The best way to keep your hair moisturized is to get on a good schedule. The tough part about it is that everyone’s hair is different, which means no two moisturizing regimes will look alike. There are a few factors at play when it comes to moisturizing. First of all, you have to figure out the porosity of your hair. How readily it absorbs moisture.

Also, you need to factor in the environment you live in. Dryer climates mean dryer hair! Along with humidity, you need to think about the temperature. Does hotter air tend to dry out hair quicker than colder air? That means the summer months will probably require a bit more moisturizing than the winter.

Unfortunately, there’s no quick and easy answer here. You need to experiment and figure out what works best for your hair. Start with moisturizing every three days, and go from there. That is usually a good starting point because it isn’t too long in between moisturizing, but it also isn’t so soon that you risk over-moisturizing.

4C hair has the tightest curls of all hair patterns, with hairs forming tight s’s, z’s or coils. 4C hair shares many of the other characteristics of type 4 hair, and of course, individuals with 4C hair can have different hair densities and porosities, which changes how your hair behaves. However, these are some of the defining qualities of 4C hair:

• Hair dries out quickly, or struggles to maintain moisture more than other curl patterns
• Individuals can experience extreme shrinkage, sometimes up to 75%!
• Hair is prone to tangles and matting if not properly cared for and regularly detangled
• Hair is fragile and prone to breakage

RETAIN MOISTURE.

Even if you have low porosity hair, 4C hair needs to be kept moisturized. The kinks and coils of 4C curls prevent the distribution of sebum (natural oil produced by your scalp) throughout your hair. This allows your hair to dry out faster than other curl patterns, so you need to take extra precautions to keep your hair moisturized. Find a good moisturizer AND a good sealant. Oils like coconut oil and olive oil, and creams like Shea butter are effective at sealing moisture in your hair. If you wear a protective style, don’t forget to moisturize regularly!