Taking care of your natural hair can be a joyful and fulfilling experience. Forget those outdated myths about it being a hassle. With the right approach, washing, detangling, and moisturising your type 4 hair can become a relaxing and enjoyable routine. Let’s dive into how you can transform your wash day into a cherished part of your self-care regimen!
Step 1: Pre-Poo and Detangle
Before you even think about shampoo, it’s time to pre-poo! This step is optional but can help protect your hair from the harsh ingredients of some shampoos, like parabens and sulfates. Especially when coming from a protective hairstyle or when you skipped a few washdays. No judgement here, life happens. Pre-pooing can be done with an oil, conditioner, or a pre-poo treatment to condition your hair’s cuticle and prep it for cleansing.
Here’s how you do it:
1. Section your hair: Divide your hair into 4 to 6 sections and loosely braid each one.
2. Apply the pre-poo treatment: Work the treatment thoroughly through each section, from root to tip.
3. Cover your hair: Use a shower cap or plastic bag and let it sit for 20 to 30 minutes. This gives the treatment time to work its magic. Then, rinse thoroughly with warm water.
Step 2: Shampoo
Now that your hair is prepped, it’s time to shampoo. Shampooing cleanses your scalp while the runoff takes care of the length of your hair.
Tips for effective shampooing:
- Choose a good shampoo: When selecting a shampoo for natural hair, it’s essential to consider your specific hair needs to ensure optimal care and health. By choosing the right type of shampoo (clarifying, moisturising, color,…shampoo) based on your hair’s specific needs, you can ensure your natural hair remains healthy, vibrant, and well-cared for.
- Soak you hair with water: Make sure your hair drenched with water before applying your shampoo.
- Focus on the scalp: Use your fingertips (not fingernails) to gently massage the shampoo into your scalp, which helps avoid any unnecessary damage.
- Rinse with lukewarm water: This helps open up the pores on your scalp, promoting a thorough clean and encouraging natural hair growth.
Step 3: Condition
Conditioning is crucial for replenishing moisture and detangling your hair. Use a moisture-rich conditioner and apply it from the mid-point of your hair to the tips, avoiding the scalp to prevent buildup.
Steps to condition:
- Apply the conditioner: Work it through the length of your hair.
- Let it sit: Leave the conditioner in for 5 to 10 minutes, or up to 30 minutes for deep conditioning.
- Rinse with cool water: This helps close the pores that were opened during shampooing, sealing in the moisture.
- Dry your hair with a clean fabric (like a T-shirt) or a microfiber towel by gently wrapping it around your hair to absorb excess water.
Step 4: Moisturize
The final step is to oil, moisturize, and seal your hair to keep it hydrated and healthy.
Here’s how:
- Moisturize your strands: Moisturize your hair with a hydrating leave-in spray or cream while your hair is still damp. Focus on the hair strands, avoiding the scalp to prevent pore clogging.
- Seal with oil or cream: Apply oil to your moisturized hair to lock in the hydration.
Step 5: Style
Your hair is now clean, moisturized, and ready for styling. Choose a fabulous style that suits your mood and rock your beautiful, natural hair with confidence!
Let your hair air-dry or dry a bit before using a blow dryer.
With these 5 easy steps, wash day can be a breeze, leaving your type 4 hair healthy, vibrant, and thriving.
