6 Tips For Super Quick Wash Days

Ask any natural about her wash day and you are bound to get a long sigh, a sad chuckle, or notice that she is rolling her eyes. Wash days for naturals can be downright stressful due to the sheer time and energy it takes to get through them.

I myself have been known to put them off because I just wasn’t up for the challenge. Of course I regretted it later as I worked through my tangles but even with that, the reality of my wash day and how long I am in the shower makes me put it off all over again.

We are all unique and we have different hair types but many of us have similar routines when it comes to washing our hair. Additionally whether you are sporting a TWA or rocking bra-strap length hair we might have similar challenges as well. However there are ways to achieve super quick wash days without consuming your entire afternoon, here are 6 tips for doing just that.

► Detangle before washing – Lets face it, detangling is a doozy when it comes to wash day, so one of our major suggestions would be to detangle outside of the shower. Not only does this save you time, but it saves water and money. Not to mention if you only detangle in the shower you can feel rushed especially if the water starts to get cold.

We would also suggest applying oils* or cheap conditioners to your hair while detangling before the wash so that detangling is much easier especially when using a detangling tool like a comb or denman bush. This saves time in the shower and saves your hair from breaking which is the ultimate no no.

► Leave out unnecessary treatments – If time is of the essence, forget your prepoo, tea rinses and fancy treatments. Even though we might find these things necessary, skipping them every now and again won’t kill us.

We don’t always have the time to give to wash days and while cleansing and conditioning are essential some techniques are just not. You know what your hair needs and when it needs it so if things are going smoothly and you just don’t have the time for extra then skip it and catch it on the next wash day.

► Wash in sections – Washing your hair in sections is a great tool for many reasons including cutting your wash day time down. Sectioning is great for our thicker haired naturals but also this technique is a proven method to work through dreaded tangles.

When you detangle your hair in sections you have less to work with and can ensure you are giving attention to all stands of your hair. You save time by washing in sections because you are working methodologically and preventing rework with detangling.

When working with one section pin up the other sections (I do Bantu knots and I usually work with 4 sections) so they stay out of your way and stay detangled.

► Style simple – Wash and gos, chunky twist outs or simply wet bunning are only a few styles that allow you to finish your wash day and keep it moving. Not everyone is a fan of certain styles like the wash and go but other options like twists and twist outs don’t have to be time consuming either, in other words try making your twists bigger or in larger sections.

If time is not on your side then wear a loose or looser style that may require you busting out the handy dandy diffuser* to speed up drying time.

► Plan ahead –There is nothing worse than stepping into your shower, starting the wash process and realizing your products are not there or you are out. The result will be you scrambling out of your shower or from over your sink trying to find your products or even running to the store to get them wasting precious time.

It takes all of two or three minutes to make sure you have EVERYTHING you need before you start your wash day routine and placing everything  within an arm’s reach.

► Air-dry – Air-drying your hair is much quicker than any other way of drying that you might think of. Don’t agree? Well think about it, It’s getting warmer and many naturals don’t mind walking out with a wet head in the warmer months. Using the sun as a drying force will certainly speed things up.

 If you choose the wash and go or the Bantu knots or even the chunky twists you don’t have to sit under the dryer or even use a diffuser* to dry them, you can get out the door much faster, no fuss.

You do not have to try all the tips but we guarantee even if you try one or two you will find your wash day time diminishing and your free time  steadily increasing.