4C hair (defined by almost fro-like, ultra-tight curls), is about as versatile as hair textures get, taking just a bit of technique and finesse to style get from a point of natural shrinkage to bone straight, and everything in between. It does take a bit of maintenance, however, to keep your hair pampered in efforts of preventing damage, restoring moisture, or promoting or retaining growth and the like, and the easiest way to do so is by ensuring is ensure you have all the 4C hair tools you need at home.
Because 4C curls are so tight, moisture does not distribute from the root tip as easily as it may among looser hair textures. Similarly, 4C hair can also be prone to breakage, and these are among the things to keep in mind when cultivating the ultimate at-home 4C tool kit for a route to healthier hair. To eliminate a step, we rounded up some of the best tools to know below.
Ahead, see the ideal hair brush for smoothing and curl defining, the best dryers for wash day, and more.
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CONFU Professional Salon Ionic Hair Dryer
The best blow driers for 4C hair come with multiple heat levels (so you can choose an optimal temperature to complete your session in a timely manner without damaging it), and diffuser add-ons to help add texture as you’re drying.
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HSI Professional Glider | Ceramic Tourmaline Ionic Flat Iron
This tourmaline flat iron reduces frizz, heat up quickly, and comes together with long-lasting ceramic – all green flags for anyone with 4C hair, which can often take a while to straighten (but will be quick to damage) without the proper technology.
Sometimes, we love rockin’ with shrinkage. At others, you may want to achieve a different look with your coils. With no heat needed, these clip-on weights act as curl stretchers that will help you explore just how versatile your 4C hair really is.
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Curlmix Infinity Fine Mist Continuous Spray Bottle for Hydrating Curly Hair
Sometimes you just need a little extra zhuzh. Culrmix’s spray bottle (which delivers a fine mist of your favorite hydration concoctions to your hair) is great to keep on hand as you never know when you’ll want to refresh your curls.
4C and curly-haired beauties alike rave over Denman’s wet hair brushes, and this one as the 53,000 5-star Amazon ratings to prove it. Meant for use while blow drying to promote smoother hair and defined curls, it comes with seven rows of round-ended bristles that won’t tug or pull.
When you have thick, 4C hair, efficiency is the name of the game. This tool dries and brushes out your coils simultaneously, leaving the hair shiny and frizz-free.
A simple, but necessary buy, we recommend keeping a stash of plastic hair caps for everything from helping with moisture retention during treatments, to protecting your hair in the shower.
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T3 Defined Curls 1″ Interchangeable Clip Curling Iron Barrel
For switching up in between twist outs and flexi-rodded curls, curling irons such as this option from T3 offer an alternative route to bouncy, frizz free curls.
Behold, a game-changer. Use this steaming cap to open up your pores and cuticles, as well as unleash other benefits such as more hydrated hair, less breakage and growth promotion.
Oiling is a big part of keeping coily, 4C hair hydrated from root to tip. If you’re someone who likes to work with a custom mixture of oils, then you may consider adding a bottle applicator to your beauty tool box for ease.