Eight ways to upgrade your wash day routine

There is no denying the effort and time it takes to wash your hair more so if you’re natural or transitioning. A chore many of us would rather skip, if done right it doesn’t have to be a long tedious activity that takes over your day. It’s a matter of proper planning that even the laziest natural will enjoy the quest of getting those strands healthy, full and clean.

With these tips it should be a breeze believe us. ESTHER MUCHENE

1. Plan for it

If you’re the type of boss lady who does her own hair at home like most naturals do, it is a good idea to set aside a day or a few hours to fully dedicate to your hair. With less destructions and interruptions, the process becomes enjoyable. Go through the process of what you want to achieve, get the products ready, and go for it. That is half the battle won.

2. Detangle your hair

If you’re tender headed like most of us are, it is highly encouraged and advisable to comb out your hair first. Why? This will reduce tangling and breakage when washing. Gently comb out your hair in sections using a wide toothed comb and if necessary it wouldn’t hurt to use a detangling product or conditioner to hasten the process and make it less painful.

3. Pre poo a night before

Shampooing can dry out your hair making it brittle and this can also leave it stripped of oils. Hence the need to infuse your hair with all the good oils as you sleep. A good oil you can add to your routine is coconut oil which works by nourishing your split ends, moisturizing and taming frizz.

4. Use sulphate free shampoo

Sulphate or silicon based products tend to strip hair of all the good stuff leaving it dry and brittle. Avoid these like a plague. Should you be keen on shampooing use a moisturizing one or you can opt to co-wash instead of using shampoo altogether. If you didn’t know, conditioners actually have enough ingredients to properly clean your hair by removing all the build-up and dirt while restoring your natural curl pattern. This is a win-win situation where you won’t have to condition after shampooing reducing the time you will spend on washing your hair.

5. Wash hair in small sections

If you have very thick, curly, or coily hair, you better divide your hair into 4 or more sections for your sanity. If done right, this should take you less than 15 minutes. Generously shampoo each quadrant, work it through with your fingers, massage then rinse.

6. Check the water temperatures

Hot water will do more damage to your hair than good. Unless your hair is very dirty, use warm water to clean. Hot water tends to leave your hair with a dry feeling and this is because it removes your natural oils too. Use cool or lukewarm water instead. This helps the pores to close up, seals in moisture, smoothens the cuticles which in turn reduces frizz and tangles.

7. Air or t-shirt dry your hair

Now, this can take a while. If you have the whole day to yourself you can allow your hair to air dry but remember it will take at least 8 hours to dry completely depending on your hair porosity, thickness and length. Alternatively an old cotton t-shirt will do. Wrap it and squeeze the excess water out. This has been shown to reduce frizz.

8. Moisturizing

On damp hair, section and use a leave-in conditioner or natural oil. Apply all the way from the root to the tip then style as desired. This process is crucial as it will leave your hair moisturized and more manageable for manipulation.