Is The "Wash And Go" a Myth for Type 4 Hair?

I've heard many women say that one thing they looked forward to or even that they like presently since becoming natural is the "wash and go" hairstyle. Oh the joys of cleansing your hair and scalp and then running out of the door- no fuss, no muss. I mean, c'mon. We've all seen the pictures of glorious wet spirals glistening with moisture and bouncing in the wind! But you know what?- that is NOT my hair. I do not have curly spirals, ringlets, waves or anything of that nature.

My hair is extremely thick and very coily. If I were to do an actual and true wash and go, my hair would look a whole HOT mess! That is, IMO. It's just the nature of my hair. It is thick and course and the curl pattern is not all that defined. When I first started doing the WNG I was a bit frustrated that it wouldn't be so quick and easy as I had orginally thought.

So, if you're newly natural and thinking that this is what you want to do, don't be fooled by all the hype. If you've got type 4 hair, more specifically type 4b and/or 4c, to achieve a really good "wash and go" look you're going to have to put in a bit more work.

Depending on your hair regimen, you will have to wash or co-wash, condition, detangle, comb, towel dry, and add more product to produce the curl and look you hope for. It isn't so much work that it deterred me from styling this way, but it's definitely not as simple as it's name, that is for sure!

Hair Care Regimen for Kids?

I recently came to the decision that I would now start a regular hair care regimen for my daughter, who will be 4 years old in a month. She, of course, has natural hair- no chemicals. Her hair type is that of a 3c for the most part and when straightened or stretched, it reaches the middle of her back.

I thought now would be a good time to start implementing happy, healthy hair practices to not only keep her hair growing steadily and consistently and longer, but also to ensure that it stays HEALTHY.

I will basically mimic my hair care with hers for the most part. When I wash mine, I'll wash hers. If I do a prepoo, she gets a prepoo. Deep conditioning for me, same for her...and so on. I'll start it this way and then tweak it as I go along until I have a concrete regimen for the both of us. I probably won't do the same hair styles, though.

I will update blog with her hair and hair care as well, moving forward.

Until next time, y'all! Keep that hair happy...not "nappy"

-SC

Time For a New Protective Style

So, I've had my microlinks out for a couple of weeks now. I've washed my hair a couple of times, deep conditioned, regular conditioning, two-strand twisted it, rocked a couple of twist-outs and a one or two wash-n-go's. I feel it is time to let my hair rest and rid it of manipulation for a at least a month.

Today, I'm thinking I'm going to do a deep moisturizing treatment - a prepoo with coconut oil. I'll follow with a shea butter leave-in conditioning cream and then I'll braid my hair into cornrows and begin crocheting it tomorrow.

I did crochet hairstyles for the majority of my time transitioning and it really showed my hair some love.
Since, it is summer time here in the windy city it is REALLY hot, REALLY humid and NOT very windy at all! LOL. It is definitely too hot and humid to be rocking wigs (though, I'll probably bring them back into the rotation come fall or winter), and because I don't want to over-manipulate my hair to help with retention, I think crochets and sew-ins will be my buddies for the next couple of months.

I'll update with whatever look I decide to give myself!


Until next time....