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I wash my hair weekly to keep my scalp fresh, providing my hair with a clean environment to grow in and also to keep my hair moisturised. At the bottom of this post I’ll briefly explain why washing black hair reguarly is perfectly healthy!.

 

My wash day regimen:

 

Step 1 (pre shampoo treatment)

Pre shampoo treatments provide an extra barrier between your hair and the harsh chemicals in shampoo’s preventing your hair from getting completely stripped and left feeling dry. Even though I don’t shampoo my hair every wash day, I still do a pre poo treatment to treat my scalp and for the moisturising benefits.

 

1a- I pour Extra Virgin Olive Oil into an applicator bottle and then add my 100% Virgin Coconut Oil before placing the bottle in a mug of boiling water to heat up.

1b- I separate my hair into 4 sections (plaits) and working with one section at a time, I spray my hair with warm water in a spray bottle (to open up my hair cuticles) and then apply my hot oil mix. I then massage the oils into my scalp while finger detangling to gently get rid of any tangles and knots without ripping my hair out with a comb and plait that section back up. I do this on all 4 sections

1c-  I cover my hair with a shower cap or plastic bag and then a towel for 30 minutes to an hour (or sometimes overnight) to allow the natural oils to penetrat into my hair.

 

Step 2 (co washing)

Co-washing (washing your hair with conditioner) is more gentle on our hair than using shampoo’s as many shampoo’s contain harsh chemicals called sulfates which strip our hair leaving it prone to dryness and so breakage.

 

2a- Working with one section at a time, I unravel my plait and rinse the oil out of that section.

2b- I then cover the section I’m working on with my Aunt Jackies In Control Conditioner which states that it can be used as a co wash and detangle using my fingers, a wide tooth comb and then a denman brush (optional). I then plait my section back up and move onto the next, following the same steps again.

2c- Once all 4 sections have been conditioned and detangled, I cover my hair with shower cap or plastic bag and a towel and leave the conditioner to soak in for 30mins. After 30mins I rinse each section out with cool water to close my hair cuticles.

 

Step 3 (moisturising & drying)

I don’t blow dry my hair unless I plan to straighten it as heat appliances such as blow dryers, straighteners, tongs etc dry out your hair shaft leaving your hair prone to breakage.

 

3a- I part my hair into sections depending on how I plan to wear it the next day. On each section I apply some cool water in my spray bottle if the section has become dry, my Aunt Jackies Knot On My Watch Detangler, my Cantu Shea Butter Leave in Repair Cream and some 100% Virgin Coconut oil to seal all that moisture in (as water and oil doesn’t mix)

3b- I’ll then plait that section up (usually cainrow) so that the moisture can soak in and my hair can dry without shrinking up and becoming tangled.

3c- As I usually wash my hair at night, when my hair is dry the next day I’ll coat my fingers in some 100% Virgin Coconut Oil and unravel my plaits leaving my hair dry, stretched and moisturised with a curly/wavy pattern. Sometimes it can take longer than over night for your hair to dry so if you are comfortable, you can wear your plaits as a protective style

 

(protective style = a style where your hair doesn’t need to be manipulated and so is given a break from the stress of daily styling which can cause breakage)

 

P.S Washing black hair reguarly doesn’t dry our hair out like you may have been told growing up, Black hair becomes dry when it is unmoisturised (the water content in your hair shaft is low). As moisture (water) evaporates, you need to seal any moisture into your hair shaft with oils and butters to prevent your hair from drying out quickly. The L.O.C Method is ideal for this.

1- (L) Apply a liquid such as water, aloe vera juice or a leave in conditioner to moisturise.

2- (O) Apply a natural oil such as Organic Virgin Coconut Oil (cold pressed and unrefined), Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Castor Oil etc to seal in the moisture from your liquid (as water and oil don’t mix, this oil barrier will prevent the moisture from evaporating)

3- (C) Apply a thick cream such as whipped shea butter (which you can make yourself) to double seal in any moisture. I used to use Beautiful Textures Whipped Curl Butter but I want to try making my own whipped shea butter.

 

Many naturalsista’s wash their hair daily (wear wash & go’s)  and have perfectly healthy hair. The trouble comes when you don’t seal in that moisture, leaving it able to evaporate and your hair prone to dryness and so breakage.

 

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