it’s in its natural form, newly washed and largely dry and without product. As a result of the 4c coils being so tight, the head of hair gets very thick, easily tangled, and usually lacks natural shine.

Because of these, it becomes very crucial to properly deep condition 4c hair.

Here is an article with a complete analysis of Hair Types.

Hair Deep Conditioning Tips and Tricks for 4c Hair Type

• Steam your hair: As part of a deep conditioning treatment, you may hydrate your hair by using steam. Steam warms the conditioner and raises the cuticle, allowing the conditioner to penetrate your coily 4c type hair better. Using a steamer while your hair is covered in a deep conditioner helps to improve the elasticity and moisture retention of your hair.
• Balance the Protein: A good moisture -to- protein balance is essential for healthy hair. Protein and moisture alternately used in deep conditioning can help maintain your hair strong and reduce breakage, resulting in length retention and increased hair growth.
• Keep the end in mind: Concentrate your efforts on the ends of your hair as you begin deep conditioning your hair. Our hair end is prone to breakage and split ends since it is older and drier, so we tend to do the reverse, although we know it’s best to start with the ends. By starting with your ends, you give them more time to absorb and adsorb all of the deep conditioning goodness your product has to offer, resulting in healthier hair.
• Let it absorb but don’t overdo: Different from normal conditioners, a deep conditioner is meant to sit on your hair for a long period of time. However, if you over-condition your hair by keeping your deep conditioner in for an extended amount of time, you may end up damaging it. In the end, your hair will become weak and brittle.
• Frequency is the key: It is determined by the condition of your hair as to how often you deep condition it. Once a week, deep treat your hair if you have damaged hair, keeping it on for 20 to 30 minutes. Deep conditioner may only be needed every two weeks on healthy hair. To restore moisture to hair that has been tucked away in a twist or braid for several weeks, deep conditioners are a great option. If you don’t routinely deep condition your hair, you should.

Summing Up

More than just a hair mask, deep conditioning is a method of nourishing the hair from the inside. It can make the difference between damaged hair and healthy, moisturized 4c hair if it is used wisely.

Choose deep conditioners with plant-based components that are slippery and do not include mineral oil.

When it comes to hair issues, deep conditioners aren’t a quick fix. When it comes to hair growth and restoration, it requires consistency and time, much like getting in shape after a long time of inactivity.

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