How to Properly Detangle Naturally Thick 4C Hair

Properly detangling 4C hair, the most texturized of all hair types, takes time and patience. But, if you create a step-by-step detangling routine and consistently keep up with it, the easier and faster it becomes. What does a proper detangling routine look like? Here are the steps you should follow. 

How Often Should I Detangle? 

As part of a natural hair regimen, you really only need to detangle when it is wash day. For most 4C hair types, this means you should be doing your detangling routine a few times each month. When you regularly detangle every week or two, your shedding hair won’t have much time to mat. 

Step 1: Detangle Before You Wash

The point of detangling pre-pooing is to remove as much of your shedding hair as possible. Before you begin, never detangle your hair dry. Make your hair slippery with any of the following:

• Warm water
• Detangler or Pure Silk Hair Mist
• Oils like castor oil, sweet almond oil, or Luxe Hair Growth Oil

Use your fingers to detangle one section at a time from tip to root. When one section is done, twist and secure it with a ponytail. Discard any shedding hair in the process. Repeat for the rest of your hair. 

Step 2: Detangle While You Shampoo

Now that you’ve done your first round of detangling, you’re ready to wash. Keep your hair in twisted sections and massage a moisturizing shampoo into your scalp. Untwist one section at a time and gently use your fingers to detangle from tip to root again. Twist each section back as you finish. Discard any shedding hair. When all sections are done, rinse the shampoo out. 

Step 3: Detangle While You Condition 

After shampooing, it’s time to condition your hair. Use your fingers to distribute a moisturizing conditioner and lightly detangle one section at a time. Twist each section back up when you finish. Don’t rinse. Turn off the shower and put a shower cap on.

After about 30 minutes, use a tool like a wide-tooth comb or detangling brush to gently detangle one section at a time by gently brushing or combing from root to tip this time. If your conditioner does not provide enough slip, be sure to add moisture at this point. Remember, never detangle dry hair. As you finish combing each section, you do not need to twist it up again. Some conditioners recommend you rinse them out, while others do not. So be sure to read the label. 

Step 4: Detangle While You Style

Now your hair should be almost – if not entirely– detangled at this point. You have detangled each step along the way from pre-wash, wash, and conditioning. 

The last step is to seal in moisture and complete any final detangling while you style your hair with your favorite natural styling products. Detangling should be minimal at this point. You can use your fingers, wide-tooth comb, or detangling brush as needed.