Despite the style’s breezy-sounding name, achieving a luscious wash and go takes a bit of effort. However, if you can put together the right mix of hair products and routines for your curl type, the wash and go can be a reliable, no-fuss hairstyle.
Skip the Shampoo
This first step may be surprising. Can you really wash your hair without shampoo? The answer is yes! Shampoos contain moisture-sucking ingredients like parabens that can take the life out of curly strands. Using shampoos too often will leave your hair shaft dry and brittle.
Instead, replace your normal shampoo with a cleansing conditioner at least three or four times a week. While a cleansing conditioner may have a similar sounding name to the product you usually use after a shampoo, there is a big difference.
Regular conditioners don’t contain any cleansing ingredients. Trying to use a regular conditioner in place of shampoo will lead to an itchy, uncomfortable scalp.
Actual cleansing conditioners combine the moisturizing aspects of a conditioner with the buildup removing power of a shampoo. You can find cleansing conditioner products under several names, including co-washes and no-poos.
Remove Mineral Residue
While your shower is an essential part of the wash-and-go process, it can also be the biggest obstacle to a perfect styling routine. That’s because if you’re like nearly 85 percent of Americans, the water coming out of your showerhead is ladened with calcium and other minerals. Water with high mineral content is classified as hard and can do a number on your strands.
Firstly, calcium can prevent your hair from absorbing any of the nourishing ingredients in your hair products. Minerals can also build up on your hair and scalp, making your curls a dry and frizzy mess.
You can combat hard water’s drying effect by using a clarifying shampoo. These products are designed to remove mineral buildup. However, since they are very effective at stripping away oils and other impurities, using one too often can cause damage. Think of a clarifying shampoo less like an everyday product, and more like a refreshing monthly treatment.
Protect Your Strands
You would be surprised at how many hazards your hair is exposed to on a daily basis. For example, the sun’s ultraviolet rays break apart the keratin protein in your hair, making it more vulnerable to split ends and frizzing.
If you plan on being outdoors for a long period of time, cover your hair with a scarf or hat. On beach days, take an umbrella with you to provide some shade.
Your styling methods can also damage your curls. Ease up on the heating tools. They can be very damaging, and make hair more difficult to style. Likewise, protective styles like cornrows and braids can be anything but if they’re too tight or left in too long. Both of these scenarios will result in serious breakage.
Experiment with Products
It’s great to live in a time when there are so many hair care lines for curly hair types. Finding the best routine for your exact hair type and desired style will require trial and error.
Most curly hair products are meant to be used during one of these three phases: pre-wash, wash, and post-wash. A wash and go will require some type of leave-in conditioner or gel, but the rest of your product routine will be completely up to you.
Whatever product you try, stick to manufacturers that avoid toxic ingredients like parabens and benzene.
Keep Your Hands Off
Curly hair doesn’t respond well to fussiness. Handing your tresses too much after the washing process can force your curls to separate from their naturally-formed clumps. This makes your hair brittle and prone to breaking. Further, every time your hand glides through your hair, it wicks away natural oils, leaving dryness and frizziness in its wake.
If you tend to touch your hair unconsciously, use the pineapple technique to gather your curls at the top of your head. Tie your hair in a loose knot using a silky scarf or no-tangle hair scrunchy.
Refresh Often
You don’t have to constantly wash your hair to maintain a wash-and-go style. (In fact, that is the opposite of what curly hair needs!) Rather than going through a full co-wash and rinse, you can reignite droopy curls using a spray bottle filled with a mix of water and a leave-in conditioner.
Another option is to rub serum or hair oil between your palms and gently distribute the product evenly over your tresses.
