A “perfect” wash and go is relative. What that means is that you define perfection for yourself depending on your hair type and your taste.
For instance I prefer my wash and go to be somewhat defined but big! Others may prefer their hair to be super defined, very neat and a bit tamed.
I guess what I am saying is, to be quite honest we cannot tell you what your perfect wash and go is, we can only tell you that at the end of it your hair should look and feel soft, moisturized and satisfactory to you.
With that said, what can I teach you with this post? Like I mentioned the perfect wash and go means that your hair feels moisturized and healthy at the end of the process, so this is where the basics of hair care become really important.
Here are the steps you need to take for a wash and go:
1. Clarify If Necessary
Shampoo is not the devil believe it or not, sometimes we need a good shampoo to get rid of all the gunk we put on our hair throughout the week or if you tend to wait 2 weeks to a month then clarifying might just be in order.
To clarify your hair you can simply use a shampoo that has sulfates in it or you can use a moisture based shampoo without sulfates and clarify with an Apple Cider Vinegar rinse, either way you will need to have clean hair and a clean scalp
2. Condition And Oil Rinse (optional)
Conditioning is where the moisture happens, so don’t be afraid to load your hair up with a great moisture based conditioner and if you have a little bit of time try doing a 20 – 30 minute deep condition using heat.
Your conditioner needs to have moisture based ingredients, the first one being water and it should also have great slip so that you can detangle easily at this point.
We mention oil rinses because they are a great way to seal in your moisture while you are still in the shower, they aren’t necessary for a great wash and go but they really do help you to retain moisture well.
After you are finished with conditioning, rinse your hair with one final rinse, pat dry with your micro fiber towel or t-shirt and add your leave in conditioner* in preparation for styling.
Don’t forget to test your products to see if your leave in conditioner* works well with your styling product/gel to avoid flakes.
Jan Lewis says
Both. I love how defined it is at the beginning, but I also love how fluffy it gets over the course of the week.
Kandace Rkm says
Dido, I like both as well for the same reasons
Qwiet Storm says
I really like the both looks I prefer the look after a few days the hard thing for me is maintaining because my hair is not long enough to pineapple it at night
L Boogie Francis says
I love the defined for me,personally. But think that the fluff always looks great on others.
Devera Smith Robinson says
When I had a TWA, my take on a washNgo was applying EcoStyler gel and running my palms throughout my head which created coils that almost looked like locs. I’ve never applied any other styling product as a washNgo without doing the palm method because I’m afraid it won’t turn out that great. I’ll have to try a true washNgo on a weekend day first.
Angela Rhone says
Defined.
Shena Gabriel says
Fluffy. My curls are super tight to the point where they turn into knots lol.
Kat Bastian says
heck, as a 4c, I’d like to simply succeed at a wash n go! lol
Dabney Ross Jones says
Defined! I like fluffy twist outs.
Latresia J Walters says
Fluffy.
Brittani Michelle says
NOT a fan of any wash and go, my hair is like no. I will not do this. lol but it looks good on other people both fluffy and defined. 🙂
Alice Cummings says
Cute!!!
Nicole Burns says
Both.
Imogene Gina Clark-Reddick says
I perfer the fluffy becauce wash and go is great as long it stay wet look because I have type 4b and 4c hair so there advaantages and disadvantages
Ashley Lawton says
My hair never fluffs I got 4c hair lol
Cassandra Miles says
In between 🙂 … I like seeing my hair snap into it’s natural curl pattern but when it dries it shrinks way too much for my taste and looks too uniformed. I mean what’s the point of having natural thick kinky hair if you won’t let it be a little wild sometimes? lol
Jennifer Corazón Gonzalez Windster says
Super defined but I’m really not tryna fight my 3c/4a twa. If It wants to be fluffy… Imma just let it be!
Carrie Laura-Lee Howe says
Ok maybe this is a dumb ass question, but what is this “3c/4a ” stuff everyone’s talking about? I’m from Canada and there’s lots of black girls up here and we done be putting numbers and letters to our hair type… Please explain this to me?
Carrie Laura-Lee Howe says
Dont*
Carrie Laura-Lee Howe says
Is it hair weave?? Lol cause maybe that’s it? I don’t wear hair weave… That’s why I don’t know?? Can some one fill me in???
Vicki Steverson says
You have to wear your natural hair to understand. You got a profile full of fake hair, braids and weaves.
Emily CottonTop says
Carrie,
The letters and numbers refer to curl pattern love, check this post out https://blackhairinformation.com/general-articles/hair-type-classification/
It is just a different way of knowing what your hair ‘is” . Some people choose to follow the hair typing system, some do not, read the article and you can decide what side of the fence you fall on.
André Luiz Catta Preta says
Beautifuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuul : D
Nilah Smith Jones says
It has to do with the type of curl pattern that you have..
Vicki Steverson says
Love both, I like how my hair fluffs as my definition leaves.
Rose Smith says
I think its cute
Joya Felton says
fluffy
Carrie Laura-Lee Howe says
Your right I did have 1 weave. And for years I did braids. But not all the time, and now I’m wearing my own hair. This picture of me is my own hair, relaxed. I currently don’t have any extensions in and have been growing my own hair, waiting it for it to be longer so I can cut off the relaxed portion. So my question was what are the numbers and letters about?
Tawana Heard Hawkins says
Carrie Laura-Lee Howe says
I’m in the process of trying to make the switch to totally natural! This profile pic is my own hair but relaxed… It’s a couple years old but still all my hair. Right now my hair is half natural from the root half way down, then relaxed to the end. Looked pretty funny, but eventually I will cut off the relaxed ends and have just all natural, I’m looking forward to it, so ya creep my profile and judge all u want, but I know I’m going in the right direction for my self! I’ll find the answer to my question regardless! Have a great day ladies 🙂
Eilyon Dye says
Depends on the day
Cris Moreira says
Well sometimes it’s just complicated as my natural hair seems to have a personality of its own… 🙂
La Monica Adams says
Super defined!
Jade Noir says
i want super defined wash and go.
Michiko Jessica R says
Carrie Laura-Lee Howe the number and letters are based on your natural curl pattern.
Michiko Jessica R says
http://www.naturallycurly.com/hair-types
Mia England says
Well..if only I could do a wash n go Kelsey Lydia
Sunny Orison says
Defined. I want to see my curls. Let people know its not straightened frizz.
Georgiana Gray says
With my 4c, I take what I can get. I get short defined, if blown out, it’s defined until a couple of hours later, and it shrinks.
Carrie Laura-Lee Howe says
Thanks so much! 🙂
Carrie Laura-Lee Howe says
So I think I’m a 2c or 3a. A bit of both. Thanks again Tawana 🙂
Theconscienceofthefamily Faison says
I love this hair style, exactly what I’m looking for, suggestions s.
Natural Mystic says
Fluffy with some defintion
Darryl Ballinger says
I LOVE YOUR HAIR My new tell all book UNBEWEAVABLE”, it deals with the erasing of the image of the black African women and the slow poisoning of the American public. You can check it out for free at http://www.amazon.com just search (Unbeweavable the book) or http://www.unbeweavableda.weebly.com
Mizzp Malone says
now this is a hairstyle that I would like