The name might sound very simple and self-explanatory, but there’s more to this popular natural hairstyle than just wash and go. With a world of products to choose from and new techniques emerging every few months, mastering this “simple” hairstyle can be more complicated than it needs to be. Not to mention the different hair textures have a harder time making this method work for their curl pattern.
Lisa Price, founder of Carol’s Daughter says, “It’s not really simple and it’s not a one-size-fits-all solution. And for some women, it’s not a take-out wash, it just feels like it.”
Follow it and make it part of your hair care routine for an easy wash day with beautifully defined curls.
Step 1: Start with clean, hydrated hair
It seems pretty obvious that the first step in a successful wash is washing. While the products you use in this step are washed off, it is important that they leave your hair hydrated and hydrated, but also clean and free of any product buildup. Celebrity hairstylist Kendall Dorsey (who has worked with names like Yara Shahidi and Alicia Keys) always cleans hair first with clarifying shampoo and then moisturizing shampoo. After washing, it is best to condition with a treatment mask or extra moisturizing conditioner. Thicker hair textures will benefit from deep conditional treatment by letting their conditioner sit for at least 15 minutes with the added heat of a hooded dryer or hot towel.
Step 2: Condition, Detangle and Retain Moisture
According to Ebony Bomani, Pattern Beauty brand educator and certified cosmetologist, “conditioning is key to getting the perfect wash. A good conditioning routine includes choosing a great conditioner that meets the specific needs of your hair.
After washing, it is best to condition with a treatment mask or extra moisturizing conditioner. Thicker hair textures will benefit from deep conditional treatment by letting their conditioner sit for at least 15 minutes with the added heat of a hooded dryer or hot towel. Dorsey suggests using a heavy brush like a Y palette brush to detangle and apply conditioner.
One underrated professional tip is to “pair” your conditioner with water. Most curly-haired women do not follow the instruction to use a dime size of any hair product; with conditioners adding more will not necessarily help. Since water is the ultimate moisturizer, adding a little water as you work in your conditioner allows the product to have more glide and helps you increase longevity. of your conditioner.
Step 3: Style and definition
Styling is always the funniest part, but depending on your hair type, it can also be the longest and most difficult part, although it doesn’t have to be.
The first step in styling a wash and go is to distribute a leave-in cream or conditioner over your wet or damp hair. If your hair dries quickly, keep a spray bottle with water nearby to wet it again while you apply the leave-in.
For looser hair textures (2a-3c), Dorsey recommends following the rinse with a moisture control gel and smoothing it into really damp hair. Once it is smooth, wring out the excess water and partially dry the hair with a diffuser and allow it to air dry completely. Rubbing your hair towards your scalp several times in sections while holding a blow dryer on a cool to medium setting is a great method to use if you don’t have a diffuser.
If you want to avoid the heat, try blotting your hair by placing a cloth on a flat surface and turning it over to the front, so that it is inside out, allowing your hair to loosen. fall to the center of the towel. Pull the corners of the fabric towards the nape of the neck and secure it by knotting it or using a hair tie to hold it in place. And wait 15-30 minutes before releasing beautiful, healthy, bouncy curls.
For thicker and coarser hair textures (4a-4c), following the same steps of using a leave-in cream, gel, mousse or curl cream works well, but the key is to work in sections, carefully distributing the product throughout the hair to make sure each yarn is evenly coated for definition. An effective method for a defined wash and going for coiled curl patterns is to wrap the fingers by wrapping small sections around one finger several times to create a vertical ring-shaped curl.
It can be tempting to use a lot of products to get your curls very defined, but it can lead to flaking and build-up as your hair dries, so go for styling products that don’t leave a build-up like light and heavy gels. foams and rely on the ultimate defining product: water.
Step 4: Add shine and love your curls
The last step in the perfect Wash & Go is to rub a tiny amount of light oil or serum into the hair, once it is completely dry, to make it shine and nourish it. For more volume, even use your fingers or a hair comb at the root for more lint.
Caring for and styling your curls becomes a lot easier when you stop trying to get your hair to do what it doesn’t naturally.
