How Often Should You Deep Condition 4C Hair?

Anyone who knows anything about 4C hair knows that deep conditioning is a must for this hair type. But exactly how often should you do your deep conditioning treatments? Is there a universal frequency that works for all 4C hair? Or is it an individual thing? We've got all the answers for you in this article. In a minute or two, you'll know how often to deep condition your 4C hair.

This is How Often to Deep Condition 4C Hair in General

People with type 1 and type 2 hair can often get away with minimal deep conditioning. But that's not the case for highly textured Hair. Experts recommend deep conditioning 4C hair at least once per week. And here's why: the 4C hair texture is composed of really tight coils or zig zags that stop scalp oils from traveling down the hair shaft. As a result, 4C hair is often drier than other hair types (Types 1, 2, 3, and other Type 4 hair subtypes (4A and 4B). To keep your 4C hair healthy, you need to manually moisturize and hydrate often since your scalp oils alone aren't enough.

Everyone's 4C Hair is Different: Finding Your Ideal Deep Conditioning Frequency

Yes, one or two weekly deep conditioning sessions is the general sweet spot for people with 4C hair. However, it's critical to remember that every head of 4C hair is different. Here are some factors to think about when fine-tuning your deep conditioning frequency:

·      Your hair's porosity. If you have high porosity 4C hair, hydration and moisture don't stick around for long, and you may need more frequent deep conditioning sessions. On the other hand, 4C low porosity hair retains moisture really well. You can do fewer sessions, so long as you ensure that your cuticles are open and ready to receive the nutrients and hydration from the deep conditioner.

·      Your shampooing habits. Do you use a harsh shampoo with heavy-duty sulfates every wash day? If so, your 4C hair may be drier than the next person's due to excessive moisture loss. That moisture will need to be replenished with more frequent deep conditioning sessions. If you wash your hair infrequently, you may find that you don't need as many deep conditioning sessions. 

·      Your swimming habits. Every time you take a dip in a chlorinated pool without hair protection, your strands can very quickly dry out. So, if you're an avid swimmer, pull out your deep conditioner after each swim to combat that dryness. And always wear a swim cap before diving in.  

Not sure whether you should deep condition your 4C hair once or twice a week? Start with once a week and see how your hair reacts. If it still seems dry, increase your frequency to twice a week.

If you haven’t yet found a high-quality deep conditioner that makes your hair feel buttery soft, healthy, and manageable, check out Daily Dose. Our Clean Moisture Deep Conditioner, formulated for all hair types, deeply hydrates and revitalizes the hair and aids in detangling for easy styling.

So, there you have it - how often to deep condition 4C hair. We hope you found all the information you were looking for, and we wish you the best with your coils and kinks!  

Author: Andrea Reyes
 
Andrea is a mother, wife, writer, and natural hair enthusiast of 15+ years. Currently on her natural hair journey, she’s been trying countless products and techniques to understand and embrace her natural hair. She is the creator of CurlAdvice.com, a new website featuring informative articles that share tips, tricks, and techniques aimed to help others learn to love their hair through proper hair care. She writes with the hope of making hair care easier to understand and implement.