My Styling Secrets: Tips for a Great Wash & Go

No one wants to do their curly hair every day. So, below are some of my tips that help me maintain a week-long wash and go!

First, every wash and go starts in the shower! I consistently wash my scalp twice with Shea Moisture’s Manuka Honey and Mafura Oil Intensive Hydration shampoo and detangle with any conditioner (I’m not too particular with this as a detangle and rinse it out right away). But currently, I’ve been loving the Aussie Miracle Curls with Coconut Oil!

I personally don’t believe expensive products give you the best results, it’s more about ingredients. I tend to look for shampoos that are sulfate-free and conditioners with silicone in them as they give me the best results! Disclaimer: these might not work for everyone but there's little to no harm in trying!

Second, I ALWAYS style my hair when it’s soaking wet – not just damp. This ensures that my wash and go will have little to no frizz (at least for the first couple of days), and that it’ll actually last for the whole week. This also helps the products I use really penetrate my hair and allows me to use less product!

Third, because our hair is the most vulnerable when wet, I try not to play with or manipulate it too much until it’s dry – this means flipping it from side to side or trying to touch it while still damp. And to this effect, I like to let it sit for at least 20 minutes (time permitting) before diffusing it, again to ensure that the product has had enough time to settle in my hair, and of course, when done, I love to shake out my roots to bring all of my volume back.

Fourth, I try not to try too many new products at once, I’ve noticed this tends to confuse my hair and I’m never sure which one of the new products I don’t like. If I am going to be using a new gel or hair cream, I try to use a leave-in conditioner I know and love – this typically gives me the best results! Or at least use one product I know and one new one.  

Fifth, I always always always style my hair with the iconic 7-row Denman brush. There has never been a time when I have liked the way my hair looked without it. This is because my Denman brush clumps my curls together and based on the way I brush it (either straight down or underneath the hair section) gives me both volume and definition! This brush is my best-kept not-so-secret!

Finally, to really ensure a long-lasting wash and go, I always sleep on a satin pillowcase with a satin scrunchie and occasionally a satin scarf on top. Satin pillowcases are my absolute favorite because they minimize my hair frizz by eliminating friction while I sleep (bonus: they’re great for your skin too).

Gentle reminder: what works for me, may not work for you but the process of trying new tips, tricks, and products should be fun!