You can simply Wash and Go – No. Although it is called a Wash and Go, there are more steps involved; if you have tried just washing and going you probably hated the tangles you ended up with. Most Wash and Goers will wet their hair, seal in with an oil, apply leave in conditioner* and then top with a gel or butter.
Wash and Gos are only for Type 3 hair – Not so. Anyone can rock a Wash and Go, but if you are looking for defined curls, then you will be coming up short if you do not have them. A Wash and Go is allowing your own texture to be rocked, and no distinct or particular curl is required.
5 Reasons to Rock a Wash and Go
Easy Nighttime Routine – This is the biggest and best reasons by far. Many naturals who love rocking the Twists or Twist-Outs feel the need to redo them EVERY SINGLE NIGHT, and depending on how small they are, you can easily spend anywhere from 30 minutes to 2 hours redoing them! Who in the world has time for that? Not a Wash and Go diva for sure. What do we do at night? At the most, we may pineapple, and at the least we lay our happy heads on our satin pillowcases*.
How is that possible? Well, believe it or not, but many Wash and Goers will happily jump in the shower in the morning and re wet their hair, slap in some conditioner and gel and go. There are some who do not like going out with a wet head, but let me tell you the vasts majority have no qualms about it and even in the winter time.
Cannot Master A Twist-Out – *raises hand*. Yup, that is me, but I am far from alone. I know there are tons of naturals who have tried mastering a Twist-Out, Flat-Twisting or even a Braid-Out, and just cannot achieve the look they are going for. Is that you? Well, if so, then fret no more, and jump on the Wash and Go bandwagon with pride. I have tried for years to master a Twist-Out worth wearing longer than a day and failed miserably, as my ends are either frizzing up, or it turns into a tangled mess.
Steen How says
Wow awesome article! You learn something new everyday and this goes to show you not every style is great for everybody. I love the Wash N Go…at a distance. I just cannot seem to do it, but it’s cool. I have mastered the twist out. But yep, I feel this article. Thanks!
Patricia says
I have never been able to achieve a twist out on my mostly 4c some 4b hair. I have had several failed attempts and to me the twistout works better on my hair. I would love to do a wash and go one day I will try again but for now no way i can’t.
Tabatha says
No can do for me. I have really thick 4a hair and it takes too long for my hair to dry even if I use a diffuser. The water has settled on my scalp for too long and it started to mildew my scalp and I started getting painful scabs and stuff. I had to go to the doctor and they prescribed special shampoo that is stronger than what you can get over the counter like TGel shampoo or Head and shoulders; so yeah wash and gos are a no no for me. Besides it’s not a wash and go if I still have to dry it, but what I can do is wash my hair and then flat twist it and go.
monniej says
YES! the perfect answer for us “thin heads” that are twist and braid out challenged! i love my wash-n-go and get 7days or more of big puffy hair. can’t ask for more than that! (y)
Shaniqua L Leach says
Interesting article. I do think the title was a bit misleading though. I didn’t feel like the benefits named outweighed the benefits of twist outs. And I still think stretched styles are the best for reducing tangles, but that’s just me and my sisters’ hair. All of us get crazy tangles when we try to define/rock our natural textures. It’s just not for us.
Nellie S. says
Thank you so much for this article my twist-outs frizz-out within hours. I love wash n’ go’s because they display my 4a/4b coils in the best possible light. I have no problem with the extreme shrinkage because I love my coils. I use Elucence moisture balance conditioner every morning to detangle while I’m in the shower, leave a little in my hair, use grapeseed oil and Kinky Curly Knot Today
and start my day.
Elle says
I am newly natural. I did the big chop and have a twa… It was a shocker only for but a moment because I love it and my husband does as well. But what I love, love, LOVE about being natural is being able to wash and go. Everything you mentioned is what I do. Hop in the shower to wet my hair, add oil, leave-in, then a butter and BOOM! I’m done.
Ann says
Yes you can get sick from a “wet” head in cold weather…smh..I caught pneumonia.
Jo says
I have fine 4C hair and have tried wash n gos. The reason many say they don’t work on 4C hair is because of incorrect expectations. They’re supposed to enhance the curls you naturally have. Since 4C have the tiniest diameter of coils, hence maximum shrinkage, what happens is the curls will clump but they’re still very small which gives the illusion of non-existent curls and then deemed a ‘fail’. If one desires bigger curls, the easiest way is twisting.
For me, wash n gos are not worth it because at 12 inches, it will shrink up to 2 inches that’s impossible to style and also manage at night. The only result you get is a fro. I look terrible in a fro. It’s too high maintenance and will require more detangling. Hence, I just do twists which forces the hair to bigger twistout curls which are easy to style and at night I’m one of those who MUST retwist. I only need less than 10 every night. I can afford 10 minutes. And at the end of the week, washing AND detangling takes me only 30 minutes. Twistouts win hands down.
Lii says
I start out with a wash and go and dry twist to preserve at night. Pineappling and just a bonnet do not work for me.
Aliyah Morrison says
Nope I still rather twist out . I haven’t wash and go in over a year . I love bigger more defined hair and less shrinkage . I’m a 3c/4a as well .
Cherry says
Omg! You described me to a T. Twist outs never look right for me. Yes, my hair tangles easily, but only if I try and stretch my wash n gos for too many days. I have a great curl definition, no matter if it’s day 1 or day 3 or 4. I sleep with my bonnet, barely spritz the next day, fluff, and keep it moving. It’s great. I live in cold weather too, and will walk out with a wet head wjt h the quickness. Our pale counterparts go out in the cold with heads, why can’t we? Lol.