Team No Wash And Go Over Here, My Hair Is Not Having It

Color me envious, because wash and go’s are just not the business for me! Yes, envy is one of the seven deadly sins but I am very much guilty of this when it comes to the hair world.

Seeing successful wash and go’s all over Youtube is part of what drove me to want to go natural. To think that my hair can do that, why not give it a try. Of course, this was at the beginning of my hair journey and I was unaware of the the different hair types; three years into the natural game thus far and I now know better.

What I think my hair will do

Who else is guilty of having hair fantasies, thinking their hair will look just like the picture? Having the high expectations are great. I mean I am all for being optimistic.

Seeing the different methods that other people use to get their perfect wash and go, I figure, heck yeah, that’ll work for me! All I need is some eco styler gel* (or another good curl definer) and the ability to separate my curls by shaking it off like Taylor Swift.

These ladies make it seem so easy! They figured out the right combination of products to get their curls to pop and reduce shrinkage, so they must know what they are talking about right?

The reality

Although I give my hair such high hopes for a wash and go to work, my hair seems to have other plans. As in “No mam’, I refuse to do what you want me to.” After about 30 minutes of separating and applying gel, you think my hair would want to comply to my terms, but oh no.

Being that I have many hair textures in my head, (4a in the back and 4b/4c everywhere else) you can only imagine the catastrophe that ensues after shrinkage takes over.

Now, I may have lost you with the truth about my kinks and coils, as this is not common to see many ladies with my texture rocking a wash and go, but I figured it was worth a try.

When my hair was shorter, I thought it worked pretty well. As my hair got longer it was a different story. Plus the drying time and tangles that result from this style are pretty ridiculous. My hair said no, and she meant it!

Fake it till you make it

Since, I am team no wash and go, I have to opt for other alternatives. I love the style, it just does not work on my hair! Thankfully, with the way the hair market has revolutionized hair weaves*, I can manage to get the same look. The cost however, is to be determined by your budget.

I may be in the minority here when I say that: “I am willing to pay the price if I know it will save me time”. Rocking a wig* with the illusion of the wash and go cuts off the drying time and the product you have to use in order to achieve the look.

No more walking around with a wet head all day or cringing your teeth once shrinkage sets in. Another plus is low manipulation to your hair which equals help with length retention.

I guess the only thing you would have to worry about now is your wig looking so much like the real thing that you get “wig* checked” (when someone digs their hands into your hair to make sure it’s all you).

Opt for a twist out or braid out

Instead of doing wash and go’s which my hair clearly hates, my other alternative is to either do a twist out or a braid out.

Now even though these styles can be hard to perfect, once you find the right combination of products and right technique you will be set for life.

Not to mention you can minimize tangles with this method, being that your curls are being stretched out. Sounds like a win win to me! The less tangles I have in my hair the better, which ultimately leads to more length retention and time being saved during detangling sessions.

I have embraced that wash and go’s will not work for my hair. And to be quite honest, it is better this way and I love it! The fact that this style does not work for me is more of a blessing than a curse.

I am able to listen to what my hair really wants instead of forcing it to do something it does not want to do. How do wash and go’s work for you ladies? Have you mastered this style? Do they work for you or do you rep “Team No Wash And Go” as well? I would love to hear your thoughts.