My First Wash n' Go

Happy Valentine's Day, guys! I'm so excited to bring you this post because this is my first wash and go! It turned out so great and I hope that the methods I share with you today can be helpful.

The wash and go isn't something new. I'm just late to the party. There are tons of videos online showing you how to get the best definition possible in the shortest amount of time. However, the truth is that if you want the best definition from a wash and go, be prepared to work.

A few months ago I tried a twist out that I posted on my Instagram and it came out so well. My only issue was that by the second day, the dreaded flakes began to appear. I remember using the Olive Oil EcoStyler Gel and I had completed the twist out on dry, stretched hair. I knew it was a result of the gel (and because my hair wasn't clean), but I think I may have figured out how to fix that.

When I tried this wash and go, I made sure not to be too heavy-handed when applying products before adding the gel. I used a light leave-in conditioner after washing my hair, which was the Creme of Nature Coconut Milk Detangling and Conditioning Leave-In Conditioner. Then, I applied the OGX Hydrate and Defrizz Kukuí Oil, which is a very light product as well. This is what I think prevented the flakes from showing up. That, and starting out with clean hair.

The gel that I used was the EcoStyler Krystal Gel. I had always used the EcoStyler Olive Oil Gel, but this time I wanted to try another version. 

After detangling my hair with a tangle teaser brush, I took my hair in about two inch thick sections and smoothed the gel through it. Again, I made sure that I wasn't using too much product. I used the shingling method to define my curls, which is when you take almost individual strands of your hair and separate them to ensure better definition.

I do not consider my hair to be very thick, but doing this method took me more than four hours to complete. Yes, four hours. 😭 But these were the results.  

By the time I was finished I vowed to never do a wash and go again, but at the same time, my hairstyle for the week was set. I didn't have to twist my hair or pull it into a tight puff. This was a cute and easy low-manipulation protective style that allowed my scalp to breathe for the first time in a while. Major shrinkage was expected, but at that moment, I decided to embrace it for once. I spiced up my fresh wash and go by pulling the front of my hair into two curly puffs. 

I'm very excited to try different styles with my new wash and go routine. Next time I do a wash and go, which will probably next week, I think I'll try different methods to see if the outcome is better and faster, if possible. As for how long this wash and go lasts, I'm still wearing my hair in this state 3 days later and I won't be surprised if it lasts the rest of the week. And the best part is that there are no flakes whatsoever! 

I know this wasn't a long post but a wash and go is pretty straightforward, so it made sense that this post followed suit. Thanks for reading and enjoy the rest of your Hump Day/Valentine's Day! Take care and I'll talk to you next time.

My Current Twisting Routine

Twists are low-maintenance, low-manipulation, and they allow for easy care between washes. They have been my go-to protective style since I went back natural.  I prefer to keep my hair in twists because compared to a stretched style like a bun, I'm able to care for my scalp and ends without the fear of messing up a particular style. Even though I've been doing many different styles lately, I always felt the urge to twist my hair.

This will be an update of my twisting routine, and I consider it an update because of the products, technique, and maintenance methods that I have been using.

Whenever I twist my hair, I do the L.C.O method. This is the L.O.C method but instead of using liquid, oil and then cream, I use liquid, cream and oil. I personally think that this order makes more sense because oil is a sealant. For my particular hair chemistry, the L.C.O method is more effective because the cream (or leave-in conditioner) is being sealed in with the oil rather than sealed out. 

If you have no idea what I'm talking about, Natural Hair Rules goes into detail about what each method can do for your hair.

Twisting your hair is pretty self-explanatory, but even twists can cause damage to your hair if you are not careful. Detangling each section when it's dry or twisting too tight for example, may turn out to be counterproductive and set you back further than you want to be. Also, give your hair a break once in a while. Try different protective styles such as low buns, crochet braids, and even wigs. 

Twisting

I always twist my hair when it's freshly washed, or after it has been banded, which I will explain in detail on another day. My hair is usually detangled when it's banded, but I tend to pass a tangle teaser brush through each section before I start twisting. 

Sometimes, however, I cut out the middleman and start twisting immediately after I wash my hair. I've been liking this a lot better because I don't have to spend an hour banding my hair and wait overnight for it to dry. 

So going back to the L.C.O method, I spray warm water on each section to keep it moisturized because of how quickly my hair dries out. My second favorite liquid to use is Aloe Vera Juice. After that, I apply the Shea Moisture Coconut and Hibiscus Curling Enhancing Smoothie as my leave-in. 

I've been using the product for about two years and it seems to give my hair the moisture it needs. The oil I have been loving for a few months now is the Amla Legend Rejuvenating Oil. It seals my twists wonderfully and it smells amazing. 

Sometimes I use the Mielle Organics White Peony Leave-in Conditioner or OGX's Kukui Oil, but I always tend to stick with my favorite cream and oil. 

To detangle my hair I sometimes use a wide toothed comb, but most of the time I prefer a detangling brush.

Weekly Care

Once my hair is twisted, I'm free to do whatever I want with it for as long as I choose. Nowadays I only wear my twists for a week, but I quite enjoy leaving it for about a month while washing the twists each week. 

I have a schedule of what I do to my hair each week, so on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, I massage Jamaican Black Castor Oil into my scalp followed by the Eden BodyWorks Peppermint Tea Tree Temple Balm.

My aunt was the one who actually introduced me to this product but you'll see a more in-depth review on it very soon. 

Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays are reserved for the Greenhouse method (or GHE), which is basically adding moisture to your hair overnight. I simply put on a plastic shower cap and my satin bonnet and go to bed. While I sleep, my body heat creates moisture that is trapped by the shower cap, and it helps to hydrate my scalp and hair. 

I would not recommend doing this method every night because your scalp needs to breathe. 

When I have work or plan to go out, I don't wear my twists out. I prefer to wear either a beanie or my favorite headwrap. 

Headwraps are my number one way to maintain my twists and my already large collection grows by the day. I'll also show off all of my beauties in a separate post.

Thanks for reading!

January Length Check

TGIF! It's the start of a new month and we are long, long, long overdue for a length check. The last length check that I did was in May so it's been a whole 8 months since I checked the growth progress of my hair. This post is not going to be very long because I tend to get straight to the point when it comes to length checks.

I consider these length checks to be informal because the only way to see your full length is to straighten your hair, which I haven't done since I went back natural because I'm absolutely terrified of heat damage. One day soon perhaps... 🙈

Checking my growth has become a science. I basically check the 3 longest points of my hair: My nape, the top of my head (not quite the crown), and the hair above my ear.

I started with the nape, and that length turned out to be around 9 inches. I try to keep my head straight in order to get an accurate measurement, especially since I did not have my length check shirt to mark my progress. I also pull the hair from my nape and measure it against my chest.

9 inches from the nape!

Next, I measured the hair on top of my head, but not quite the crown because my crown isn't the longest part of that section of my head. That measured in at about 9 inches as well, which was surprising because my hair tends to grow in layers. Also, I was excited because when I pulled the hair over my face, it was close to touching my chin!

Lastly, I measured the hair above my ear because it tends to grow quickly as well. I counted the measurement at 8 inches only because the ends looked like they needed a trim. But let's just say that it's 8 and a half inches for now.

That's basically it for this month's length check. This wasn't as in-depth as my previous length checks but that's because I want to reserve what I've been doing to my hair in my upcoming Winter Hair Regimen post. Thank you for reading and have an awesome weekend!