6 Tips To Consider If You Want A Successful Wash And Go

Over the years I have sort of walked away from the wash and go. When I had medium length hair, washing my hair daily was nothing but a thing. Wash, bun and go!

Then my hair got longer and I started to wash and braid then do braid out’s religiously. My braid out would last anywhere between 3 to 5 days and sometimes I would re braid at night.

Recently I decided to revisit a traditional wash and go. Co wash, seal, gels… the whole shebang and to my surprise I am really enjoying it.

My hair is pretty kinky* in some parts, mostly the middle with the front being looser but I am a general 4A all around. After trying to figure out what I wanted to do this Summer and watching a few inspiring videos I decided that I would give a wash and go regimen a go.

If you have kinky* hair like mine there are a few things you must bear in mind to get a successful wash and go.

1. Seal immediately after washing

I mean in the shower before you even think to dry off one bead of water off your skin. Some of us tend to use a towel or t-shirt to soak up all the water after we are done conditioning and washing our hair. For me it is much better to seal my hair while it is soaking wet.

Keep the oil right on the side of the shower and while each section is soaking wet add your oil to each section smoothing it in as you go along. I tend to apply my leave in, in the shower as well but it isn’t necessary to use one if your hair already has water in it for moisture.

2. Use the styler on top of your sealant

The oil acts as a sealant, but the styler is what clumps your curls and helps you to get that wash and go look. Apply the styler in medium size sections. Personally I do not define my curls individually with my styler, I would be in the bathroom forever if I did that.

I just use enough to cover all sections of my hair and use the gel to shape my hair in the direction I want it to fall. You can use the gel on the individual clumps around the face and nape to give you your desired look.

3. Air dry or diffuse

I air dry because it is easier, but diffusing is faster. Pick your poison, just do not manipulate the hair before it is dry because that causes frizz.

4. Do not separate the clumps

If I attempt to braid twist or separate clumps my hair will frizz and break, wash and gos are considered a low manipulation style because the intent is for you to leave your hair alone. You can put your hair in a pineapple or you can band big sections of your hair to keep it stretched.

The less you play in your hair the better the style will be for you.

5. Be prepared to re-do the style every 3-4 days

Wash and go’s for some people can last up to 7 days but by the 7th day the hair looks matted dry and in need of serious TLC. Why wait till then? Just co wash again before everything gets cray cray. This keeps the hair moisturized and your hair will be so easy to detangle it will seem like a miracle.

6. Be easy on the stretching

You can blast your roots with medium shots of heat using a blow dryer* just to stretch your hair a bit, but keep that to a minimum, try banding sections of your hair to get more length out of it.

Fall in love with the wash and go again, I know I have!