Ladies with 4C hair type, listen up, as this one is for you. Don't know what 4C hair means? Then, that probably means you don't have it and therefore, sadly, this range is not designed for your locks. Because if you have 4C type hair, you know you do only too well, as finding the right kind of products that will nourish, tame, mould and accentuate your kinks has always been a struggle, up until now at least. Enter 4C Only, a brand with an offering of hair products specifically targeting the needs of type 4C coils, the tightest of curl patterns. While there are brands on the market formulated for curly hair in general, 4C Only is the first of its kind, exclusively catering to 4C hair and claiming to have the best hair products for 4C hair.

But before you hurriedly reach for your wallet, read through our 4C Only hair products review to find out whether the brand's claims are substantiated and whether the products are worth your money. We've done all the necessary research for you, based on the brand philosophy, ingredients and perhaps most importantly, existing customer reviews which are always very telling. So read on to find out what the verdict is.

About 4C Only

4C Only is a black-owned business, founded by husband-and-wife duo Tim and Kim Lewis in 2020. Despite its short life, the young Chicago-based brand has quickly amassed a following among women with 4C type hair thanks to its unique offering. Being African American with 4C kinks themselves, as this tightest and coiliest curl pattern is most typical for black people, the founders recognized a gap in the market for hair products specifically formulated for this hair type, which has different needs to other kinds of hair and even curls. This has earned the company praise in the likes of Refinery29 and inclusion in Oprah's Favorite Things.

No other brand has made a product with 4C on the bottle, let alone there being a hair care brand exclusively for this hair type. Not until 4C Only, therefore being the first of its kind. Moreover, the company especially targets women with this hair type which is evident in the pink tones of the branding and the imagery, all depicting black women as the brand sets out to aid its customers in being free to express themselves through their hair and more. The brand also demonstrates this sentiment through tutorials and blog posts available on its website, filled with tips on how to care for 4C hair.

The brand offers a collection of four products made from natural ingredients, including all the necessary basics for a successful wash day. That is:

• a shampoo

• a conditioner

• a leave-in conditioner

• a styling cream

To quote the brand's motto, 'the revolution will be moisturized'. Or at least your hair will be with these products. But before we take a closer look at each of these goods, let us weigh the general pros and cons of the company as a whole.

Pros

• Affordable pricing, with each product costing $25 for a 12oz jar

• Natural ingredients

• Organic formulas

• Deeply moisturizing products

• Designed specifically for the needs of 4C hair, however, some hair types might be able to use these products too

• Tips on how to care for 4C hair available on the website through blog posts and video tutorials

• Subscription plan on offer with 10% off original price

Cons

• Doesn't ship internationally, only locally across the US

• Doesn't offer refunds or exchanges on any products

• Small range - only four products are available at this time, even though more will be added in the future

Product Reviews

Too Easy Collection review

The Too Easy Collection is a bundle of the entire range by 4C Only. While each product purchased individually retails for $25, as a bundle they are available for $78. The range includes:

• The Too Clean shampoo

• The Too Thicke deep conditioner

• The Too Soft leave-in conditioner

• The Too Slick styling cream

As the brand aims to empower African American women and give them the freedom to express themselves, in this sentiment each of the product names includes the word 'too' as these women are often criticized by society and others for being too much of something - too loud, too emotional, too dark-skinned or too thick. This way, the company wants to help these women reclaim that word and set them and their manes free.

That's exactly what this collection of four wash day essentials is for. Made with exclusively natural and/or organic ingredients, such as aloe vera extract, argan oil and shea butter, each of the products is designed to work with 4C type hair. Therefore, while the consistencies tend to be thick and creamy, they will not weigh the hair down or leave it oily, instead the formula slides and glides for easy application. The products are also designed to give the coils more bounce and elasticity without leaving them feeling hard, but rather install an effortless hold and support without any crunch. The collection can be used on color-treated hair and on any porosity hair, whether you have low porosity (meaning the hair shaft doesn't easily allow for moisture to be absorbed) or high porosity (which means the porous hair structure easily allows for moisture and oils to be absorbed but struggles to retain them).

However, as the brand is still in its early days, the collection consists only of the bare essentials for a wash day. And while the company plans to expand the range in the future, in the meantime customers will have to look elsewhere for other products they might want or need, such as a gel, a mousse, a mask or a clarifying cleanser/shampoo. But the recommendation is to use water-based hair care in combination with 4C Only's products as they are water-based themselves.

But now, let's have a closer look at the individual products, in the order they are meant to be used.

Too Clean Shampoo review

The first step in your wash routine should be the Too Clean shampoo. Much like the majority of shampoos out there, the Too Clean shampoo is formulated to cleanse the scalp and hair. But what most of the other shampoos on the market don't do is providing the coils with nourishment in the form of aloe vera leaf extract, coupled with provitamin B5, also known as panthenol, which binds and seals the hair follicles, preventing dryness in both hair and scalp. And as the customer reviews, which we will have a better look at later on in this review, attest to, the shampoo leaves the hair extremely soft, clean and moisturized, much like a regular conditioner would. And the pleasant sweet scent is worth a mention too.

Too Thicke Deep Conditioner review

With a texture similar to whipped butter, we would say that the name of the Too Thicke deep conditioner is rather fitting. The second step in your wash routine (unless you choose to include a hair mask or a scalp cleanser from another brand), this product gives the hair all the necessary slip for easy detangling. For some customers, this product cut their detangling time in half, compared to other conditioners, without having to use as much of the product.

Once hair is detangled and the product is washed out, which needs to be done within an hour of application, your hair will be left feeling moisturized, owing to ingredients like organic grapeseed oil, which also adds shine and strengthens the hair, as well as glycerin, an effective humectant which is especially beneficial for damaged hair and dry scalp and is useful in preventing hair breakage.

Too Soft Leave-In Conditioner review

Once out of the shower, it is time to apply the Too Soft leave-in conditioner. A leave-in conditioner is meant to keep your hair moisturized and hydrated for days to come, up until your next wash day comes around. And what delivers those benefits in the creamy runny formula is slippery elm, which penetrates the hair shaft, delivers moisture and makes the strand more slippery (hence the ingredient's name), in addition to squalane, an oil that is known for its moisturising benefits in skincare but that can be just as helpful to hair in increasing its shine and preventing breakage. As the name of the product suggests, the conditioner leaves hair feeling super soft, juicy and deeply moisturized. And according to many reviews we've read, including the one by Refinery 29, this product is the crown jewel in 4C Only's repertoire.

Too Slick Styling Cream review

Now onto the last product in 4C Only's range - the Too Slick styling cream. With a texture similar to the deep conditioner, the whipped formula is designed for styling your kinks and providing hold and support until the next wash day, while also offering shine and moisture. As you can seen, moisturization is a common theme throughout all of these products because that is what 4C type hair really needs the most and we must go back to the brand's motto - 'the revolution will be moisturized'.

Some of the ingredients included are carnauba palm wax for that hold we mentioned, shea butter, as well as a selection of oils such as jojoba, grapeseed, hempseed, soybean and rosehip. And the best part is that a little goes a long way, making the 12 oz jar last a while.

The styler can also be used for refreshing your curls if at any point you don't like how they've turned out. Simply mist your hair with a spray water bottle, section by section, and apply a small amount of the styling cream to each section and twist.

4C Only Customer Reviews

The existing customer reviews from people that have already tried and tested these products is usually the most telling factor. But of course, we must take everything with a grain of salt because what might work for one, might not work for another and vice versa. In terms of the 4C Only customer reviews of the brand's site, the company's earned a rate of 4.4/5 based on over 600 reviews to date. While most customers have only praise to sing about this brand and its to some extent revolutionary approach, there were few that were not so pleased with the products.

Some of the most common complaints we have come across is that the products dried out the customers' hair even further, rather than moisturize it which is what they are supposed to do, and that they were too heavy for their hair, leaving the strands weighed down. Here is a taste of a few of the reviews to give you an idea:

"I've been struggling to find the products that work on my afros textured hair. I usually end up with my hair looking good and moisturized for 2 days. After that I have to continually add product, re- moisturize, recoil. The first time I used 4C Only for my wash day, I could tell the difference right away. My hair was shiny, more defined, soft to the touch and moisturized. My husband and my mother noticed the difference. Thank you for creating these amazing products just for people like me!"

"I unfortunately did not have a good experience with this product. I followed the instructions exactly. My hair came out extremely dry, brittle with a white residue. It has been two washes since I've used this product and I am still trying to save my hair from completely falling out from your product. My hair is breaking off and shedding horribly. I'm going to continue to try to deep condition so that all my hair will not come out. I've never had a black hair care product do this to my hair. They're normally either not hydrating enough or they're too oily but never destructive like this, I'm very disappointed. And I'm very terrified that I'm going to lose my hair. And I'm stuck with a product that I'm just going to throw out because I don't even dare to use it again. I am very hurt."

"I ordered all four of the 4C products. The set is great; my hair is soft and tangle-free. My only negative is that there was some flakiness (it looks like it was from the leave-in conditioner), but it went away after less than a day. I am very glad to say I have finally found a new hair care line from a black-owned company (after having spent a good amount of money to find another one after Shea Moisture sold their company). Thank you 4C for your great products!"

Sign Up for 4C Only

Subscribe to 4C Only's newsletter in the bottom right corner of the site to be the first to receive special offers, deals and free giveaways.

Additionally, each product in the brand's arsenal is available to be purchased on subscription, saving you 10% off the original price. When adding to cart, simply choose the Subscribe & Save 10% option.

Where to Buy 4C Only

Currently, 4C Only is available exclusively on the brand's website.

4C Only Shipping and Return Policy

Shipping

4C Only currently ships only with the US and not internationally. Allow for five business days for the brand to process your order and two to five further business days for delivery.

Returns

4C Only doesn't accept any returns or exchanges and doesn't offer any refunds. The only exception to this is if your order arrives damaged or defective.

Contact 4C Only

If you have any questions that remain unanswered after reading this 4C Only review, feel free to get in touch with the company directly via:

• Contact form on the brand's website

• Phone by calling 872-713-7577 and leaving a voice message

• Instagram

• Facebook

• Twitter

• YouTube

4C Only: Editor’s Verdict

In this thorough 4C Only hair care review, we have taken a close look at the brand and the products, as well as the ingredients, philosophy and customer reviews. Now, bearing all of that information information, we need to answer the most important questions of all - is 4C Only worth the investment? In our humble opinion, we think it is. For us, the biggest downside of the brand, at this point in time, is that being a young start-up it doesn't allow for returns or exchanges. Which is slightly risky. But if you possess a 4C type hair, the chances are that the products are going to work, based on the countless reviews we've gone through. While the brand itself states that the products might work for other hair types, it is not guaranteed and it is certainly a gamble. Whereas, when it comes 4C hair, the vast majority of customers has agreed that the products really work like they say they do. Which is why we say to ladies with beautiful 4C coils, get shopping with your mind at ease.

Published 19/09/2022 at brandrated.com