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When I first went natural, the main style I wanted to master was the Wash and Go, and when I first big chopped, my wash and gos were so cute and easy! But guess what? The longer my hair got, the harder it was to do a wash and go. The idea is so simple, right? Wash AND go. Then why does it never seem to turn out like the gurus on YouTube? Well finally, after two and a half years natural, I can now tell you why your wash and go is a fail.
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You’re not starting on freshly washed hair.
The first step to having a successful wash and go is starting on clean and conditioned hair. It’s so easy on a lazy or rushed day to try and do a wash and go on old hair, but guess what? It will be a flaky, crusty mess, trust me. From my experience, wash and gos turn out best when done on freshly shampooed and deep conditioned hair ONLY. So, if you’ve been starting on dirty hair, that is one reason why your wash and go is a fail.
You’re styling dry hair.
One of the major keys to a wash and go that I was missing was styling soaking wet hair. And when I say soaking, I mean dripping…saturated…really wet. I know that some people like to do twist outs on damp hair, but for wash and gos, the hair has to be completely wet. If you think about it, wash and gos are the best style for showcasing our true curl patterns, and when is the curl pattern most enhanced? When hair is wet! Makes perfect sense, right?
Your hair isn’t fully detangled.
For a wash and go to really be poppin’, your hair has to be detangled. Fully fully detangled. Personally, I like to detangle in the shower, but however you do it is fine, as long as it’s done. Styling tangled hair is just setting yourself up for failure. Like, for real. Why even bother? And with so many detangling tools, including your fingers, there’s really no excuse for this to be the reason your wash and go is a fail.
You aren’t using the right products, you’re layering products incorrectly, or you’re using too many different products.
Whew, chile! Wash and gos can really show you just how picky your hair is! First things first, you have to choose the right products. You can choose a leave-in and a cream, a leave-in and a gel, LOC, LCO, LOG, a cream and a gel, etc., as long as you’re using products with ingredients your hair likes. Also, there’s no need to use more than three products. If so, one of the products isn’t working or you’re just weighing your curls down and causing build-up. My favorite wash and go combos are a cream with a gel or a leave-in, oil, and cream. That’s it. When it comes to products, remember K.I.S.S.: Keep It Simple Sis!
You’re not working with small enough sections.
When it comes to wash and gos, the smaller the section, the better! This isn’t the style where you can just split your hair into four sections and style, especially if you have thick hair like me. Smaller sections ensure that each strand is fully coated in product (from root to tip), which minimizes frizz. So, if you’re wondering why your wash and go is a fail, this may be the reason why!
You should apply your products differently.
You may be thinking, didn’t we already talk about applying products? Yes, but this is different. Now I’m talking about the physical application of the product. I know of the praying hands method, the raking method, and the shingling method, which are all different ways to apply product. Or, like me, you could use a mixture of the methods! Either way you choose, make sure you’re applying the products from the roots to the tips. Remember, it’s your hair, so you have to make it work for you.
You need a trim.
Unlike rod sets, wash and gos will expose your damage! Since this style shows off whatever curl pattern you have, any damage, split ends, or straight pieces will stick out like a sore thumb. So, one reason why your wash and go is a fail could be that you need a trim. If you want to know more about trims, read my 10 Rules All Naturals Should Follow post!
You’re not protecting your hair at night.
Would it be a natural hair post if I didn’t mention wrapping up your hair at night? I mentioned it in my Natural Hair Essentials post as well. Whether it’s a bonnet, a satin scarf, or even a durag, if you want your wash and go to work, you have to protect the style while you sleep.
Although I am still no experts at wash and gos, these are all my reasons why your wash and go is a fail. Do you have any to add? Leave them down below!
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