Best shampoos for 4c hair
Hey girl hey, I’m back with somewhat of a product review. On this blog, I really focus on providing insights into different products and today I want to do just that.
Since so many of you enjoyed my post on the best gels for 4c hair, I figured that I am not alone in my constant search for the best products to use on my type 4c hair. This is why I decided I will continue sharing different products that work on my natural 4c hair and get me the best results.
As you probably know by now, 4c hair care is a part-time job!
Once you start taking your natural hair journey seriously, you quickly realize how many things you didn’t know. Many black women, including myself, never learned how to take care of our natural hair textures. Therefore, we grow up using a lot of harsh ingredients that often lead to brittle hair.
This is why I started this blog. To share what I learned about my hair and how to take care of 4c hair.
What products are good for 4c natural hair?
Before we get into the specifics of choosing the best shampoo for 4c hair, let’s take a look at common ingredients that can be found in the best hair products.
The most important requirement for healthy 4c curls is to provide a lot of moisture to your hair. Meaning you want to do regular deep conditioning treatments and pre-poo treatments as well as use essential oils or popular hair growth oils such as jojoba oil, olive oil, and avocado oil to seal in the moisture from your moisturizer. To do that you can make use of the loc method which I explain more in detail in this post.
However, when choosing your hair products it’s also important to know which harsh chemicals to avoid, such as sulfates, parabens, and silicones.
All of these facts about 4c hair products were new to me, especially regarding shampoo for 4c hair. I mean depending on your curl pattern and whether you have low porosity or high porosity hair things may look completely different.
And until I started researching all this I was confused about why my 4c hair wasn’t growing. Thank God I know better now and have been able to grow my 4c hair longer and faster than ever after my big chop last year.
To help you on your hair natural hair journey, I researched 10 different natural hair shampoos to give you ladies the lowdown on the right shampoo for your 4c hair.
Is shampoo bad for 4C hair?
As always let’s first look at some of the most common myths we have in the black community regarding shampoo.
As I mentioned in a previous post, washing your hair is not bad. However, using too much shampoo, especially harsh shampoos, is not good for your hair because it strips your hair of its natural oils, which can result in dry hair and lead to hair loss.
Shampoo is best used to cleanse and clarify your hair and scalp from dirt and product buildup. It also can be used to deep clean your hair and to make sure that your hair follicles aren’t clogged by too much oil and debris.
That’s why using shampoo, in general, is not bad. However, you do not need to use shampoo every time you wash your hair. A lot of times a simple co-wash routine is enough, especially when you are rocking a protective style.
However, whenever you do use shampoo on your hair, make sure to pre-poo your 4c hair as well. That way you avoid stripping your natural hair of its natural oils.
How many times a week should you wash 4C hair?
A good rule of thumb is that you should wash your 4c hair with shampoo every other week. Because 4c hair does not create as much oil daily as other hair types, there is no need to shampoo-wash your hair weekly, or more.
What is the best shampoo for type 4c hair?
Below you can find my list of the best shampoos for afro hair. Most of them include natural ingredients that work really well on curly hair types or dry 4c hair. No matter, if you are looking to revive your split ends or simply have a more clean scalp, includes something for everyone.
Trader Joe’s Tea Tree Tingle Shampoo
The first shampoo for 4c hair that I looked at is Trader Joe’s Tea Tree Tingle Shampoo. I have heard so many good things about it, that I just had to include it on this list.
Considering that it is sulfate-free, it is a very deep cleaning shampoo. And thanks to a blend of certified organic botanicals such as peppermint and tea tree you can feel a nice tingling sensation.
The ingredients work together nicely to moisturize and clarify your hair while simultaneously alleviating dry scalp. And even though it is pretty thick, it spreads out easily. And on top of that, your hair will be smelling like fresh peppermint.
Kinky Curly Come Clean Natural Moisturizing Shampoo
4c hair shampoo number two is the Kinky Curly Come Clean Natural Moisturizing Shampoo. This shampoo removes every natural hair girl’s biggest enemy – hard-water minerals.
Yes, this shampoo helps to get rid of calcium and magnesium on your hair and scalp, which prevents hard-water buildup on your hair. That way your hair gets the proper moisture it needs from your conditioning products.
The shampoo is of course sulfate-free. In addition, it is infused with mandarin orange extract and sea kelp. So, it smells good and is gentle enough for consistent use.
Cantu Sulfate free cleansing cream shampoo
As y’all know I am probably the only person in the world that still enjoys Cantu products and I stand by it. In contrast to most other black hair products, Cantu has a whole line of shampoos and conditioners that do not contain castor oil, which I’m allergic to. And using their Cantu shea butter line has been really good for my hair the past 4 years.
That’s why I had to include my personal favorite shampoo for 4c hair, the Cantu Sulfate-free cleansing cream.
This shampoo deep cleans and removes even heavy product build-up such as 4c hair gels from your scalp. Lucky for me it uses Shea butter to gently clean, moisturize, and prevent breakage which is great for natural and relaxed hair.
It’s served me well on my 4c hair journey and helped promote healthy growth.
OYIN Honey Wash Hydrating Shampoo
Do you have dry or highly textured hair? Then this is the best 4c hair shampoo for you. The OYIN Honey Wash Hydrating Shampoo includes superfood extracts that will soften & nourish your natural hair while you cleanse and increase moisture and hydration.
It has a non-drying formula with antioxidants and scalp-toning ingredients that will clean your hair thoroughly and nourish it too.
Plus it has a very sweet scent thanks to the honey which will leave your hair smelling wonderful.
Girl + Hair Super Moisturizing and Restorative Sulfate-Free Shampoo
Girl + Hair is one of those brands that I didn’t know about before. But once I started doing my research I found out from friends and influencers that their products are very thought after.
The Girl + Hair Super Moisturizing and Restorative Sulfate-Free Shampoo deeply cleanse your 4c hair without stripping it of its nutrients. It has a flash-foam system which reduces friction and therefore reduces the time you need to detangle your hair.
This 4c hair shampoo includes Shea Butter, Tea Tree Oil & Neem oil which helps treat and prevent a dry and itchy scalp. And thanks to an easy-use applicator tip on the bottle you get right to the scalp when washing your hair.
tgin Moisturizing Shampoo & Conditioner Duo
Now, most of the shampoos that I chose as best shampoos for 4c hair include great ingredients and avoid the bad ones. However, the tgin Moisturizing Shampoo & Conditioner Duo can be called the superfood of 4c hair shampoos.
It’s a shampoo and conditioner for 4c hair in one that is infused with Pro-Vitamin B5 and aloe vera. Both ingredients reduce breakage and increase moisture so that your natural hair can stay healthy, soft, and moisturized.
Even though it does not contain harsh detergents it cleanses your hair effectively without stripping it of its natural oils. That makes combing your hair with a detangling brush much easier.
Dove Amplified Textures Hydrating Cleanse Shampoo
I’ll be honest with you, Dove is one of those brands that I do not connect to black hair. So, when I kept hearing about their shampoo I was skeptical. But I wanted to include it in this list of best shampoos for 4c hair nonetheless as it may be easier for some of you to get in local stores.
The Dove Amplified Textures Hydrating Cleanse Shampoo has been created with textured hair in mind. The hydrating cleanse formula gently removes product build-up and gives your hair the nourishment and care it needs.
This sulfate-free shampoo is great for coils, curls, and wavy hair and also has a subtle floral scent that makes wash day a little more enjoyable.
Camille Rose Naturals Sweet Ginger Cleansing Rinse
The OG’s among you will know about this brand and product. The Camille Rose Naturals Sweet Ginger Cleansing rinse is a staple in the natural hair community.
This 4c hair shampoo is not just free of sulfates, parabens, and harmful chemical additives, but also infused with sweet ginger root and lemon extracts.
Its natural formula provides an enlivening, aromatic cleansing experience that relieves any dry scalp.
I could go on and on about how amazing this shampoo is, but honestly, you should check for yourself. Read these Amazon reviews to find out why The Camille Rose Naturals Sweet Ginger Cleansing Rinse is the best shampoo for 4c hair growth.
Design Essentials Honey Creme Moisture Retention Shampoo
Another clarifying shampoo for 4c hair that is worth the try is the Design Essentials Honey Creme Moisture Retention Shampoo.
This shampoo cleanses and restores moisture, leaving your natural hair extremely soft, manageable, and beautifully hydrated.
Its gentle, non-stripping formula quickly softens, detangles, and smoothes the hair cuticles thereby increasing manageability and promoting healthy hair growth.
This shampoo is great for any hair type, including natural waves and coils, relaxed strands, or color-treated hair.
Cream of Nature Argan Oil Apple Cider Vinegar
Last but not least on our list of best shampoos for 4c hair, we have the Cream of Nature Argan Oil Apple Cider Vinegar shampoo.
If you are looking for a unique deep cleanser that is perfect for removing weekly product build-up without stripping your 4c hair of its moisture, then this is your best bet.
Thanks to the Argan Oil and its creamy formula, every rinse with this shampoo will make strands smoother, softer, and shinier. In addition, it doubles as a great dandruff shampoo for 4c hair, as it gets all the build-up off your head and protects your hair’s natural pH balance.
The design of the bottle makes application easy and unlike other clarifying shampoos, it has a beautiful smell to it.
Have you ever used any of the shampoos for 4c hair mentioned above? Please share your feedback and recommendations below.
Annette Lockhart
Thank you!