By Chinwe of Hair and Health
Major shrinkage and little to no curl clumping are typical characteristics of 4B/4C natural hair that can make detangling a challenge. Here are four great conditioners that can help to ease the process for our hair type:
1. Avocado Detangling Mixture
This is my favorite conditioner when it comes to my 4B/4C strands. This homemade mixture consists of an avocado, olive oil, melted shea butter, and apple cider vinegar, which together provide amazing slip and hang for detangling. Check out the recipe for the detangler in this previous post.
2. Lustrasilk Shea Butter Cholesterol Plus
This conditioner is very inexpensive yet very effective at providing slip and hang for 4B/4C strands. Because of the addition of cholesterol in combination with other ingredients, it is very thick, heavy, and lubricating – all of which are great for easing the detangling process.
3. Herbal Essences Hello Hydration
This conditioner is really popular among 4B/4C naturals, especially those with fine hair. It provides great slip, which can aid in detangling. The product does contain silicones, so be sure to monitor for buildup or use a shampoo that will adequately prevent such buildup.
Like Lustrasilk, Lekair is very thick, heavy, and lubricating making it a great option for detangling 4B/4C hair. Unlike Lustrasilk, it also contains a bit of protein (hydrolyzed collagen) that provides a little strengthening. For those who do not mind mineral oil in their conditioners, you may like Lekair (which contains mineral oil) a little better than Lustrasilk.
Ladies, what conditioners do you use for detangling 4B/4C strands?
4b/c does have. Pattern which people stop stating otherwise. Except for the first option I wouldnt use any of these. Best conditioner I found was trader joe’s tea tree. Cheap all natural and my hair feel like butter
Natures gate, aloe vera conditioner. I love this conditioner, with olive oil and coconut oil added to it.
All this talk of detangling confuses me, I have really really tight curls, 4c or whatever, and I’ve never had tangled hair! What are people doing with their hair to get it tangled? When I wash it, I wash it properly with shampoo, rinse, wash again, rinse, then maybe again, maybe not, and then condition for twenty minutes, and sit under drier if I have time. Then I rinse out conditioner and either comb my hair and twist it and go to sleep, or blow dry if I need to go somewhere. Thats it. What is all this talk of… Read more »
I have type 4 hair. I don’t braid my hair. I either wear it in a bun or a combination of two ponytails. I can detangle my hair then wear it out in any style (completely, in a single ponytail) even in a neat bun, take it down to moisturize and sure enough it’s dangle. I don’t know how someone with type 4 hair can not have it tangle. My hair tangles while I’m detangling, lol!
I have 4b/c hair. When I have my hair in plaits & twists (without extensions) I don’t have a problem with tangles either, therefore detangling is not an issue. However, my hair is waist length and if I am not very thorough with the removal of shed hairs after removing the protective styles to shampoo my hair, then detangling can be an issue. I think the amount of shedding you get plus what hair styles u wear and what products u use to shampoo and condition your hair will determine how challenging your detangling process will be. I keep my… Read more »
I don’t know any hair type that never “tangles.” Strands can get wrapped around each other, regardless of texture. Length usually means increased tangles, so a person with a TWA or above shoulder-length hair may not have tangling, but as the hair gets longer, tangles increased. Detangling is simply removing tangles: nothing complicated about that. If you’re combing your hair braid by braid after removing extensions, then you ARE detangling, otherwise, you’d wash your hair and it would likely mat and be nearly impossible to comb out. If your hair didn’t tangle, there would be no need to comb it… Read more »
And to add to that — Even straight and wavy hair tangles up. With curlier/kinky textures that shrink up the more chance to tangle-up.
When you comb your hair, you’re detangling. So whatever is the reason you comb your hair after you take out your braids and after your rinse out your conditioner, that’s one of the reasons people detangle.
If you wear your hair in braids most of the time, you probably need to do less detangling (combing, finger detangling, combing with conditioner, whatever) than people who wear “out” styles a lot.
You say you comb your hair out.…well my dear that is detangling. Even type 1 hair tangles and IF you have 4c hair then honey child, unless you have a dread lock..when you comb it (fingers or comb or brush) you are detangling it. Full stop
Girl, if your hair doesn’t tangle, you do NOT have 4c hair. Truth be told I’m tempted to take scissors in hand after every wash.
is it just that brand of herbal essences that does the trick? i find that all of them are pretty much the same…correct me if i’m wrong
I had to stop using Herbal Essence when I first went natural because it made my hair extremely dry. I worked well when I was relaxed, but not have I had all natural hair.
Full fat natural yogurt. Aloe vera juice & your favorites oils can be added to make it even more moisturizing.
Sorry- avocadoes go in my tummy, not my hair 🙂 If I had a really gross looking one, then I might throw it into a homemade condish, but if it’s still fresh, I’m eating it.
I’ve used LeKair and Hello Hydration before. I found my favorite detangler at the Dollar Tree, though they no longer make it. I’ve found that prepooing with a heavy oil (like olive oil or soybean oil) makes any detangler work much better.
I’m with you MrsGlam! every time I see a recipe that uses avocados, while know the fats will condition the hell out of one’s hair, I get this pang of sadness ‘but I won’t eat you mr. avocado’ ::pout:: don’t think this one is the best for detangling, but I’ve always felt my hair seemed stronger after leaving Queen Helene’s Cholesterol in for a few hours…
Gigi, I know that pang of sadness, and that’s why I’ve yet to put avocado in my conditioner LOL!
I love avocados but putting them on my hair makes me itch. I only like the Herbal Essence on this list. Aussie is still my number 1 go to then it’s the TJ brand.
I just use good ol’ Suave conditioner on my strands. Works every time..
V05 gets the job done for me. I would never spend extra money on a detangler, it’s not necessary. I would try the avocado treatment, but why add acv? How would that help if you’re trying to moisturize?
I’m a huge fan of Herbal Essence’s Hello Hydration! I have type 4 curls (a little bit of all of them) and my hair is fine and the slip is amazing! I only detangle when my hair is loaded up with the conditioner.
I love my hair but there is no way I will put avocadoes on it. This yummy food will be going in my salad!!!lol
I used to swear by Hello Hydration but then I discoverd Aussie Moist; it is sooo good that I have never looked back. In the past I used it for DC’s or Pre-poos. Now that I only dry finger detangle, I use it as a regular condish. It’s still the love of my life 🙂
hi
i have 4b/4c hair and i use BEAUTIFUL TEXTURES ‘conditionner and it is AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
it is the best conditionner i have ever tried in more than 4 years and it is cheap.
[img]https://bglh-marketplace.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/beautiful-textures-masque-reparateur.jpg[/img]
oh!!! I just discovered this too! I have yet to actually *use* mine yet tho — I bought the companion hair moisturizer & absolutely love that… spritz a little water + aloe vera juice that I keep in the fridge, a healthy fingerful of the ‘beautiful textures’, then chase/seal it with some grapeseed/olive oil blend… they both have a very nice scent too… kinda fresh [as opposed to overly foody/fruity– blech…] once I use up my cholesterol I’ll definitely be cracking mine open
I’m in South Africa and we have none of the above so I use Tresemme Naturals or luxurious moisture conditioner.I used the argan oil lo’real conditioner and it was AMAZEBALLS,it’s pricey though used a coupon from a hair mag!!
To detangle, I normally just grab whatever conditioner I need to use up, pour some of that into a spray bottle, and add some water and oil. Spray that on my hair and start detangling.
I definitely want to give the avocado recipe a try. I’ve used avocados in my hair before and know first hand of the moisturizing properties when it comes to a deep conditioner. Thanks for sharing.
Jenelle
I’m a type 4A/B/C an I’m hybrid minimalist/product junkie in that I keep my moisturizers fairly constant, but I frequently change up conditioners/co-washes/shampoos.
Lately I’m obsessed with using Botanique Holy Basil+Amla conditioner as a co-wash. It’s a bit pricey at $8 for 12oz, but I only co-wash once a week, and I do it in twists so I’m using less anyway. Plus the tingly feeling it gives your scalp feels awesome-but watch out, it smells a bit like red hots 🙂
Surprised Oyin Handmade is not on here. That conditioner gives me the best slip!!!
I can’t believe Tresemme isn’t on this list. Like seriously
Shea Moisture Purification Masque has the BEST slip for my kinky, coily, Afro-textured hair.
To cut down on product use, I “pre-detangle” with a water/glycerin spritz followed up with coconut oil.
I have type 4 hair that I detangle every two weeks after washing. I either use Aubrey Organics GBP or White Camellia or Giovanni 2Chic Avocado and Olive Oil Conditioners. I divide my hair into about 8–10 sections and use a Magic Star Jumbo Rake Comb to detangle while my hair is full of conditioner. It usually takes about 10 minutes tops. I do a quick finger detangle when I pre-poo, and I think that makes the process a lot easier. Natural hair is quite spoiled isn’t it?! lol I wouldn’t have it any other way. ;0)
I think that I am a 4b/4c and I use Tresseme Naturals to detangle. I agree, I wouldn’t use any of the ones listed to detangle, but oils help a lot! I detangle in the shower after I shampoo with lots of conditioner and a wide tooth comb, and that makes it a lot easier.
I use Vo5 conditioners to detangle.
I have super-small coils and mega-shrinkage BUT with the proper care and products I can make them “pop,” so to speak. From my understanding, this puts me in the 4b category. HE HH has been my BFF for well over a decade now. I was using this stuff back when black folks would look at me cross-eyed in the grocery store line, lol. I’ve used it straight and in combination with other ingredients and it’s never failed me EVER. That said, I no longer use it for detangling; I prefer to use it when I’m cowashing for a WNG because it… Read more »
I use the Lekair, I remember my mom use to use it on me when she hot combed my hair. its very thick and it detangles my thick hair very well
Vo5 conditioners baby!
I used the following home made mixture : 1/3 aloe vera juice, 1/3 olive oil and 1/3 conditioner with slip.
any recommendations for one without protein (including protein mimics like coconut oil and aloe vera)?
I use Aubrey Organics GPB conditioner for detangling. I apply it to my dry, unwashed hair and it works amazingly! I wish I had found it sooner!
I used to use just olive oil and water to detangle and that worked fine. Now I am experimenting with conditioner (Hello Hydration) and it works too. Right now my golden method is to mist a little water on my hair, add a good serving of conditioner, and then another misting of water. The added water at the end seems to take the slip to the next level. A lot of you guys probably do this already, but I detangle in front of a mirror before I shampoo and just discovered this over the weekend. 😛
Trader Joes Nourish COnditioner works great as a detangler for me
I have one question. What is the difference between a conditioner for detangling and just detangling my hair with my regular conditioner and a wide tooth comb while I’m cowashing. I currently use Hello Hydration. Is it that the detangling conditioner is applied, then I rinse and cowash as per usual? Thanks ladies 🙂
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I love the Hello Hydration! I use as a leave in too.
Hello Hydration!! I am in love with that thing. Makes detangling soo much easier!!
off topic — the model is a showstopper. i love her berry black skin and punk fro. so tuff.
trader joe’s tea tree tingle and nourish spa are great as well as tresseme naturals!
PANTENE!
That thing helps me to detangle my hair like a buzz saw through cake. My fingers just glide through my hair.
I love it. I’ve been trying to find something like it, because it’s a little costly around here, but I haven’t found anything to come close enough. Not the HE, not Dove, not Tresseme.
With other conditioners, I don’t have quite the same ease. I always end up struggling and snapping off hairs.
I HIGHLY recommend Pantene!
I have used a homemade avocado detangling and conditioning mixture and it felt,smelt and probably tasted good too!(As an avocado lover I kept reminding myself not to eat it,lol). I may try the Hello Hydration conditioner and possibly shampoo once my current arsenal(Body Butter Company’s Black Mist Shampoo and Garnier Fructis Frizz Tamer Shampoo combo) runs out;current conditioner(BBC’s Shea Honey CO[coconut oil, honey, shea butter,castor oil, neem, tea tree oil+aloe vera]) and Shea Coconut hair oil mix do a pretty good job of giving me ease to detangle better anyway. Keeping an eye out for the other two maybe come… Read more »
NOTHING can beat Kinky Curly’s detangling conditioner. It is called Knot Today. You will be amazed. I run my fingers through my hair while in the shower and absolutely NO TANGLES! I am dead serious.
Victoria Secret makes a conditioner called So Sexy Norish or Protect and Revive for dry/damaged hair that is awesome! Its very thick and on the same detangling level as mayonnaise. It also smells like there fragrances. Try and buy it when they have a 3/$24 special. Their shampoos and other hair stuff is ok, they also make a hair serum that smells nice and helps detangle wet hair.
Taliah Waajid’s The Great Detangler is a God send!
Lekair does WONDERS!!!!!! HAIR WILL BE SOOOO SOFT AND SMOOTH
Kinky curly not today
Nutress Hair’s Instant Conditioner is EVERYTHING! I’ve noticed wayyy less hair in the comb after detangling.
Liesssss.… any list that i see have Herbal Essences on it’s list for naturalists, i automatically disregard every other recommendation from them
Thank you! I’m 4C and at least 3 of these products have failed me! I guess it’s more for the 4B’s?
Really? Herbal Essesnces Hello Hydration Conditioner is AWESOME for my hair (4a)…
It RUBBISH it dry out my hair.
does anyone know how to define 4c curls> without twists, braids, bantu, ect
Kai
You cant define curls if you dont havr curly hair. Accept what you have
Ummmm, 4C hair is curly.
4C is more kinky and zigzagged rather than being curly and s‑shaped, in my experience you can’t define kinky curls with 0 manipulation.
Try to use natural conditioners instead of chemically filled ones. In my experience, argan oil is best, it’s non-greasy and full of vitamins to make your hair smooth, soft and healthy again. Use one called Pro Naturals moroccan argan oil conditioner, that’s the one I use and it’s the best at getting damaged hair back together.
Suave Naturals !
Herbal essence did nothing for my hair. Cholesterol conditioners are amazing!!!!!! I bought the Olive oil cholesterol conditioner and it helped detangle after taking marley twists out.
I prefer Herbal Essences Totally Twisted. It works wonders for me.
Herbal Essences Hello Hydration is RUBBISH.
I am starting to feel that with my 4 year old daughters hair!