We've seen boatloads of hair-care brands release products and collections specifically targeted to consumers with curly or natural hair [1] in the last year, but I think we can all agree that many brands releasing these lines have a specific type of hair [2] in mind when they use the word "curly," and 4C hair — the kinkiest type of hair that's also more prone to breakage and dryness [3] — is often left out of the conversation when these products are created and marketed. Thankfully, an all-new, Black-owned brand has come along that caters to the needs of 4C hair and 4C hair alone.

4C Only [4], as it's called, launched back in November as the first hair-care brand to release products solely dedicated to 4C hair. This curl type is a lot tighter than other hair types, and the hair is also more prone to shrinkage and dryness than the others, but unfortunately, not enough brands offer products that are dedicated to just these concerns — which is why the launch of 4C Only is so important. "We created 4C Only as a brand that targets one specific texture that tends to not get proper care and products it needs in society," Alicia Ferguson, chief marketing officer, said in a statement last year. "From product selection to ads and social media content, 4C Only is here to highlight, support and amplify the voices of those with 4C textures."

4C Only launched with four products: a shampoo, a deep conditioner, a leave-in conditioner, and a styling cream that customers can either buy separately for $23 a product or as a bundle for $70. As a person with 4C hair myself, I figured it was my duty to try them all out. Read my thoughts ahead.

4C Only Too Clean Shampoo

The 4C Only Too Clean Shampoo [5] ($23) is packaged in a 12-ounce jar — yes, a jar — and it features aloe-vera leaf and argan oil to make your hair feel moisturised and nourished. My favourite thing about the shampoo, other than the amount of product I got for the price, is that it lathers almost instantly and makes my hair feel super clean without drying it out or making it feel stripped of any essential moisture.

4C Only Too Thicke Deep Conditioner

As much as I love a thick, buttery hair product, nursing my hair over the last year has taught me that these kinds of products just aren't what my low-porosity curls need. That was my major takeaway from the 4C Only Too Thicke Deep Conditioner [6] ($23): it smells amazing and has a superthick consistency that's meant to give kinky hair all the moisture it needs and more, but even as I applied it in the shower to my soaking-wet hair, I didn't feel as though I ended up benefitting from it the way I wanted to — largely because the product was a little too thick to penetrate my cuticles. While this product wasn't for me, I still do love the messageing and would definitely recommend it to someone with medium- or high-porosity 4C hair.

4C Only Too Soft Leave-In Conditioner

I am definitely a big fan of the 4C Only Too Soft Leave-In Conditioner [7] ($23). This formula — which features plant-based squalane to moisturise and protect the hair from damage — was a lot creamier and more lightweight than the deep conditioner, and it not only softened my hair when I applied it, but it also left behind an amazing freshly washed scent that lingered on me for at least a few hours.

4C Only Too Slick Styling Cream

The 4C Only Too Slick Styling Cream [8] ($23) is meant to be used as a follow-up to all of the other products in the collection, and its purpose is to take care of frizz while helping your curls take hold and stay in place. It has a great amount of slip to it, but it was another product that, even though it was slightly too thick for my hair, I'd still recommend to anyone with medium- or high-porosity hair, or hair that can handle products with buttery consistencies.