I have found that rocking a Wash and Go will give me many more days of happy hair than fiddling with a Twist-Out. Although it took some time getting used to the idea that I was unable to achieve a good one, it is no longer a concern of mine.
We all can’t rock every style, and if you just find twisting and braiding too difficult or not your ‘thang’, then retreat and work what you can.
Lazy Natural – I am that super lazy natural, and yes, there is a clan of us out here. Not everyone is up for daily styling and many Wash and Go wearers have to deal with that, but the quick nightly routine, the quicker washdays and the not sitting under dryers and/or working with heat styling tools make it downright attractive to a natural who ain’t about all that fuss.
You wanna just jump in the shower, fiddle with your hair and go. I so get that desire for quickness as well as less fuss. Rock the coils, kinks and curls you were born with and care not what others think.
Hair Craves Water – If you find that your hair craves the daily dose of water (since it is the best moisturizer around) then do not deprive your tresses of this treat. My hair loves being wet several times a week, and it seems to thrive as a result of the daily Co-Washes.
Quicker Wash Day – Outside of detangling, which is different for everybody, Wash and Go wash days are a breeze. For one, we are not creating intricate styles that require hours on end creating. We are air dryers (the vast majority anyway are) so after you have washed and conditioned, you are pretty much done.
Our showers are a tad bit longer during the daily rewetting of our tresses, but when it comes to washing our tresses, it’s not a chore when you learn how to deal with tangles. Now some naturals swear longer tresses are harder to deal with the Wash and Go, but there are naturals who manage, so it is a personal choice. Once you understand what your hair needs and get a routine down that works, whatever you choose to do with your tresses tends to become easier.
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!
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.
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.
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)
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.
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.
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.
Yes you can get sick from a “wet” head in cold weather…smh..I caught pneumonia.
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.
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.
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 .
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.