Most naturals really despise wash day; do you? When I first went natural it was such an adjustment compared to my hair routine with relaxed hair. Wash days use to be once a month. And that was when I actually did a retouch of my perm/relaxer. Can you relate? Weekly wash days were unheard of then. With natural hair MOISTURE is key so I immediately started washing my scalp/hair once per week. Getting use to handling my kinky texture this much was a big change and super complicated. I say all that to say, of course, wash days can be complicated if you are getting use to new routines, techniques, and products; but honestly it doesn’t have to be. Relax and try some of these tips to make your wash day hassle-free:

1. DETANGLE/PICK YOUR HAIR prior to washing it. You can use a detangling product like Alikay Naturals Knots Be Gone Hair Detangler and a tool like the FELICIA LEATHERWOOD DETANGLING BRUSH.

2. SEPARATE YOUR HAIR INTO 4 SECTIONS to keep hair from tangling back up as well as get better access to your scalp. You can keep each section separated by doing jumbo twists or braids. Unravel one section at a time and retwist once complete. You can opt for hair clips or good hair bands instead if you’re not a fan of twisting/braiding each section.

3. Saturate your hair with lots of WARM WATER prior to adding shampoo. Luke warm water will open the hair cuticle for ultimate moisture. Do not use HOT water as it will dry your hair out and make your hair feel stripped of moisture. Squeeze each section like it’s a sponge to soak up all the water.

4. The type of SHAMPOO you use matters! Natural shampoos like Alikay Naturals Caribbean Coconut Milk Shampoo has high quality natural ingredients that won’t strip your hair of its natural oils. It’s also important to use a clarifying shampoo once a month to make sure you remove all product build up; try Alikay Naturals Moisturizing Black Soap Shampoo. The placement of your cleanser is important as well; focus on your scalp first and the access will cover your strands as you massage and rinse.

5. DEEP CONDITION your hair every single time you use shampoo. This is a very important step. Deep conditioning penetrates deeper than a regular conditioner. Regular conditioners condition the surface of your strands however, deep conditioners penetrate beneath the hair cuticle. When you properly deep condition your hair you will notice your styles come out better, its smoother, frizz free, shiny, and easier to manage. My favorite deep conditioners are Alikay Naturals Honey And Sage Deep Conditioner, Adwoa Beauty Baomint Deep Conditioning Treatment, and Palmer’s Protein Pack. Adding a plastic cap, deep conditioning cap, or using steam will get you even more benefits!

6. RINSE with cool water as this closes the hair cuticle for smoother, frizz-free strands.

7. Use a quality LEAVE-IN CONDITIONER like Alikay Naturals Lemongrass Leave-In Conditioner or Adwoa Beauty Baomint Leave In Conditioning Styler. A good leave-in like this will assist in detangling, improving moisture, and it will act as a light-weight styler (even if you add a cream/butter/gel in addition).

8. It’s best to go ahead and twist or braid your hair immediately with a leave-in and styler. Some of my favorite stylers are Alikay Naturals Moisture Rich Hair Parfait, Camille Rose Almond Jai Twisting Butter, Camille Rose CurlMaker, Adwoa Beauty Baomint Moisturizing Curl Defining Cream, or Adwoa Beauty Moisturizing Curl Defining Gel. Tie your hair down with a satin durag for an even more defined look!

The steps provided will make wash day so easy. Yes there’s 8 steps but each is super simple. Don’t let wash day stress you out. Use this time as a self-care day and enjoy every step, listening to the water, close your eyes, massage your scalp, play some soft music, and take it all in! Happy wash day!