Detangling 4C Hair: A Guide to doing it right (and keeping your sanity)

If you’ve ever stared down wash day with a deep sigh, you’re not alone. Detangling 4C hair can feel like a full-day job that needs, in equal parts, patience, technique and prayer. But it doesn’t have to end in tears or breakage. With the right approach (and a little help from MPL), detangling can become a stress-free part of your haircare routine that leaves your hair soft, untangled and ready for styling. In this article, we share a step-by-step guide to achieving this.

Step 1: Start With Moisture

Dry hair and detangling don’t mix. Spritz your hair with water or a lightweight leave-in conditioner to soften your strands before you even think about reaching for a comb. Moisture makes curls more pliable and reduces friction, which means less snapping and fewer broken ends.

Step 2: Oil is your friend

Once your hair is damp, add a bit of slip with oil. A few drops of MPL Olive Hair Oil, MPL Coconut Hair Oil, or MPL Hair Treatment 5 Oils will make a world of difference. The goal is to help your strands glide past each other — not wrestle.

Step 3: Section for your life

Working in small sections is the secret to staying sane. Four to six sections is ideal for most 4C textures. Secure each one with clips or scrunchies, and focus on one area at a time. It’s less overwhelming and helps you detangle thoroughly without rushing.

Step 4: Start de-knotting

Fingers first, always. Your hands can feel knots before you see them. Once major tangles are out, follow with a wide-tooth comb or detangling brush, starting from the ends and working up to the roots. And no matter how stubborn the knot, never yank.

Double tap on Technique: Work from ends to roots

It’s tempting to start at the top, but that’s a recipe for breakage. Beginning at the ends and slowly moving upward gives tangles time to loosen without snapping the strand.

Step 5: Keep your hair stretched

Once you’ve conquered your knots and detangled to your heart’s content, twist or braid each section to keep it stretched and prevent re-tangling as you wash or style.

And finally, detangling shouldn’t feel like punishment. Doing it regularly — once a week or every two weeks depending on your routine — keeps knots from getting out of control and makes the process faster each time so be consistent about it.

Detangling 4C hair isn’t about taming your texture; it’s about working with it. Patience, moisture, and the right products can turn what used to feel like a battle into self-care. To detangled days ahead.

Love MPL,Your Hair Doctor