Not sure about y’all, but for me, the second styling session on the same damn day is not met with quite as much enthusiasm or patience as the first. But this mildly annoying episode, coupled with my resulting laziness birthed a new technique… one that just so happens to produce ‘clumpy’ wash & go’s. Well, at least it did yesterday… we all know the precarious nature of curly hair and how the same products and techniques used Monday can yield astonishingly different results on Thursday. But I digress.
I knew I didn’t want to shampoo again, so I grabbed the co-wash, prayed and was relieved at how easily the ratchet rinsed away! After an initial co-wash w/ Tresemme, I loaded up with tons of Redken’s Smooth Down Butter Treat, allowed for marination and then stood under the shower stream. Instead of my usual raking action, I smooshed the conditioner out, as my hair was already thoroughly detangled. Next, I gently wrung (wrang? wringed? wrenched around and wrenched it off! lol) to remove excess water and made one solitary part down the center of my head. I applied a sliver dollar-sized amount of Living Proof’s Thickening Cream to each half and created two large two-strand twists– one on the left and one on the right side. At this point my hair was smooth, conditioned and still dripping wet. I then took to the mirror and applied a layer of As I Am’s Smoothing Gel to my crown (and down either side of the middle part, smoothing the waves down toward the twist) and smooshed a generous amount into each twist. I sat under the hood until my hair was 50% dry and then unravelled the twists to reveal… clumpy ass curls! I finger curled a few frizzy pieces and added a bit more gel to the fuzzy/undefined bits and…
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| 70% dry |
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| 100% dry & fluffed |
Not bad for where we started… and I promise I didn’t use any more of that EcoStyler than I use of the As I Am gel on a regular wash day. The consistency of the Eco isn’t any heavier, but it’s obviously more concentrated.
So with that–
Shrinkage, I’ll never curse you again, I appreciate you… on some real levels. And I suppose that’s it! Deep conditioning is in order for me at some point this weekend.
I'm trying to remember the days when I did have the fluffy wash n go. I promise I haven't changed my products that much. I totally with you on same products different days different results. What the heck?? Plan in action, find my ultimate defined fluff wash n go.
I tried Nikki's method today and loved the results! I washed with Trader Joe's TTT in the shower, applied Tresemme to detangle and then placed hair in two twists on either side of my head. After rinsing I used Suave Almond & Shea conditioner as a leave-in (trying to use it up) on the twists and then applied Kiss My Face Upper Management gel on my crown area. I placed my t-shirt towel on my head for about 10 mins and then sat under the drier until about 70-80% dry. I unraveled and fluffed; clumps and chunks that I've never experienced, especially in my frizzy areas that refuse to curl or clump!!!!
Just another reason to love this site! I found my new wash-n-go method ya'll!
That's a lot better! The Master Splinter look was not hot lol. I'm going to try to do mini twists today for the first time on my transitioning hair. Wish me luck!
Marvelous hair style. I had never seen this style before.
Nice curls
Okay, so after all of the trash talking about Eco (LOL), I had to revisit it for myself. I use it occasionally for my edges, but I couldn't remember why I stopped using it. I did a semi wash and go with flat twists in the front. I read about the crunchiness, so I used an oil blend to counteract it. Well, my hair turned out cute, but very shrunken and crunchy. This can be an emergency hairdo. Oh well, I'll be making some two strand twists out of this.
Currently stocking up on Butter Treat now since it's been discontinued. It is being replaced by Smooth Lock Butter Silk tho!!
Girl me too! Serious mullet action goin' on. LOLOL! That's why I have to have my stylist trim the back a bit extra to maintain a bob look because the curls are looser and hang longer in the back of my head. Cray……
Bam! is right. Nikki your hair turned out peerrrfect! I'm sooo tryin' that method on my next wash-n-go.
I don't have any special hair plans other than to schedule an appointment for a trim soon.
Product win for me: As I Am Leave-in
Product fails for me: AO Camilla White Camillia conditioner (couln't take the scent); Shea Moisture Yucca & Baobab Anti-breakage masque
Holy Helmet Head Batman!! The curls and fluff are back! You look great Nik. I'm going to do a serius Curly Nikki deep condition (yogurt, honey and oil 😉 I also got my Huetiful Steamer in the mail and can't wait to try it out. Next weekend I want to try a henna, first time. Wish me luck!
I will post results as soon as I'm done. When I first went natural over 7 years ago the flat twist out was my staple…so last Sunday I revisited it and it was a MAJOR fail. So, I turned it into a fro with head band. I had to rock it like I liked it.
What a transformation. It's so funny b/c I've read you talking about fluffing and thought, why does she fluff so much but seeing the gelled up hair was eye-opening.
The whole wet to dry transformation is so interesting…totally different on everyone. And funny how a lot of people get similar results when starting from a totally different place, or start from the same place and get totally different looks.
I see why you are curly Nikki your curls are gorgeous! I plan this weekend to try my new deep conditioner I bought from Eden body works because I am still looking for good deep conditioner to be my staple. I am also getting a trim I am over due. My recent product win I am late on this one Shea moisture's restorative conditioner my new found love and leave-in. My fails none at this moment.
Oh, and I forgot to add – please keep up the good work! This site helps a ton of women embrace their natural beauty! I'm sure more than you know. After stalking your page & Naptural85, I made the decision to go natural. God Bless!
CN – How does your hair feel? I just ordered some samples of Just as I am in the mail. I'm transitioning and henna helps loosen the curl around my edges but I need something to lay them down! LOL!
Thanks girl!!!
and not a mullet! lol, too much! Mine is shrinkier in the back so I have a natural bob.
woop!
Buns rock too 🙂
Thanks Rhonda!!! How are you??!
Thanks chica! You know, I can barely flat twist but the times I've tried (on wet hair) the set was a disaster. I'd love to hear what you think of the As I Am!
get it girl! Can't wait to hear all about your experiences with the thickening cream and chunky twists. I'll be waiting by the phone! Boog says, 'hi gaye-gaye' 🙂
genetics is right… i've learned the hard way to work with what you've got. Thanks lady!
Thanks!!!
Thanks Imani! #teamshrinkage
Looks like the Baked Recipe wins, lol!! Now if my WnGs came out like this I would wear them more often. I have had the crunchy experience, the straight up afro experience, and many more, but I contribute most outcomes to how my hair grows which is opposite of yours. My hair has serious hang time in the back (lower BSL) and the front…not so much (APL). Wait! Is that a mullet?!!? Why did I just realize that though??
Oooh!!!! Pic please!!!!!!
Curlbox is coming…wash day is in order
Back in biz-ness, Nik! Stellar results.
I usually add a little oil to my conditioner when I leave it in my hair. Yesterday, I smoothed a little oil on my wet hair to try that LOC thang out…um, fail. Today I'm in a bun.
Yes m'am, that was Kings of Comedy- D.L. Hughley! LOL! I'll probably just do a twist out when I style my hair. At least that's the plan for now!
Count me in!!!!!!!!
Thanks!! Boogie is just as cute as she wants to be. She seems totally oblivious to the camera and in her own little world!
I love your hair…I havent done a wash in go in years. I hate the shrinkage of my WNG. As for this weekend…I will probably do a flat twist out. I received my As I Am samples in the mail yesterday so I cant wait to try them out.
I am going to do my hair right now because of you! I am going to try the thickening cream and I am going to stretch it with some large twist and DAYUM it my hair better rock! hahahahahaha. That ish looks FAB Nik! ALmost and I mean ALLLMost makes me want to let me hair continue to grow now it is I who digresses (is that a word?) See you got me all jacked up with that hair though. I see my Boogie butt..kiss her please
right now this second I am jealous and want my hair to do that so bad….dang on genetics…
beautiful doll!
so Nik, my wash and go has been nothing but a disater in my opinion especially if I do the smoothing raking thing with the gel and the whole nine. So for the past couple months what I have been doing is kind of a wash and go braidout… I just co wash, leave a little conditioner in and section the hair and braid it in the shower under the shower stream if i need help with tangles (about 6-7 braids). I move super fast and careful so that I dont waste water and cause breakage. once my braids are done, i get out of the shower and smooth my leavein conditioner and oil (last) over each braid, sealing the ends with something heavy like shea butter or umm some ..mineral oil (yup). I let the ish air dry and release the braids. To get my hair to have maximum sexy fluff, I sometimes use a blowdryer (tension method) for roots and for stretch. Im telling u!!! it aint never failed me… best part is, I pretty much eliminated the use of gel… My hair looks like I want it to look after a wash and go..no crunch.. Ill post a pic so your can see it…
shrinkage is apart of life 🙂 my curls love my shrinkage so I have no choice they tend to lose definition on my stretched hair glad your beautiful hair has recovered quite nicely
HOT pic chica!!! Thanks a million and you better rock that shrinkage!
Love the Fluff! I'm still having a love/hate relationship with shrinkage, but I'm working it out!
Thanks and NOPE! 🙂
Thanks Monique!
lol @ cept for dat one time! Thanks girl 🙂
yes ma'am! Back in action! Have a fun weekend and enjoy your newly acquired SM goodies!
haha, thanks Mel! As far as good DTs go… hmmm… I'm using any good conditioner mixed with yogurt with EXCELLENT results… like 'no tangles' results, lol. AOHR is a great dt as well as Aubrey's GPB and White Camellia… any of those + honey + yogurt + oil and you're rocking 🙂
Thanks girl! For the life of me I couldn't remember where that quote was from… I say it sporadically (don't judge me) and while trying to figure out the proper way to say wring in the past tense, could hear (what i thought was Eddie Murphy's voice in one of those 'Clump' movies) wrench around and wrench it off, in my head, lol. Thanks for clearing that up!
How will you style once you're done with all the boring stuff?
Also, maybe we should have a henna party!!!!
Thanks chica! I have some Ouidad gel in my closet but haven't used it in a looooonnnng time.
Yes i do! Thanks!
Thanks!!!!
Thanks Annabel! I do it out of impatience and all you need is 15-30 minutes… on low heat if that… it (mostly) dries the crown, which is what takes the longest and you can go about your business… fully dry in an hour or so after that!
Thanks boo!
coolio! I've heard of folks doing both, but it's probably easiest on freshly washed/conditioned and detangled hair 🙂
Yay for you!
That's one I may revisit in the near future especially with winter approaching… hmmm…
Thanks girl!
You ain't said nothing but a word! Thanks!!!!
Absolutely awesome hair no more ecostyler please!
Hair perfection!
As usual ('cept for dat one time) your hair looks fab! Glad you recovered from the crunchy madness!
The fluff is indeed back!!! yaabaa dabba dooo!!! Looking fab Nikki!
So my hair weekend plans: Just got my Shea Moisture goodies from my transitioning buddy! #happydance
So a proper DC with the Deep Treatment Masque and then some hopefully lush bantu knots with the Curl Enhancing Smoothie! I cannot wait!!! (yeah I'm pretty excited 🙂 )
Have a super weekend! x
Your hair looks amazing! Toss that eco in the trash and keep it movin'. If I could get results like that, I'd wear wash and go's more often but I digress. This weekend I plan to wash and condition me and my daughter's hair. I think I am going to try the Beautiful Textures Moisture Butter and see how it goes. As for as recent product wins, I tried the AOHR as a leave in and really liked it. My hair felt really soft and moisturized. I also liked the Mizani True Textures Moisture Stretch Curl Extending Cream (say that 3 times fast, whew) that I received at the meetup. It smelled wonderful and was very light. I am still looking for a good deep conditioner though. Any suggestions, Nik?
Love the hair Nikki! LOL at "wrench around and wrench it off" Straight flashbacks of Kings of Comedy! Hahahaha! Anyhoo, this weekend I'm getting my braids taken out (I have long box braids right now), so Saturday will totally be ALL about this hair and bringing my natural curls back to life! I plan to wash & deep condition/steam and of course style it too!
By the way Nik, your hair looks fab —that is the hair that I have crushed on. 🙂
No plans. I've got an extra kid this weekend. 🙂 I did recently re-discover my Ouidad climate control heat and humidity gel. It kept my frizz at bay like a champ for my twist out this week. I always thought I could only use it for a wash and go —a pleasant surprise. I have been dreaming about doing henna for months now —- just can't find the time and conviction to take the plunge. If I could find someone I would pay to have it done. 🙂
I love your hair like this, I bet you do too!
I would love too. But I live in the Bahamas. The naturals over here, love your blog! Hope you hop on over one of these days.
Let the church say Amen…Cant wait till my hair is that length. That would be it for me.
Gorgeous Nikki! I love the bigger curls!
Your wash n go looks lovely. I don't know why I never thought about sitting under a hooded dryer after doing a wash n go! I still detest shrinkage at my length, bc my hair is super dense. Since the weather has cooled down a bit. This week I blowdried my hair and then did a braid out. I plan on sporting this look for the next two weeks, we'll see how it goes. My plans for fall & winter is dry hair, more stretched styles and if I can get away with it, only washing it 2 – 3 times per month.
Looking good Nik!
This weekend I plan to do my first steam treatment using the technique i learned on here. Should I do this before shampoo'ing or after?
Forgot to add that I'm in micro twists and will get to enjoy other things besides slaving over my hair this weekend!
Sunday is co-wash day for me. I've been using QB AOHC for the last 2 weeks, and I like it alot!
Now that's more like it! I will definitely be trying this product combo. Your curls came right back to life!
I do!!! But I'm incredibly lazy. Just got a new shipment in and *should* henna this weekend. It's highly unlikely, lol. I haven't henna'ed since late July I believe. I'm LOOOOONG over due. Wanna come over and apply mine too?!
I'm sitting here with henna in my hair. Trying to decide whether I should wash it now and then do my chores or chores first…anyway, while deciding I am surfing the hair blogs. After I get the henna out, I plan to deep condition with coconut milk and olive oil, the best for soft hennaed hair. Nikki, do you still henna?