4C hair
The tightest coils, with little visible pattern. The densest type, with the most shrinkage, and it needs the most moisture.
- Family
- Type 4, coily
- Curl size
- Very tight coils with little visible pattern
- Key traits
- Tightest coils, Little visible pattern, Most shrinkage, Driest and most fragile
What does 4C hair look like?
4C hair has the tightest coils of all the types, so tight that the pattern is hard to see without stretching a strand. It is very dense and can look like one soft, full shape. It shrinks the most of any type, so it often looks a fraction of its real length. It is also the driest and most fragile type.
The coils are so tight that scalp oil barely moves past the root. That leaves the lengths dry, and the many tight bends are where the hair breaks if it is pulled or combed dry.
How do I know if I have 4C hair?
Check it on wash day, after your hair has dried on its own with no styling products. Look at a section from the middle of your head, not the hairline, which is often looser.
Compared with 4B, 4C has less visible pattern and shrinks even more. Many people have 4C hair at the crown and 4B or 4A elsewhere. That is normal, and it is common to have more than one type on one head.
For a second opinion, take a close-up and run the free hair type test, or compare the photos on the hair type chart.
How to care for 4C hair
- Wash every one to two weeks, and use a pre-poo oil or conditioner before shampooing.
- Detangle only when the hair is wet and coated with conditioner, in small sections, from the ends up.
- Moisturize every few days with the LOC or LCO method, sealing with a butter.
- Deep condition every week, ideally with gentle heat.
- Protect the hair at night with a satin bonnet, and use protective styles to cut down on handling.
Best products for 4C hair
4C hair loves rich products: thick creams, shea or mango butter, and oils like castor or olive. A water-based leave-in first, then something to seal it in, keeps moisture where it belongs. Gels help when you want definition.
Your hair's porosity matters as much as its type when you pick products. Low porosity hair needs lighter products and a little warmth to let them in, while high porosity hair needs richer ones to seal moisture. Our hair porosity test shows how to check yours.
Styles and cuts for 4C hair
Protective styles like braids, twists and wigs give the hair a long rest. Twist-outs, braid-outs and puffs work well for daily wear. Stretching with bantu knots, threading or banding shows off length without heat.
For a full wash day, step by step, see our curly hair routine.
Not sure which type you are? Take one close-up of your hair and the free hair type test tells you in seconds.
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