The last few months have been all about the Wash, Do The Most & Go (WDTM&G) and the forecast for the foreseeable is much of the same, ’cause I’m feeling myself *brushes shoulder off*.
Here’s a quick look at the routine-
- Re-style (wash or co-wash) two or three times a week. I shampoo on the weekend. Generally, unless I have a rough night, I only style on Sundays and Wednesdays.
- Out styles 99% of the time (down or puff)
- Henna once a month (at least, alternating between just roots and full head treatments)
- Light oil every day, especially on ends
- Pre-‘poo religiously
- Daily multi vitamin + daily Biotin + half my body weight in ounces of water
- Sleep with my hair out on a satin pillow case, well, ’cause I don’t know what else to do! Pineappling isn’t working and bonnets smash the curls and I hate re-wetting daily.
For those that want the nitty gritty, know that I follow one of three WDTM&G techniques depending upon the mood I’m in- The Tracee, The Pippi or The Unicorn. I only do The Tracee once a week (because it incorporates the use of a modified Denman), and The Pippi and Unicorn get used interchangeably… whatevs. All three aim to yield clumpier, more consistent, defined results on my naturally very piece-y, skinny curls, and most have similar steps. The night before wash day, I do a pre-poo with coconut oil and then the morning of, I apply yogurt on top of that. So without further ado, check out the deets-
The Tracee (Ellis Ross, that is. This routine incorporates several of Tracee’s curl defining tips)
- An hour before I shower, I apply a deep conditioner/yogurt treatment to my dry hair and don a plastic cap. To generate heat, sometimes I’ll wear a beanie or my heat cap w/out microwaving it.
- Hop in the shower and rinse.
- Thoroughly saturate hair with water and divide into two (left and right).
- Cleanse hair with co-wash or mild shampoo (it depends upon the state of my hair but I generally use a mild shampoo once a week, on Sunday, and use a co-wash the other wash session)– one side at a time. Rinse thoroughly.
- Generously apply a slippery conditioner, usually Aussie Moist or Tresemme Naturals, to both sides in a smooshing motion.
- Pass my head back under the water stream for a second, for better distribution and added slip.
- Add even more conditioner
- Clip the hair up and out of the way to complete shower rituals.
- Take down the right side and section out the back piece near my neck. Pin up the rest. I finger detangle thoroughly and then, using the Denman, brush through once or twice for smoothing and curl clumpage. The Denman creates what looks like finger waves on my conditioner laden curls. Next, I section out another piece, and follow the same routine- finger detangle then brush once or twice. Sometimes, I create a hair sandwich where I’ll use one hand to hold the brush and the other hand to smooth the hair as I pull the brush through. I end up with about 6-8 sections per side.
- Once all the hair on each side has been finger detangled and smoothed and clumped with the Denman, I rinse the right side. I hold the clumped curls in the palm of my hand and stand under the shower stream, allowing the water to gently rinse away the conditioner. I do the same on the left. I rinse 100% of the conditioner.
- I then use the praying hands method to wring away some of the excess water and get out of the shower.
- Finally, I apply my cream styler of choice in a smooshing motion (not raking, as I don’t want to disturb the curls I just created with the Denman) to the right side, then the left. I finger twirl any frizzy bits and smooth product down the length of any curls that didn’t clump, using my fingers like a flat iron.
I usually sit under the dryer for 15 minutes to get things going and air dry the rest of the way. Sometimes, I’ll hit the roots with the blow dryer for extra hangage 🙂
Pros
- Massive curl clumps- That Denman is a beast!
- Even definition
- Thorough detangling
- Decent drying time if you use a quick drying curl cream
Cons
- The Denman, (aka Shredder) and I have a long and sordid history… a love/hate relationship if you will. I’m pretty sure it caused split ends in the past, but I was also using it differently. I was using it to define my curls later in the styling routine… like on hair that was just damp with a little leave-in on it. I found that it had more drag and pulled more hair out, as well as left my roots very puffy. I’ve also used it as my sole detangling tool with disastrous results. Using it after finger detangling to clump my curls in the shower, protected by a thick layer of conditioner, may be the way to go. I’ll pay attention to my ends and keep y’all posted.
- The Denman leaves me shrinkier, even when wet, so you know what it is, lol. My hair dries much shorter than usual, which is actually not a con for me because it exaggerates the shape of my cut.
The Pippi (Longstocking, that is)-
- An hour before the shower, apply a deep conditioner/yogurt
treatment to dry hair and don a plastic cap. To generate heat, wear a beanie, towel or heat cap (w/out microwaving it.)
- Hop in the shower and rinse.
- Thoroughly saturate hair with water and divide into two (left and right).
- Cleanse
hair with co-wash or mild shampoo (it depends upon the state of my hair
but I generally use a mild shampoo once a week, on Sunday, and use a co-wash the
other wash session)– one side at a time. Rinse thoroughly.
- Generously apply Tresemme Naturals, to both sides in a smooshing motion.
- Pass my head back under the water stream for a second, for better distribution and added slip.
- Add even more conditioner
- Clip the hair up and out of the way to complete shower rituals.
- Finger detangle the right side, then the left.
- Using praying hands, smooth away excess product and water. Do not rinse.
- Place each side in one large, two-strand twist
- Lotion and thangs… and after 10-15 minutes head to the mirror and gently unravel the twists
- Finally, take small amounts of curl cream or light hold gel and smooth individual curls. Finger curl pieces here and there and smooth frizzy bits. No raking or finger combing at all.
I usually sit under the dryer for 15 minutes to get things going and air
dry the rest of the way. Sometimes, I’ll hit the roots with the blow
dryer for extra hangage 🙂
Pros-
- Massive curl clumps from the conditioner and twists
- Less manipulation than The Tracee (fingers only, no Denman involved)
- Far less shrinkage than The Tracee
Cons-
- Takes MUCH longer, like FOREVER, to dry because of the conditioner left in
- If you leave the twists in for too long, you’ll be left with your natural texture/pattern at your roots with the length taking on silkier, chunkier curls. Don’t allow the hair to set, you just want to leave the twists in long enough to encourage larger curl clumps than you’d usually get.
The Unicorn (via NaturallyCurly forums circa 2006)
- On dry hair, prior to washing, I apply one of two things – (1) full fat, organic yogurt, or (2) full fat, organic yogurt with conditioner mixed in. I leave it on for 30 minutes to an hour.
- I hop in the shower and rinse thoroughly, only reaching for the shampoo if it’s that time. If it’s the middle of the week, I co-wash with a lighter conditioner. Rinse thoroughly.
- I then apply my thick and luxurious conditioner, also known as my styling conditioner (Tresemme usually). I apply it heavy, and allow it to marinate while I shower.
- Then I finger detangle, adding more conditioner and water as I go. I do this in 4 sections.
- I then rinse out 80% of the conditioner, and while still in the shower, flip my head over and gather all of my hair into a loose two-strand twist at the crown of my head.
- Next I reach for my t-shirt (which I leave right outside of the shower), and hold it as if I’m about to put it on over my head. I insert the large twist into the shirt, placing the back, bottom seam at the nape of my neck. I then gently wring the length in the shirt and pin it up. Looks like this-
- I leave the t-shirt on my head for 15 minutes while I lotion, and get dressed. Next, I remove the t-shirt, and gently shake until my hair falls down in place. It’s still wet but not dripping.
- Then, using a gel, I finger style the frizzy bits and air-dry before fluffing. Sometimes, once the hair is completely dry, I’ll stretch the roots with my blow dryer.
Pros
- Decent curl clumping from the big twist (more than I’d get simply finger combing but less than I get with the other two routines)
- Drastic decrease in drying time. I shave off an hour or two with this technique because I apply product to damp hair
- Awesome hang-time. Shrinkage is minimal.
Cons
- Wonky shaped, flat curls if you leave the t-shirt on for too long
- Frizz if you use the t-shirt incorrectly
- Frizz if you apply the products too vigorously
PRODUCTS- you’ll recognize some Holy Grails and spot a few newbies that just happen to be in my shower. Behind the newbies, I’ll give a brief review–
Shampoos-
-KeraCare Natural Textures Cleansing Cream
-Elucence Moisture Benefits Shampoo
–Ouidad’s Curl Co-Wash (Gifted. It’s aiight… an effective cleanser with mild sudsing action that leaves my situation moisturized. But it falls flat in the detangling department and the price is ridic, so I doubt I’d purchase. However, if they re-formulate with magical detangling powers, I’d have to #ChargeItToTheGame!)
–Living Proof Full Thickening Shampoo (Gifted…great moisture, cleansing and slip but wouldn’t purchase due to the price. However if someone happened to gift me some more, I’d use the hell out of it!)
–Mizani Supreme Oil Shampoo (Gifted… it has more moisture & slip (yay!) than cleansing action and while I probably wouldn’t purchase (I’m a conditioner girl, I spend money on slippery conditioners and just use whatever ‘poo I have lying around!), I’ll gladly use the rest of what I have, which will probably take me into next summer!
–As I Am Coconut Co-Wash (Purchased… amazing slip, amazing moisture and cleans (?) as well as any other co-wash conditioner. Good price but I don’t know if I’d repurchase given that it doesn’t seem to do anything very different from Aussie or Tresemme.)
Deep Conditioners-
-Jessicurl TooShea
-Curl Junkie Rehab Moisturizing Hair Treatment
Detangling and Co-Wash Conditioners-
Aussie Moist Conditioner
Tresemme Naturals
Living Proof Full Conditioner (Gifted… Great moisture, definition and is great as a leave-in but the price is prohibitive. I won’t be purchasing, especially considering the clumping results are the same as Tresemme’s. And it’s too damn expensive to rinse-out, so yeah.)
Mizani Supreme Oil Conditioner (Gifted… Amazing moisture and slip. AMAZING! I haven’t tried it as a leave in yet, but I will. I’d purchase if I knew where to find it.)
Leave-ins and Stylers-
Tresemme Naturals (Purchased… great by itself or coupled with Ouidad’s Hydrafusion)
Living Proof Full Thickening Cream (Purchased… doesn’t play well with any other conditioners or creams but truly does add volume. It leaves my hair soft, moisturized, shiny and voluminous. The price is INSANE, but I charge it to the game. I use this underneath As I Am Smoothing Gel. )
Ouidad’s Curl Quencher Hydrafusion Intense Curl Cream (Originally Gifted… amazing moisture, definition and light hold. Great alone or over Tresemme Naturals. I’ve charged it to the game countless times.)
As I Am Smoothing Gel (Gifted and used over Living Proof Thickening Cream. Haven’t used it in a while but as far as gels go, it’s the kitties titties!)
Oils-
Optimum’s Miracle Oil (Gifted… I like the idea of a modified, extra light weight oil that soaks in fast and provides shine. However, in my opinion, shine is all it provides as I didn’t detect much nourishment. I’ll gladly use the rest of what I have, but probably wouldn’t purchase. The fragrance is light and pleasant and the price is decent. I really, really LOVE the shine, I just wish it did more for me.)
Ouidad’s Mongongo Oil (Gifted… this modified oil soaks in quick but also leaves my hair softer and shinier. It doesn’t break apart my curl clumps like natural oils do and doesn’t weigh me down or go greasy no matter how heavy handed I get. It also touts heat protection properties. The fragrance though. Damn. Entirely too strong, like, turned all the way up, and smells of ‘old church lady’. But yeah, my hair seems to like it, so I’d charge it to the game. We won’t even discuss the price.)
Coconut Oil (I use this as a pre-poo and used to use it on my ends daily until I found the above, lighter oils. Coconut and similar oils break up my curl clumps on dry hair.)
Refreshers-
Mop Top Herbal Detangler and Refresher (Gifted… Okay, I’m not a fan of the strong herbal fragrance and boy does it linger, but the results on my dry hair are awesome! It provides moisture, shine and a touch of hold. I can’t speak to the detangling properties. I’d definitely purchase.)
Blended Beauty’s Kick for Curls (Gifted… love this for Gia’s hair and I use it sparingly on mine in the same way I use Mop Top. The fragrance is coconut-y and sweet and dissipates quickly.)
*if my hair dries too long or the shape is a bit off, I can spritz the ends in the back and on the sides, creating excess shrinkage, to exaggerate the shape of my bob. It also adds moisture if needed with minimal frizz. These are the BEST two that I’ve tried and I’ve tried a bunch. If you want to try a ‘faux bob’ try spritzing the sides and back of your dry twist-out. One of two things will happen- you’ll wanna curse me out ’cause of the frizz or give me hugs ’cause your hair is dope.
Tools/Accessories-
-Modified Denman
-Satin Pillowcase
Henna-
–Mehandi.com
–Butters-n-Bars
Yogurt-
Dannon Naturals (full fat, plain)
NOTES-
*I get the clumpiest results from The Tracee
*I get the fastest drying time from The Unicorn
*The Pippi takes the absolute longest to dry
*I get the most consistent results from The Tracee and The Pippi
*I need to figure out this sleeping regimen situation…
*I notice fewer single strand knots when I use a product with stronger hold… when I use conditioner only, it’s knot city
*I know my hair is in the need of a ‘poo when the curls go ‘piece-y’ no matter what I do. I do a clarifying treatment once a month or once every two months.
*When I have the time and I feel like subjecting myself to a night of plastic bag criknling, I’ll do an overnight DT before wash day using one of the above conditioners w/ a little yogurt.
*I don’t touch my curls as they dry but I fluff and fluff and fluff with my fingers and sometimes a pick if I’m wanting to create particularly obnoxious hair. I’ll also hit the roots with a blowdryer concentrator attachment for extra volume.
*I get 3 beautiful ‘out’ days with all three routines if I use the right product combo. If I must, I’ll puff, but usually, I can rock it out until the next wash day.
*I’m LOVING my new hair shape and the shrinky awesomemess that is the WDTM&G
Awesome blog! Thanks for sharing 😀
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Nikki, I've been following your blog and tips for almost a year. After reading your Fall 2012 routine you were looking to purchase Mizani Supreme Oil. Have you ever heard of or used Payne's Beauty Supply? They are a family owned company and have an array of brands. I checked and they do carry Mizani and are currently having a sale of sorts on the very products you are looking for. I've been ordering from them for almost 9 years; even during my relaxer days. Check them out. Here is the direct link to the Mizani collection: http://www.paynesbeautysupply.com/misuoilco1.html
I'm having much success with this method. My best combo so far has been Tresseme Nat Cond with a little KKKC on top and Ouidad High Humidity Gel as a Finisher. I make four Pippi twists and when I put the gels, I divide in two and put a duck clip on ends as it dries(makes 8 sections). 5 minutes to dry top layer and because of weight of clips, I can plop them on top of my head, criss-crossed and dry underneath for about 5-10 minutes. Great 1st -3rd day hair so far. Thanks so much!
You have such great hair! http://www.diamond-heaven.co.uk/
Wash n' go's have been good for you! Do you stop get ssk's?
I like your wash n go's I am glad it is working for you no single strand now huh?
Thank you so much for the details! I have been afraid of the wash n go style, opting for mini two strand twists as my regular look. This article has given me more info and more confidence to try it.
Ok I have to admit that I'm guilty of the Long Aid greasy hair/hard gels combo. I live in super high humid weather year round so I thought I had to use all tha stuff to get decent 6 day hair. Welllll.ll….. I have to say thanks to you Nikki because for the first time I actually tried your pippin wng technique and I have great first day hair. That never happens with all the gels. Anyway, i coupled together Sedal Deep Cond (the green one) with Ouidad Humidity gel. I used yhe Sedal because Ouidad teamed up with them some time this year I think. Anyway, LOVE the results. Thanks so much. I need to try the Ouidad you mention.
Give it a go thru the washer or hand wash it to rinse the dye out. HTH ;-).
I have the grey one and luv it. I wash it every other week or so to keep it clean and to shrink it back to shape. Now that my hair is longer, APL, I have to tie a small knot at the opening in the back to keep my hair from pokin' out or the ends will be frizzy.
I've discovered that I can't use one tool exclusively. I switch up between the Denman, Tangle Teezer, wide tooth comb, but most often just my fingers depending on the situation and style I'm after. Using that Denman and Tangle Teezer will reek havoc on my hurr!
Agreed x10!
Loved the deets……Wow, I can't even read one single document at work from beginning to end, EVERY word, but I read this article without skipping one Letter let alone Word! Tresemme rocks don't it?!? Love it!
I've tried modified versions of The Tracee and The Pippie and loved them however it's about that time for me to bun it and updo it as the cooler weather approaches.
Thanks for sharing Nikki!
I have a black one that JUST did the same thing to me the other night, even thought I've used it before. The blue and print ones I have never did that. I went to bed with some Vatika oil in my hair, I'm thinking that may have been the problem.
Your hair is always gorgeous i was wondering how you were able to get it so clumpy i think ill try the Tracee but im leaning more towards the pippy thanks for the info
oh and usually w/out heat out of laziness! If I'm on my game, I use my microwavable heat cap!
Thanks Margaret! I appreciate that 🙂
I don't pre-poo prior to henna'ing, unless I take the time to wash first. Usually, my lazy self applies the henna straight to my dirty hair, I leave it in over night and then rinse and DT the next morning. I DT maybe 30 minutes. hth!
Nik, I appreciate how you outlined your whole process from start to finish. How thorough…even listing pro's and con's of each style and products used. Your hair is beautiful and I love those graduated layers!!! 🙂
I noticed you DC prior to the wash. When you henna, do you pre-poo? How long do you DC once the Henna is rinsed out?
For me it does. It's funny you should ask this… I addressed this issue (keeping the curls from the shower) in tomorrow's Essence post!
Sounds like you might need a trim mama… also, you may want to slowly back away from the blow dryer as it's drying out your scalp and hair and try some wet sets like, roller sets, twist-outs, braid-outs, bantu knot-outs and twist-n-curls. Low manipulation will be your best bet. Some folks find coconut scalp massages soothing, so check that out too!
🙂 it's the truf!
No problem! I can't tell you how many times I've 'jumped back in the shower' to rinse out whatever mess I created, lol. And I hear you on the brush… beautiful curls on bottom frizz at the top, but it doesn't happen if I do it while I'm in the shower with the rinse-out conditioner. After I rinse, something magical happens… the roots are smoothed, then after I smooth on more product, I get great results. If I was to brush *after* rinsing, that's when all hell breaks loose! Keep in touch with your progress and what works… our hair sounds similar! xx
Does using the wrong leave in or moisturizer effect how the curls turn out once dried? my hair is beautimous when wet but doesn't translate when it starts drying. i think i read you can use the tressemme naturals as a leave in?? i may try that b/c i know when i apply it in the shower my curls automatically pop but i've been rinsing it out 🙁 do you have any other suggestions for leave ins or moisturizing curl creams? sorry for all the questions but thx for the help! i look at your site on the daily b/c it has soooo much great info & i love your hair!
Help! I've been blowing out because i haven't found a style that I like for my face in its natural state, I deal with dry scalp & now I have straight ends no more curl pattern on the ends unless I use vegetable glyeren oil & gel please help me
I have a purple Loc Soc, but I never use it because the color transfers on my pillowcase. 🙁
love the "wash do the most and go" haha!
Thanks for the quick response! I did mostly yogurt and my hair felt amazing after the full routine (used mixed chicks deep conditioner and yogurt – definitely adding that into the regimen). The curls from the Tracee method were looking beautiful on the bottom half of my hair, but the top half hates any manipulation and it was looking too piecey and frizzy, so I hopped back in the shower and just did the tried and true unicorn. Thanks for compiling everything here to make it easy. Your blog has been helping me work my curls for the past year!
Thank you for this post. It's been awhile to read your posts on your hair regimen and I appreciate the detail tremendously. I don't have a similar texture to your hair, but maybe I can try the products you used for different purposes. But you are right about Ouidad – their products are great but super duper expensivo! I love their Moisture Lock Leave-in conditioner as part of my Kimmaytube leave-in mix. Keep it coming with the posts.
Thanks Jamiah!
my cut is what they call 'graduated layers' with a longer front from what someone told me… my stylist just knew I wanted it longer in the front and shorter in the back and I wanted layers to add (not detract) from volume to bulk it up. Find a good, highly recommended stylist and then track down some pics of what you want and take them in!
check back in with results!
no problem! you're welcome and thanks for reading allll of it 🙂
Thanks Gaye!!! Took forever but it was worth it… not just for y'all, lol, but to document what's been working for me!
no prob and thanks!!! I keep the crunchies at bay by choosing the right products. Nothing above should leave you with crunchy hair… sometimes I get a little crunch from the As I Am, but simply touching it breaks the crunch up 🙂 hth!
Thanks girl and LOL @ unipipcee 🙂 LOVE it!
Try the yogurt and report back!!!!
Thanks girl! Glad it helped!
Yes boo, yes… you're a bonafied PJ, and if he's a bonafied handy man, then you're both happy! I wish you could see my bathroom… I'm embarassed… Hubby doesn't dare venture in… there are bottles EVERYWHERE. I can barely turn around in the shower without knocking something down, lol. I need to do a HAUL!
thanks Camille! true PJ, got one on the way and will report back! xx
Glad it helped! I use mostly conditioner when I"m doing it overnight to prevent the drippies, but mostly yogurt the day of 'cause I can deal with the drips for an hour or so. HTH! Come back and report your experience!
Also – is your DT mostly conditioner or yogurt? I am so excited to try this tonight!
This is the holy grail! Do you put an oil on top of the styling cream for the Tracee?
Love this WDTM&G break down … I need to invest in a satin pillow case because my hair is too short for the pineapple and the bonet is a curl killer!!!! I need to master 2nd day hair… work Nikki your hair is bomb!!!!
Nikki, have you heard of or tried the Loc Soc? http://www.soclocsoc.com/ It's sort of a tube scarf/satin cap. It can be worn as a fashion accessory during the day, but I sleep in mine. Pineappling worked okay for me, the satin cap or scarf flattened my hair, but this works well. It lets you pineapple without a tie or elastic to leave indentations in your hair. I'm about to get some more. Between my daughter 'borrowing' mine and the new colors and prints they just came out with, I need new ones. They come in long or short, so it should work well with any length.
I didn't realize what a difference pre-pooing made. Go figure!! I'm definitely going to try it this weekend. As for the Denman…can you say SHOOK?!?! I walk a mile around them when I see them in the stores. Chalk it up to a misunderstanding a young Diva had with a round brush back in the Cross Colour days ;)~
Having said all that…does the fact that I've tasked my hubbster to construct storage racks in the basement for my 'handful' of hair goodies make me a bonafied PJ???
Thank you for yet another magnificent post Diva!!
Wow great photos, you're hair is amazing. Love how big and curly it is! www.quartzhb.co.uk
Thanks Nik! I'm printing this out to put in my hair journal. :o) Girl I'm scurred of that Denman. I tried the tangle teazer when it first came out. That thing had my strands looking like spiral notebook paper. Once I realized it was the culprit, dropped kicked that thang so fast in trash. Shoot, I wanted to burn it. Anyway I digress.
I am such a better visual learner, oh how I wish you would do video or more detailed pic tutorial. Oh and I can't wait to try the yogurt!! Thanks again.
Thank you Nikki. This is a great article.
Nik, I love the details and your hair is FRICKIN HAWT. I think I do the Unipipcee….all of them at the same darn time and all under 20 minutes. When you say you do THEE MOST…you do THEE MOST…and in my Sweet Brown voice: AInt nobody got time for that. LOL! I run through these curls with that bromb with the quickness Might plop…Might make a twist…then slap some UFD Curly Magic…and honestly even that WnG process is too much. With the fall and winter, I praise God Almighty that I can wear a beanie and a bonnett everyday. LOL! Those scissors look prettier and shinier with every wash. You da truth girl!
My hair is in real need of a haircut but I have no idea what to ask for to get a great shape. I don't want to lose all my length or end up with a bozo cut. Help!
The Pippi method seems promising. A must do.
Thanks for sharing Nik.
@Titilayo Rasaki – I don't know if you can purchase Aubrey Organics Honesuckle Rose in Jordan, but I found out last week why it's on everyone's "favorites list". I don't want to use silicones any more, so I purchased AOHSR for my post henna treatment. I rinsed, and then applied myKinky Curly Knot Today to detangle. Comparing them back to back convinced me that AOHSR has pretty good slip. In my search for the perfect comb detangler I even purchased guar gum to make a "homemade detangler" but even that didn't have the slip I desired. Still looking for the perfect post wash detangler since my hair is too coily to finger detangle effectively!
I love the details and the pros/cons. You rock Ms Nikki #thatsall
Thanks for your reggie details, Nikki! I always drool looking at your WnGs. I've tried a few of them, but my curls end up a bit crunchy by the time they dry. How do you keep the crunchies at bay?
Grazie for the yoghurt DT recipe, btdubs! I needed a protein treatment to do once a month. TIA 🙂 Ciao, bella!
Right!!! So much happens between the W and the G…that's such a great way to put it! I think I should revisit the Oyin Hair Dew! That's the second time I've heard reference to it in a few days and I remember liking it.
Let's not even talk about 'too many products'. My bathroom is a wreck!
If you find your curls are super inconsistent throughout, you're probably better off doing wet sets. If you think you can work with the inconsistencies, product and technique really impact the outcome. Try the techniques above for consistent definition and concentrate on moisture… steer clear of gels for now and look to moisturizing curl creams. Don't skip your deep treatments either. Finally, some folks have to treat different sections of their hair differently depending upon the curl type. Keep that in mind as well (for example, some sections may need more or less product, some sections may need finger curling, etc.).
No problem!
Glad it helped!!! Thanks chica 🙂
Sounds like a plan!
yep, make sure you hit every strand 🙂
I'm not having tangling issues, but the single strand knots are cropping up. My tangles seem to stay at bay because during the techniques, especially The Tracee, all of my hair is smoothed and detangled and since I don't manipulate it between wash sessions, it's still relatively tangle free the next time I wet it. The yogurt deep treatment helps a ton with the tangles as well.
Awesome!
she was eating breakfast and I typed feverishly! Thanks lady 🙂 And yes a pre-poo/ DT prior to washing makes an ENORMOUS difference!
Wow those are some details! Boogie must have been taking a nap! LOL
You hair looks really good in all the pics. I didn't know that you should DT before you wash. I'll have to try that and see the difference.
I've tried these (not entirely like these though). Back when I started trying, I didn't have much new growth (I was still transitioning back then). They worked pretty well for me though. But i get a whole lot of shrinkage. I did try rope twisting then bantu knotting once instead of just twisting and I got the most amazing stretched hair I had gotten in quite a long while without using heat (I did this earlier this year) and I also got some good curl clumping, great definition and it didn't take forever to dry. Didn't tangle as much as usual and it stayed in without much frizz or anything even without using a gel.
y'all! maybe its just me and my ratchet hair but when i do wash and go's, i get so many tangles and knots. it takes forever to detangle and is super damaging (because of the impatience, i think). i use tresseme naturals and flax-seed gel raked all through. how do you prevent tangles?! (on a student budget and in a country where "our" products don't exist (Amman,Jordan). Ayuda me!!! Help!!!
My roots dry with such tight curls when I air dry now..im talking matted. Maybe I'm not using enough product
I have a few spots with heat damage from transitioning. Thinking of cutting them off so that I van grow them out this winter and try these next summer.
Lol @ church lady comment. You are so silly! Thanks for sharing these details with us. It helps so much for a transitioners like me. As always your hair looks amazing in the pics!
Thanks for the breakdown. I'm going to wear mini-twists October thru April. I can not do wash-n-gos in the cooler/colder months.
I desperately want to wear my hair out with wash & go but I can't get the products down to save mt life. I get great definition when I do a dc (tresemme naturals, mayo, egg,olive oil) then wash w/ giovanni triple treaty, & more tresemme to finger detangle. I love how my curls look & feel but I can never get it to dry while keeping a little definition. it looks like a hot mess. shrinkage galore, some curl, some straight, some in between smh. I need a good leave in. haven't found 1 that helps to keep the curl pattern & keep my hair moisturized. help please! I miss my head full of curls 🙁
Awesome reggie Nikki! And talk about de-tail…. likes it! I didn't tell you I looooved the yoghurt treatment I did last week! Looooved! have incorporated that into my Fall reggie.
I defo need to get me a satin pillowcase and also some new deep conditioners…. think it's time to try Aubery Organics and Curl Junkie 🙂
Lol at titties kitties! Can't wait til I get more length but I already have way too many products!
Thanks so much for this. Soon as I take these Senegalese twists out, its back to my WnG routine. But I love your name for it. Because when I thought about it, it really hardly ever is just a wash and go. There are so many steps between that W and G. Lol. I usually like to plop with a t-shirt or microfiber towel using KCKT as my leave-in and OH Hair Dew as my moisturizer (the kind you can purchase in the car cleaning section of Wal-Mart).
As I was typing, all I could think was why I hadn't updated my routine in a year… it takes forever cause of the details, lol. Glad you like it and hope it helps!
Love the breakdown and the names of each one!
I love silicones. My hair appears to do better with them than without them, especially the amodimethicone variety. As long as you have a mild shampoo on deck, you'll be good. I notice that silicones allow for easier and less stressful detangling and better moisture retention. Hope that helps!
The Traci- 20 minutes in the shower, 10-20 minutes in the mirror
The Pippi- 20 minutes in the shower, 20 minutes in the mirror
The Unicorn- 20 minutes in the shower, 30 minutes in the mirror
yay! Glad to hear it! Post a pic! xx
I did a slightly modified version of the Pippy and love the results this morning!!!!!! Thanks for sharing your regimen, Nikki!
About how long does it take to do all of the steps in each situation? I can't imagine spending more than 20 min every other third day esp. getting up at 530am.
Nik, I luv how you are rocking your wash n go! It is and has been my style of choice for the going on 15 years of my natural hair journey and now I really feel like I have a a connection with you! LOL! I appreciate hearing about technique and products to help me get the most from this style. My biggest concern with my hair is of course moisture. I live in Vegas where the air is dry dry dry and hot too. I want to know more about your take on cones. Have you changed your perspective on them? Most of the products I see on the shelves within my price range contain some form of silicones and they sorta spook me so I try to stay away from them. Whats your advice on them?