Losing the fight against shrinkage? Here’s a great go-to anti-shrinkage night time hair routine that will give you healthy, soft, and lustrous stretched hair all day long!

Moisturize and Seal As Usual

No matter what your long-term or immediate hair goals are, they all start with moisturizing and sealing.

When you’re working against shrinkage, your best bet is to use oils, butters, and creams because that won’t weigh your hair down because heavier, intensive products tend to make your hair look limp and lifeless after it completely dries.

Start The Banding Method!

To dry, or not to dry, that is typically the most difficult question to answer when getting ready to do the banding method.

If you’re banding your hair because you want a stretched wash and go look, it’s best to do the method while your hair is wet so that the curl definition stays intact while still giving you some extra length.

If you want the maximum amount of length you can get without heat, allow your hair to dry and brush your curls out as much as you can before you begin banding.

Anti-Shrinkage Night Time Hair Routine – In The Morning…

You’re ready to undo your bands and enjoy your beautifully stretched hair! As soon as you unwrap your elastic bands, you may begin working your hair into your desired style for the day.

After a night of nourishing and nurturing your curls, you’re left with a gorgeous, healthy head of stretched hair that’ll last you all day long!

Bonus if you decide to stretch your hair with string:

More general tips

According to Naturally Curly there are products on the market that can help you to keep your hair stretched. Personally I always look at some of these as a little gimmicky but I am always open to trying new products as most of you are.

They list these three:
Dark and Lovely Au Naturale Anti Shrinkage Coil Moisturizing Soufflé

This curl definer is infused with active ingredients mango and bamboo milk which are known to moisturize and elongate curls. Dark and Lovely’s Au Naturale Anti Shrinkage Coil Moisturizing Souffle is a must for achieving a defined style without the crunch.

Design Essentials Natural Curl Stretching Cream

This light cream adds intense shine and definition to your curls. Specifically for stretching curls, this cream will deliver moisture and control unwanted frizz.

Aunt Jackie’s Curls & Coils Don’t Shrink Flaxseed Elongating Curling Gel

If you’re for a gel that doesn’t produce shrinkage for your wash-n-go’s? Aunt Jackie’s Don’t Shrink Flaxseed Gel works well on all curls and coils to give you a defined look without losing your length.

Shrinkage-fighting ingredients

These ingredients will help to stretch your hair when used during your regimen. Some, like henna, will stretch your hair much faster than others so it is important that you are very careful when stretching is your goal but you have no great way of determining when you have stretched too much until it’s too late. With that said look for ingredients like:

Flaxseed
Coconut Milk
Bamboo Milk
Shea Butter
Mango Butter
Henna

About heat..
It is hard to create a post around anti-shrinkage without mentioning heat because let’s be real their are women who have made the decision to use heat to stretch their curls often. They might blow-dry weekly or by weekly or they may have a press routine with their stylist.

If you heat style, it isn’t the end of the world but be aware that heat can break the bonds in your curls to the point where they permanently remain stretched.

This might be a whole other blog post, but if you decide to adopt this regimen, you can talk to a professional about how to protect your curls, use healthy protein-based products, and be educated about how your curls will behave using heat.

Do you have an anti-shrinkage night time routine? What is your method? Comment below!