Recently a reader reached out asking how she can grow her 4C hair! So we thought we’d share our exchange in case anyone else needs these tips!
What products are you supposed to use to help 4c hair grow?
For 4c hair growth, the focus should be on keeping the hair moisturized, reducing breakage, and maintaining a healthy scalp.
Here are some go-to product types and ingredients that help:
1. Oils for Scalp Health & Growth
- Castor oil (especially Jamaican Black Castor Oil): great for thickening and stimulating growth.
- Peppermint oil: boosts circulation to the scalp—often used diluted with a carrier oil.
- Rosemary oil: also known to stimulate hair growth and improve scalp health.
2. Moisturizing Products
- Leave-in conditioners: Look for ones rich in water, aloe vera, and glycerin.
- Moisturizing creams or butters: Shea butter, mango butter, and avocado oil help seal in moisture.
3. Scalp Treatments
- Scalp scrubs or oils with tea tree or rosemary can help keep your scalp clear and healthy.
4. Growth-Focused Products
- Brands like Mielle Organics (especially their Rosemary Mint line), Camille Rose, and The Mane Choice have lines aimed at growth and scalp care that work well for 4c textures.
And don’t forget—protective styles, gentle detangling, and low manipulation are just as important as products.
You are amazing! Any suggestions on how to style? I faithfully keep knotless box braids in, but have decided to take a break and go all natural.
It’s always good to give your hair a break to breathe and thrive in its natural state. A few suggestions that help you avoid breakage and retain length:
- Twist-outs or braid-outs – Great for definition and volume.
- Flat twists – Easy to do, can be styled up or down, and look sleek.
- Buns and puffs – High or low, just don’t pull too tight at the edges.
- Roll, tuck, and pin styles – Protective and elegant.
- I personally love two strand twists (without added hair). It’s ZERO tension; you’ve got easy scalp access and don’t have to braid up your hair every night.
Don’t forget to keep your hair moisturized; detangle gently and don’t skip trims!
What can help with breakage other than silk bonnet and styling? Is there any product? Also the more organic the better.
It really depends on what’s causing the breakage. Breakage doesn’t just happen. This quiz can give you an indication of what might be causing any breakage or damage: https://un-ruly.com/quiz-hair-damaged/. There are also product recommendations in the results of the quiz. The recommendations are from the Aphogee line because we created the quiz with them. But you can also find similar products in other brands you trust. For example I wash with Native’s strengthening shampoo and conditioner. It has all clean ingredients.
How can I tell if my hair is even 4C?
Great question! Figuring out your hair type can be confusing, especially since many of us have more than one texture on our head. Here’s how to tell if your hair is 4C:
1. Look at your curl pattern when it’s product-free and wet
Wash your hair and let it air dry without any heavy creams or gels. Then check for curl definition:
- 4A hair has a visible S-shaped curl pattern.
- 4B hair bends in a zig-zag pattern and forms more sharp angles.
- 4C hair has very tight curls or coils that may not clump or define into a visible curl pattern easily. It tends to shrink up a lot (up to 75%) and feels more cottony or fluffy.
If your hair looks more like soft coils or tufts of cotton rather than spirals or defined curls—even when soaking wet—it might be 4C.
2. Notice how it behaves
4C hair:
- Shrinks significantly (even when it’s long, it might appear short unless stretched)
- Tangles easily and is more fragile
- May feel very dense and thick, but individual strands are often fine
- Doesn’t usually define without manipulation (like twist-outs or finger coils)
3. You might have more than one texture
A lot of people have a mix—maybe 4C at the crown, 4B in the back, or a looser texture near the edges. That’s totally normal, and it’s more helpful to focus on what your hair needs (moisture, low manipulation, gentle detangling) than to box it into just one type.
But try not to get too caught up in the lettering system of categorizing hair. It’s more important to understand what issues your hair might have if any and what it tends to respond to.
Good luck with this phase of your hair journey! If you have more questions, we’re here if you need us!
