If you’ve ever been told your hair is dense, cloud-like or even gravity-defying, you probably have z-pattern curls of the type 4 hair family. The hair can be soft, fine or coarse, but it always features a stunning spiral texture with lots of life and volume. Like all other curly types, this texture needs plenty of TLC for it to look its absolute best. Want to learn how to best take care of you or a client’s natural hair? Read on for some tips and professional hair care products for z-pattern curls.
1. Limit The Amount of Times You Use Shampoo — How often you should shampoo depends on your lifestyle, your activities, the weather and the products you use. While loose and classic curls should be shampooed two to four times a week and coily curls should be co-washed weekly and deep cleansed with shampoo every month, z-pattern curls fall somewhere in between those regimens. With tight curls, you only need to shampoo or co-wash every few days. When in doubt, shampoo infrequently but rinse and condition more often. If you’re working out every day, then you’ll want to rinse and co-wash your curls daily instead of shampooing. As for the shampoo technique, elongation is key. Scrub the scalp but smooth your hair with gentle pulling motions. This will keep the hair stretched from your scalp.
2. Keep It Moist — Make sure to listen to your hair. The z shape of your curls is more prone to dryness and breakage because of the curves and bends in the strands. It can also shrink by over 50 percent, which makes your hair seem shorter than it actually is. While you don’t want to shampoo every day, you still want to keep it moist. It’s shampooing every day that can remove the natural oils from your curls and then make it more difficult to retain moisture over time. Then as your hair dries, don’t mess with it while it’s still damp because doing so can cause frizz.
3. Use Conditioner Thoroughly — If your z-pattern curls are prone to tangling, you’ll want to use your fingers or a wide-tooth comb to detangle as you distribute the conditioner. Want elongated curls? Consider not washing out all the conditioner from your curls and, instead, leave a light coating to give weight to the curls. Make sure to condition closer to the scalp and don’t forget about your ends, which are the driest part of the hair.
Choose a rich and thick conditioner and slather it on wet hair. Leave no strand behind. Scrunch the conditioner into the ends of your hair and work the product upward. Remember: it’s the root to the tip. To add moisture and nourishing ingredients to your hair, make sure you deep condition at least every one to two weeks. When deciding on hair salon supplies for your deep condition routine, try a protein conditioner to strengthen your hair and prevent breakage.
4. Style for Growth — It’s all about how you wash and style your hair to promote natural and healthy growth. Caring for your type 4 hair requires a gentle touch when styling. When you do wash, don’t shampoo in a circular motion, which can tangle your curls. Avoid bunching up your curls and use a gentle back and forth motion instead. If you’re getting your haircut, ensure that your hairstylist cuts it dry and stretched, getting rid of any knots and split ends. Z-pattern curls are prone to shrinkage, so, while your hair is setting, leave it be. This means that you shouldn’t fluff or pull apart your hair until it is fully dry. Once your hair is 100% dry, that’s when you can shake out your curls for extra volume.
5. Develop a Nightly Routine — If you aren’t already, consider using a satin bonnet or silk pillowcase. It’s essential to protect your special curls when you go to bed or take a nap. You can easily wrap your hair with a satin bonnet comfortably. Additionally, sleeping with a silk pillowcase instead of a cotton pillowcase helps prevent tangles and frizz. Both the silk pillowcase and satin bonnet work well for short to medium curly hair while a silk scarf works better for longer locks.
6. Straighten Strategically — There will be times when you don’t always want to rock your natural curls. Sometimes you’ll want to straighten your hair, so, if you’re getting ready to heat up for your flatiron or hair dryer, here are some tips to keep in mind. Start with the basics by investing in a great hairdryer. If it’s been several months since you last trimmed your hair, it’s a must to help remove split ends and knots. Once you’ve taken care of the basics and straightened your hair, keep in mind that newly straightened hair is more susceptible to breaking. You’ll want to deep condition it to repair any damage.
Your hair has its own story to tell. Whenever deciding which hair care products to choose or finding a hairstylist to trust to take care of your hair, make sure you’re making decisions around your specific hair type.
Published by HOLR Magazine