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Camille Wilson Type 4c hair, in all its glory and beauty, can admittedly present a bit of a learning curve to naturals who are still learning about their hair. It may take a while to fully understand what their hair needs in order to thrive, and how it may require a little extra love and care to keep it in its healthiest state. While stretching natural hair is a popular method of styling, it can also be added to a regular 4c hair care regimen to make haircare easier and more efficient.
Continue!>>> Why Do 4c’s Benefit From This Method? Type 4c naturals have the most tightly-coiled hair, and that combined with up to 70 percent shrinkage and difficulty retaining moisture can create the perfect recipe for damage and breakage. The tight curl pattern of the hair makes it difficult for oils and sebum to travel down from the scalp to moisturize the entire hair strand. To be clear, there is absolutely nothing wrong with living your best life and rocking a beautiful 4c wash and go. Shrinkage is a sign of healthy, thoroughly moisturized hair; but for those 4c’s who have difficulty controlling knots and tangles, wash and go’s are just not practical for an everyday regimen--that’s where stretching comes in.
Stretched 4c hair is less likely to curl in on itself, and makes it easier for those natural oils (and added moisturizing products) to travel down the hair strands and retain the moisture, warding off excessive breakage and dryness. Using heatless methods to stretch can also help you avoid frequent use of heat (and irreversible heat damage) and retain as much length as possible.
Shavonnie Scott Wilson, professional New Jersey hairstylist and fellow 4c natural, says that although she likes to wear wigs, she prefers to keep her 8-year-old daughter Cecelia’s 4c hair in cute stretched styles. “Specifically in the summertime, I don’t change her styles much, so it’s easier to maintain braided and twisted styles. And her hair is detangled and protected” she says. Her go-to methods of stretching are banding, braiding, and twist-outs.
Stretching Methods Some popular methods to stretch natural curls, waves, and coils include:
1. BRAID-OUTS/TWIST-OUTS: The classic braid-out/twist-out. On thoroughly-moisturized and detangled hair (usually water, a styling cream, and an oil), simply section hair off and twist or braid the hair. Then, take the twists/braids down when they are dry. Check out Halfrican Beaute’s simple tutorial for type 4 hair. Get the Flaxseed and Black Castor Oil Eco Styling Gel she uses here.