Wash day is not an exaggerated term for when a person with natural hair embarks on a maintenance routine. Although the process may not take an entire 24 hours to deep condition, detangle, wash and condition, blow dry, and then style our hair, it sure feels like it. I’ve been natural long enough to offer insight on how to make the journey to manageable hair easier. In this blog post, I will share tips and tricks for a perfect wash day routine.
Before reading, most of my routine contains culturally appropriate rituals.
Detangle the Night Before
Detangling is the only step outside of wash day that is the most important step. Removing shed hair and tangles is important for retaining length and making the wash step smoother.
The night before wash day, I take one of my favorite oils, section my hair into 4 big parts, and use my fingers to carefully detangle through each section.
The oil helps loosen any tangles while conditioning your strands with moisture it missed while in your protective style.
To reinforce maximum moisture I sleep with a disposable conditioning cap under my silk bonnet. This process takes about 20 minutes.
Wash Your Hair in Sections
Those 4 big sections you put your hair into the night before and slept in? Keep them in. I discovered that washing my hair in sections decreases the chances of new tangles forming under the water.
Controversial take, I wash my hair in the kitchen sink. Listen, move your drying rack to the side and any surrounding dishes. You’re less likely to have a clogged drain and waste a ton of water.
Imagine, you took your shower and now after rinsing your hair, the product runs down your back. This exact process caused my back to break out and my tub to look unrecognizable afterward. Washing your hair in the kitchen sink is an easy clean-up that won’t take away from a shower that is well deserved after this routine.
Only Deep Condition When Necessary
Deep Conditioning your hair every wash day is unnecessary. Recognizing when you need more protein or more moisture determines when you should use a deep conditioner.
I prefer to use a hydrating deep conditioner once a month. Shea Moisture has a great deep-conditioning mask that leaves my hair silky and luscious every time!
Blowdry Hair from the Bottom Up!
Blowdrying your hair from the ends to the root is necessary if you don’t plan on causing unnecessary breakage. Once the ends of your hair get dry, moving upwards toward the root and combing down becomes easier.
Any other technique is guaranteed breakage, don’t say I didn’t tell you!
Style as Needed
Finally, we are ready for a braid-out, twist-out, or any other protective style. Your hair is properly detangled and moisturized and ready to be tucked away for a few days or weeks.
I have a post detailing my favorite protective styles that you should check out!
Is wash day a quick process? No With these few pointers will your process get easier? Yes.
I’ve been able to retain most of my length and wash day doesn’t spike anxiety anymore. I hope this helps!
Until Next Time~