For many naturalistas, rocking a wash and go doesn’t mean running water through your hair and proudly wearing freshly-washed waves as they are.
It’s more about rummaging through a bunch of products that’ll help keep your hair moisturized, nourished, and defined by the end of the day.
It doesn’t matter if you have type 2, type 3, or type 4 hair; perfecting a wash and go is not a walk in the park, but boy is it a gratifying feeling once you do.
The thing about a perfect wash and go routine is that while it’s currently the trendiest natural hair styling method, it can sometimes be challenging to pull off.
It’s mainly because contrary to its name, there’s a lot more involved than just…washing and going.
So, if you’re looking for a satisfying wash and go routine, here are some incredible, tried-and-tested wash and go combos to help keep your hair frizz-free.
But first…
What is Wash and Go?
‘Wash and go’ is a mode of styling natural hair without using heat – you literally wash it, slather it with styling products and allow it to do its thing.
You’re basically integrating your hair care and styling regimen into your shower routine. It’s the perfect way of re-discovering your natural curl patterns.
However, like with your skincare routine, you have to work based on your hair type (it’ll help you figure out how to hone in on your regimen).
What works for your BFF’s or stylists 4a coils might not work for your 3c hair. So, before you dive headfirst into a wash and go regimen, ensure you consider your hair texture.
Now that you clearly understand what a wash and go entails, here are some of the best wash and go combos to try out this season.
LOC Method
As one of the most popular wash and go combos, the LOC method, involves – Leave-In Conditioner, Oil and Cream.
It’s perfect for all hair textures, but it can be especially great on type 3c and 4c hair(coily texture).
What separates this routine from others is that it takes careful consideration of how to layer products. It ensures your hair gets maximum moisture retention.
To rock the LOC method, use Auntie Jackie’s Quench Moisture Intensive Leave-in Conditioner first.
It delivers the initial layer of hydration before you apply heavier moisturizing products like the cream.
Follow it with the Herboo Botanicals Protective Moisturizing Hair Oil. It helps create a layer around your hair shafts, preventing moisture from escaping.
Seal the deal with the Gwen-Estelle Macadamia Curls Twisting Buttercream. It makes sure your hair retains as much moisture it can in the hair shaft.
Flip, Coat, Crunch
This wash-and-go combo is quite simple. It’s not as popular as the LOC method, but it does help you achieve the perfect curl form. It’s ideal for type 2 and type 3 (wavy/curly) hair textures.
To fully benefit from this method, you first need to use a sulfate-free shampoo that effortlessly gets rid of the dirt buildup in your hair.
We recommend using the Perfect Hair Avocado Shampoo with Jamaican Black Castor Oil.
Now that your hair is thoroughly cleansed, you need to use a hydrating conditioner like the Prudent Morocan Argan Oil Conditioner.
It penetrates and conditions your hair follicles to give your tresses a silky smooth shine.
Lock in definition with the Jamaican Black Castor Oil. Ensure to apply five drops of the hair to your sectioned hair and style as desired.
You can also add a light cream or spray gel to scrunch and hold.
Condition, Seal, Moisturize
One of the best wash and go combos, the CSM method gives your hair effortless, lasting hydration all week long.
It’s perfect for all hair types but can be especially beneficial to those with type 3c (curly) hair.
To kick off this wash and go routine, you need to load up on a hydrating conditioner like Ettenio Moisture Infusion Deep Conditioner.
It not only softens, lubricates, and elongates your hair, but it also detangles it to make it easier to style.
Now that your hair is fully moisturized, you need to take things up a notch with hair cream. While there is a myriad of hair creams on the market, it’s crucial to use one formulated with hydrating elements – sans the heavy feel.
We recommend the BarnHill Organics Coconut Oil, which is formulated with castor oil.
Now comes the most essential part of this wash and go routine: a moisturizing hair smoothie. The Kumeas Soft & Creamy Hair Smoothie promotes hair growth and effortlessly seal in the moisture. It leaves your hair looking poppin.
Shampoo, Co-Wash, Define
It’s one of the most basic wash-and-go routines. It’s perfect for type 2 and type 3b hair textures.
You’ll want to kick off the regimen with clean hair. So, with your fingertips, gently massage a creamy cleanser like Prudent Morocan Argan Oil Shampoo through your root for at least 90 seconds, then rinse. The friction will help break up dirt buildup and get rid of any excess scalp oils.
Follow it up with a co-wash conditioner like the Herboo Botanicals Deep Cleansing Conditioner or the SheaMoisture Coconut & Hibiscus Co-Wash Conditioning Cleanser. A good co-wash formula helps retain moisture while also getting of remaining dirt and oils.
Top the cocktail off with a defining formula like the HoneyVera Jamaican Castor Oil Hair Gel. It helps keep your hair moisturized, defined in texture, and perfectly held out for a few days. You can also add some leave-in conditioner to help lock in a significant amount of moisture.
LCO Method
You’ve probably seen A-list celebrities and your favorite hair bloggers use this technique on social media and wondered, does it really work?
A variation of the popular LOC method, the LCO (Leave-In Conditioner, Cream, and Oil), is ideal for all hair textures but even better on type 2 and type 3 hair. It also gives your hair the hydration boost it needs, thus enabling enjoy frizz-free hair all day long.
To benefit from this wash and go routine, you first need to use a high-quality water-based conditioner. We recommend using the SheaMoisture Jamaican Strengthen Restore Conditioner for strengthening your strands and safeguarding them from breakage without weighing down your hair.
Follow it up with a nourishing and moisturizing hair cream like the Kumeas Moisturizing Hair Butter. Remember to re-wet your hair a bit and distribute a substantial amount of hair cream evenly through your hair.
Top it off with a lightweight oil serum like the Just Joy Growth Hair Oil. It helps add shine with a perfect finish to keep your hair moisturized for longer.
Wash and go combo videos we loved
and:
and:
Now that you’ve given your mane plenty of moisture, proudly rock a bun or let your hair down and go conquer!
