10 Tips for Retaining Length for 4C Natural Hair
Do you find that your hair never goes past a certain length? Then read on for ways to help retain length for longer hair…
What is length retention?
Firstly, length retention is not the same as hair growth. Length retention is all about healthy habits used to care for your hair to help maintain your hair’s current length and help minimise breakage for longer lengths.
10 tips for natural 4c hair length retention
Chances are your natural hair is growing and breaking at the same rate this is why you are not retaining length. I’ve been there and experienced this too with my natural 4c hair but when this starts to occur these are the top 10 things to do which I have had success with reaching my hair goals and I hope these help you too.
Have a good Diet and exercise
Healthy hair starts from within! A major key to retaining length is having a healthy diet rich in protein such as eggs, fish, poultry and legumes, healthy fats like avocado, seeds and coconut oil and antioxidants from berries like strawberries, raspberries and blueberries. Vitamin C, D and B are crucial too and you can get these from foods as well as through taking a supplement like Feel Beauty or Feel Multivitamin which are specially formulated to support hair and to help ensure you get the right levels. Staying hydrated is key too! Diet goes hand in hand with exercise as well…
…Don't sleep on exercise Sis. Exercise encourages blood flow and circulation which stimulates the scalp and helps with healthier hair. My natural hair flourishes when I eat well and exercise regularly.
Pre-poo your hair
Use a pre-poo (pre-shampoo) treatment to help add moisture and prepares hair for the shampoo process by adding a protective layer to strands to help protect your hair from manipulation. For a pre-poo treatment try a mix of natural oils such as a mix of like Jamaican Black Castor Oil and avocado oil or use a product specially formulated for pre-shampoo like multi-award winning and iconic Philip Kinsley Elasticizer which helps reduce the likelihood of breakage and boosts hair’s strength.
Moisturise in between washdays
Our hair is like a plant and is basically an extension of skin and need moisture, whether you simply choose water and oil or a leave-in conditioner with great slip and that’s silicone free (silicones can block moisture due to the barrier that they create) like Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Length Retention Leave-In Conditioner, moisturise your hair a few times per week in between washdays and be sure to seal the moisture in.
Wear protective styles
Natural 4c hair shrinks and tangles easily, so opt for protective styles like canerows, flat twists, braids to help keep hair stretched to prevent tangles and keep ends tucked away. However, don’t leave protective styles in for too long.
Have Regular Trims
Don’t be afraid of the scissors, regular trims remove split ends and single strand knots. Leaving split ends is a recipe for disaster as it will simply travel further down the hair shaft and lead to more breakage which stops you retaining length beyond a certain length.
Regular hair Treatments
Whether this is weekly or bi-weekly, include deep conditioning in your hair regime. This helps give your hair strands added moisture. Check out my previous post on the benefits of deep conditioning and the best deep conditioners for natural 4c hair. Protein treatments are important too, here are some of the best protein treatments for 4c natural hair.
Protect your hair at night
Whether you use a silk or satin bonnet or scarf or pillowcase this step is essential on any length retention journey. This helps stop hair becoming dry and brittle from cotton sheets.
T-shirt dry or use a microfiber towel
Instead of regular towel, opt for a microfibre towel or a t-shirt as these create less friction on your hair and helps protect against damage.
Finger detangle
Natural 4c hair tend to get lots of tangles and single strand knots. So minimise the use of combs and brushes as overuse and improper use of hair tools like combs and brushes can damage hair and lead to breakage. Let your hands do most of the work when it comes to detangling. I find finger detangling works best when my natural kinky hair is damp or wet because my hair is more elastic then.
Treat your scalp
Last but not least, proper scalp care is also essential as it is the foundation for healthy hair. This involves shampooing regularly I’ve been enjoying the Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Length Retention Shampoo as it works to clarify and moisturise my hair. I find shampooing a good opportunity for a scalp massage too.
So there you have it 10 tips for length retention for 4c natural hair! I hope you found this post useful. Please feel free to share any other tips for length retention in the comments to help a fellow naturalista.
Thanks for stopping by!
Krista x
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Healthy and clean scalp is the foundation for healthy hair and to help you get the best results from your conditioners, protein treatments and stylers. So, if your goal is to retain length and to have healthy, nourished hair, shampooing regularly is essential.