My 3-Products WashDay Routine

Happy New Year everyone!!!

2016 is here already and I know it's going to be even more fabulous than 2015.

After wearing big braids as a protective style from the ending part of my pregnancy into delivery and 4 months postnatal, it was time to get rid of it. And the getting rid of it part was the part I dreaded the most.

Freshly braided on Oct 16th last year. 

I usually dread wash days largely because of how long it took to detangle my hair.

All I wanted to do was take down my braids speedily, section and oil-detangle my hair, wash and then twist. But throw in a newborn baby into the mix and what used to be a breeze for me suddenly became a Herculean task right before my eyes! I had to seek the help of my mom and sweet friend, Cecille to help with the braids in record time.

After taking down the braids. 

My hair was dry, dull and crinkly to touch. 

And it worked out well.
My little one was really sore from her third immunization, she had a little fever. She slept for over 5hrs and because I didn't want to bother her lovely sleep (and one shouldn't really) we took advantage of the time. Of course, they didn't spend the entire 5hrs taking down braids, we had to eat first, bond, Cecille had to nurse her own daughter and then we began. So by the time we were through with taking down the braids, clearing the area and me sectioning my hair into 8 super chunky twists, it was getting dark and everyone had to go home.
It was time well spent. At least I was ready for my little one as she woke up just in time.

Super chunky twists in natural light

With flash

I had to postpone washing to the next day.

To make the chunky twists: I speed-detangled my hair by spraying my favorite oil, olive lavishly (I poured the olive oil into a spray bottle for ease of use and to reduce mess) onto each section, finger detangled and removed shed hair which was surprisingly very little (I thought I would experience massive shedding now that hormonal levels have stabilized) and then twisted. I then covered everything with a plastic processing cap first and then a beanie to make it warm. Since I couldn't wash that day, the least I could do was to convert the wait to an oil treatment of some sort.

And on the evening of the next day, I decided to wash off everything.

I started the first section with my usual Dudu Osun soap but when I rinsed, I could see white build up, streaking all over the length of my hair. It was clear I needed something more than black soap to cut through the super build up of grease. I ran to my wardrobe and saw a bottle of Dark and Lovely 3 in 1 Shampoo standing innocently. It has been standing there for a really long time; full, untouched, unused. With all that sulphate it had in it, it was about time.

I applied the shampoo to the already wet section, made it lather and combed through with my Con-Air Comb. This Comb is everything to me. It does all the hardwork. It takes away the tangle easily and just glides through my hair.

So back to shampooing. The Dark and Lovely shampoo didn't lather at first even after using a lot. But when I rinsed, reapplied it again, combed through and it began to lather nicely. A good sign that the grease had been cut. I rinsed the section, looked in the mirror and loved what I saw, shiny, squeaky clean strands!

The shampoo was called a 3-in-1 because it does these:
- Perfect cleansing
- Instant detangling
- Moisture fusion

Well, I don't know about the last two but it definitely gave me a perfect cleansing. Just what I needed to start the new year. I repeated the process on the remaining sections. And when I was done, it was way past midnight.

Using sulphate doesn't hurt your hair as long as you use it once in a while and sparingly. It's using it all the time and/or excessively in a single use that does.

To avoid shrinkage and any further tangling, I towel blotted my hair and had to retwist each chunky twists into 4 smaller ones just for the night. Since I didn't use any after-shampoo conditioner (I really don't bother myself with them anymore except when using them for cowash), I went straight to applying Cantu Deep Treatment Masque first to my ends and worked my way up.

Even though it's a deep conditioner, it also says it can be used as a leave in on very dry and damaged hair. Well my hair was very dry after all that harmattan. So I didn't mind leaving it on at all. Plus I was very generous with it.

The next day by noon, I was free and my hair was sort of half dry so I used the spare time in making the twists neater and smaller. Here is when I used the olive oil. The Cantu gave no shine at all and for obvious reason.

Here's what my final twists look like.

I used the rubber bands to give it some good extra stretch. I know many of you will be like, "Ouch! A rubber band on my hair!" I know. I know. This year it's all about breaking hair rules. I already started by skipping conditioner altogether, turning my deep conditioner to a leave in and now this. Don't worry, it's just hair after all. Besides, I'm going to snip and not yank them off when I'm done.

So basically, these are the 3 products I used and will continue to use. I will let you guys know if I make any changes to my washday routine.

By now, you all should already know I don't do the weekly or monthly wash thing. It's stopped being me with 2014. Hehe. Now, I plan to beat my own record by carrying my protective style for longer than 4months. I can do it. It's all about less manipulation this year. And when I decide on the style to do, it will definitely be faux locs which I am currently in love with.

Always listen and watch what your hair is telling you. I did experience some shedding and little breakage but nothing too much.
Breaking hair rules still involves handling your hair with care no matter what products or tools you decide to use. Proper handling is the key.
More photos and a video of how I styled my stretched hair below.

Till then, keep aiming for healthy, long hair.
Share tour opinions below.

Lots of love,
Ifeoma.