Type 4B curls tend to look like tight coils, often with a zigzag pattern. They’re densely packed, with sharp angles, and prone to shrinkage and dryness, so it’s vital you keep your curls hydrated to prevent breakage and maintain their shape. Protective styling, deep conditioning and gentle detangling techniques will help you keep your curls in check.
Here’s how to make the most of your 4B hair, and make sure you’re using the right techniques to protect your scalp and curls.
Type 4B Hair Care
- Wash your curls with a hydrating shampoo: The sharp zigzags of your coils make it hard for your scalp’s natural oils to travel down the hair shaft, so use a moisturising shampoo to inject some hydration back into your strands
- Do a pre-poo treatment: Applying conditioner before you shampoo will help maintain your scalp’s natural oils, and protects your curls from any harsh ingredients in your shampoo
- Use deep conditioning treatments: Regular deep conditioning can help to restore moisture, detangle and prevent breakage
- Detangle with care: Use a wide-toothed comb or your fingers to detangle your 4B curls gently, starting from the ends and working your way up. Avoid using fine-toothed combs or brushes that can cause breakage
- Use protective hairstyles: Styles like braids, twists, or buns minimise manipulation and tugging on your scalp, and protect your curls from damage. They can also help retain moisture and reduce breakage
- Invest in smoothing silk accessories: Sleeping on a satin or silk pillowcase or using a satin/silk bonnet or scarf can help prevent friction and moisture loss
Hairstyles for Type 4B Hair
Type 4B curls have a natural volume and springiness that allow you to experiment with eye-catching styles. These curls are versatile, and when properly cared for, they showcase your curls’ natural beauty to the max.
- Box braids: Not only do box braids stimulate hair growth, but this protective hairstyle give your hair and scalp a break from daily manipulation
- Twists: Versatile and low-maintenance, twists can be styled in various sizes and lengths. They can be time-consuming to create but can last for up to 6 weeks
- Bantu knots: These long-lasting knots keep the ends of your hair tucked away, reducing exposure to environmental damage and minimising manipulation and breakage
- Defined natural curls: Apply a leave-in conditioner and curl-enhancing gel to damp hair, then allow hair to air dry. Alternatively, you can use a diffuser on a low setting for more volume
- High puff: Gather all of your hair at the crown of your head, as if you were going to create a ponytail . Use your fingers to smooth bumps and flyaways, and secure your hair in a ponytail using a hair tie
- Frohawk: Style a mini mohawk by creating two rows of flat twists or braids on either side of your head, leaving the middle section as a voluminous afro
- Half-up, half-down: Gather the top section of your hair into a puff or bun while leaving the remaining hair loose, or styled in defined curls
Hair Products for Type 4B Hair
Why we like it
Designed especially for type 4 hair, this hugely-popular curling gel elongates and defines curls while providing long-lasting hold. It contains flaxseed and wheat proteins that moisturise and nourish your hair, reduce frizz, and enhance natural curl patterns.
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Why we like it
This deeply-moisturising hair treatment is formulated with a blend of nourishing ingredients including shea butter, cocoa butter, and pro-vitamin B5. It absorbs quickly and improves manageability, softness and shine.
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Why we like it
A decadent, vitamin-packed treatment enriched with botanical blue green algae and mango butter, this sweet-smelling deep conditioner provides intense hydration, locks in moisture, strengthens hair, and improves elasticity.
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Why we like it
Infused with Babassu oil, natural oils and fatty acids, this nutrient-rich deep conditioner reduces breakage and smoothes ends while boosting your hair’s elasticity. It’s safe for colour-treated curls, braids, weaves and high and low-level hair porosity.
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Shampoo for Type 4B Hair
Why we like it
This popular paraben-free shampoo for 4B curls is enriched with Jamaican Black Castor Oil, shea butter and peppermint to cleanse and strengthen your curls. It promotes hair growth, reduces breakage, and nourishes the scalp - as well as containing no sulphates, mineral oils or petrolatum.
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Why we like it
This gorgeously-scented cowash with coconut oil and tangerine extract effectively and gently cleanses your hair and scalp without sulphates or harsh detergents. It’s an ideal alternative to traditional shampoos, and leaves hair hydrated, detangled and ready for effortless styling.
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Why we like it
Enriched with argan oil, this hydrating and detangling shampoo is great for type 4B hair as it moisturises, nourishes, and adds shine, gently cleanses hair while minimising frizz and breakage.
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Why we like it
This sulphate-free, kind shampoo gets rave reviews, and is suitable for the whole family as it doesn’t strip your scalp’s natural oils while cleansing. Almond and avocado oils detangle, nourish and hydrate your strands, and it’s suitable for coloured or chemically-relaxed textures, as well as hair extensions.
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Why we like it
This gentle shampoo with phytic acid and Mandarin Orange extract is perfect for clarifying and removing dulling product buildup from type 4B hair. Sea kelp helps maintain your hair’s proper moisture balance, and citrus extracts and chamomile help to wash away product oils, butters, silicones and wax.
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How Often Should I Wash Type 4B Hair?
If you’ve got natural type 4B curls, shampooing more than once a week may be too drying and can cause unnecessary curl breakage.
It’s up to you how often you choose to wash your hair, but we’d recommend that you wash your coils using shampoo every two weeks, using a cleansing conditioner on alternate weeks. This will help your hair retain as much moisture as possible, while the detergents in your shampoo continue to remove product build-up.
You can spritz your hair with water in the shower every day to refresh and revive your curls - especially if you wake up with flat, shapeless hair. Keep a spray bottle filled with water in the shower, and give your curls a quick spray every morning to wake them up.