Since cutting my hair for the 3rd time a couple weeks ago, I have completely changed both my outlook on wash and gos. Before, I used to think they were time-consuming and a bad idea for people with extremely kinky hair like mine. I’ve now changed my mind about them and am totally obsessed! Here are a few reasons why you should reconsider wash and gos on type 4 hair or kinky natural hair!
Reason 1: They’re Easy
I can’t even begin to count the number of times I’ve sat on the floor with two mirrors reflecting the back of my head as I tried to configure some sort of flat twist updo. Or the number of times I’ve popped my fingers trying to close a perm rod. Wash and gos are one of the easiest ways you can style your kinky natural hair (coming to a close second to the puff!). They just require that you amplify the curls already on your head!
Reason 2: They’re Fast
Raise your hand if you’ve spent over 4 hours doing your hair. Just to wait another 8 hours for it to air dry so you can take it down? And then spend another 45 minutes untwisting, separating, and fluffing? One of the reasons people get discouraged by natural hair is because it can take forever to do. With wash and gos, you can cut your wash day to an hour or two, depending on the length of your hair.
Reason 3: They’re Freeing
Something that we don’t talk enough about in the kinky natural hair community is texture envy. If you’ve ever wished that your hair was just a bit looser, curlier, or neater, you’re definitely not alone. You can overcome the mentality that your hair needs to be manipulated in a twist out, updo, or in braids in order to be presentable and cute by regularly wearing your hair in wash and gos. Wearing your hair in its most authentic state – shrunken and all – is definitely liberating.
Reason 4: They Can Be Healthier For Your Hair
If you struggle with knotting and tangling while doing twistouts and other manipulative styles, you may benefit from the detangling, clumping, and low manipulation of wash and gos. (You also might need a trim) Unlike with other natural hairstyles, wash and gos are incredibly low maintenance and don’t require much upkeep, which can reduce manipulation and thus tangling and breakage.
Hi,
I tried a wash and go once and I never attempted it again, it was a huge fail. How do you maintain it?
I’ve failed before, try again! I just sleep with a bonnet and spray some leave in and fluff. When I did the wash and go with Creme of Nature that I linked to above, my hair was hydrated enough that I didn’t need to add any additional product for about a week!
Hmmm, I’m thinking of doing this now. I hate the time consuming styles, and I also–to refer to point 3–like the idea of it being freeing. I want to embrace my hair as it is more often.
Give it a shot for a month and then tell me how you like it!
I think wash and go is a very quick hairstyle. It convenient and doesn’t require a lot of time. When I did try to do this style, l struggle with a lot of single strands knots. With my kinky 4 type hair, I need something to combat it and keep it tame. ?
Excessive knotting could mean that you’re in need of a trim!